posted
I have a couple of questions for anyone's experience.
What is the procedure upon crossing the border into Canada on either the Cascades or Adirondak? Is it pretty perfunctory? Are there immigration agents? With computers? What documentation is needed? Etc.
When/if you succeed in getting an upgrade onboard, how do you pay for it? Cash, credit card, check? Do you get your GuestReward credit?
Thanks in advance for the invariably enlightening input. Looking forward enormously to my ride in two weeks on the Surfliner and Starlight!
[This message has been edited by City of Miami (edited 02-08-2004).]
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
posted
For the border crossing question I can only tell you that I have heard you need a birth certificate or passport lately.
I have recently paid for an upgrade on board with a credit card and received my Guest Rewards points (I did show the conductor my Guest Rewards id card, and he wrote down my number).
CG96 Member # 1408
posted
A couple of comments here: if you're a U. S. citizen, I strongly recommend the use of a passport. The reason that you need a passport is becuase you have to prove that you were born in the U. S., or a naturalized citizen, in order to get the passport in the first place. Driver's licences *don't* prove citizenship, as *not a single State* requires proof of citizenship in order to get a driving licence.
getting into Canada isn't that big of a deal. I've done it on several occasions, and have found the Customs officers to be polite and friendly. Returning to the United States, it was quite the opposite. I found the US customs officials to be verbally abusive, hostile, impolite, angry, and quite ill-tempered. It was as if the Canadian customs folks had a much, much, much better, more positive customer-service "attitude" than thier U. S. counterparts. The US Customs agents acted as if they had all taken jackass pills instead of vitamins that morning - I mean they treated me like I was dirt. I'm a US citizen, I pay for their salaries **** it, and I did nothing that warranted being treated as if I was under arrest. Unfortunatly that was how they treated everyone that day. Canada: nice, helpful, polite, professional. US Customs: ***holes, impolite, hostile, unprofessional.
Be ready to use your passport to prove that you're a US citizen, and also be ready to stand up for yourself and insist that the U. S. customs treat you with respect and act professional.
dilly Member # 1427
posted
In contrast to the above post. . .
During several trips to Canada, I've always found Canadian customs and immigration agents to be fairly nasty, with a distinctly inflated aura of superiority.
When I traveled to Montreal on the Adirondack a few months ago, the Canadian officials who boarded the train were the most grim and unpleasant I've ever encountered. Mind you, they simply glanced at my passport, barked out a few questions regarding my "intentions," and moved on.
But I was surprised by how hostile they acted toward a number of perfectly benign-looking passengers -- who clearly had trouble understanding their French-Canadian accents and didn't answer their questions fast enough.
It's possible that the Canadian agents on the West Coast are more laid-back. But their counterparts in Quebec? Let's just say I won't be inviting any of them to my next birthday party.
On the other hand, when I returned to the States via the now defunct Montreal-St. Albans bus connection with Amtrak's Vermonter, the U.S. Customs and Immigration people at the border were absolutely pleasant.
One agent was actually pretty amusing, too. Somehow, we got into a brief conversation about the "meaning of life" that left everyone in the room -- Amtrak passengers and the other agents alike -- laughing. Lots o' fun, for sure. And all at the taxpayers' expense!
But if you have a U.S. Passport? Definitely take it with you. You'll have an easier time while the authorities are grilling you.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 02-08-2004).]
George Harris Member # 2077
posted
Having worked international for most of the last 14 years, all in Asia, I can say that my experience with customs agents is that that those of the US have been normally reasonable, but the best is about the same as everybody else's worst, and on average they are the world's worst that I have experienced. Remeber to be as nice as possible to them, because in dealing with customs you have ABSOLUTELY NO RECOURSE and they have absolutely no sense of humor. If they choose to inspect your stuff with a chain saw they do not even owe you an apology, much less restitution.
The US's bad reputation amongst individuals overseas is mostly the result of our State Department and Customs Service, which seems to stay much the same regardless of who occupies the White House. As for the state department: If you are a foreigner calling a US embassy wanting information, the telephone line is a pay per minute, as if it were a porn talk line or fortune teller, and sometimes they are about as helpful. A visa application for a foreigner is US$100 per application, non refundable. No reason need be offered for refusal. Check out their information. Here they state that anyone applying for a visa is assumed to attempting to become an illegal immigrant unless they prove otherwise! "You have a good knowledge of English? We are more suspicious than ever!" What happened to innocent until proven guilty? This is not a result of 9/11 either. The application fee was raised, but the illegal immigrant assumption was there before. I find myself frequently apologising to my local friends for the idiocies of our State Department.
