Canadians entering US
Mike Hendrix
Canada here is a reply --------- that resulted when I posted Bob's
link on the AllAboutRVing Yahoo group.
This fellow lives in the Maritimes and winters in the US every year.
He is really familiar with the US since he was a Canadian Air Force
officer that was stationed in the US for many years at the Air Force
Academy in Colorado. His familiarity with the crossing problems may
give him a different perspective.
HTH
mike
Hi Mike et al,
This is a real problem.
First, they were fortunate that they were able to 'appeal' the
decision of
the agent. In most cases, we will be denied access with no reason
given -
the decision of the agent is final and irreversible.
The Canadian Snowbird Association suggests that Canadians trying to
enter the US for extended periods (like spending the winter in the
warm
weather) carry copies of the following to prove that we intend to
return
home, have a permanent Canadian address, are financially self
sufficient,
etc - property deed, property tax statement, couple of visa bills,
bank
account statements, recent income tax returns/acknowledgement, etc.
Also frequent border crossers who intend to stay in the US for a few
months should file the following annually and carry a copy with them
*8840 Closer Connection Form*
Canadian residents who winter in the U.S. are technically subject to
U.S.
income tax if they exceed a specific number of days in the U.S. in any
one
year. To avoid U.S. taxation, IRS form 8840 (Closer Connection
Exemption
Statement for Aliens) needs to be filed annually with the U.S.
Internal
Revenue Service.
We have never been hassled in our many years of crossing the border.
A
friend who is a border agent also suggests that you do not wear sun
glasses at the crossing, do not make jokes or smart remarks, and only
answer what is asked for and do not add extraneous info.
Having said that we have never been hassled, on our last crossing in
our
RV in Dec 08 we noted in the reflection in the booth of the agent that
a
computer screen showed a green check mark and a red X - this may be
the
'every 12th car' thing - the agent thought about it and released us
after
a few moments - we think we were close to getting up close and
personal
with the US Customs agent.
Sharry mentioned that she thought she may have been singled out for a
closer look when crossing into Canada because she was from Texas.
Could
be - her fellow Texans do not a good track record. There was an
incident
in the news lately about a couple from Texas who swore up and down
that
they were not carrying a weapon. Agent gave them 3 chances to change
their answer - they did not. Something triggered the agent and he
found a
cache of weapons on board. Car, trailer, everything was confiscated,
they
were charged with carrying the weapons into Canada illegally and for
lying, and turned around and sent packing after paying a very big
fine.
Our customs friend says that this is a very common occurrence. By the
way, a Canadian trying to carry weapons into the US is treated even
more
severely
And Mike, that is spelled Saskatchewan lol
Hope this helps a bit,
Preston
Mike Hendrix said the following on 20/11/2009 5:06 PM:
>
>
> I am cutting & pasting this from the RV-news group. The writer is a
> Canadian who wanders through the US each winter on his way to Mexico. He
> has a home in Skatuchian (sp) or at least he did the last I knew. The
> link takes you to a really good story of what is happening at our
> borders.
>
Lone Haranguer
> Contrary to NG heckler-spew, we really love Florida. And while
> nutcases like LZ equate enjoying Florida State Parks is the equivalent
> of bunking down with homeless trailer trash; LZ doesn't really get out
> that much; and has never so much as seen a Florida State Park!
Doesn't get out much? My log book says otherwise.
I have photos of me and my first motor home in a Florida state park in
January of 1983.
We stayed in a number of them during our visit. Repeat the sentence
where I equated state park stays with bunking down with trailer trash.
I think you are guilty of lying again.
LZ
R.J.(Bob) Evans
responded to Stan Bitch thusly:
>I think you are guilty of lying again.
Of course he was. His fingers were moving (and his lips probably were
too while he was typing) - therefore he was lying.
Stan gives all Canadians a bad name.
BTW - I wish you wouldn't quote the stupid SOB because then I wouldn't
have to see any of his spew.
