Driving across the border from Toronto, Canada to the USA

Posted by Nick on October 25, 2009

Yesterday I had the pleasure of driving across the border from Toronto, Canada back into the USA. And when I say “pleasure” what I mean is annoyance. Dealing with US Customs and Borders is always a sour way to end a fun international trip, at least in my opinion.

If you have never driven across the border, here is what you can expect.

As you pull up to present your passport you are photographed from the front and your car is photographed from the back as you drive up. You hand over your passport and they ask questions after they walk to the back of the vehicle to check out your license plate. Yesterday I was asked:

“Citizenship?”

“Where are you coming from?”

“Who’s vehicle is this?”

“Where are you coming from?” (yes, twice)

“What were you doing there?” (my answer: a concert)

“What was the concert?”

“Where are you going?”

I admit I was a bit perplexed by the citizenship question since I had already handed over my American passport. Last time I checked you had to be American to get an American passport. And is it really so hard from the Customs agent to be friendly or even polite! I would definitely settle for polite.