Orr embassies and consulates do not offer any of the tourist information and enticements and other welcoming information that seems to be almost standard for other coutries. Why not? There are plenty of people out here with both the money and the interest to visit the US, and they are discouranged. And then we whine about balance of payments? Some of it is our own fault!
One of my sons and I were asked on one occasion, "Why are you entering the United States" by a customs guy holding our US passports in his hand. How do you answer that one? Particularly after a 14 hour flight.
Mike Smith Member # 447
posted
Crossing into Canada from the Seattle Amtrak bus was no problem. The only question I was asked is "do I know Canadian law regarding hand guns?" I stated NO. The customs inspector stated that I didn't need to know the law because I was not transporting a weapon into Canada, right? I stated right!
Later, I realized that she knew I was from Texas. Next time, I'll tell them that I left all 47 of them at the house.
Coming back was no problem at all.
Crossing into Toronto was no problem either way.
Tigger Member # 2455
posted
One thing I would add is that for anyone travelling with children, be prepared to prove you have the right to take them across an international boarder if both parents aren't present. This has been in the fine print for years on the Customs and Immigration warnings, but I had to stop and show my children's adoption papers (I am a single adoptive parent)last year when debarking a cruise ship in Vancouver, BC. They were scrutinized, too, not just glanced at.
RRRICH Member # 1418
posted
The most recent experience I have had with crossing the border on AMTRAK/VIA was in 1999 (pre-9/11)-- I entered Canada on the International at Sarnia, and the Canadian customs agent boarded the train during the stop in Sarnia, and got everyone "checked" in RECORD time!! (very unusual) -- I don't think it took more than about 10 minutes to "do" the whole train. On the way back, I took the Cascade from Vancouver to Seattle, and the U.S. customs agent boarded in White Rock, BC (the train stopped, but no passengers got on or off), and did a "rolling customs check" while the train was enroute into the U.S. The agent got off in Bellingham, WA -- no problems with customs on that trip. I don't believe they checked my passport at either end of that trip, but for Anerican citizens, I strongly recommend that you take your passport when entering Canada -- in these days, it may be MUCH easier to get back into the U.S. if you have a passport showing you are a U.S. citizen. Drivers licenses do not count....
I do agree with other posters that, in general, the U.S, customs agents are much more "hostile" and unfriendly than the Canadian customs agents.
Charles Reuben Member # 2263
posted
I frequently go to Canada and generally find the experience of crossing the border to be different every time.
Sometimes the border agents are friendly, sometimes they are impatient and frustrated. Sometimes they bring enormous german shepards through the train.
This is my strategy: Always have your passport ready to hand them immediately. Be focused, friendly and don't be drunk. Have your luggage tagged with your name and address prominantly displayed. Don't carry fruit across the border and don't even think about transporting anything illegal.
And also, have a pen ready because you're going to have to fill out some forms before you cross the border.
coachclass Member # 2382
posted
How about food? What kinds are OK to take into/out of Canada and what is prohibited? If you don't have a passport, is a certified copy of your birth certificate OK? Thanks.
Charles Reuben Member # 2263
posted
A certified birth certificate should be fine, but the more official stamps on it, the better. Be aware that when you cross the border, the officials will want to know where you are going, who you are going to stay with and how long you will be in Canada.
Some border agents can be really intense, so be prepared with names and addresses of the people with whom you are going to stay. An itinerary would be useful. If you are going on a cruise, have your cruise tickets handy.
One thing I have learned is that when you are being questioned, just answer their questions simply and honestly. Don't go off on some sort of tangent. It will just complicate things.
As far as food is concerned, if you are taking the Adirondak, your food will probably be eaten by the time you reach the border. Just don't bring fruit along with you. For some reason they really don't like fruit. Or nuts, for that matter.
One other thing: Get a passport. If not for this trip then for the next. Passports are the ultimate form of identification. No muss, no fuss. Just be sure the photo is good. Don't settle for a crappy photo. I've been getting some flack for my photo lately.
[This message has been edited by Chucky (edited 02-09-2004).]
