USA into Canada-Visa?

[Steviesam]

I am off to America in August and we are taking a road trip up to Quebec City, Canada.

As a UK passport holder, do I need a visa to enter from the US?

[smack]

Nope! But get ready for Canadian border guys to be a PITA - they are a surly bunch.

I have driven over the border twice, and my rental impounded and searched twice....

[belleair302]

The Canadians are pretty good with regard to brits, but check with the car hire company about driving into Canada and insurance. You may also have to pay a small exit fee, not sure if this still exists.

[5potTurbo]

Are you crossing from U.S to Canada at Niagara Falls? If so, the Immigration line on the bridge to Niagara (CA) side can be long, and slow.

[GuyW]

Didn't have any problems at all with the Canadian side of things.
Getting back into the US however... Barrage of questions, repeated questioning over details a few times and a very hostile experience.
Wasn't even the most well travelled crossing I'd have thought, I was heading up the east coast to Nova Scotia.

[Bingoej]

I did a tour of Canada and the USA a couple of years ago. Flew to Montreal, hired a car and drove up to Ottawa, then down into the U.S. Drove down through New York State and Massachusetts to my brother's wedding in Mystic, Connecticut. Then back up through Vermont and New Hampshire to Quebec. After a few days in Quebec, we headed back to Montreal for the flight home. Crossed into the U.S. at Ogdensburg. Whilst not exactly welcoming, there was no queue at the border and no real hassle. The U.S. border people were more interested in discussing their shift patterns than us. Same coming back into Canada. No queue and no hassle. Quebec was fantastic by the way. Loved Ottawa too but didn't really get on with Montreal which was a bit too much like "generic big city".

[Steviesam]

5potTurbo said:

Are you crossing from U.S to Canada at Niagara Falls? If so, the Immigration line on the bridge to Niagara (CA) side can be long, and slow.

Not sure where we will b e crossing, taking the back roads through Maine, but it wont be Niagara, we are not going there.

Thanks everyone else for the advice.

[so called]

I used to fly between the two regularly and theory paperwork was a customs declaration.
Drove down from Montreal to Platsburg NY and back once but don't remember doing a customs form then?

[acer12]

GuyW said:

Didn't have any problems at all with the Canadian side of things.
Getting back into the US however... Barrage of questions, repeated questioning over details a few times and a very hostile experience.
Wasn't even the most well travelled crossing I'd have thought, I was heading up the east coast to Nova Scotia.

This is my experience too. Crossed from Canada to US last week and was questioned extensively by 3 different US immigration officers. I have always found their land emigration officers to be much stricter / suspicious than their airport colleagues. The Canadian guys were a much friendlier bunch and didn't seem to care too much.

Process is that you will get to the US emigration booth but as you are non US / Canadian you need to go to an office so my tips would be:
1. Have your car organised - ie pack away luggage, dump rubbish, as you will be asked to open the bonnet & boot, being organised makes their job easier therefore your life easier,
2. Have a folder with as much helpful details to bring into the US emigration office to aid form filling / interrogation including:
-> Flight home details,
-> Accommodation details,
-> Good knowledge of your itinerary - I could not remember the border crossing I was planning on re-entering Canada via and I got some smart ass comments and grunts,
3. If you have a strange job / no job be well rehearsed on your story as they can be intimidating fellows.

As you will have already entered the US via air you will have a valid 90 day visa. In my case I didnt so I had to fill out the old fashioned paperwork and have the visa slip stapled to my passport which the Canadian emigration took when I returned to Canada.

Also advise researching your crossing point for wait times. Most cities have more than 1. Also avoid rush hour as there are many commuters between both countries.

Edited by acer12 on Monday 29th June 16:44