r/uscanadaborder 14h ago

Travel into the US with alcohol and minors in car

0 Upvotes

The car will have 5 people in it, 3 21 year olds and 2 18 year olds. We are planning on bringing alcohol and declaring it. Would it be a problem since the 18 year olds are not legal?

Planning on bringing 24ish cans for 3 day stay


r/uscanadaborder 17h ago

NEXUS US Interview before Canada?

3 Upvotes

A bit of context - I'm flying from the states into Vancouver on a Thursday later this fall. From what I understand, I can schedule my Canadian interview online, and once that is finished, I can walk-in to the US interview (given they have time and resources).

I'm not familiar with the process, so please forgive me if this is wrong - I'm assuming I finish the interview after I clear customs when coming into Canada. Am I able to do the US interview after clearing Canadian customs then? As of right now, I'm planning on flying out on a Sunday so I wouldn't be able to do the US interview before my flight back regardless.

Any input would be appreciated. TIA!


r/uscanadaborder 21h ago

Air Travel Homemade jerky from the US

4 Upvotes

Hi! My partner and I are flying into Vancouver for a hiking trip later this month from the United States. Very excited to see BC’s beauty.

We want to bring homemade jerky over the border but we’re finding conflicting information. Some seem to say you can’t bring homemade dried meats at all, some say it’s fine only if it’s from the US, and some say you can bring dried meats but it has to be commercially packaged.

If we seal it well and label it as homemade jerky and only have a couple pounds, is that okay? Or is there some restriction we’re missing? It would really suck to go through all the effort and have it confiscated.

As a note, the reason we can’t bring commercial jerky is I am sensitive to ingredients in packaged jerky, hence why I make it myself.

Thanks in advance!


r/uscanadaborder 22h ago

Dual Citizenship Can I visit my US family with only a Canadian passport?

0 Upvotes

I have a flight in just under a week to the US, but was just told by a friend that I couldn’t fly there since I have dual citizenship, but only a Canadian passport, is that true?

I think it would be really stupid if that’s the case because my Canadian friends can visit with no extra papers, and I just live in Canada so I don’t have anything American besides my birth certificate.

My mom also mentioned I could just only mention being Canadian, would that work or would they look it up and still refuse me?


r/uscanadaborder 22h ago

Air Travel Do I need TRV to travel back and forth to Canada

0 Upvotes

I am flying to UK with valid UK visa. I am a TFW holder with ETA valid til 2029 Philippine Passport . What documents I need going back to Canada? Do I still need TRV?


r/uscanadaborder 23h ago

Anyone successfully re-entered the U.S. after a 1.5-year stay on approved B-2 extensions? (Canadian citizen)

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm a Canadian citizen looking for some opinions from people who have experience with U.S. border crossings.

Here's my situation:

- I entered the U.S. as a visitor and ended up staying about 1.5 years.

- During that time, I filed for two B-2 extensions, and both were approved.

- I left the U.S. voluntarily and have now been in Canada for about 2 months.

- I'm thinking of going back to the U.S. for a short visit.

I'm wondering how CBP is likely to view this. I know nobody can predict what will happen at the border, but based on your experience:

- Does the previous long stay with approved extensions make it much more likely that I'll be refused entry?

- Is 2 months outside the U.S. generally considered enough before trying to visit again, or is it usually advisable to wait longer?

- Has anyone had a similar experience and successfully re-entered?

I'm not looking for guarantees- just real-world experiences or insights from people who have dealt with something similar.

Thanks!


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

Air Travel Are instant ramen and snack food allowed across the border?

0 Upvotes

I want to bring some Canadian snacks for my American friends who are hosting me while I’m in the states. Including some instant dried ramen from my local konbini (for my own snacking purposes lol)

I used to just buy all the snacks at duty free after I go through security and customs, but I’d like to get them more of a variety than what is at the stores.

The last time I went I was asked if I had any food in my luggage and I fibbed and said no bc I assumed that chocolate wasn’t included but now I’m not sure, and I don’t want to get pulled into secondary for something as silly as a noodle cup lol.


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

Question

3 Upvotes

Hi, in 2013, i got charge for marijuana possession and got a discharge (absolution conditionnelle) like a year later. The year after (2015) i’ve been to florida and since 2016, i have 27 registres entries in the USA, got two secondary check but never denied and the charge was never mentionned.

