Clearing customs in Vancouver at train station

[chakk]

I have been to Canada twice in the past 2 years by train. The first time - on the Maple Leaf; the second time on the Adirondack. I had no problems at all. I was asked a few routine questions (in English) and there were no issues or follow up. Neither time was my luggage or personal effects inspected. I guess I look like a harmless little old lady. :giggle:

Perhaps you hit the nail on the head. I have been to Canada many times and not been subjected to any searches; however, the last time I went to Canada was over three years ago. Have done quite a bit of foreign travel since then though. I have no problem with what a country does to find out who and/or what is coming into it. Ever noticied how long it takes a foreigner to clear our customs and immigration?

Lots of foreign travel also with no holdups at any of the US customs points upon my return. Although I do remember one customs agent telling me in JFK on a return from a business trip to Brussels that he might have to personally inspect and confiscate the Belgian chocolates I was bringing back for my wife. :giggle:

 

[AmtrakBlue]

author="chakk" data-cid="426364" data-time="1362289993">Lots of foreign travel also with no holdups at any of the US customs points upon my return. Although I do remember one customs agent telling me in JFK on a return from a business trip to Brussels that he might have to personally inspect and confiscate the Belgian chocolates I was bringing back for my wife. :giggle:

I had a similar occurance at Universal Studios in FL with cookies in my backpack. :giggle:

 

[jis]

I have been to Canada twice in the past 2 years by train. The first time - on the Maple Leaf; the second time on the Adirondack. I had no problems at all. I was asked a few routine questions (in English) and there were no issues or follow up. Neither time was my luggage or personal effects inspected. I guess I look like a harmless little old lady. :giggle:

Perhaps you hit the nail on the head. I have been to Canada many times and not been subjected to any searches; however, the last time I went to Canada was over three years ago. Have done quite a bit of foreign travel since then though. I have no problem with what a country does to find out who and/or what is coming into it. Ever noticied how long it takes a foreigner to clear our customs and immigration?

Lots of foreign travel also with no holdups at any of the US customs points upon my return. Although I do remember one customs agent telling me in JFK on a return from a business trip to Brussels that he might have to personally inspect and confiscate the Belgian chocolates I was bringing back for my wife. :giggle:

Lots of foreign travel for me too. While entering the US through an airport, I have not met any Customs or Immigration Officer in quite a while. The usual routine is walk up to the Global Entry Kiosk, stick yur passport in it, put four fingers on the fingerprint reader, tap on the screen to answer a few standard questions, get the entry printout, and walk down to baggage claim, pick up the bag, hand the slip to the agent at the gate and walk out (or into US).
At the Canadian border last year on the Adirondack, I must admit I had dozed off waiting for the US CBP inspector to come by. When she came by she took my Passport asked me, where were you last summer? I said "Huh?" She said "Looks like you were in Israel. You don't remember?" I said "Well of course but I go there a couple of times a year, and it is nothing memorable". She looked at me, shook her head and said "Welcome home".

Never had a problem with USCBP, British Border Protection, Canadia CBSA, Indian Passport Control or about half a dozen other countries in the last decade or so.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I just went through the Gauntlet in Vancouver after riding the Cascades #510 from SEA-VAC,after the Long walk up the Platform through the Prison Fences on both sides of the Train, No Problems, the Friendly, Efficiient Canadian Agents looked @ your Passport, took the Declaration Card, asked why you were coming to Canada and said "Welcome to Canada eh!" and waved you through into the Station! Total time, 30 Seconds!

Crossing into the US @ Niagara Falls on the Maple Leaf was a Different Story by the US HLS Troopers! Everyone had to get off the Train (including Handicaped), Walk down a Hall to a Desk with at least 1O Uniformed and Armed Troops,Stand in a Single Line (there were about 150 Passengers) then we all were asked Several Questions, turned in our Declaration Card and EVERYONES Bags were gone through Thoroughly! Elapsed time, 2 and 1/2 Hours! Welcome Home indeed! Ive found this Crossing to be Consisently the Worst Ive ever been through except for Laredo, Texas on the Mexico Border!

 

[TVRM610]

Jim.... What you are describing, in my experience is not the difference between US and Canada but rather the difference between those 2 points of entry and how they operate. I did the opposite of you in January.. Maple Leaf to Toronto, Cascades to Vancouver (after the Canadian of course). The Niagara falls was exactly how you described with the Canadian guards, although not all the luggage was searched. Going back at Vancouver was about as easy as you described, the US agent even asked me how my train trip was.

