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First time going to Canada
Posted on 2/22/18 at 5:41 am
Posted on 2/22/18 at 5:41 am
Actually this is our first time leaving the country.
My wife and I are flying to Detroit and getting a rental car to go to Toronto for a couple days, then driving back to Detroit. I have a few questions about leaving the country.
We are going get passports tomorrow. How long does that take to come in?
Can I just use my debit card or a credit card in Canada?
Is my driver's license valid in another country?
Will our cell phones work there or will we be charged roaming or some type of long distance charges?
What kind of hassle is it driving across the border?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
My wife and I are flying to Detroit and getting a rental car to go to Toronto for a couple days, then driving back to Detroit. I have a few questions about leaving the country.
We are going get passports tomorrow. How long does that take to come in?
Can I just use my debit card or a credit card in Canada?
Is my driver's license valid in another country?
Will our cell phones work there or will we be charged roaming or some type of long distance charges?
What kind of hassle is it driving across the border?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
10
Posted on 2/22/18 at 6:03 am to Cleanmatt
quote:
We are going get passports tomorrow. How long does that take to come in?
State department says 4-6 weeks. Most people seem to get them in about 4 weeks. That's about how long mine took to come in.
quote:
Can I just use my debit card or a credit card in Canada?
Yes. You may want to call your bank / credit card company ahead of time and let them know you are leaving the country. I no longer have to do that for my cards, but you need to check on that.
And it's good to have some cash just in case. I usually just get some cash from an ATM when I land at the airport.
quote:
Is my driver's license valid in another country?
Yes.
quote:
Will our cell phones work there or will we be charged roaming or some type of long distance charges?
Call your provider ahead of time and let them know you are leaving the country and they'll hook you up with a plan.
quote:
What kind of hassle is it driving across the border?
Driven a rental car in Canada twice but never had to cross the border. But no, it shouldn't be much of a hassle.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 6:05 am to Cleanmatt
Passports usually take 2 to 3 weeks if you do it by mail, faster if you go to New Orleans.
Yes, you can use credit and debit cards in Canada. When you cross go to an ATM and get some cash; it's the easiest way to get foreign currency.
Your drivers license is fine pretty much everywhere in the world.
Cell phones will not work or the roaming charges will be outrageous. We left ours off when driving to Alaska.
Driving across the boarder usually isn't much of a hassle but can be sometimes. It seems like occasionally there is a pissing contest between Canadian and US customs to see which can be the biggest bunch of assholes.
Yes, you can use credit and debit cards in Canada. When you cross go to an ATM and get some cash; it's the easiest way to get foreign currency.
Your drivers license is fine pretty much everywhere in the world.
Cell phones will not work or the roaming charges will be outrageous. We left ours off when driving to Alaska.
Driving across the boarder usually isn't much of a hassle but can be sometimes. It seems like occasionally there is a pissing contest between Canadian and US customs to see which can be the biggest bunch of assholes.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 7:41 am to Tigris
If you have a DUI on your record, it could be difficult driving across the border, so I've heard. May want to look into it at least. What I've heard could be completely wrong though.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 9:17 am to ColoradoAg03
Yeah, what’s the dui rule about? Does it go for flying as well?
Posted on 2/22/18 at 10:05 am to TheIndulger
quote:
eah, what’s the dui rule about? Does it go for flying as well?
I have heard this many times, but not sure on the validity. I have a co-worker, with a dui on record, that has been to Canada with me several times and he's never had an issue. This is always flying, if it matters.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 10:18 am to ColoradoAg03
That's a good point. And you can't bring pepper spray for bears across the border since it's considered a weapon (ours was confiscated and we had to fill out a form that made us look like criminals). But you can buy it in Canada.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 10:19 am to speckledawg
If you had a DWI in last 10 years, most likely will not be allowed to enter
I found this out after booking my 3rd leg of my PNW trip.
A buddy mentioned that I might need to see if I would be allowed in. I called up the border people I found off the internet and explained to them its been about 7 years since being arrested for DWI, etc etc
They advise I could apply for something that would take months to get and cost buku $$$
I will just wait until 10 years is up.
Hell the friend that told me to look into had one exactly 10 years when he tried entering. He said he had to sit in customs for 3-4 hours. They plucked him from off the train as soon as they hit Vancouver. He explained the DWI situation and after they verified it was 10 years ago, he was allowed to go
I found this out after booking my 3rd leg of my PNW trip.
A buddy mentioned that I might need to see if I would be allowed in. I called up the border people I found off the internet and explained to them its been about 7 years since being arrested for DWI, etc etc
They advise I could apply for something that would take months to get and cost buku $$$
I will just wait until 10 years is up.
