For a month now, Americans re-entering the U.S. through the border crossing at Grand Portage have been asked to present a passport or other approved document, but according to Customs and Border Patrol Officer Frank Fenner, the new requirement has not been a problem. “It’s actually sped things up,” he said.
Since Americans entering Canada are not asked for a passport, some people might not find out about the new requirements until they try to get back into the U.S. While Border Patrol officers might do more in-depth questioning or investigation when Americans arrive without passports, Fenner said, they would be “flexible and practical. …We don’t know where they came from,” he said. “Our job is to inspect everybody who comes back across.”
A June 29 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press release advises travelers to build extra time into their trips during holidays in case of heavy trafficat the border. So far, however, “we haven’t had any problems,” Fenner said. “It’s been more efficient. Thewait times have decreased.”
According to the press release, CBP officials “plan to fully staff all inspection lanes during peak periods and to implement various traffic management operations to maintain the flow of traffic during periods of exceptionally heavy usage.”
Where to get documents
Several kinds of documents will allow Americans entry into the U.S. A passport card is a limited-use travel document that fits in a wallet and costs less than a U.S. passport. It is only valid for entry into the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda.
Passport and passport card applications can be obtained at the Grand Marais post office and at the Recorder’s Office in the Cook County Courthouse. Thepost officecan also take the necessary photos. Otherwise, people can get passport photos taken at Radio Shack or submit two head-and-shoulder photos taken against a plain white background and printed on good quality photo paper. Also required are a certified birth certificate and a driver’s license or other form of government-issued photo I.D.
Passports and passport cards are good for 10 years for adults and five years for children under 16. Children arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory may instead present originals or copies of their birth certificates.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is working with interested Native American tribes toward the development of an enhanced tribal card that will meet documentation requirements.
A NEXUS card is for pre-approved travelers who cross the U.S./Canada border frequently. It allows expedited processing through NEXUSdesignated lanes at some northern border ports of entry and at NEXUS kiosks in some Canadian airports and allows boaters to report their arrival by phone instead of in person. NEXUS members will also be able to cross the border with a minimum of questioning.
According to the CBP website, “Approved applicants are issued a photo-identification, proximity Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card. Participants use the three modes of passage where they will either present their NEXUS card or have their iris scanned and make a declaration.” NEXUS applicants must be fingerprinted and appear for an interview at a designated enrollment center. In Minnesota, these are located in International Falls and Warroad. Inquiries can be made by calling 1(866)NEXUS26 (1(866)639- 8726), and applications are available online at goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/.
A FAST card provides expedited travel for approved commercial truck drivers entering from Canada and Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has other frequent traveler programs and requirements related to air travel, returning from Mexico, certain types of cruises, lawful permanent non-citizen residents, children traveling in groups without parents or guardians, armed forces personnel, and merchant marines. Some states and provinces are issuing enhanced driver’s licenses, which are accepted at the Pigeon River checkpoint. More information can be found at www.cbp.gov.
Boaters crossing the border
U.S. boaters returning from Canadian waters must follow the new travel document requirements and will need a passport, passport card, or NEXUS card.
An I-68 form allows boaters to report their return by phone rather than appear in person at the CPB office located in the Coast Guard Station in Grand Marais.
According to the CPB website, “An I-68 form is similar to a vehicle registration, and is not an identity document or a travel document. … Persons traveling by boat who do not have Form I-68 and who have not presented themselves for inspection are subject to arrest, possible fine, or if a non-US citizen, removal from the United States.”
Obtaining I-68 registration requires an interview, fingerprinting, photographing, a background check, and an annual fee of $16. Application can be made at the CBP office in Grand Marais.
If Canadian entry is denied
Even Americans who are denied entry into Canada (if, for example they don’t have rabies certificates for their pets) must go through the U.S. border inspection process after turning around at the border because they have already crossed the Pigeon River bridge and thus left the U.S. Canadian officials usually don’t notify the American checkpoint when this happens.
Occasionally, groups of Americans travel from distant states to fishin Canada only to have members of their parties turned away because they have DWIs (driving while intoxicated convictions) on their records. DWIs are felonies in Canada.
Questions
Frank Fenner recommended the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website (cbp. gov) as a source of information for people with questions about crossing the border.
He sounded happy to report that a group of fourth graders visited the Pigeon River checkpoint just before school was out. He said, “Not a lot of people know what we do up here.”
What can and cannot enter the U.S.
Each person returning from a trip to Canada is allowed to bring $800 of Canadian goods into the U.S. without paying any duty and should be prepared to declare all items acquired abroad.
Each person can import one case of beer or one bottle of liquor and one carton of cigarettes but may be taxed depending on his or her length of stay in Canada. Firewood is not allowed to cross the border into the U.S.
While legally caught wild game and fish are allowed back into the U.S. (subject to U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service controls), restrictions apply on other animal and plant products. The list of restricted products continues to change according to U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibitions designed to keep plant and animal diseases out of the U.S.
Bananas grown in the western hemisphere are allowed in, but other fruits must have stickers proving they were grown in Canada or the U.S. Thecurrent list of fruits banned from crossing the U.S. from Canada include citrus fruits from Canada, avocados, mangoes, plantains, and fruits with lesser known names such as durian, langsats, longans, lychees, and rambutans.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer Frank Fenner, vegetables grown in the U.S. or Canada (with proof of origin) are usually allowed. Chives, unpeeled garlic, green onions, leeks, or any other species of allium with green parts are prohibited. Potatoes must be free of soil.
All confiscated produce is sanitized, Fenner said, and, according to the CBP website, “carefully destroyed in special CBP facilities.”
Lamb, mutton, and goat materials, whether canned, in raw sausages, or in soups, are prohibited. Sausages in sheep casings are prohibited. Poultry and eggs not grown in the U.S. or Canada are prohibited.
Up to 50 pounds per person of beef, bison, and pork are allowed into the U.S. Canadian cheese is allowed.
Pet food and pet treats made of lamb and/or goat are prohibited if they did not originate in the U.S. Pet food or treats from the U.S. can come in as long as they are in their original packaging.
“CBP officers have the authority to conduct enforcement examinations without a warrant,” said the June 29 press release, “ranging from a single luggage examination up to and possibly including a personal search.”
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