 

[Notelvis]

On a vacation 8-9 years ago my wife and I flew to Seattle, took the Talgo to Vancouver, and ferried over to Victoria for three nights, ferried back to Vancouver and caught the Canadian to Winnipeg and flew home from there.

Customs was efficient and polite going both directions although I was caught off guard when the US agent asked me "Why are you flying from Winnipeg?" The only answer I could manage after a couple of 'ummms' was "That's where I got off the train."

 

[greatcats]

In October, 2011, following my trip on the Canadian, I took the Maple Leaf Toronto to Rochester. I did not have the experience described by another poster on the train. I was perfunctorily and courteously questioned rather briefly and that was it for me. They did take perhaps 20 passengers off the train for further questioning. I believe we were there nearly two hours, which seems a terrific waste of time, although the train kept its schedule. Of course, Customs can change their routine.

I was more annoyed the year before when I drove from Quebec into Vermont. I was questioned outside and then politely told to park the car and go inside the office. I was then made to wait in the office for further questioning. Travelers wanting to use the rest room had to be escorted outside by an officer. Ahem! A French Canadian woman was complaining loudly and the officers threatened to delay her further. ( I tried to shush her up for her own benefit. ) After waiting around 45 minutes, the officer asked me for the key to my car, went outside to inspect it, and a few minutes later returned and sent me on my way. I s this stuff really necessary?

A few weeks ago I landed late at night from Costa RIca at Los Angeles International and was efficiently handled and welcomed back. I'm going to research these more efficient ways of doing this, such as the Global Entry mentioned above.

 

[HiGracie]

Very interesting thread. Many years ago I was detained crossing by car into the US from Canada into NY through the Adirondacks. I was in a rental with my newly committed fiance ten years my junior with a California ID and he with a RI ID. We had taken a road trip starting from RI. They searched every inch of my car and highly questioned the scars on my arms, continually referring to me as a 'cutter'. Fast forward to now, and I work in drug policy reform and pretty much figure I have an FBI file but my record is squeaky clean and I never have any issues flying or moving about the country, though I'm very curious what Canada's perception of my career choice may be.

 

[white rabbitt]

one time after 2002 i took the train to vancouver

they ran my name on ncic found i had been busted

for acid took me in a room strip searched me looking for

drugs then when they did not find anything refused me

entry into canada put me back on the amtrak returning to seattle

and i just returned on the train to san francisco vancouver

is just the worst place to cross even driveing or greyhound and

crossing at blaine

blaine is as bad as vancouver

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

Guess it is good the Canadian Agent wasn't upset with my granddaughter when she told the agent the display of the flag was wrong. Between the Olympics and my work she learned Flag protocol.

 

[SubwayNut]

I've only taken the Maple Leaf entering the US almost exactly a year ago (Just remembering I was setting off on the Canadian a year ago to this day) and it was just like the Adirondack. They walked through the train, I still remember that they had a hand-held passport scanner and they asked me for my drivers license because they claimed they couldn't read the barcode on my passport after I asked "Why do you need my license, my passport isn't good enough?. They offloaded the two sets of non-US/Canada foreign nations (two retired British couples) and took them into the small customs office to do there paperwork. A different employee asked me about my luggage for the customs/agricultural inspection. The process was relatively quick because they finished early enough to give us at least a 40 minute fresh-air stop to wonder around the Niagara Falls Station.

I didn't know that offloading of the Maple Leaf is the norm.

 

[Blackwolf]

I didn't know that offloading of the Maple Leaf is the norm.

It was not a year ago, when both me and Mrs. Blackwolf re-entered the US at Niagara Falls. In fact, no-one was taken off the train at all. All passengers were processed in their seats, passed, and the train left on-time per the schedule for points South of the border.

Seems like an anomaly to me.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

My most interesting experience crossing the border was on VIA’s “Atlantic”. Then the train was restored in 1985 after a 4 year hiatus, there was a whole new set of procedures and new Customs Officers who hadn’t worked a train before. Previously sleeper passengers had just been left along. Now they woke everyone at 3am in Jackman, Maine. The Officer asked me what the purpose of my trip was and I told him I was in the US only because the train was (which was the truth). He asked me if I was trying to be “smart” and said he would be back to see me. Well he must have got the same answer from everyone else as he never came back.

If they had just left the passengers alone, they would have gone to sleep in Canada and woke the next morning back in Canada, most not even realizing they had been through the US. Eventually the Border Agents rode the train and a seal was placed on each door. Only those getting off in the US were examined and those getting on were checked by Canada Customs when the train crossed back into Canada at McAdam NB or Magantic, Quebec.

