Dear Bird Talk, The official U.S. government website help.cbp.gov/app/answers notes that Canadian vacationers are only required under American law to present a valid passport. Admittedly, they add the caveat that individual officers may ask for further proof. Imagine my disappointment to see evidence both in your Travel Information Guide as well as in replies in […]

Dear Bird Talk, This topic may have been covered before…sorry. During a recent U.S. border-crossing interview, we were asked to provide documentation showing closer ties to Canada. We didn’t have anything other than our ID; the guard reluctantly let us cross, but cautioned us “that the burden of proof is on the traveller.” Has anyone […]

Dear bird talk, I had to chuckle at the cartoon on p.53. we cross the border at least twice a year with our dogs, but the border patrol/customs people have never made any reference such as the one in the cartoon. if they had, i would say “Yes, one of our dogs is truly canadian: […]

Dear bird talk, I find bird talk enjoyable and useful, thought you might like to hear what our border guard at Sarnia, ON said last September when we entered Michigan for a week of camping with friends. After he asked if we had fruit, etc. he waved us on with, “thank you for coming.” that […]

Dear bird talk, I understand that if I go to the U.S. in October and say that I am going for six months and then go home for Christmas for a week, that time is considered to be spent in the U.S. What if I go in October and tell them that I am going […]

Dear bird talk, if we go home to Alberta for two or three weeks, are we allowed to deduct this time from the amount of days we are allowed to be in the U.S.? People are telling us that nothing under 30 days is allowed. Susan Wood st. albert, ab Response: Ed: We have been […]

When crossing the border with alcohol Dear bird talk, I’ve been trying to find out – when crossing the border from the U.S. to Canada, realizing that each person gets 40 oz of alcohol, how do you count it when you purchase the premixed drinks that hold all the fruit juice and mix, as well […]

Dear bird talk, While wintering in Mesa, arizona and driving a car with alberta plates, a friend was stopped by the local police for a routine traffic check. No traffic violation had occurred.the driver was asked for her driver’s license, vehicle registration, car insurance and her passport. she provided the first three items to the […]

Dear Bird Talk, I read in our magazine about people having border-crossing issues. We never have had any, either way. I wonder what triggers people’s problems. Are they being rude to Canadian or American agents, not being truthful, or what? It would help to put such stories in context. Like many Canadians, before being a […]

We have just joined and find the snowbird site interesting. We are going to be buying a mobile home in a 55+ park in Las Vegas. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of Bird Talk from Nevada. But we have some basic questions to help us get started. Any info you can provide would […]