Crossing the USA Border with Passport: Top 10 Survival Tips

When crossing the US border from Canada; please be aware of certain precautions. First of all you should have a reason to travel. Are you a visitor or are you a student or an employee there. If so, make sure you have the necessary paperwork. Also, make sure you have phone numbers at hand. If you plan to stay at a hotel then have the address of the hotel. Don't expect them to take your word unless you have the supporting paperwork. And please don't give the officials amusing remarks such as, "I am checking out the area". They don't like to hear that. If you don't have a specific plan; then do some research before hand. No excuses.

Have your directions with you when you travel across the border. There are many folks who arrive at the wrong border by accident. Print directions from Google. Take your Garmin GPS system with you, but take a physical print out from Google.

You can also email the directions to your new Apple iPhone or old iPhone via WiFi. Its best to take your old iPhone (no data package). This way you know that there is no way that you will incur obscene roaming charges.

And, on your Garmin GPS system, be sure to look at the time. If it says 4 hours on your google directions at home then make sure it doesn't say 9 hours on Garmin GPS for arrival time.

If you are visitor you don't really need paperwork. All you need is your passport. However, make sure you know where you are going. If you are going to see a specific event or take part in a conference then say so. Also, know when you plan to return. The folks at the border like to know that you have planned an organized travel. They don't like it when you fluctuate your dates when asked how long you plan to stay. If you confuse them too much; then you might end up getting a paper stapled to your passport that will give you a specific date in which you are supposed to return to Canada. That paper will be returned by the Canada border crossing officials to the US side; so they know that you have left the country. You can only return to the United States a day after you have left to Canada. Hence, the moral of the story, tell them how long you plan to stay. And don't fluctuate the dates.

If you are a spouse then you can easily stay for six months without much of an explanation. However, you cannot work there with that permission and cannot attend any educational institutions that provides a certificate. You do have an option of applying for a visa with special spousal consideration to accompany your better half (who has to have a job or real reason for being in the United States). When you apply for visa, you can stay as long as your spouse stays. For the rest of us. We should just specify who we are visiting and for how long. Do not fluctuate your dates. You are always a visitor unless you are a US citizen or someone who has a job or studies in the US.

If you have a job offer in the United States. Do some leg work before you officially arrive for your job. Make a visit prior to showing your appointment letter for a particular organization. This way it makes sense. You already have an apartment to rent and you have a job waiting. Your story has supporting documentation. And the folks at the border are happy to have you over. In this case, you are allowed to take a lot of goods across the border. Obviously, raw fruits and vegetables are not acceptable and other items.

If you are a student. At least have the letter from the university or college you are attending describe your time of stay there. If you are a medical student going for rotations. Then make sure you have a letter from the school confirming that you are there for rotations in hospitals and the associated dates. If you are there just to prepare for an exam; then have the date of the exam at hand, say USMLE step 1, with the confirmation of registration. But, please don't say that you are there to study for your medical exam without paperwork showing the date of your exam. At least have a date for your exam or your clinical rotations. Always support your story. Here also, you can take lots of items with you for good reason.

Remember, certain items are not allowed across the border. So, for example, if you are taking plants across the border then they will not allow it mostly due to health concerns. So, when they ask you if you are taking plants across the border then say you are. They will remove the plants from your car. However, if you lie and say that you don't have any plants. Then you will be penalized. So, be truthful. They will appreciate your honesty. Also, if you are not sure of the items that are in your trunk then ask another passenger who does know. Do not assume you know all the items. Its okay to ask.

If you are a visitor you are allowed to take a few things to your relative across the border. But, please do not pack your whole house and take it with you. They are not going to believe that you are visiting and plan to return. Please be realistic. They will assume that you might plan to stay there forever. So, if you plan to stay there for a longer time then take the necessary paperwork. Its best to take luggage with the person who is living in the United States. But, always remember that you are visiting there. You don't need cooking utensils and appliances. You don't want to send a red flag. These guys work at the border for a reason. They are there to serve and protect their nation. Its best to travel light.

Its perfectly alright to take your own Canadian car across the border. Renting a car is acceptable as well. However, please don't go across the border with a car you rented from the US. Its sends the wrong message. Unless, of course, you are a US citizen. Even then not all US car rental agencies allow you to cross the border to Canada. Inquire beforehand and you will save yourself some hassle. Call the border folks if you are really unsure.

They are not there to give you a hard time. Just use your common sense. Be polite and respectable. Its best if one person answers a question at one time. Do not have all passengers in the vehicle speak all at once. If they want to check your car then follow their instructions. Leave your iphone and luggage in the car. Do not lock the cars and pull the windows up unless you are have permission to do so. Leave all electronics in the car including your GPS & Ipad 2. The only thing you need is your passport and wallet. If you have necessary paperwork then take that as well. They might ask you to show all your paperwork so don't carry unnecessary papers such as your love note to your better half along with that folder. Make eye contact and talk directly to the official. If you have to go into the building then do so respectfully. Do not have your hands in your pocket. And do not chew gum. Its quite simple.

If you haven't done anything wrong. Then there is no reason to panic. Just be calm. The worst case scenario is that you may be delayed. And last, but not least, have enough rest before you travel. Travel safe and sober. The last thing you want is to be caught drunk at the border. I was being sarcastic ofcourse.