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ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE
Anyone have experience buying a coach from a Canadian owner and bringing it back into the states.
We have friends that are shopping and have found what they call their perfect coach. Don’t know much about this coach, or where the coach selling owner has it registered, Canada or Florida (apparently spends winters in Fla). Does anyone here know what “HOOPS” the US will make someone jump thru. I can only shutter with imagination.. Its bad enough bringing your own coach in from Canada. One Canadian Customs Agent told since the US is being an A$$%#@, so will Canada. Last time we crossed the border at the Ogdenberg, New York/Ontario they held us for almost a hour, herded us into a room, ran background checks, asked how many states we lived,, ransacked the coach, and asked if we had been finger printed. Hells, bells, Colorado fingerprints everyone when you get your drivers license. We won’t be going back acrossed the border anytime soon.
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7 Replies
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About the treatment you say you got when crossing the US/Canadian borders. During the past 10 months my wife and I have crossed into Canada and back into the USA 4 times. Despite of being “legal-aliens” (carrying German passports and Alien Resident Cards), we were treated cordially every time. The first crossing in December/January was the easiest and fastest in both directions. The Canadian border guard barely glanced at our passports. All he wanted to know is whether we had guns on board and where we were going. He sent us on our way with a hearty “Merry Christmas!” (Unlike the politically correct BS of saying “Happy Holidays” you hear everywhere in the US). Crossing back into the US our passports were looked at more carefully but we were still through the gates in less than 10 minutes. The next crossings were equally uneventful. Only the last 2 took a little bit longer. When we crossed back into the US, we were greeted with the announcement, that we had been selected for a random inspection. I am not sure what random meant because we were the only vehicle in the RV lane. When we acknowledged having citrus fruits on board (i.e. limes for the Gin and Tonic at Happy Hour), we were told that we had to surrender them since one is not allowed to bring citrus fruits into the US. My wife’s remark “but what about my gin and tonic? Was greeted with grins and a “Sorry, Ma’am”. We were then asked to leave the Bus and to wait in the office. We were called back out 10 minutes later and told we were free to go on. The limes were conviniently left on the dining table ( … 🙂 …) – the 4th crossing back into the US took the longest. But only because we were apparently in the wrong lane, marked for buses, and waiting behind a Greyhound bus. It took some time to process the passengers. When our turn came and given the plain paint job on Olivia … they thought that we were a tour bus and wanted to know how many were on board. They did not quite believe me when I answered there were just my wife and I. They ASKED for permission to come on board to look around. The border guard stepped up to the drivers seat, took a look and left the bus. We were free to continue. I can not say anything negative about our border crossing experiences. They were courteous and very professional on both sides and The guards did even showed their human side and were willing “to chat”. All in all a positive experience and we will happily visit Canada again.
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Our experience with Canadian customs mirror Jim and Chis’s only they tore our coach apart and left the contents of the drawers on the bed or floor and ultimately charged duty on two bottles of wine we had on board that we were never asked about. In fact we were never asked anything but were just sent to the inspection area.
Haven’t and won’t return to Canada.
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Gabi and I have been travelling back and forth to Canada for a long time because we do have family there. Initially by car or plane and later by RV and now by bus. Never ever have we experienced anything like what is being stated in your post. Entering Canada has always been a non event for us. Even when we were loaded up with booze and Christmas gifts. I just always tell them upfront before they even ask. We typically travel with lots of booze and a case or two of wine. I always tell them and have never had to pay a dime. I dont’t know what to say. Must be my good Teutonic looks, eh?
🙂
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I am glad someone has something good to say about border crossings. Never again for us!!. We always have all of our paperwork for everything, us, the bus, the dogs, all up front at the ready, and make dang sure we have followed their “allowables” and NEVER have anything that is not allowed on board.
Upon entering the US from Quebec to Maine, the customs guy came on board, ask if we had $$$$$ money in the safe, knew exactly where to walk to it, wanting it opened, and would not take off his dirty boots tromping all the way back to the bedroom.
And we definitely won’t fly acrossed the border, for I have a titanium hip replacement. Just flying to Hawaii is a travel nightmare, being pulled asside to a room, divorced from my pocket belongings, which if I was travelling alone, would be left unattended for anyone to snag my wallet and keys etc,. after they and the tray they are in pass thru the X-ray. .Then there is the wand, oh that wand, being waved about my body like a sorcerer, with the question of ” what do you have in your pocket? multiples of times the question is address to me. It’s that dang hip replacement, and NO, a card indicating metal hip joint or doctors note is NO good.
Nope, nope, we will not cross the border, period..So has anyone had experience bringing a vehicle acrossed the border, or taking delivery of a vehicle that was converted in the US , taken/sold to Canadain resident , and then resold here with a Canadian title.? What are the hoops?
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This year in July we crossed from
MI to NY. The Canadian side was very polite and the firearms
declaration was a non issue. When we got to the US side at Buffalo,
the agent was arrogant and nasty, but I kept my mouth shut, otherwise
the gestapo tactics would have escalated. -
We crossed the US/Canadian border 4 times this summer and all were far easier and faster than expected. The longest took less than 5 minutes the quickest lass than a minute. We were asked if we had firearms, more than $10,000 in cash (yea, right), if we had alchol on board (we had beer, wine, and some opened bottle of spirits), were we were going, how long we would be in the country, and if we bought Canadian goods while we were in the country. Only once we were asked about fruit. Twice we were asked if the front license plate was my real tag, which it is not.
Our coach was never boarded. This was a bit surprising as I expected an inspection to make sure it was just the 2 of us on board.
My crossings were from US to Canada on US 15 in Montana, Canada to the US on the Alaskan Highway. the same Alaska border going back into Canada and Canada into the US at Haines Alaska.
For us, hats off to both the US and Canadian customs folks for making the process as easy at it could be.
FWIW, I’ve crossed foreign borders countless times on commercial and military flights they have genearlly been uneventful. I have also crossed into the Bahamas and back to the US in my boat withot problem.
I hope my future crossings mirror those of times past,
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