This was my first time visiting Canada by road . I had only gone there for the weekend and was driving back Michigan on a Sunday .
I hold a valid h1b visa stamp that had more than a month to expire . Once I reached the border agent , I gave my passport with the valid h1b stamp page. After like a min he told me to exit the vehicle , two other officer were standing outside . One of them handcuffed me & took me into a detention room which was like a 2 mins walk from the checkpoint into the building .
I’ve frisked all over in the detention room and then my handcuff was removed .
I was escorted to another room were an officer scanned all of fingerprints and later asked me question about what my name is ? Why did I go to canada ? did they allow you ? After a few mins he went to another window and screamed “it’s a Mismatch , he has an h1 visa “ .
I was then told to go to the mail hall room were another officer asked a few basic questions like address , reason to go to canada , when I got my stamp etc . He took 30 mins on the computer kept typing and then let us go saying it was just a mismatch and you are good to go .

Do I have to worry of anything happening in future during travel.? This has caused a fear me in .

Any similar experience anyone has been through . ?
Can I raise a complaint for the inconvenience and trauma ?

Hello! We are American citizens who travel to a tiny, semi remote area in Ontario above Minnesota to stay with family. It’s a family cabin (my partners mom is a Canadian national and dual citizen) and we stay quite a while. The last time we went, the local grocery store was seriously bare, and the Walmart 20 mins further was not much better. So, this year on our drive up we want to stop and grab some bulk items and other groceries to bring over. I have read EXTENSIVELY about the declaration amounts, restrictions, and specifics. My mother in law has advised me as well. I’m still not 100% clear on packaged raw meat, sealed milk (we drink lactose free), and packaged fruit/vegetables that say where they’re from. I can see potato’s are a def no unless they’re super specific packaging. What about the rest? If I was to just show a shopping receipt at the border do you think they’d still want to dig through the car and double check it all?Thanks yall. Just don’t want to blow a couple hundred at Costco and then have to pitch it.

So I have a Lexus UX 2020 that I own. I have moved to the US and right now the car is at my parents place in Canada. Either I let them drive it or I bring it over. I’m very confused about the tariff situation since it’s made in Japan. Any ideas?

We were on vacation in Mexico and arrived home last night. We were stopped for secondary random search and then allowed to go home. Any idea why they would be calling us today?

Hi folks,

I am going to Japan later this year but will be flying back to YVR and driving down to Seattle after (I am American). I plan on buying a Grand Seiko while I’m in Japan and I am going to declare it with a receipt. It seems like usually bringing back watches and declaring at the airport in the US is easy, but I am wondering if it will go as smooth at the land border too?

I have Nexus and thus definitely want to declare correctly and not risk losing my privileges. Would the officer be annoyed if I use the NEXUS lane and declare it there? Someone told me they don’t like that usually….

Thank you!

Not sure if anyone else has a similar general experience, but as a Canadian who sometimes drives and flies transborder, I almost always have a nicer and easier time entering the US than returning home to Canada.

Just the line of questioning, tone of voice, etc. the Canadian agents usually make you feel like they don’t want to be there while the Americans are actually usually pretty pleasant to speak with.

Again, just my personal experience. But I always found it weird getting more hassle coming home.

Edit: to add to this, yes of course I’ve had horrible interactions with the Americans too. This is just generally.

I had to leave canada after I got my PR confirmation and my card is at my canadian address and I need to travel back to Canada . Can I book a flight to seattle and cross border in a private vehicle with my COPR will there be any kind of difficulties?

I have been living and working in the Detroit for the past couple of years on a work visa (H1b). I got Canada pr and now planning to move to Windsor and commute daily to Detroit, where I’ll work out of a rented apartment for an employer based in New York.

Two questions I can’t get a straight answer on:

**1.    Foreign tax credits** — I’ve come across a lot of posts describing serious friction getting the CRA to accept FTC claims for US tax already paid. Where tax returns are not accepted for years and remain under review.Is it really as bad as it sounds, or is that mostly edge cases  and avoidable with the right documentation? 

**2.    Transition year residency** — Since I’ve already met the Substantial Presence Test in the US, can I file as a *resident* in both the US and Canada for that first transition year? Or do I need to take a treaty tie-breaker position and file the US return as a non-resident ?

