Just wondering about crossing the border from canada into the u.s?

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Eclectic Mind

Hi, I traveled from Vancouver to Seattle a few times by bus. Here is the website for schedules and fees. It is called Quick Shuttle
http://www.quickcoach.com/
http://www.gotobus.com/vancouver/

When you get to the border you will get off the buss and you have to accompany your luggage with you then you'll go inside the office to show your passport and answer their questions like "Where are you from?" "Why are you going to the States?" "How long are you staying for?" the regular border crossing questions. Once they checked everybody's passport you get on the bus and go. Simple is that. Pretty easy, actually easier than driving your own vehicle because buses use Track Crossing therefore the waiting time at the border is way shorter.
Let me know if you need more information, I was like you when I first traveled on the bus. :) I hope you have a great time in Vancouver & Seattle on your holidays

Edit: No they don't scan fingerprints or eyes, you have to answer their questions respectfully and don't make any jokes, just in good manners then you will be all right. You know yourself right!

Edit: To merbutler, He is FLYING to Vancouver, and asking information about the bus in between Vancouver Seattle apart from that in my answer I clerified about the passport checks. Because he might be flying from a country where passport required to come to Canada.

sheila

I agree with eclectic mind, and wanted to add for any others: the border guards are already giving people who are driving trouble for not having passports, and if you try it after June 1 you will get fingerprinted etc.

Can Crasher

If you are flying over the border you need a passport.
If you are travelling by land to the states you will need a passport as of June 1/ 2009

Thanks Merbutler. I knew this because I am filling out my passport and I am heading down to the states in the next two months.

Arnold C

The biggest problem will be the lines at the border crossing. Avoid rush hour crossings and weekends if you donâ€™t like lines.

Travel Tip: American citizens now need passports or

Photo ID (Government issued) AND birth certificate to

return from Canada by car.

Canadians need the same identification entering the U.S. need the same.
Air and ship travel requires a passport

boredofgoldeneye

I made this journey in December 2008, travelling over the border on a Greyhound bus from Vancouver to Seattle, making the return journey 2 or 3 days later. The bus pulls into a parking area and the driver explains what will happen... basically everyone just files out of the bus and queues to see a border agent who asks all the usual questions. We had to scan our fingerprints and say where we were going (it's worth knowing the address you're going to), what was the purpose of our trip, when we were going back etc. The we had our bags scanned and had to surrender a couple of pieces of fruit, lol. It's the same process as at the airport, customs stuff and identity stuff.

We are Brits so had to show our passports, I would imagine this is the case wherever you are from. Also, we had to have our details registered on the visa waiver system, as Britain is on the visa waiver program. We did this online in advance - I'm not sure if you will need to do this depending on where you're from.

The process for the whole bus was done within an hour when we went, which was around early afternoon I think, although the driver said it can take 2-4 hours on occasions.

I have also crossed the border by road in other locations in the last few months and the process is exactly the same.

People say that the border guards can be militant and scary but in my experience most have been pretty pleasant and helpful. In fact the Canadian ones coming back the other way were a bit more in your face.

John T

You need a passport to cross the border now. Land, sea or air all require a passport.

merbutler

With the sole exception of Can Crasher, all of the other answerers seem to be airheads who don't know what they are talking about.The passport insanity rule does not take effect until June 1st,2009.

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