Canadian Customs(was Back in the barn...)

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Feb 8, 1998
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>
> Stockton to the border in 24 hours and then the time went
> to h... courtesy Canadian Customs.

Is it just my impression or is crossing the (northern) border in an RV a
guaranteed way to spend some "quality time" with Canadian Customs folks?
Last year we took the "Cat"(sans GMC) across to Nova Scotia for a whirl-wind
visit and it appeared the only vehicles inspected after the crossing were
RV's. They only asked us the "customary" four or five questions and didn't
take a second glance at our van.

Patrick
 
I crossed the border once in St. Stephen New Brunswick with my old VW rabbit
and they virtually stripped the car clean! They took apart the dashboard and
even took the spare tire off the rim. They must have gotten a tip about a
car like mine. They were not to polite and left my car in a mess. For years
after, everytime I hit a pot hole, the bottom panel of my dash fell down,
prompting me to curse the border patrol!

Other times I crossed at the same location, and it was raining, and they
just waved me thru without even one question. Go figure.

Tony B.

- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: Canadian Customs(was Back in the barn...)

> In a message dated 12/15/1999 7:56:29 AM Central Standard Time,

>
> > visit and it appeared the only vehicles inspected after the crossing
were
> > RV's. They only asked us the "customary" four or five questions and
didn't
> > take a second glance at our van.
> >
> Patrick
>
> I have crossed over several times at Port Huron. Most of the time with
very
> little hassle. Then there was the one time they took everything out of my
> Le Sharo. I was there for 4 hours. They must have been looking for one
> because the other motorhome in the impound area was also a Le Sharo.
> I helped the older gentleman put his back together while they tore mine
down.
> Finally they were going to take out my two cabinets-----there is no way
> one person can put them back in. BTW they dont help you put it back
> together. We had a real nasty scene. Thought for a while I was going to
> end up in jail. Well, the cabinets stayed in. I went to the first rest
area
> on the 401 or 402 which ever it was and spent another 2 hours putting
> everything back together. I like the people up north but I dont like the
> folks at the border. I have several other horror stories about the border
> but I will shut up for now.
>
> Take Care
> Arch
>
 
On Wed, 15 Dec 1999 07:56:20 -0600
writes:

>>
>> Stockton to the border in 24 hours and then the time went
>> to h... courtesy Canadian Customs.
>
>Is it just my impression or is crossing the (northern) border in an RV a
>guaranteed way to spend some "quality time" with Canadian Customs folks?
>Last year we took the "Cat"(sans GMC) across to Nova Scotia for a
whirl-wind
>visit and it appeared the only vehicles inspected after the crossing
were
>RV's. They only asked us the "customary" four or five questions and
didn't
>take a second glance at our van.
>
>Patrick

I crossed the border last year and was almost waved on by the
immigrations/customs folks. I think it had to do with some advice I was
given earlier. I made a list of anything on board that I thought they
Customs would be interested in. If I had none I so stated, i.e., no
Tobacco, 1 fifth of Scotch, No Guns, No Gifts, only food for our personal
use. For Immigrations (Same Folks) I listed our passport #s, passengers,
names, date and place of birth, our destination, how long we would be in
the country, and where we would exit Canada.

I presented this to the border officials and they seemed to be
momentarily stunned! They scanned the list and I was on my way in 2
minutes. I should add, this appraoch didn't work upon my re entry to the
USA! Immigrations was no problem but Customs wanted to paw thru my fridge
for a while.

Dave Greenberg
Seasons Greetings To All!
 
As mentioned in another msg... Customs on both side present an equal
opportunity for a raised stress level. Thank goodness it's usually at
different times :-)

I probably get hit a little more often as my trips are usually of a
business/commercial nature. Southbound one has to convince immigration that
you're not planning to setup residence and northbound they want to be sure
that everything is declared and taxes paid. Of course when they look at my
rig they don't have to ask if I'm in the computer business and they like
computerstuff almost as much as drugs as a target.