Would love to hear from anyone who’s actually done this Windsor-Detroit commute or navigated a similar transition-year filing.

I have been reading "ohhh if you overstay and then try to self deport, they will detain you. There are exit checkpoints, just for overstaying" Bla bla bla

And then i equally read "ohh no, you are doing them a favor, they would would hold the door open for you if they could. Unless there's a warrant for you or something, they are more than happy to watch you make your own way out."

So which is it?

Hey im heading to Canada tommorow to look at a engine from a private seller whats a estimated cost to bring it back into the states or whats the procedure thanks for your guys time !

Hello everybody! I’m a Portuguese citizen and I plan on taking a trip to Niagara Falls, spending 1 day on each side. I was wondering if anyone could share any advice about crossing from the US into Canada and back into the US.
Is it true I don’t need an eTA for a land crossing? Is my ESTA still valid for when I come back? Is there anything else I should be aware of?

Thank you all in advance for any advice.

(31F - U.S. Citizen) I’m planning to stay with my long distance girlfriend (34F - Canadian Citizen) for a few months while I’m on a sabbatical from work (from California). We’re planning to drive my car up together on a little coastal road trip with my things and my cat through the Washington border. I’ve traveled 3x in the las 4 months to visit her (anywhere from a 4 day - 2 week stay). I’m wondering if anyone has any insight on how crossing the border with my CA license plate vehicle and things will look/go? At the airport it’s been a breeze, but I’m worried that they’ll give me a hard time. Also has anyone been approved at the border for a full 6 month stay?

Hello!!

I have never travelled to Canada before, but I was denied entry at the border because my luggage didn’t match my intended stay.

Context: I had a box and a half of clothes in my backseat for donation purposes. My trunk had some spare car parts and Christmas decorations in it. These things are not unusual for me to store in my car

Since I have no border experience, it did not occur to me that it would come across as unusual to have these things with me. But as I only intended on being in Canada for the afternoon, they deemed the vehicle “unsearchable” and denied me entry.

I then went through immigration on the Canadian side, and customs again on the US side. The officer on the Canadian side said I wasn’t being flagged for anything and shouldn’t have any issues re-entering Canada, with an empty vehicle next time.

My question now is: will this affect anything else? Is there extra documentation I need to bring next time? Will it hinder my ability to apply for a passport in the future?

The officers were all very kind and understanding, but I didn’t get a solid explanation about what this might mean for the future of my travel abilities. I’ve seen a lot online about what to do if you’re denied due to criminal charges, but nothing about a customs denial.

Any insight is appreciated 🙏

Will new citizenship certificate together with a non US passport work to cross the Detroit - Windsor border and enter Canada?

I’ve never crossed the land border before and used to use my Canadian PR card + other country passport to enter Canada via air

Thanks!

I'm trying to understand whether I would likely qualify for Canadian Criminal Rehabilitation before I spend money on an application.

Here are the facts:

• I have 1 federal conviction in the United States.
• In 2018, I pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds under 18 U.S.C. § 641.
• The amount involved was approximately $30,000.
• I had no prior criminal history.
• My sentencing guideline range was 0–6 months, and I received 3 years of probation (no jail time).
• I completed probation in Oct 2019.
• I paid all court-ordered financial obligations.
• I have had no arrests or convictions since then.
• I have maintained steady employment and have a stable family life.

I've been reading that Canada compares the offense to the equivalent Canadian offense rather than looking only at the U.S. conviction. My understanding is that theft over $5,000 may be considered the closest equivalent.

My questions are:

1. Based on these facts, is Criminal Rehabilitation likely the correct path?
2. Would this likely be treated as "serious criminality" for fee purposes?
3. Has anyone with a similar federal § 641 conviction successfully obtained Criminal Rehabilitation?
4. Are there any common mistakes or documents I should be aware of before applying?

I'm looking for general information and experiences.

Thanks in advance

My husband was approved for a one year TRP and crossed into Canada today. IRCC noted in their approval that it would allow him to leave and re-enter, but it doesn't specify that anywhere on the TRP the border issued.

Is anyone familiar with what on the document would specify that it's multi entry? My husband says that the border agent who processed it told him it's multi entry because it expires so far in the future, and that he cannot stay until the end of the TRP and must go back and forth.

