"Visitor's Pass" for Americans visiting Canada?

[twin810s 23]

Here's one I've never heard - My wife just crossed back into the USA at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel after visiting for the weekend, and the customs officer grilled her pretty hard. One of the questions he asked was if she had a visitor's pass allowing her to come see me. I was always under the understanding that Canadians and Americans don't require any type of visas to travel between countries. A quick google search confirmed this hunch. We're wondering if he was just trying to trip her up, or if such a document does exist.

[Dylan'sWife 2]

That is correct, there is no visa required to 'visit' between the two countries although that doesn't mean that someone would be admitted.

Who asked her these questions, was it the American CBP or Canadian board agents?

If I understand you, she is the USC and was re-entering the US? Did she use a passport? Maybe he was inquiring if she had a Nexus card?

[twin810s 23]

Correct - she is USC and I'm Canadian, She was crossing back into the US, and the questions were from US customs. Henwas bot referring to Nexus either. When she said that she didn't know what this visitor's pass was, he asked how often she crossed. She told him about twice a month. He said that she probably wouldn't know what it was if that's all the was crossing, then started pressing her on how much money she was carrying and so on. Have to love USCBP for making their own citizens feel like they've done something wrong just for returning home.

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

Sounds like she just got a moron. Sadly morons work everywhere. As a US citizen, she can cross the border as often as she likes.

[twin810s 23]

I cross as much as 3-4 times a month, and have been for 15+ years. I've encountered my share of, we'll say, troublesome border guards. The stories I have... The vast majority are great; they're just trying to do their job and protect their country as best they can. However, some get a god complex and take it too far just because they can, and there's nothing anyone crossing their border can do about it - at least not if they want to get through. We just have to answer their questions and play the game. Small price to pay for crossing international borders, I guess.

[Allanah and Chris 8]

I cross as much as 3-4 times a month, and have been for 15+ years. I've encountered my share of, we'll say, troublesome border guards. The stories I have... The vast majority are great; they're just trying to do their job and protect their country as best they can. However, some get a god complex and take it too far just because they can, and there's nothing anyone crossing their border can do about it - at least not if they want to get through. We just have to answer their questions and play the game. Small price to pay for crossing international borders, I guess.

As the USC, I (Christopher) get hassled almost every time I cross the border back into the US. CBP pretty much assumes you hate America if you leave for even a day...maybe I just have a face you learn to hate. That's why I got NEXUS. Since then I've not been hassled once.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I spent a month at the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel one day. Worst Northern border crossing there is, we avoid it like the plague. Thankfully it's quicker for us to cross the border in NY, usually at the Peace Bridge and drive down to Windsor from there.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Teddy B

[twin810s 23]

Maybe I (the wife, aka U.S. citizen) will try the Ambassador Bridge this weekend. The one time I have crossed, they were at least pleasant and said congrats and stuff when I said I was engaged. ha

[S & P 10]

I (USC) ALWAYS got grilled MUCH more and almost every time they made me open my trunk and searched through my bags coming back into the US at the Detroit/Windsor tunnel

guess they were making sure I wasn't smuggling my hubby back in my suitcase??!!

Started using the bridge instead and it although the line was about the same to cross, the hassle was always way less, usually the three questions... how long ... why... and...do you have anything to declare...

[twin810s 23]

(Canadian husband talking now)

I remember back in the day talking to someone at US customs about a totally unrelated subject (cross-border shopping and customs fees - I was researching for work), and the guy at customs told me that the bridge is more focused on the goods that are crossing and charging the appropriate duties, whereas the tunnel concentrates on people, i.e., people who shouldn't be crossing and catching them. He told me that the bridge doesn't really dig too deep into the people, so much as what they're bringing accross. He also told me that if you want to sneak stuff across without paying duty, the tunnel is the way to go, cause they generally don't pay attention to the goods. His exact words were "Bridge is commerce, tunnel is immigration. If you want to smuggle goods across without paying duty, take the tunnel. If you want to get people across that maybe wouldn't normally be allowed, take the bridge".

Gotta love them telling us the workarounds...

[twin810s 23]

(American wife now talking to Canadian husband)

Why didn't you tell me that before?! (that crossing the bridge may be easier than the tunnel) Pft...I still love you though. Yes, I couldn't just text you, but this is more fun.

[NikLR 13,227]

/facepalm @ CBP and CBSA.

[Ms Hogan 295]

Every time I cross at Windsor I have a frustrating time. When I cross at Fort Erie or Niagara... NO PROBLEM. Definitely a different vibe from the officers at these two different crossings.

Edited November 20, 2013 by MsHogan

[Rose13 30]

I cross at Windsor 6 days a week, I still work in Canada. During the application process (my hubby is the USC) I fund that the tunnel agents were more antagonistic. They always wanted to know why I was taking the tunnel instead of the bridge. As a green card holder it's easier but I still get a few who are mean.

[twin810s 23]

US Citizen Wifey here: Just an update, I used Ambassador Bridge to go into Canada and then back into the states this weekend and was not given a hard time this time. Whoo hoo...ha

Edited November 25, 2013 by twin810s