Tightened border-crossing rules
shouldn't slow smart travelers

Grosse Pointe Park residents Al LeChard and his wife, Sid, have been driving to their cottage in Canada for the last 40 years.

And like many Grosse Pointe residents who own Canadian cottages or boats, the LeChards have become adept at crossing the border between the United States and its neighbor.

Changes effective June 1 require U.S. residents to provide a passport upon re-entry into the country by land or sea. The newest federal law, a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

The LeChards now carry NEXUS passes, which simplify border crossing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers.

“We’ve had the NEXUS passes for the last two years,” Al LeChard said. “It expedites the process significantly. And if you’re using a NEXUS card, you have to be compliant in all respects or you’ll lose it.”

Being compliant means strictly observing the sometimes confusing rules of what can be legally carried between the nations. Travelers are prohibited from bringing citrus fruits, some meats, and other agricultural products back into the States. 

“Currently, coming from Canada, the only meat products that are prohibited are lamb or goat,” said Officer Michelle Peel, an agricultural specialist with the U.S. Customs and Immigration Office. “All other meat products need to be labeled and easily identifiable.”

Travelers entering Canada are limited to taking one liter of alcohol or one case of beer per person if you’ve been out of Canada for 48 hours. And if NEXUS cards are the passkey of choice, everyone in the car must have their own card.

Cottage owners may run into restrictions other travelers don't. If you want to spruce up your garden, plan on buying your supplies on the other side–you cannot bring fertilizer, dirt or plants into Canada. Al LeChard has had his fertilizer confiscated at the border.

“I think they’re phasing it out and there will be no use of fertilizers in Canada after next year," he said. "That’s at least what we’re hearing.”

Those who wish to participate in the NEXUS program must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada.

Pleasure boaters have their own rules. Boaters returning from Canada must check in at designated specific reporting locations within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Offices that are staffed during boating season. Boaters must report their arrival and be inspected by CBP.

All boaters can import goods for their personal use, and United States residents must return all goods to the U.S. unless those goods were consumed while in Canada.

The CBP also requires that boat captains report from a designated telephone marine site and be directed to the nearest port of entry to satisfy the face-to-face requirement, or report to the nearest designated reporting location along with the boat’s passengers for inspection.

“I happened to have a boater who said it took him forever to get through customs,” said Shirley Atkinson, dockmaster for the South Channel Yacht Club on Harsens Island. “I don’t know why. I didn’t ask him if he had a passport.”

But pleasure boaters can also take advantage of the NEXUS Marine program, which works similar to the system for auto travelers, facilitating customs and immigration clearance for recreational low-risk boaters entering either country, according to cbp.gov.

The pass is valid for five years and satisfies the boat operator’s legal requirement to report to a port of entry for face-to-face inspection. Boaters must still phone in their arrival.

More information about the rules is available at Crossing Made Easy, a website maintained by the Windsor Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection home page.

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