Northbound it's even worse as after 3 weeks of living/working in parking
lots it gets a little messy in there. Add a couple of front to back searches
for that adapter or cable you know you brought along and it gets downright
embarrasing. And when you add a 24 hour marathon of homeward driving,
napping (not at the same time) and food/drink intake in the captains chair
it looks like a cyclone is still active inside the GMC :-)

For the most part the border is just a slight inconvenience... and the odd
time when there are exceptions you just grin and bear it as the arguing with
a customs person (either uniform) is usually a NO-win situation.

Just a reminder... a guaranteed recipe for trouble is bringing firearms,
handguns in particular, into Canada.... or rather attempting to bring same
[g].

It's actually a pleasure crossing the border when you're lucky enough to get
an experienced agent as he is confident and has nothing to prove... he just
has to do his job. It's the up-and-coming that causes the grief and the real
unfortunate part is that a superior will never overrule one of his own in
your presence. Only the next guy may benefit, not you :-) That's just the
way it seems to work.

Raining and blowing. It's nice to be home.

Heinz

> On Wed, 15 Dec 1999 07:56:20 -0600

> >>
> >> Stockton to the border in 24 hours and then the time went
> >> to h... courtesy Canadian Customs.
> >
> >Is it just my impression or is crossing the (northern) border in an RV a
> >guaranteed way to spend some "quality time" with Canadian Customs folks?
> >Last year we took the "Cat"(sans GMC) across to Nova Scotia for a
> whirl-wind
> >visit and it appeared the only vehicles inspected after the crossing
> were
> >RV's. They only asked us the "customary" four or five questions and
> didn't
> >take a second glance at our van.
> >
> >Patrick
>
> I crossed the border last year and was almost waved on by the
> immigrations/customs folks. I think it had to do with some advice I was
> given earlier. I made a list of anything on board that I thought they
> Customs would be interested in. If I had none I so stated, i.e., no
> Tobacco, 1 fifth of Scotch, No Guns, No Gifts, only food for our personal
> use. For Immigrations (Same Folks) I listed our passport #s, passengers,
> names, date and place of birth, our destination, how long we would be in
> the country, and where we would exit Canada.
>
> I presented this to the border officials and they seemed to be
> momentarily stunned! They scanned the list and I was on my way in 2
> minutes. I should add, this appraoch didn't work upon my re entry to the
> USA! Immigrations was no problem but Customs wanted to paw thru my fridge
> for a while.
>
> Dave Greenberg
> Seasons Greetings To All!
>
>
 
Fascinating that the Canadian/US border can be such a hassle while, under
NAFTA, countless TONS of coke and God knows what else is coming across the
Mexican border in trucks belonging to several untouchable firms while the
customs guys just have to stand there and watch 'em go by.
And on the firearms, as everyone knows, thanks to Canada's new draconian gun
confiscation legislation, there is no more crime up there so why would you
even NEED one, aye?

Dick 75 PB in Atlanta

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Heinz Wittenbecher
To:
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Canadian Customs(was Back in the barn...)

> As mentioned in another msg... Customs on both side present an equal
> opportunity for a raised stress level. Thank goodness it's usually at
> different times :-)
>
> I probably get hit a little more often as my trips are usually of a
> business/commercial nature. Southbound one has to convince immigration
that
> you're not planning to setup residence and northbound they want to be sure
> that everything is declared and taxes paid. Of course when they look at my
> rig they don't have to ask if I'm in the computer business and they like
> computerstuff almost as much as drugs as a target.
>
> Northbound it's even worse as after 3 weeks of living/working in parking
> lots it gets a little messy in there. Add a couple of front to back
searches
> for that adapter or cable you know you brought along and it gets downright
> embarrasing. And when you add a 24 hour marathon of homeward driving,
> napping (not at the same time) and food/drink intake in the captains chair
> it looks like a cyclone is still active inside the GMC :-)
>
> For the most part the border is just a slight inconvenience... and the odd
> time when there are exceptions you just grin and bear it as the arguing
with
> a customs person (either uniform) is usually a NO-win situation.
>
> Just a reminder... a guaranteed recipe for trouble is bringing firearms,
> handguns in particular, into Canada.... or rather attempting to bring same
> [g].
>
> It's actually a pleasure crossing the border when you're lucky enough to
get
> an experienced agent as he is confident and has nothing to prove... he
just
> has to do his job. It's the up-and-coming that causes the grief and the
real
> unfortunate part is that a superior will never overrule one of his own in
> your presence. Only the next guy may benefit, not you :-) That's just the
> way it seems to work.
>
> Raining and blowing. It's nice to be home.
>
> Heinz
>
>
>
>
> > On Wed, 15 Dec 1999 07:56:20 -0600

