How to handle jumping between US and Canada

[nuru05]

We are about to be heading from Huron to Erie in the next week or so and I am not quite sure how to handle jumping between countries. I know I need to call Canada and do the check in over the phone, but how does it work if we stay in a Canadian marina one night and then an American one the next night and so on? Do I need to check back into the US? How exactly do I do that? Then do I need to check back into Canada if we anchor in Canada on Lake St clair or Lake erie a few days later?

[Hartleyg]

Its up to you, but if you come to official attention while in the country you aren't cleared into, the consequences might be severe. The US and Canada do share info on who is where, and who has cleared in (and who hasn't).


Hartley
S/V Atsa

[nuru05]

Originally Posted by Hartleyg

Its up to you, but if you come to official attention while in the country you aren't cleared into, the consequences might be severe. The US and Canada do share info on who is where, and who has cleared in (and who hasn't).


Hartley
S/V Atsa

We definitely want to do it the legit way. So basically we need to clear into which ever country we want to touch land of that day. What do we need to do to clear back into the US?

[Montanan]

FYI:

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/pleasure-...S.C.%201433%29.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-v...aters-april-en

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by nuru05

We definitely want to do it the legit way. So basically we need to clear into which ever country we want to touch land of that day. What do we need to do to clear back into the US?

You have to buy a sticker to put on your boat and use the ROAM app on your phone.

[Gary Mc]

It is probably simpler to stay on one side or the other. You can do Huron to Erie in a single day, but if you want to site see then you do need to call in when going to the other country.
I have not crossed in a few years but I would suggest making a call to find out the requirements.
As a Canadian I need a Nexus or an I68 card to enter the US.
Good luck

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Gary Mc

It is probably simpler to stay on one side or the other.

The last 25 years have seen the largest land border in the world go from "no one cares" to a bureaucratic entanglement with a long list of people who are denied the privilege (right?) of travel across the 49th parallel, whether due to DUI arrests/convictions in the past, child support they cannot afford to pay, national origin, or other crimes and misdemeanors.


It's pot luck. I've crossed many times and usually it's no big deal, but once in a while you get a customs/immigration agent who doesn't like your hair/clothes/sunglasses/whatever and you spend two and a half hours answering questions -- questions critical to public safety -- about what's in your thermos and whether that bottle of gin in the back is a liter, a fifth, or a quart. The US agents have the worst reputation but I've had more trouble with Canada. You just never know what's going to set them off.


Anyway, yes, blend in, have your paperwork in order, and don't make any more crossings than you have to.

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by Jammer

It's pot luck.

[emoji848] good choice of words...

[desodave]

And the more frequently you cross, the more suspicious you'll look imo ... a version of pot luck.

[Tedd]

Caveat: I have yet to do a border crossing with my boat but I've made many crossings by private airplane, which is similar, and many more by car.

Regarding whose customs officials are worse, perhaps counterintuitively most people seem to find that re-entering their own country is where they're most likely to have problems. Perhaps smuggling by citizens is more common than smuggling by foreigners?

Anyway, OP is doing the right thing by asking questions and trying to get all the information. My experience has been that if you "have your ducks in a row" it almost always goes smoothly. But, sometimes, even a very small duck out of line can trip you up.

[sleepy]

stayed at windsor yacht club last night im from michigan they had a phone direct to customs just need passport info or enhanced drivers lic easy as pie # for vessel also

sleepy

[CarlF]

It’s been a while since I last crossed but the most inconvenient thing was the very small amounts of alcohol Canada allows on the boat without duty. Two bottles of wine OR 1 bottle of hard liquor OR 24 cans of beer per person.

At least then, this was enforced strictly. If they found undeclared alcohol they could impound the boat for days while they conducted a full search.

Not sure if this is still an issue

[hasse_A]

What flag does your boat have ?
What country has issued the passports for the crew onboard ?

[DeanRussell]

I crossed from Alaska to BC Canada last week in an American boat, Canadian Captain and a US passenger/owner. It was easy. Called Canada Customs @ 1-888-226-7277 , all info here
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-v...pp-eng.html#s2

The only things you really have to know is you have to be at a reporting point. As in a dock at a specific marina and then call, have passports ready to give the answering agent the info on passengers, state you are not bringing back more than you took in and they give you a clearance number so have a writing instrument handy.
I was not on board for the return to the US.

[Lepke]

If everybody on board has a Nexus card, you just call in.