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
posted
Slightly off topic, going back to the "friendliness" of customs, this is my experience as a Brit entering the US (by air obviously):
New York - nasty, rushed, grumpy, impatient, go to end of line if you dare call the United Kingdom Great Britain (or vice verse, I can never remember which they want). I've been through JFK and EWR numerous times each and virtually every occasion was the same.
Everywhere else - fine.
Fruit, nuts, etc can carry insects, diseases, etc, which is why they're not allowed. Sealed foods are not so bad.
Geoff M.
George Harris Member # 2077
posted
To goeffm, and particularly those from continental Europe:
When entering the US, be sure you write your 1's and 7's American style, not European style. That is, a single vertical line for the one and no slash across the seven. Otherwise you may have to redo the form. Some of the knucklehead will try to clam that the European style one is a seven and they do not know what the seven is supposed to be. Oh yes, also in numbers written in Continental Europe, commas are used for decimals. Then either decimals or about half-width spaces are used for commas in large numbers.
As someone else said, be sure you have a good ball point pen with either blue or black ink. Red and other colors may be rejected. For safety carry two in case one decides to quit on you.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
posted
GH - the UK write 1s as a vertical bar. Only the French seem to use the 1 that looks like a 7. For emphasis some people do put a horizontal line through the 7 for this reason. Never had it rejected by immigration yet.
Also, decimals are written with a decimal point, not a comma. Thousands seperators are commas.
Europe is not as integrated as you seem to think! (Thankfully)
Strangely enough, the US visa waiver forms ask that you write dates in DD/MM/YY format rather than the American MM/DD/YY format.
Geoff M.
George Harris Member # 2077
posted
That is why I said CONTINENTAL Europe. I used to get thoroughly confused reading German-written documents where they do use commas for decimals and periods for thousand separators.
I also recently had to listen to one of the Germans here gripe about having to redo his entry form becuase he used the Continental style one. But then he entered at a West Coast point, where they probably do not get as many Europeans. That was the reason behind my comments.
JFB Member # 2520
posted
Funny about the numbers. In the US Navy, we had to cross our sevens. Doing otherwise, we were told, would render the document unofficial (in boot camp, at least--the fleet was a little more forgiving). I'd hate to imagine a US customs official giving a some poor GI a hard time just for writing the way he was told to.
As for the "hat" on the numeral 1, Europeans are technically correct. Our written numerals come from Arabic (incidentally, so does much of our math), in which the "1" has so pronounced a serif that it looks like an uncrossed "A". I agree, however, that it's awkward. In this case, I think Anglo/American writing has evolved for the better.
wap4 Member # 2289
posted
Hi George Harris,
"Here they state that anyone applying for a visa is assumed to attempting to become an illegal immigrant unless they prove otherwise!"
I am from India and I stayed in the USA for a year, the stay was heavanly. Regarding your above said statement I take sides with the VISA office and Customs, I hope you have some idea about the number of folks trying to break the rules! The customs were pleasant to me at washington airport so i was lucky indeed. regards wap4
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
posted
No need to shout GH. As you referred to both me (in the UK) and continental Europe in one sentence, one has to assume you are talking about Europe in general, not continental Europe specifically.
Check your own writing before you criticise other people reading it! ;-)
Geoff M.
rresor Member # 128
posted
Border crossings: I agree with the general consensus. I only once had trouble with Canadian customs, and that was when I was in college, long-haired, bearded, and had been up all night playing cards and drinking beer with some U.S. soldiers on the Montrealer.
U.S. customs, on the other hand...Post 9/11, I agree with taking your passport, even though you're not *supposed* to need it. But pre- 9/11, I actually refused to carry mine on Canadian trips -- after I handed it to a U.S. customs agent, who looked me in the eye (didn't look at the passport) and asked, "Citizen of what country?" I was flabbergasted, finally saying, "They give those to non-citizens?" at which point he said, "I always like to ask, just to see what response I get". ***hole! After that, I took only my voter registration card.
As for 1 and 7, I've been crossing my sevens ever since a trip to the Far East 15 years ago, and no one has ever questioned me about it.
Mike Smith Member # 447
posted
If I was asked "Citizen of what country?", I'd immediately answer "Texas".
JFB Member # 2520
posted
And I'm still looking for the part of my passport that says that I'm from Brooklyn. If I don't find it, I'll have to assume it's because our Secretary of State, Colin Powell, is from The Bronx.
posted 