> > >>
> > >> Stockton to the border in 24 hours and then the time went
> > >> to h... courtesy Canadian Customs.
> > >
> > >Is it just my impression or is crossing the (northern) border in an RV
a
> > >guaranteed way to spend some "quality time" with Canadian Customs
folks?
> > >Last year we took the "Cat"(sans GMC) across to Nova Scotia for a
> > whirl-wind
> > >visit and it appeared the only vehicles inspected after the crossing
> > were
> > >RV's. They only asked us the "customary" four or five questions and
> > didn't
> > >take a second glance at our van.
> > >
> > >Patrick
> >
> > I crossed the border last year and was almost waved on by the
> > immigrations/customs folks. I think it had to do with some advice I was
> > given earlier. I made a list of anything on board that I thought they
> > Customs would be interested in. If I had none I so stated, i.e., no
> > Tobacco, 1 fifth of Scotch, No Guns, No Gifts, only food for our
personal
> > use. For Immigrations (Same Folks) I listed our passport #s, passengers,
> > names, date and place of birth, our destination, how long we would be in
> > the country, and where we would exit Canada.
> >
> > I presented this to the border officials and they seemed to be
> > momentarily stunned! They scanned the list and I was on my way in 2
> > minutes. I should add, this appraoch didn't work upon my re entry to the
> > USA! Immigrations was no problem but Customs wanted to paw thru my
fridge
> > for a while.
> >
> > Dave Greenberg
> > Seasons Greetings To All!
> >
> >
>
 
Mike, Sorry. And I worked for Air Canada for 3 years and know many of these
fine people. But I had to get ouuut when I joined the USAF. :-)
Dick 75 PB in Atlanta

- ----- Original Message -----
From: No fixed address
To:
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 4:52 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Canadian Customs(was Back in the barn...)