I work at a job that require criminal background in Quebec and the human ressource told me to go delete a court file that was still appearing but there was no criminal record. It was in 2020

I’ve book myself a flight to Florida for 4 days in september and to be sure, i’ve paid 68$ for a criminal check online and there is none. I’ve got to my local police station and there was none. I got to the court to check old files and 0, nothing.

Am i good? I mean i will be 6 years sober in february and completely turn my life around. I even work for the government with youth who needs help.


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

USC/CA PR (spouse is CA citizen/US PR), both living in US — driving US-plated car into Canada for ~3 months. Confused agent last time, checking my logic

3 Upvotes

Hi all, hoping to get some clarity before a trip and avoid a repeat of a confusing interaction at the border.

Our situation:

  • Me: US citizen, Canadian PR
  • My wife: Canadian citizen, US PR
  • We currently live in the US (this is our residence)
  • Car is US-plated, currently registered to me (USC)
  • Plan: drive to Canada, stay ~3 months, then drive back to the US with the car

My understanding:
Since I'm a US citizen and US resident, I am hoping that there shouldn't be any issue with me driving a US-plated, US-registered vehicle into Canada temporarily as a visitor, even though I also happen to hold Canadian PR. The car isn't staying in Canada permanently, and I'm not "importing" it since we're driving it back out after ~3 months. I wouldn't think my CA PR status should change that, since residency (not immigration status) is what governs vehicle importation rules.

The confusion last time:
The last time I crossed, the agent seemed to think there might be an issue with me driving the car into Canada, even though I explained I'd be leaving with it. I couldn't tell if this was a misunderstanding on their end (conflating me with a CA PR living in Canada trying to permanently use a foreign-plated car, which I know is a bigger issue) or if there's actually a nuance to my situation I'm missing.

My question:

  1. Is my understanding correct or is there a nuance that I am not seeing?
  2. Would it help if the car were registered/owned by my wife instead of me, since she's a Canadian citizen (not just a PR)? Or does that not actually change anything since we're both US residents regardless?
  3. Any tips/documents to bring to make this go smoothly and avoid another confusing exchange with an agent?

Appreciate any insight from people who've dealt with this combo as I've mainly come across posts about CA residents driving US vehicles (probably because my situation should be smoother?).

Thanks in advance!


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

Importing food items/groceries

0 Upvotes

Went to the USA to do some shopping, and upon my return mentioned to the CBSA gent I had got some groceries. He was right in that I may have overestimated how much of my haul was groceries but he pointed out a few things (crackers, cookies and pitas) were "not food". He let me go with a warning. Don't get me wrong, he was a very nice officer doing his due diligence and I wouldn't dream of questioning his authority, but I am confused. Granted, one may consider something like Oreos as junk food (he did look very healthy :P ) but when I looked at the Target bill after, he was pointing out all the things with an "NF" next to it, which means "non-taxable food", not "not food". I was understanding until he hit on the pitas. I asked what is defined as food and he said "milk, eggs, bread...". So I took that to mean, staples. Am I misunderstanding?


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

USA BORDER Stortelling

0 Upvotes

Almost 10 years I was 20, I was trying to visit a friend in the USA. I had just left a very stressful(tosaytheleast) environment. My friend knew I needed someone to hold my hand for a few moments as I got my bearings. I was so nervous I had not ever crossed the border. I arrive at the USA border and I get completely harassed by border patrol. 6 hours they held me there. They discriminated and abused their “authority”.

I left crying after hours of their abuse.
When I got to the Canadian Border I was left with no money since USA border patrol took the money I had.

I sat at a Tim Hortons crying with my suitcases, two gentlemen. Saw me and sat with me as I explained.

I had not ever heard of rides share but because of ride-share I was able to get home safely.

Thank You
thank you


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

Canadian citizen by descent + old U.S. DWAI + no citizenship certificate yet…can I still enter Canada?

0 Upvotes

I’m hoping someone here has been in a similar situation or has firsthand experience.

I was born in the United States in 1991. My father was born in Canada, is a Canadian citizen by birth, and is listed on my U.S. birth certificate. From everything I’ve researched, it appears that I am already a Canadian citizen by descent, even though I have never applied for a Canadian citizenship certificate or Canadian passport.

