Crossing the Border By Bus
Taking the bus can be a low-cost way to visit Canada or Mexico. Crossing the border isn’t as easy as going from state to state, however. It’s good to be well-prepared and aware of what to expect, in order to make your border crossing as timely and smooth as possible.
What To Bring
Before you leave the house, make sure you have all the necessary documents you’ll need. Since 2009 and the passing of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the forms of identification you can use to cross the border have changed.
For adults over the age of 18, you’ll need a U.S. passport, a traveler’s card (SENTRI, FAST, or NEXUS), an enhanced driver’s license, or a passport card. What exactly you’ll need depends on your country of citizenship and which country you’re traveling to. You can see the complete details of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative here if you have any questions.
People who are 18 and under, but traveling under adult supervision with an organized group (church group, sports team, school club) only require proof of citizenship; a birth certificate, citizenship card, or naturalization certification will suffice. However, they do need a notarized letter of permission for their travel, signed by their parents or guardians. Children aged 15 and under also only need to show proof of citizenship.
If you don’t have the correct documents at the border, your bus company will leave you behind, and you’ll be responsible for finding your own transportation back home, so don’t forget!
Upon Return
When you return to the United States, you’ll have to declare a number of items at customs. Keep this in mind before your bus pulls up to the border, and it will be easier to fill out the declaration documents.
Items you must declare upon entering the United States:
- Gifts received
- Items purchased abroad
- Items you inherited abroad
- Duty free items you purchased
- Anything you intend to use or sell in your business
On the declaration form, you’ll have to state what you paid for each item, so keep receipts handy or make your best guess. If you’re taking expensive items into a foreign country, it may make sense to register them with customs before you go; computers, watches, or anything with a serial number can be registered, to avoid paying duty on it.
Smooth Traveling
Crossing the border can be time consuming. While your bus company my have only scheduled 30 minutes to cross, if someone in front of you is holding up the line there’s nothing the bus company can do. Avoid making tight transit connections on border crossing days. One particular situation to be aware of is entering Vancouver, B.C., by bus on a weekend day; it can take up to two hours to cross the border, due to the flooding of buses from cruise ships and other tourists.
Source:
Know Before You Go. (2011) U.S. Customs and Border Protection