Are we going to get searched coming home from Canada?

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ddenn

Living on the Detroit-Windsor border (canadian side) i can say Ive never been searched. The most that has happened to me was that the US border patrol popped my trunk to look at the snowboards we had (probably looked around a little bit to confirm that we had nothing to declare.
even when flying in from amsterdam to detroit, they never gave me a hard time. Im a universty student, and though its easy for then to think that were up to something, if you dont behave like you're hiding something, they most likely wont search you. they will always ask "are you brinign anything back with you?" or ask for the total dollar amount of whatever youre bringing in, but if you have nothing to hide, they wont search you. Though since you're asking if youre going to get searched it sounds like you want to bring something back with you... if you lie and say you dont have any alcohol or tobacco (esp cuban cigars) and really you do and you get caught, its instant confiscation and you will be booked (happened to my sister... she forgot she had beef jerky in her plane luggage coming back from australia-- border patrol found it, she said she forgot to declare it and was still fined $100USD or something. i would think the fine was on the lighter side since it was dearly an honest mistake.
moral of the story. dont try to smuggle stuff across, but if you feel so inclined to, i felt that i could have had many oportunities to smuggle things like booze across to the US. dont give them a reason to suspect you.

Randy B

Who knows. As in the American section. Canada does not search people leaving...the US searches people entering.

Hatshepsut

First of all, your alcohol is cheaper than ours. Secondly, if you have never had Canadian beer, it will knock you on your ***! lol. Seriously though, it is really a matter of luck. They can search your vehicle for no reason at all. And when they do be prepared for them to open everything. It really is as simple as this: make sure you are driving a valid vehicle, with a valid license, get a list of what you are allowed to purchase at duty free (based on how long you are in Canada) and don't bring anything back that you're not suppose to have. Being searched is annoying but not a big deal. Follow the rules and all is well. Canada is an awesome place to visit. I know, I live here. I don't know where you are coming into the country at or which major cities you will see, but if you are in Toronto, drive to Montreal and vice versa. They are two excellent cities and Montreal has a killer night life and Toronto is our Hollywood. You guys will have a blast.

PS. Obviously Mexico is not safer than Canada, however it is a beautiful country too. I'd stick to resorts or travel with people who know it well though. Canada is perfect for two college guys escaping for a week. Enjoy.

old lady

Why are you asking this on a Canadian site? Canadian border officials don't care what you take out of the country. The people who are interested in what you bring into the country are the US border agents.
No one in their right mind would smuggle alcohol from Canada into the US because it is so much cheaper in the US.

Kael M

American alcohol is way cheaper than canadian alcohol, although some provinces have like 90% stuff(makes better paint thinner than drinks). the only thing college students might smuggle back from canada is weed, which is something we have alot of and its cheap.
You might get searched, but it would be by the american border gaurds...canadian border gaurds arnt going to care what your taking out of the country.

ask the US customs, how do we know ?

Zox M

go to mexico. it is safer.

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