Hell the friend that told me to look into had one exactly 10 years when he tried entering. He said he had to sit in customs for 3-4 hours. They plucked him from off the train as soon as they hit Vancouver. He explained the DWI situation and after they verified it was 10 years ago, he was allowed to go
Posted on 2/22/18 at 10:19 am to speckledawg
also it totally matters what the reason is for... if its business versus pleasure\vacationing
Posted on 2/22/18 at 11:36 am to Cleanmatt
quote:
flying to Detroit and getting a rental car to go to Toronto for a couple days, then driving back to Detroit.
quote:
What kind of hassle is it driving across the border?
Rental car for a couple of days in Canada, yeah you're gonna be given the full treatment on the way back.
Mostly kidding....kind of.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 12:15 pm to Cleanmatt
quote:
What kind of hassle is it driving across the border?
Depends on the agent. They've got some real assholes, don't say anything that's not necessary.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 12:57 pm to LSUintheNW
quote:
you're gonna be given the full treatment on the way back.
Coming back into the States is much easier. Unless you are Canadian. We treat them as bad as they treat us.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 1:35 pm to Tigris
quote:
Coming back into the States is much easier
Honestly, it can go either way in my experience.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 2:04 pm to LSUvegasbombed
quote:
If you had a DWI in last 10 years, most likely will not be allowed to enter
Thats disappointing to hear. Planning a trip to Banff for the summer and I have a friend very interested that has a DWI on his record.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 2:24 pm to LSUintheNW
quote:
Rental car for a couple of days in Canada, yeah you're gonna be given the full treatment on the way back.
Mostly kidding....kind of.
The only time I drove a rental car across the US/CAN border I was held up coming back to the US. Had me wait in the lobby area for over an hour while USBP searched the car. Also consider that you may not get a rental car with MI plates and possess an out of state license, so BP may pull you aside only for that reason.
I've flown, driven, and taken a bus into Canada many times and never really had any trouble other than that one time. If you can get by without a car, consider taking a bus or train to Toronto.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 4:14 pm to Cleanmatt
quote:
We are going get passports tomorrow. How long does that take to come in?
My last one took three weeks to come in.
quote:
Can I just use my debit card or a credit card in Canada?
Yes. You can use them in any country but you may want to let your bank know so they don't flag any charges.
quote:
Is my driver's license valid in another country?
Yes.
quote:
Will our cell phones work there or will we be charged roaming or some type of long distance charges?
I don't have roaming charges so I'm not sure about this one. Call your carrier.
quote:
What kind of hassle is it driving across the border?
Depends. They're going to check you out coming and going. Usually not bad though. Occasionally, you'll get an a-hole agent. They ask basic questions like how long you're going to be in the country and such. Really not a lot different than entering the country via air.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 4:30 pm to McVick
I drove across and back same day to Niagara Falls. We were in the area so figured why not.
Getting in took forever as the lines were long as hell.
Getting back I was able to use the Global Entry ID card to skip the lines coming in and go right to an agent. You have to do a separate registration online after you receive the GE card to be able to do that. Merely having GE isn't acceptable. They tell you about that feature but if you get GE somewhere like New Orleans they mention it in passing figuring you'll never drive across the border.
So that was awesome.
Getting in took forever as the lines were long as hell.
Getting back I was able to use the Global Entry ID card to skip the lines coming in and go right to an agent. You have to do a separate registration online after you receive the GE card to be able to do that. Merely having GE isn't acceptable. They tell you about that feature but if you get GE somewhere like New Orleans they mention it in passing figuring you'll never drive across the border.
So that was awesome.
This post was edited on 2/22/18 at 4:31 pm
Posted on 2/22/18 at 4:40 pm to Cleanmatt
I crossed years ago and we had to pull over and go into the office at the border. I think my Alabama drivers license triggered it. They asked me 59 times if I had a gun in me or in the vehicle. They searched everything, mirrored under the car, body pat down, digging through the old lady's panties in the luggage, they went through everything.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 4:43 pm to LSUintheNW
I've crossed in Washington, Idaho, and Montana with one bad experience. The Canadian agent on the Washington/B.C. checkpoint was a dick, despite the fact that I'm a very lovable and likeable SOB.
The U.S. agent in Idaho was downright friendly. I guess my wife and I in a Subaru don't look like much of a threat.
The U.S. agent in Idaho was downright friendly. I guess my wife and I in a Subaru don't look like much of a threat.
Posted on 2/22/18 at 5:33 pm to Cleanmatt
The lines coming back into the US can be long and super annoying. I've sat in line for up to 2 hrs between BC and Washington
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