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Canada - US Border Crossing

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Planning a trip from Vancouver to Mount Baker in January but will have to return directly to Vancouver Airport from Mount Baker to catch an internal flight at 20:30. How long does it typically take to cross both from Canada into US and then US back into Canada? Will be in rental car.

Also as a British passport holder with the electronic visa for Canada will I need a visa for the US for a day trip?

Thank you for any information/ advice
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Sumas crossing isn't bad IME but I'd definitely avoid Peace Arch. Will still take you at least an hour from Abbotsford to airport.

No idea about current crossing in the ESTA era. You used to just pay for a visa waiver at the border. As a UK passport holder I found getting back into Canada the trickier crossing.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
IIRC no visa required for land based entry to the US from CA.

Looking at something similar in a couple of seasons to get to Whitefish Madeye-Smiley
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Thanks for the replies,
@Dave of the Marmottes, trickier how?
@Bones, IIRC?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Can I enter the United States by land from Canada or Mexico under the Visa Waiver Program? Why do I have to pay a $6.00 fee if entering the United States by land under the Visa Waiver Program?

Yes. If you enter by land there is no requirement that you be in possession of a round trip or onward ticket. The immigration authorities at the border crossing will issue you with the arrival/departure record card, I-94W. You will be charged a $6.00 administrative fee; the fee is payable in U.S. dollars only.

https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/non-immigrant-visa-faqs/visa-waiver-program-and-esta/
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@Snowsartre, Last year I crossed in a rental car from Canada into the US at the Peace Arch crossing. There's a car parking area where you park up and go into the building. There were some queues in the building so it took about 45 mins to get the paperwork processed (I-94W Visa Waiver Form and pay the $6 fee). Note you do not need to have an ESTA if you are entering the US by land. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/esta-usa-visa-requirements-us-canada-border-a7040256.html

On the way back into Canada I crossed from near the Glacier National Park in Montana back into Canada. Took less than 5 minutes and the Canadian border post person asked if I wanted them to remove the green slip from the I94W form (which the US border people attach to your passport on entry to the US) and return it to the US officials. Since I wasn't returning back into the US later on my journey I said yes, it's important that it gets returned to US officials as otherwise they assume you haven't left the US and next time you try to enter you could get loads of hassle. Skullie
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Snowsartre, IIRC - if I recall Toofy Grin
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After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
[quote="Snowsartre"]Thanks for the replies,
@Dave of the Marmottes, trickier how?


Just ask more questions particularly about why you've been to US for the day ( or a few days) in a CA plated car. They can't be that arsed about weed smuggling but they are pretty thorough - mainly it seems about keeping US crims out ( even DUIs).
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Bones wrote:
Snowsartre, IIRC - if I recall Toofy Grin


If I Recall (or Remember) Correctly Razz
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Not that anybody mentioned it at all, but I thought I'd just chime in with my experience - U.S. CBP does not consider trains to be 'land'. rolling eyes

That is to say, if you cross into the U.S. from Canada by train e.g. the Amtrak Cascades service, you are expected to have an ESTA, and while they do have and will issue you an I-94W - that's how we got through - they are unhappy doing so because from their point of view the electronic system is in place for you to use - which was news to us, since we'd read all the guidelines and they said that land crossings did not require an ESTA, we didn't get one.

It took all my willpower not to reply "Well they don't Be Nice please! fly, do they?"

Worth remembering if you ever take the train in North America!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
86tomw wrote:
Not that anybody mentioned it at all, but I thought I'd just chime in with my experience - U.S. CBP does not consider trains to be 'land'. rolling eyes
......
It took all my willpower not to reply "Well they don't ***ing fly, do they?"


@86tomw, Admirable forbearance I'd say! Toofy Grin
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
We lived on the border in Canada as Brits. Drove over from BC to Washington quite a bit. Get the online clearance then just turn up and get visa waiver thing was how it worked for us.
Never nay probes.
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Snowsartre wrote:
Planning a trip from Vancouver to Mount Baker in January but will have to return directly to Vancouver Airport from Mount Baker to catch an internal flight at 20:30. How long does it typically take to cross both from Canada into US and then US back into Canada? Will be in rental car.

I'd be very leery of any "typical" planning.

The border crossing time can vary considerably from day to day. There maybe some reason behind the variation. But not as a local it's easy to miss those and be caught out. Budget an hour, you'll probably be ok. More if you want some peace of mind.

Most issues people ran into seems to be crossing INTO US. Not leaving US going into Canada. rolling eyes

Last time I drove towards Canada, google map actually gave me a heads up on the boarder waiting time. (30~45 min) which was close enough to reality (it was a Friday evening after all). The border formality itself was quick enough. Just a matter of how many cars the Canadian officers can handle in an hour (no more waving cars through these days).
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
As abc says, use Google Maps and Waze.

Or skip through the backroads.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Alastair Pink wrote:
86tomw wrote:
Not that anybody mentioned it at all, but I thought I'd just chime in with my experience - U.S. CBP does not consider trains to be 'land'. rolling eyes
......
It took all my willpower not to reply "Well they don't ***ing fly, do they?"


@86tomw, Admirable forbearance I'd say! Toofy Grin


A few years in a Cuban orange onesie might just be worth it though. Laughing
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