--
R.J.(Bob) Evans
(return address needs alteration to work)
http://travellingwithgeorge.blogspot.com/
Joe
> >On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 Mike Hendrix <mikehend...@isp.com> wrote:
> >For those of you interested in the thread about entering the US from
> >Canada here is a reply --------- that resulted when I posted Bob's
> >link on the AllAboutRVing Yahoo group.
>
> >This fellow lives in the Maritimes and winters in the US every year.
> >He is really familiar with the US since he was a Canadian Air Force
> >officer that was stationed in the US for many years at the Air Force
> >Academy in Colorado. His familiarity with the crossing problems may
> >give him a different perspective.
>
> **normal** individuals who cross the border on a regular basis. Evans
> hardly represents **normal** individuals! He's an abrasive
> cantankerous old fart who has obviously pissed off the wrong people;
> and now he's getting his well earned reward. He is probably now
> forever flagged as an SOB border guards are going to enjoy giving the
> royal treatment.
>
> But for nice guys like me, the border guards already know I'm a nice
> guy, and they treat me that way. Since we live on the border, we cross
> over into the good 'ole USA on a regular basis. In all the
> years/decades we've been crossing the border, lured by the prospect of
> free overnight parking in Florida :-), with the exception of an
> isolated incident, when they apologized for detaining us for the
> purpose of trying out a new drug sniffing dawg; with hundreds of
> border-crossings, our average crossing time ranges from about 15 to 30
> seconds!!
>
> We are having ever so much fun now, planning our absolutely free
> Florida vacation for this year. :-( Although some Wal-Marts have been
> forced by cantankerous locals to rescind their usual hospitality
> policy; others are going the opposite direction.
>
> For instance, the Homestead Wal-Mart; the preferred place for RVers to
> spend the night and stock of before descending into the Everglades was
> posted with "RVers . . . Go Away!!" signs; the last time we were
> their, the "Go Away!" signs were all gone; and at least 20 to 30 RVers
> were overnighting that evening!
>
> Contrary to NG heckler-spew, we really love Florida. And while
> nutcases like LZ equate enjoying Florida State Parks is the equivalent
> of bunking down with homeless trailer trash; LZ doesn't really get out
> whole lot like Evans, with an irresistible compulsion to expel wind!
> :-(
You can't be serious. I took this comment as a joke. Or maybe a
person that is not all there.
Joe
Mike Hendrix
>>On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 Mike Hendrix <mikeh...@isp.com> wrote:
>>For those of you interested in the thread about entering the US from
>>Canada here is a reply --------- that resulted when I posted Bob's
>>link on the AllAboutRVing Yahoo group.
>>
>>This fellow lives in the Maritimes and winters in the US every year.
>>He is really familiar with the US since he was a Canadian Air Force
>>officer that was stationed in the US for many years at the Air Force
>>Academy in Colorado. His familiarity with the crossing problems may
>>give him a different perspective.
>
Stan, the worst Wal-Mart in the US to overnight in has to be the one
in Homestead. Talk about crowded --------- and with homeless people
living in their automobiles. Simply horrible.
There is a Home Depot located in back of that Wal-Mart where we
overnight. Most of the time there are no other RV's in that parking
lot. It is also a lot easier to get into and out of. You can also
park under some trees if you are looking for shade.
Stan, there is a casino a little north (15-miles) that is also a good
overnighting spot.
We stop in one of those places on our way to Key West since we do not
want to try to make it to Key West late in the day. It takes a long
time to dicker with the gate guards at the Navy Base in Key West and
we want to have PLENTY of time to resolve the issues ----- and there
are always issues. VBG
mike
--
Pegleg
> It takes a long
> time to dicker with the gate guards at the Navy Base in Key West and
> we want to have PLENTY of time to resolve the issues ----- and there
> are always issues. VBG
What kind of issues? Are you retired military?
Brian
Mike Hendrix
No, retired DOD civilian. Some military campgrounds allow retired DOD
ciivilians to stay in their campgrounds. NAS Key West is one of them.