 

[AlanB]

I didn't know that offloading of the Maple Leaf is the norm.

It was not a year ago, when both me and Mrs. Blackwolf re-entered the US at Niagara Falls. In fact, no-one was taken off the train at all. All passengers were processed in their seats, passed, and the train left on-time per the schedule for points South of the border.

Seems like an anomaly to me.

Coming into the US on the Leaf, offloading at present is NOT the norm. I understand that it may well become the norm with the new station and customs facility.

Going into Canada however on the Leaf, offloading is the norm. Has been now for at least a year, and I think close to 2 years, if not even over that a bit.

 

[chakk]

Last summer I took the CSL from L.A. to Seattle, then continued onto Victoria B.C. by ferry. Canadian customs took a quick look at my passport and I was through. Coming back, U.S. customs took an equally quick look at my passport, asked if I had any fresh fruit or vegetables (I had a banana, they were okay with that), and I was through. Didn't take more than 30 seconds at either end.

Ummm. Let guess. The US Customs agent politely asked you, "Sir, why do you have a banana in your ear?"

And you replied, "I'm sorry. I can't hear what you are saying. I have a banana in my ear."

 

[Not Going Back]

Just 48 hours ago I was about to pull into the Vancouver train station with 100 business colleagues to attend a conference. I have a DUI charge that has not been resolved in court yet but was told by my lawyer that it would be fine because there was no conviction yet - we're awaiting the court date. I was singled out, pulled into a back room and harassed and intimidated me for 90 minutes. Mind you I have NO conviction on my record nor any priors. He asked me what I was doing there and I informed him it was to attend a conference and I had clients in attendance, etc. The agent (Kennedy) told me he didn't have to let me in and I had to make a case why it would benefit Canada for him to do so. I thought, Um. I don't know - maybe because I came in to attend a business conference to learn about Canadian tech companies, potentially recommend some to investors and spend a fair amount of money in the city?

I was very cooperative and taken off guard and started explaining what I do for a living and how it would benefit. He stopped me and flat out said - "I could let you in but I'm not going to." He also told me "I just don't believe that you bring enough benefit to Canada to let you in." He threatened to keep at the station in the holding cell quite a few times and then finally said he'd let me go to my hotel room. "You can sleep for four hours but have to be back at 5:30 in the morning for a 6:30am train which will take you out of Canada. If you don't show up by 5:30am we will send law enforcement out to find you and bring you back." Then he took my passport as collateral and let me go. Again, no conviction, no priors of any kind. It was utterly traumatizing and humiliating. And once I started crying he just smiled at me and put some raggedy toilet paper in front of me and said - "Here you go, happens all the time."

My lawyer is appalled and has not once heard of this happening without a conviction charge. She has had a ton of clients go back and forth without problem while a case is pending. This guy just decided he didn't want to let me in - despite knowing I was there with clients and for a business trip and there was no conviction. I had no choice but to get on a train at 6:30am - completely distraught. The sad thing is, there isn't anything I can do to raise this or report him. Customs operates in their own little bubble. I'm still checking with a Canadian lawyer next week because I want to be very clear on what rights if any someone has in this situation and if there are points you can make, things you can say, or documents you can bring in so you aren't bullied. I have Googled ad nauseum about this topic but just see info about inadmissability with a conviction but not being kicked out without one. I just think people need to know that even if you haven't had a conviction and your case is still open, if a customs agent decides they just don't want to let you in - they won't and you could be refused entry while the rest of your entire party is allowed in.

 

[Braniff747SP]

I was on the Adirondack last week, northbound. Canadian customs was simple (guy walking through the train with a stamp, nothing advanced.) what was out of the ordinary was the one and a half hour stop by CBP on the line while they went car by car with the dogs (throwing stuff around to boot.) not common for a northbound train; we assume that they where looking for something.

 

[Acela150]

I was on the Adirondack last week, northbound. Canadian customs was simple (guy walking through the train with a stamp, nothing advanced.) what was out of the ordinary was the one and a half hour stop by CBP on the line while they went car by car with the dogs (throwing stuff around to boot.) not common for a northbound train; we assume that they where looking for something.

This is normal.

 

[zephyr17]

For what it is worth, a sovereign country has the right to deny admission to any non-citizen. Canada is hooked into the US national criminal database and your arrest was doubtless in it. You didn't need to have already been convicted, but just awaiting disposition for that agent to tag you as undesirable and denied entry. If you had been already been acquitted, it would be probably would be another story.

