Last fall, I moved from Ontario to Alberta hauling a 5x8 Trailer of my stuff. To avoid the dreadfully boring prairie drive, I chose to travel across the border into the United States at Windsor and Detroit and travel west and come back across in Southern Alberta. It seemed like a simple plan until I began researching the reality of what would be required.
I contacted the Canadian border and customs first and was told that they were not concerned with what I was taking across the border and back but said that if I have anything with serial numbers I can register them with Canadian Customs before crossing if I wanted. I was advised to document everything I was bringing with me on a requisition, including value, whenever possible. I did that and even took photographs of the contents of any boxes and containers and printed off multiple copies. I then contacted the US Customs and Border Patrol at the Windsor-Detroit Border to learn what they would require in terms of documentation, inventory lists, and so on. The Officer I spoke with was very nonchalant and did not care at all about what I was bringing with me into the USA. What he was concerned about was proof that I was going to be leaving the US with my stuff and not trying to move there or leave my stuff there. He advised me to bring documentation proving that I was going to actually move to Alberta and not the USA. I had a lease agreement from a building in Alberta and proof of making a deposit. I also had resumes and cover letters for applications for employment in Alberta. I was even traveling with someone who owned a home in Alberta and was employed. My family all lived where I was moving which would also ease the concerns of the USA Border Officers. Although I was surprised that the USA Officers did not care at all about what I was traveling with, I felt confident that the trip would go smooth with the documentation I possessed. My mother was extremely concerned because when she moved up from Florida to Alberta, she was scrutinized and they unpacked everything and searched it. She was worried that I would go through the same. I had that in the back of my mind but because I planned on going through in the wee hours of the night/morning when the borders would be quiet so if they decided to search it wouldn't take hours and hours...I hoped. Moving day was stressful as we packed what would fit and less and less space was available for the other items. I became upset and irrationally threw my hands up and told my friend to "throw it on the curb if it doesn't fit." Patiently, he made every effort to make as much fit as possible and find out what was most important to bring. Although many things were left on the curb, the important things came with us. We drove to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel that evening when traffic was light and arrived at around 1 a.m. There was not another soul at the crossing when he arrived. I realized, in the chaos and stress, that I had placed the bag that my passport was located in was put in the trailer behind a shelf but was relatively easy to get without unloading the entire trailer. We considered stopping before going through and getting my passport but because I thought the Officers would want to search the trailer, I figured I could get it then. That was a big mistake. At the gate, the Officer in the kiosk asked where we were going, what we were doing, and for our passports. We told them we were heading to Alberta and he questioned further and we explained our travel plans to spend time in Detroit, then Chicago, Minneapolis, and then cross the border into Canada with our final destination being Alberta. The Officer than accused us of lying to him and coupled with the fact that I did not have my Passport in my possession upon entry set of alarms for him and we were sent into the Border and Customs Office for questioning. After speaking to us and learning that we were not trafficking drugs, people, or attempting to reside in the USA, and that my Passport was in the trailer, the Officer sent my friend to the trailer to get my Passport while he questioned me further. He explained why I was being questioned and that not having my Passport with me in hand was irresponsible and why I was under suspicion. He then asked if I had anything to prove that I was indeed leaving the USA and moving to Alberta. I promptly presented my Lease Agreement, Contents Insurance policy and was about to present resumes and such when he said that was more than enough proof and that he was satisfied. My friend had not returned yet so the Officer allowed me to go out, retrieve my Passport and return to present it to him. I met my friend at the trailer and was able to climb over things and reach the bag I knew it was in. I pulled out the bag and got my Passport from the pocket I had placed it in, presented it to the Officer in Customs and we were allowed to enter the USA. We placed what we had removed from the trailer back inside, closed and locked it and were on our way again. It was a little unnerving being questioned by Customs at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel but could have been much worse. They were not concerned or curious in the least about the contents of my car or trailer. They could have had us take out everything, search it and then have us put it all back again but they didn't. Even when we had it open, they didn't even come over. They stood about 50 metres away chatting to each other completely uninterested. That was a bit strange to me. We could have been smuggling drugs or anything and they didn't know or seem to have any suspicions or care at all. No harm, no foul. We were in Detroit and the adventures had begun. |
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