Canadian Studying in the U.S. - what do I need at the border?

[Canada Mouse 0]

Hello,

I just asked a question about my student visa and got some amazingly helpful information, but now I need some help with the border crossing.

I am a Canadian citizen and I am going down to California to go to college. I got my I-20, and I am travelling by land. Can anyone tell me what I will be needing when I cross the border?

I've heard I need the following: Canadian passport, my I-20, receipt for the paid SEVIS fee, bank statement to prove I can pay for school, and my High School Diploma.

Will I need anything else?

I heard something about proof of my ties to Canada: how can I prove this?

Also, does anyone have a number to the border I can call who can verify what I need? This was my first plan, but there are just so many numbers and I don't know which one is the one I want, and I don't want to hold for half an hour to get a hold of someone who can't help... The border I will be crossing at I believe is Montana.

Finally, my sister is going to an art school down there, and she didn't have to graduate high school to get accepted (she is graduated, she just doesn't have proof at this moment and we can't get proof until too late). Will this be an issue at all?

Thanks

Edited August 15, 2011 by Canada Mouse

[Moosker 7]

When I crossed for the first time to go to school, the only thing they really cared about was my I-20, and I had to "activate" it when I first crossed over. Pretty basic process of pulling over, going in, they stamped a piece of paper, and gave you thing thing that they stapled in your passport. I had a letter saying I was accepted to the school just in case, and any other documentation proving I was going to that school. That was it!

Of all my friends that came to the same school as me, no one had to prove Canadian ties, like I said, we had to prove that we were going to the school if anything.