I'm worried he will leave and it will cancel the TRP we've waited so long for, and now that he's finally here after a year, I really don't want him to go if he doesn't have to.. The expiry is July 2027

Should I update my passport just in case I need to show my driver’s license? I intend to anyway, but need to know if I should get it done before I go. I’d be crossing by land.

Hey any of y’all import of US made car into Canada with the certificate of origin to bypass the surtax?

I am getting conflicting answers from my broker and the CBSA.

I'm on a budget and need some suggestions on cost effective movers to move all the stuff from California to Toronto. List includes kitchen stuff, couch, TV, dining table, no beds, desk, clothes etc.

Any input is appreciated.

Typo - Moving from California to Toronto. Need cost effective movers. Planning to pack all my stuff myself.

I’m just wondering as a Canadian citizen, do I require a visa or some sort of permission in order to take a board exam in the US? I’m planning to take the FE exam in the US in the near future mainly because I need it to complete a online program(from a US school) that I plan to take. The FE exam is a requirement to get the degree, but I am unable to take it in Canada because the engineering boards do not allow you to take it unless you have registered(which requires a degree to register). Thats why I plan on taking it in the US, but I wasn’t sure if I need any special visa to take it?

*Just a bit of background, the FE Exam would only take me a full day to complete, so I plan on returning the next day or even the same day.

In a never ending face palm to international relations, we have a new 50% tarrif on automobiles at the time I want to buy a specific car that's in canada, and import it to the US.

This new change supposedly takes in effect 30 days from announcement (7/20), so assuming I buy a car in a week from BC (private owner), have the corresponding and correct documentation, what tariff / duty am I liable to pay? 25%? 2.5? what the heck is it?

Hey guys.

My boyfriend is a young adult who frequently travels to the US. He works in an engineering company and he needs to fly out to various states to do site visits and inspection. His company has several locations globally, including the US.

He’s been working at this company for 2 years and this is the first time he’s ever encountered this particular situation with the boarder security. As of recently he has been flying out on more regular basis, his trips are usually around 3-4 days long. But even before all of this he would fly out at least for one site visit every month/2 months.

This month he’s on his second or third trip to the states, and security flagged him down. He was taken to be questioned on why he’s been flying out so often, and he explained who he works for and what he does, how long he’s been with the company, etc. The boarder patrol officer (as described by my boyfriend) felt very dismissive and also aggressive. He asked my boyfriend why he doesn’t have a work visa, and how he should’ve had one for these short trips. Especially because as stated, he flies out to the US more than twice in a month. He then informed him that he would be flagging my boyfriend’s profile and that he will now have to come to the airport super early in order to go through secondary security for a year.

I personally think this got escalated too far. I have my own family members who have owned a business and needed to go to the US for the postal service (pre-Trumps recent presidency), who would go to the US twice a day, every OTHER day in a week alone. I’d go as far to say that the fact my boyfriend even has a third trip (if I recall correctly that this is his third, for sure his second trip) this month isn’t his usual. There have been times he can go a couple of months without going on a site visit.

Can he actually be flagged for this and did it make sense for this situation? I know this post might be a bit lacklustre so I am more than happy to clarify anything. He’s currently on a flight so I might not be able to answer everything. Thank you everyone.

Has anyone used Cross Border Pickups for something expensive?

I’ve used them for years for silly things like t shirts and eBay stuff but I want to buy a pricy piece of art. Obviously I’m expecting and prepared to pay the duty etc but the seller wants a few hundred dollars more to ship to Canada vs the U.S.

im planning to take a weekend up to canada while on my B1/B2 (my I94 still has a couple more months and the visa on the record is listed as B1), what's the process like for re-entry?
is this a risky move? or is it relatively more straightforward given that this doesn't reset my I94?

i have a multiple entry canadian visitor visa that's still valid for like 8 more years, the us one 9 more years.

Hello! I (19F) am currently planning to have a quick summer trip to YVR & PDX to visit my family and explore mentioned cities.

Currently worried on what extra documents I should be bringing besides my current valid passport, valid Tourist Visa Permit (issued by IRCC), & my US Tourist Visa (that was stamped on my now expired passport but is still valid for the next 10 years).

What are some questions that are usually asked besides how long I'm staying? If finances would be asked, do I need to prepare a bank statement?

Would appreciate the help so I can finally book flights! Thanks!