Immigration agents at ports of entry the world over are pretty much the final authority on whether a non-citizen is admitted or not. US Immigration agents can and do deny entry to people that have already been issued US visas if they they get too suspicious, for instance.

With that said, I have to say I have been consistently hassled more by the CBSA at Vancouver's Pacific Central Station then anywhere else I've ever been. They are really hardnosed there and I can't say I am surprised they took a particularly hard line. That is one reason why I finally got a Nexus card, so now I've been background checked by CBSA, and going to Vancouver for the day is a bit less hassle now.

 

[TVRM610]

Just to be clear this has nothing to do with the Railroad. This is Canada not wanting someone who was recently arrested for DUI coming into their country. That makes perfect sense to me as I feel like DUI is still not taken serious enough in this country.

To the OP... Guess you should have thought about the consequences before drinking and driving.

 

[Eris]

Just to be clear this has nothing to do with the Railroad. This is Canada not wanting someone who was recently arrested for DUI coming into their country. That makes perfect sense to me as I feel like DUI is still not taken serious enough in this country.
To the OP... Guess you should have thought about the consequences before drinking and driving.

'Cept in this country, we have a presumption of innocence- innocent until proven guilty... oh, Canada does, too. Adomonishing a person who has not been convicted that he or she should have thought about the consequences... well, that's patronizing. And useless.

I suspect Canada's issue here may actually be more subtle than a dislike of how the US handles DUI... the border agent, I'm speculating, was concerned about a person currently in the middle of criminal legal procedings in the United States perhaps fleeing to Canada.

 

[jis]

In my experience, never go to a border checkpost assuming there is any presumption of innocence, and especially so at ones run by CBP. You may be sorely disappointed. At border checkpost the ultimate authority is the agent standing in front of you. Yes, you can appeal what they do later etc., but at that point the agent is it. And this holds true for even US Citizens who do not have absolutely irrefutable evidence of citizenship. Afterall the agent has to decide that your Passport is not forged.

BTW, entering the US using a Visa actually has a bit of additional checks built into it, in the sense that the Visa is issued by the State Department run Consular Section. The actual entry into the country is handled by CBP which is part of DHS. So there are two different agencies run by two entirely different departments of the Federal Government involved and they can disagree.

 

[SubwayNut]

With that said, I have to say I have been consistently hassled more by the CBSA at Vancouver's Pacific Central Station then anywhere else I've ever been. They are really hardnosed there and I can't say I am surprised they took a particularly hard line. That is one reason why I finally got a Nexus card, so now I've been background checked by CBSA, and going to Vancouver for the day is a bit less hassle now.

I know the CBSA agents at Pacific Central Station are based at the Vancouver Airport. I know this from chatting with a conductor on an Amtrak Cascades train that was extremely late because of a freight derailment and we didn't arrive until 2:00am. He said the person hassling him the most from the delay was from the CBSA agents' supervisor who didn't want his agents sitting around at the train station doing nothing waiting for our train to arrive.

I've entered Canada both once at the Airport and at the train station and nothing was particularly different than other CBSA experiences. Curious if people have noticed the Airport taking a hard line as well. Perhaps the Airport training is an explanation for getting hassled more because Airport agents get slightly different training since their processing passengers off of overseas flights as well, not just travelers crossing the US/Canada land border.

 

[SarahZ]

Just to be clear this has nothing to do with the Railroad. This is Canada not wanting someone who was recently arrested for DUI coming into their country. That makes perfect sense to me as I feel like DUI is still not taken serious enough in this country.
To the OP... Guess you should have thought about the consequences before drinking and driving.

'Cept in this country, we have a presumption of innocence- innocent until proven guilty... oh, Canada does, too. Adomonishing a person who has not been convicted that he or she should have thought about the consequences... well, that's patronizing. And useless.

I suspect Canada's issue here may actually be more subtle than a dislike of how the US handles DUI... the border agent, I'm speculating, was concerned about a person currently in the middle of criminal legal procedings in the United States perhaps fleeing to Canada.

That's in a court of law. Customs agents do not operate on the same principle. Until you have been proven innocent, they have to abide by the rules and protect their country just in case you actually are guilty.

 

[MooCow]

What I don't understand is why Customs agents are involved at all. Whether a person is admitted is a matter for immigration, not Customs. Why don't the Canadian officials know that?