> Dick
> You're skating on thin ice...as we say in Canada !! You'll have to be
> more careful of what you say. Just to set the record straight, it's
> eh not aye
>
> see ya
> mikeb
>
>
>
> Fascinating that the Canadian/US border can be such a hassle while, under
> NAFTA, countless TONS of coke and God knows what else is coming across the
> Mexican border in trucks belonging to several untouchable firms while the
> customs guys just have to stand there and watch 'em go by.
> And on the firearms, as everyone knows, thanks to Canada's new draconian
gun
> confiscation legislation, there is no more crime up there so why would you
> even NEED one, aye?
>
> Dick 75 PB in Atlanta
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Heinz Wittenbecher
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 2:53 PM
> Subject: Re: GMC: Canadian Customs(was Back in the barn...)
>
>
> > As mentioned in another msg... Customs on both side present an equal
> > opportunity for a raised stress level. Thank goodness it's usually at
> > different times :-)
> >
> > I probably get hit a little more often as my trips are usually of a
> > business/commercial nature. Southbound one has to convince immigration
> that
> > you're not planning to setup residence and northbound they want to be
sure
> > that everything is declared and taxes paid. Of course when they look at
my
> > rig they don't have to ask if I'm in the computer business and they like
> > computerstuff almost as much as drugs as a target.
> >
> > Northbound it's even worse as after 3 weeks of living/working in parking
> > lots it gets a little messy in there. Add a couple of front to back
> searches
> > for that adapter or cable you know you brought along and it gets
downright
> > embarrasing. And when you add a 24 hour marathon of homeward driving,
> > napping (not at the same time) and food/drink intake in the captains
chair
> > it looks like a cyclone is still active inside the GMC :-)
> >
> > For the most part the border is just a slight inconvenience... and the
odd
> > time when there are exceptions you just grin and bear it as the arguing
> with
> > a customs person (either uniform) is usually a NO-win situation.
> >
> > Just a reminder... a guaranteed recipe for trouble is bringing firearms,
> > handguns in particular, into Canada.... or rather attempting to bring
same
> > [g].
> >
> > It's actually a pleasure crossing the border when you're lucky enough to
> get
> > an experienced agent as he is confident and has nothing to prove... he
> just
> > has to do his job. It's the up-and-coming that causes the grief and the
> real
> > unfortunate part is that a superior will never overrule one of his own
in
> > your presence. Only the next guy may benefit, not you :-) That's just
the
> > way it seems to work.
> >
> > Raining and blowing. It's nice to be home.
> >
> > Heinz
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Wed, 15 Dec 1999 07:56:20 -0600


> > > >>
> > > >> Stockton to the border in 24 hours and then the time went
> > > >> to h... courtesy Canadian Customs.
> > > >
> > > >Is it just my impression or is crossing the (northern) border in an
RV
> a
> > > >guaranteed way to spend some "quality time" with Canadian Customs
> folks?
> > > >Last year we took the "Cat"(sans GMC) across to Nova Scotia for a
> > > whirl-wind
> > > >visit and it appeared the only vehicles inspected after the crossing
> > > were
> > > >RV's. They only asked us the "customary" four or five questions and
> > > didn't
> > > >take a second glance at our van.
> > > >
> > > >Patrick
> > >
> > > I crossed the border last year and was almost waved on by the
> > > immigrations/customs folks. I think it had to do with some advice I
was
> > > given earlier. I made a list of anything on board that I thought they
> > > Customs would be interested in. If I had none I so stated, i.e., no
> > > Tobacco, 1 fifth of Scotch, No Guns, No Gifts, only food for our
> personal
> > > use. For Immigrations (Same Folks) I listed our passport #s,
passengers,
> > > names, date and place of birth, our destination, how long we would be
in
> > > the country, and where we would exit Canada.
> > >
> > > I presented this to the border officials and they seemed to be
> > > momentarily stunned! They scanned the list and I was on my way in 2
> > > minutes. I should add, this appraoch didn't work upon my re entry to
the
> > > USA! Immigrations was no problem but Customs wanted to paw thru my
> fridge
> > > for a while.
> > >
> > > Dave Greenberg
> > > Seasons Greetings To All!
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
 
Dick
You're skating on thin ice...as we say in Canada !! You'll have to be
more careful of what you say. Just to set the record straight, it's
eh not aye

see ya
mikeb


Fascinating that the Canadian/US border can be such a hassle while, under
NAFTA, countless TONS of coke and God knows what else is coming across the
Mexican border in trucks belonging to several untouchable firms while the
customs guys just have to stand there and watch 'em go by.
And on the firearms, as everyone knows, thanks to Canada's new draconian gun
confiscation legislation, there is no more crime up there so why would you
even NEED one, aye?

Dick 75 PB in Atlanta

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Heinz Wittenbecher
To:
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Canadian Customs(was Back in the barn...)

