Best way to go to USA from Canada without being hassled?

Hi there

I am Canadian citizen and have been going to the USA many times via air. Its gotten to a point where they set me aside and question me every time I go to the USA. I own my own successful business and am fortunate enough to be able to fly when I wish for vacation, visit friends, attend conventions, functions, seminars etc.

By which means is easiest to go to the USA without being extensively questioned every time?

By car (driving through the border), Greyhound, Amtrak, by boat...or?

I fear that if they do keep questioning me, they will end up denying my entry as they gave me a hard time the last time I flew to the USA asking me all sorts of questions. I have nothing to hide, I merely just enjoy going to the USA for pleasure. I understand these guys at the border are doing their jobs but I want to avoid all consequences which impede my ability to travel whenever I wish.

Many get Nexus card.

But your concerns that they now having you on a hit list are justified.

Many get Nexus card.

But your concerns that they now having you on a hit list are justified.

Actually its not justified. I live 30 mins away from the border in Canada so I used to go to the USA every so often, for shopping, dining, concerts. I happen to enjoy road trips and traveling every now and then. Why they question me to a point of annoyance is unnecessary. All I am doing is spending my hard earned money to their economy. They fail to understand that and I am tired of having to justify myself over and over to these ignorant fools.

I'm saying your concerns are justified, not their treatment of you.

Once you get hassled once or twice, you are on their hit list.

But you will need to control your understandable agitation when dealing with them, or it will get worse. They have all the keys.

Get a nexus card, and carry proof of ties with you at all times.

Sorry, misread what you meant. Thnx for the advice.

I am considering traveling by Greyhound or Amtrak as I usually drive to the USA to board my flight.

Does anyone know what is the process through these 2 means of transportation? Do they question you when you buy tickets and go on board?

I am considering the Nexus card but, not that I have anything to hide, I just don't like the idea of being fingerprinted.

For bus (and I presume train), there is typically a stop at or near the border where CBP boards and goes over everyone's entry.

It can be a hassle, if anyone on board is problematic. In your car, it's just you.

has anyone been on greyhound or amtrak. what is the procedure like?

Once you've been pulled into secondary inspection, you will *always* be pulled into secondary inspection. The only way to get around that is with a NEXUS card, or just don't go.

I've taken the bus across the border, and you have to ALL exit the bus, go into the Customs house, they take all your luggage off the bus, and then you wait. And wait and wait, while they inspect and interview everybody. The same happens on the train, except you don't exit the train I don't think. But they inspect and interview everybody. And most of the time you end up missing your connection or whatever it was you were taking the bus or train to. I ended up having to sleep in the bus terminal in Buffalo overnight because I missed my connecting bus. Not fun I assure you.

You're suspicious to them because you travel so often, and because you're self employed, and because you occasionally travel on business. So they're going to continue to pull you into secondary unfortunately. Nothing you can do about it, it's their job.

There's no way of "avoiding" being hassled, they all use the same computer system. Having been pulled into secondary inspection at some very rustic locations I can tell you by far the best strategy is to go to the POE which has the most CBP agents, because odds are at least one of them will know what they're doing plus their IT system is usually better.

NEXUS card might help at a major POE that has proper NEXUS machines, but there is still a CBP guy at a desk beyond the machines who can pull you in if he wants to. At the smaller POEs that are NEXUS approved though you have to go to secondary inspection in order to use your NEXUS card.

I'm not quite sure what amount of time you're comparing to, certainly things have gotten tougher since about 2003 for everyone and they're going to get tougher still.

Sound more like this person needs to stay cool/calm at the border. Seems to be getting riled by CBP officer, which just plays into their games.