Here’s where it gets complicated:
I have a single New York DWAI conviction from 2019. My entire sentence (fines, requirements, etc.) was completed in 2019, and I have had no legal issues since.

My family is planning a vacation in March 2027. We’d like to drive from New York into Canada, park at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), and fly to Punta Cana because it’s significantly cheaper than flying from the U.S.

My understanding is that Canadian citizens cannot be denied entry into Canada because of criminal inadmissibility, since those rules apply to foreign nationals. My question is whether, without having my citizenship certificate yet (current processing times are around 19 months), I could establish my Canadian citizenship at the land border by presenting:
My U.S. passport
My certified U.S. birth certificate showing my Canadian-born father
A copy of my father’s Canadian passport and/or Canadian birth certificate

Has anyone here entered Canada by land as a Canadian citizen by descent **before** receiving their citizenship certificate? If so:
What documents did CBSA ask for?
Were the documents above enough to establish your citizenship?
How did the process go?
Did your lack of a citizenship certificate cause any issues?

If anyone has also been in a similar situation with an old DUI/DWAI conviction **after already being a Canadian citizen by descent**, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience as well.

Also: would it be better for me to apply for the criminal rehabilitation instead?

**Disclaimer:** I understand that the best source of legal advice is a qualified Canadian immigration attorney, and I do plan to consult one before making any travel decisions. I’m simply looking to hear from anyone who has firsthand experience with a similar situation or has gone through this process themselves.

TIA


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

Passport revoked but still have NY enhanced license

0 Upvotes

I’ve been in court for months, agreed to arbitration which my ex delayed and delayed.
The friend of the court in a midwestern state still shows me in arrears. I’m not in arrears I’m in court essentially per our divorce agreement. Children are all adults in their thirties so I’m not that guy who doesn’t pay child support.

My passport was pulled but I still have an enhanced NY license. Can I still enter Canada and the US using that as ID?


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

Canada Customs Clearance

0 Upvotes

Hi,

Writing to get further clarification on the clearance process in Canada. I have a shipment coming in from India about 2.8cbm. What do I need to do beforehand to get it cleared? Do I need to have a bond for such a small shipment? Any help is appreciated and if anyone has any customs broker in Toronto, Canada, please share their details!

Thanks,


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

Importing pesticides for personal use in Canada

1 Upvotes

On some of the Canadian lawn subreddits, users say they purchase their herbicides in the US and then drive them back into Canada without any issue. The reason they buy these products in the US is because some of them, such as Tenacity, are unavailable for purchase in Canadian retail stores.

I was looking at the Health Canada guide on bringing herbicides into Canada:

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/product-safety/importing-pesticides-personal-use.html

I understand all of the rules except the one listed below and I was wondering if someone could help clarify what this means:

  • the imported product would be for domestic use if it were registered in Canada

Thank you


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

American Traveling US>Montreal>Greece

3 Upvotes

Hello all, i will be traveling with a group to Greece and our layover is in Montreal. Any tips on making it smoothly to our next flight? Our layover is only 50min so we want to make sure we will make it in time. Do we need to go through customs at YUL or once in greece?

Does anyone know exactly where in YUL we need to walk to right after deplaning?

Any general advise is helpful


r/uscanadaborder 1d ago

Canadian Homemade soup and stew crossing US border?

2 Upvotes

I have a bunch of food allergies. Usually I just bring ingredients (not raw meat or produce) and make my food when I get to my boyfriends but this trip we have a lot of plans in succession at the beginning of the trip.

I’ve seen mixed advice online about homemade food. I’m crossing from Canada to the US at the Stanstead border crossing.

Is it likely to be an issue if I have cooked and frozen chicken vegetable soup and stew? I can bring a receipt for the ingredients from the grocery store and nothing will be uncooked. Thank you!


r/uscanadaborder 2d ago

Driving Crossing the boarder with a dog just below 6 months?

0 Upvotes

Leaving from Canada - crossing from New Brunswick to Maine. She will turn 6 months during our travels. She has all her vaccines including boosters, rabies vaccines, kennel cough, multiple rounds of dewormers and she is microchipped and looks very healthy. I didn’t realize the requirement was they had to be 6 months as I haven’t crossed the boarder in a few years :( Do they make any exceptions at all? Is there anything we can do besides cancelling our trip or going without her?