One never knows the issues to be encountered. It depends on whether
the gate guard got any before leaving home ---- sometimes there are no
problems --- other times they need a letter from the Commanding
Officer or some such. Nothing is ever the same. With that said we
always go prepared with every piece of paper and identification any of
them can ask for. We ask ahead of time what is going to be required
and arrive with whatever it is they require. However, it never fails
that the person on the Gate wants something that was not on that list
---- and the person that provided that list is on leave until -----
you fill in the date. The Morale & Rec people give you the
information but it is base security that allows you on the base. They
both work for the Commanding Officer but you wouldn't know it.
I spent a lifetime working with Navy folks and know that you can't
argue with Base Security -------- be nice, calm, and provide them with
all the information they request. Then after you lick the floor and
bow enough one of them will relent and give you the sticker that will
allow you on the base.
Is that what you wanted to know?
mike
--
Pegleg
> Is that what you wanted to know?
>
> mike
Just curious since you weren't very forthcoming in
your original post.
Haven't experienced the problems you encountered
since I'm retired military. I do know there is a
priority order for the use of the facilities, as
you obviously know also, but you are referring to
accessing the base. Is there a DOD sticker
available for retired DOD?
Brian
Mike Hendrix
No, there isn't a base sticker available for DOD and that is part of
the problem. Until about a year ago DOD retired did not have an
identification card so we would have to show our DD-215 (or some DD
form) showing that we were retired DOD then have to show a picture ID
-- generally a drivers license would do. Then all the vehicles
insurance papers plus the title and registration on all vehicles.
You know the drill if you are retired military.
Things MAY be a bit better this year since DOD started issuing retired
DOD photo identification cards. When we returned to Pensacola from
Key West this year we went to the Navy Base that I retired from and
got one of those Retired DOD picture identification cards. I am
hoping that it will help since it worked with no problem (as in NO
problem) at the air force base in Cheyenne, WY this summer.
mike
--
Mike Hendrix
>>On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 Mike Hendrix <mikeh...@isp.com> wrote:
>
>>Stan, the worst Wal-Mart in the US to overnight in has to be the one
>>in Homestead. Talk about crowded --------- and with homeless people
>>living in their automobiles. Simply horrible.
>>
>>There is a Home Depot located in back of that Wal-Mart where we
>>overnight. Most of the time there are no other RV's in that parking
>>lot. It is also a lot easier to get into and out of. You can also
>>park under some trees if you are looking for shade.
>>
>>Stan, there is a casino a little north (15-miles) that is also a good
>>overnighting spot.
>
>The entire town of Homestead is sort of a scarey place. The iron bars
>on most of the windows don't suggest anything good. :-) But we go to
>the Wal-Mart there as the last place to stock with a couple weeks of
>supplies before heading down into the Everglades. Not much shopping
>down there. :-)
I understand the shopping ---- as you say it is the LAST place to shop
before heading to Flamingo ---- I just assume you are headed into the
Flamingo campground deep in the Everglades.
Do you ever stop at "Robert is here" fruit stand on your way to
Flamingo? If not it is a stop you should make. They have really good
milk shakes made from their fresh fruit. Get Robert to help pick out
some fruit for you. He can feel the exotic fruits and tell you when
they will be ripe ----- some for today ---- then some for later in the
week. We make it a point to stop by there any time we are in the
area.
And YES, Homestead is a scary place. There are a lot of homeless and
marginally employed workers in that area. As you can tell it is
basically a farming area and housing area on the mainland where low
paid workers on the upper keys can live and commute to day jobs in the
upper keys.
mike
--
Zandermax
"R.J.(Bob) Evans" <bob at rjevans dot org> wrote in message
news:mi6mg596ndkpboqae...@4ax.com...
bill horne
Speaking of military facilities, I went up to Robins last week to
check on tires at the base service station. I walked in the auto/tire
store, and the place was essentially gone. They used to sell many
brands of tires - and various other auto related stuff. Now it's a
Firestone store. Is this happening on other installations?
So I went to Discount Tire.
Next thing I know, the BX will be a Fred's, and the commissary will be
a Harvey's. Worse, the package store might turn into a Budweiser outlet.
--
bill
Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.