Canada Border Crossing

[Guest]

I'm going to take the train from Seattle to Vancouver. I'm from the UK and so will have entered the US and gone through the usual immigration procedures. What can I expect on the border crossing will it be classed as leaving the US completely even though I hold a return ticket, and on the return would I have to go through the whole finger print process again.

Do I have to get off the train at the border crossing and go through an airport style immigration procedure - I presume the train waits until everyone is processed?

Sorry for all the questions I'm just wondering whether it's worth the trip over the border and back.

 

[daveyb99]

I'm going to take the train from Seattle to Vancouver. I'm from the UK and so will have entered the US and gone through the usual immigration procedures. What can I expect on the border crossing will it be classed as leaving the US completely even though I hold a return ticket, and on the return would I have to go through the whole finger print process again.
Do I have to get off the train at the border crossing and go through an airport style immigration procedure - I presume the train waits until everyone is processed?

Sorry for all the questions I'm just wondering whether it's worth the trip over the border and back.

The train will wait for passengers, of course you should have your paperwork in order before arriving or they just might say 'see ya'.

I can not speak for northbound, but on the southbound trip, we stopped at the border and US ICE came onboard the train to do their work. No one was allowed to leave the train.

 

[Guest]

So far as I know, it will be treated as leaving the US permanently. Having a return ticket in hand is no proof that it will be used. When you come back you will have a rerun of initial entry procedures. Just be sure you have your passport and be prepared to answer idiotic questions as if they were intelligent questions. I do not know what the visa requirements are for UK passport holders, but be sure that if there is one that you have a MULTIPLE ENTRY visa.

George

 

[Guest]

thanks for your help guys - from what info i've read it does seem to be much less hassle than travelling throught the airports. UK entry is via visa waiver but it's something I will check that there is no minimum time from leaving that I can re-enter the country.

I'm doing the EB from Chicago to Seattle and will be in seattle for around 8 days and I was thinking of spending a couple of the nights in Vancouver before flying back to the UK.

thanks again

 

[GG-1]

thanks for your help guys - from what info i've read it does seem to be much less hassle than travelling throught the airports. UK entry is via visa waiver but it's something I will check that there is no minimum time from leaving that I can re-enter the country.
I'm doing the EB from Chicago to Seattle and will be in seattle for around 8 days and I was thinking of spending a couple of the nights in Vancouver before flying back to the UK.

thanks again

Aloha

It's been a while since I did the Seattle Vancouver trip, but on that trip the visa/passport was done on arrival in Vancouver. The train arrived on a gated track and we went through their customs. That particular train made no other stops in Canada

 

[gswager]

There are two ways to find out- contact Amtrak customer service and/or American consulate or even its website- http://www.travel.state.gov. I know some people on this forum are from other countries.

 

[Mark]

Brace yourself- going into Canada from the US by train is generally a breeze, assuming you have a passport, etc. My experiences with Canadian customs has always been positive. Coming back into the US however is usually a very frustrating and annoying experience. You never know what kind of nonsense US customs will pull.

And yes, I'm a US citizen.

 

[Guest]

I have worked outside the country for most of the lsat 17 year, and done a fair amount of international travel, all to, from, or within east Asia. In that time there have probably been around 20 trips into and out of the US. When it comes to dumb, silly, or incomprehensible things done by customs people, the US has most of the entries. That having been said, the last few years have been better than previously, which has been more than made up for by the "Security" situation in airports in the US.

 

[DirtyD]

it depends if you are booked on a throughway bus or not. amtrak only does one train a day up to vancouver, and it leaves seattle around 9am. all the other trips are on a bus, and from my (many) experinces, the customs at the bus crossing seems to be much more "thorough," so be prepared

 

[cp]

When you land in the US you will be given an I-94 form that will stay with you until you leave the US. For side trips to Canada such as the one you mention, you will not return the I-94 when you leave the US. It will stay in your passport, as long as your trip to Canada does not exceed 30 days. When you return to the US, if your I-94 is still in your passport, and everything else is in order, you may be cleared on the spot, without being pulled out from the train. I strongly advise you verify these procedures with the US customs and border protection www.cbp.gov. Call customer service or send an e-mail. They are pretty good at returning emails.

Now, if you travel from Seattle to Vancouver by train, on the northbound train you will clear Canadian customs and immigration upon arrival in Vancouver. Pretty much airport style. Southbound, there will be two US checks. The first is before you board the train in Vancouver. US officers will check your documentation and ask questions about your stay in the US. This is a good time to tell them you are returning after a trip to Canada. Then, after the train crosses into US territory, there will be an additional check by US officers. If all your paperwork is in order and you were pre-cleared in Vancouver, you should not have to get off the train at the border. Don't worry, everything will go smoothly. I found border officers to be nice on both sides of the border and the train ride is very spectacular, if a bit long: 4 hours for 240 Km.

Enjoy!

 

[Sam]

When you land in the US you will be given an I-94 form that will stay with you until you leave the US. For side trips to Canada such as the one you mention, you will not return the I-94 when you leave the US. It will stay in your passport, as long as your trip to Canada does not exceed 30 days. When you return to the US, if your I-94 is still in your passport, and everything else is in order, you may be cleared on the spot, without being pulled out from the train. I strongly advise you verify these procedures with the US customs and border protection www.cbp.gov. Call customer service or send an e-mail. They are pretty good at returning emails.
Now, if you travel from Seattle to Vancouver by train, on the northbound train you will clear Canadian customs and immigration upon arrival in Vancouver. Pretty much airport style. Southbound, there will be two US checks. The first is before you board the train in Vancouver. US officers will check your documentation and ask questions about your stay in the US. This is a good time to tell them you are returning after a trip to Canada. Then, after the train crosses into US territory, there will be an additional check by US officers. If all your paperwork is in order and you were pre-cleared in Vancouver, you should not have to get off the train at the border. Don't worry, everything will go smoothly. I found border officers to be nice on both sides of the border and the train ride is very spectacular, if a bit long: 4 hours for 240 Km.

Enjoy!

You seem to have a good experience with crossing a border from US to Canada via train. Thanks fr the information. I have a question about Arrival Stamp on the passport. I am a 'Canadian Permanent Resident' and was wondering if they(Canadian Customs) would stamp my passport on my arrival or just look at the PR card and let me in. I need this information because I will have to prove my presence in Canada when I apply for Canadian Citizenship. If they do, I will have to make sure I have some proof about my departure from Canadia.

Thanks.