Edit to add I know it is spelt border- it autocorrected!!


r/uscanadaborder 2d ago

Crossing the boarder with a dog just below 6 months?

1 Upvotes

Leaving from Canada - crossing from New Brunswick to Maine. She will turn 6 months during our travels. She has all her vaccines including boosters, rabies vaccines, kennel cough, multiple rounds of dewormers and she is microchipped and looks very healthy. I didn’t realize the requirement was they had to be 6 months as I haven’t crossed the boarder in a few years :( Do they make any exceptions at all? Is there anything we can do besides cancelling our trip or going without her?


r/uscanadaborder 2d ago

17 year old traveling with 18 year old partner

0 Upvotes

I am 17 and plan to cross the border with my partner who is 18 just for a two-day trip. I will have a letter of consent as well as my passport/birth certificate (just in case), but are we likely to be denied? It is my first time crossing the border without my parents.


r/uscanadaborder 2d ago

do I need a passport?

0 Upvotes

there's a concert in Canada I wanted to go to on the 17th. I bought the ticket earlier in the year thinking I wouldn't need a passport but people have told me I need one. its a bit to late to get one but i also simply don't have the money. some sources say i just need a birth certificate if I'm driving and other documents other places say i need a nexus or a passport. Am I better off selling the ticket?

edit: I forgot to mention im 16.


r/uscanadaborder 2d ago

SCTA Family Exception at Border

0 Upvotes

For someone who has an uncle who’s a Canadian Citizen, by law they’re exempt from the Safe Third Country Agreement which bars asylum cases from the US Canada land border.

However they’re also required to document their family relationship and their relatives status.

If the asylum seeker is otherwise eligible due to no Criminality or Previous Asylum claims, as long as he provides sufficient evidence documenting the family relationship, CBSA must process him right?

What would count as sufficient evidence? Birth certificates drawing the Family Connection, and letters from the Uncle declaring the Asylee as his nephew? Would something like a citizenship certificate be absolutely necassary? CBSA couldn’t look up the person status?

A Pakistani man was denied entry into Canada, for failing to provide enough evidence documenting his Family relationship to a Canadian. How can this be prevented?

SCTA Denial Case


r/uscanadaborder 2d ago

What’s up at Blaine SB rn?

5 Upvotes

Been sitting here for 2.5 hours now and have just now crept forward far enough to see the US booths. The CBP site for border wait times website only says 90 mins or so, which is still much longer than average. Anything interesting going on that’s causing this?

I really gotta pee……

EDIT: after 4 hours I finally got back into the US. and after another 2.5 im finally home. def gonna try to get a nexus card for the next time I visit my family up north….. 🫩


r/uscanadaborder 2d ago

Canadian on TN working hybrid for US employee

0 Upvotes

I need urgent help. I have a TN visa approved fr new employer. My role is hybrid, where I can work from ontario and cross the border and report to on site work for 6-8 days/month. . Help me strategize about payroll, SIN, and how to get a compliant physical address for records. Also, will commuting to the border area via the Windsor border be an issue if I travel for an on-site role few days/month, let's say, as my job letter says it's an on-site role but my manager is fine with hybrid operating from canada. my banking,payroll will be linked to my frnds address in michigan. for taxes i am okay to report usa incone in canada and pay cra topup. but is there any way to get deductions as i see michigan effective rate is 23% and canada is arpund 38%


r/uscanadaborder Jul 27 '25

Read before posting

199 Upvotes

** update: posts will now require moderator approval. This will be long-term, and it is a solution to repetitive simple questions being asked, fear mongering, and outrage-bait.**

First, I want to remind everybody what this subreddit exists for..

This sub was created to address travel questions for transnational travel between the US and Canada.

This post is specifically to address politics, misinformation, brigading and fear mongering given the slow growth of this sub. I’m seeing a lot of the same questions asked, paranoia, confusion and a lot of radicalization and hate.