> As mentioned in another msg... Customs on both side present an equal
> opportunity for a raised stress level. Thank goodness it's usually at
> different times :-)
>
> I probably get hit a little more often as my trips are usually of a
> business/commercial nature. Southbound one has to convince immigration
that
> you're not planning to setup residence and northbound they want to be sure
> that everything is declared and taxes paid. Of course when they look at my
> rig they don't have to ask if I'm in the computer business and they like
> computerstuff almost as much as drugs as a target.
>
> Northbound it's even worse as after 3 weeks of living/working in parking
> lots it gets a little messy in there. Add a couple of front to back
searches
> for that adapter or cable you know you brought along and it gets downright
> embarrasing. And when you add a 24 hour marathon of homeward driving,
> napping (not at the same time) and food/drink intake in the captains chair
> it looks like a cyclone is still active inside the GMC :-)
>
> For the most part the border is just a slight inconvenience... and the odd
> time when there are exceptions you just grin and bear it as the arguing
with
> a customs person (either uniform) is usually a NO-win situation.
>
> Just a reminder... a guaranteed recipe for trouble is bringing firearms,
> handguns in particular, into Canada.... or rather attempting to bring same
> [g].
>
> It's actually a pleasure crossing the border when you're lucky enough to
get
> an experienced agent as he is confident and has nothing to prove... he
just
> has to do his job. It's the up-and-coming that causes the grief and the
real
> unfortunate part is that a superior will never overrule one of his own in
> your presence. Only the next guy may benefit, not you :-) That's just the
> way it seems to work.
>
> Raining and blowing. It's nice to be home.
>
> Heinz
>
>
>
>
> > On Wed, 15 Dec 1999 07:56:20 -0600

> > >>
> > >> Stockton to the border in 24 hours and then the time went
> > >> to h... courtesy Canadian Customs.
> > >
> > >Is it just my impression or is crossing the (northern) border in an RV
a
> > >guaranteed way to spend some "quality time" with Canadian Customs
folks?
> > >Last year we took the "Cat"(sans GMC) across to Nova Scotia for a
> > whirl-wind
> > >visit and it appeared the only vehicles inspected after the crossing
> > were
> > >RV's. They only asked us the "customary" four or five questions and
> > didn't
> > >take a second glance at our van.
> > >
> > >Patrick
> >
> > I crossed the border last year and was almost waved on by the
> > immigrations/customs folks. I think it had to do with some advice I was
> > given earlier. I made a list of anything on board that I thought they
> > Customs would be interested in. If I had none I so stated, i.e., no
> > Tobacco, 1 fifth of Scotch, No Guns, No Gifts, only food for our
personal
> > use. For Immigrations (Same Folks) I listed our passport #s, passengers,
> > names, date and place of birth, our destination, how long we would be in
> > the country, and where we would exit Canada.
> >
> > I presented this to the border officials and they seemed to be
> > momentarily stunned! They scanned the list and I was on my way in 2
> > minutes. I should add, this appraoch didn't work upon my re entry to the
> > USA! Immigrations was no problem but Customs wanted to paw thru my
fridge
> > for a while.
> >
> > Dave Greenberg
> > Seasons Greetings To All!
> >
> >
>
 
> I guess the "wind" wasn't blowing in the direction of Antigonish
> You're allowed to visit w/out the GMC !
>
> Mikeb
>
A few years ago the GMCMI fall convention was at Niagara Falls.
After the convention, many of the Great Lakers crossed into
Canada headed for a rally in Northern Michigan. Maybe it was
because there were so many of us, but we all were waved right
on thru. We also had no problem when we crossed back into
the USA.

Kara Kosier
 
Its just " Duck Hunting "

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Kara Kosier
> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 7:18 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Canadian Customs(was Back in the barn...)
>
>
> > I guess the "wind" wasn't blowing in the direction of Antigonish
> > You're allowed to visit w/out the GMC !
> >
> > Mikeb
> >
> A few years ago the GMCMI fall convention was at Niagara Falls.
> After the convention, many of the Great Lakers crossed into
> Canada headed for a rally in Northern Michigan. Maybe it was
> because there were so many of us, but we all were waved right
> on thru. We also had no problem when we crossed back into
> the USA.
>
> Kara Kosier
>
>
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