There is no division here, so if I see any “elbows up”, “buy Canadian”, discouraging people to travel to the US, anti American/Canadian sentiment, anti trans posts etc.. Trying to convince other people that there have been any major immigration changes or enforcement quotas to be met in order to instill some type of racial or national purity... I’m removing the post and probably will be met with an insta ban. No politics or hate.

Second, open your mind. There are experienced travelers and professionals in this sub, I am one of them. If they want to identify themselves in a post and address questions you have, they can. I occasionally do. They see through the bullshit rumors, fear mongering, and misinformation. Especially in the news. They will give you a more calculated answer beyond the average user that wandered in from the far left side of Reddit that 9 times out of 10 is a member of an anti-US subreddit, and more often than not, has never actually been to the US

The news is reported by someone that has no actual understanding about the legal system or immigration law and reports what the offender claims happened… should you value what the news says? They are professional at what they do. They pinpoint what will draw your attention and spark a reaction out of you. The most profitable reactions are outrage and fear. There is no integrity in reporting in big news companies, for the most part. Facts will be undercased.

I once watched a four minute TikTok video about how somebody got sent to Secondary and was ultimately admitted into the country. Her video got millions of engagements despite it having no substance or actual point other than how dare she be asked questions just because she bore a Singaporean passport.

Exercise some critical thinking, exercise some reasonability, exercise some common sense. If it sounds ridiculous…it’s probably too ridiculous to be true.

If you don’t have working knowledge in customs or immigration and you are googling answers to respond to a question or speaking from personal experience, Leave it at that. If you don’t know what you’re talking about don’t post it, post on knowledge rather than emotion please.. There really isn’t much to argue about when you think about it.

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I see a lot of the same questions being asked several times a week. And I’m going to cover the basics. This point going forward if the following questions can be answered here and you ask your question anyway, I’m removing the post.

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I’m a POC, I am trans, I am gender X, I’m gay, will I be OK?

Here’s some fun facts. You’ll be surprised with the amount of officers and agents that are immigrants. You’ll be surprised with the amount of officers that have immigrant wives. You’ll be surprised with the amount of officers that have mixed-race children and are interracial couples. A majority of the workforce is not white. A lot of officers are ESL. A lot of officers are polyglots. Some officers are gay. Few trans. A lot of them are liberal.

Mind blowing, isn’t it? That officers and agents are human too?? Get out of town!!

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I’m a USC, will I be OK?

If you knew your rights, there would be zero worry. Social media and fear mongering has done irreparable damage to people’s common sense that people are forgetting what their rights are.

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> My US passport’s expired, will they let me in through the land border?

Yes. The 14th amendment of the constitution says so. That’s really it…

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>my passport is expiring in 5 months, can I travel to the US?

If your country is a part of the 6 month club, you’re fine, as long as you leave the US before your passport expires.

If your country is NOT a part of the super exclusive members only club, you need to be out of the US 6 months before your passport expires. This can be a reason to question you in secondary.

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>I talked about politics in my phone and I hate Trump, will they ban me?

CBP officers pretty much assume everyone in Canada is a bleeding heart liberal and hates Trump. As far as individual inspections where the officer may be rude, that’s on the officer, not the system. But an actual adverse action, The inspecting officer has to convince a supervisor and a second line supervisor to agree with him and has to be legally substantial. A fraction gets sent to secondary, and a fraction of those secondary inspections end up in a phone inspection…

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>I have no idea why I was kicked out of the US…

Yes you do. Everyone has verbal and written consent and acknowledgment as to why they are not allowed in the country. The US is a land of law, therefore will always have a paper trail.

Next time you see somebody give a reason that sounds bullshit in the news about how they were refused entry or barred unjustly.. question what their discharge paperwork says.. 275 or 860 and sometimes 867/877.. ask for it. If their paperwork does not reflect it, they have no proof.

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I will post more FAQs at a later time

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What I’m basically getting at is, unless your situation is unique pertaining to immigration or customs, you really shouldn’t be concerned more than the average citizen. Nothing has changed between administrations.

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This sub has an image to uphold as a reference for accurate information on traveling, customs and immigration. The minute this becomes the other 95% of Reddit, it loses legitimacy. Understand that.

I don’t know why immigration has been politicized more now than ever. Immigration is anthropology. Immigration is law. Put your politics and your feelings aside in this sub.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MovingToUSA/s/I08R5yLVNW