My story: in July 2009 I already wanted to come to the USA from Vancouver, I didn't get a permit to enter and had to turn. The reasons? I would not have any ties to Germany any more after 14 months of travelling! So they told me to bring evidences that I want to go back. Unfortunatelly I didn't understand quite well. And yesterday I wanted to cross the border again. I had a unworthy (like a criminal) procedure of 4 hours and then the customs sent me back again. Now I have to bring this evidences for applying for a visa to travel through the USA. I just want to go to South America.
I want to warn everybody that it is not so easy as it seems to travel through the States. Does somebody have similar experiences? I'm absolutely shocked about this arrogance of the costums. After 14 bordercrossings on this trip it was my worst experience.

Axel

As a Canadian living close to the border me and my buddy would often go over the border for a ride. We've been doing so for years then all of a sudden they decided my bud couldn't cross anymore - something to do with a charge over 30 years ago that had long been cleared. It amounted to a paper work error on their side but short story is they can get pretty prickly at the US border.

In general, most borders have a great many similarities. Rude customs officials, long line ups, arcane regulations and procedures conspire to make it a potentially difficult process. Usually we get to skirt a lot of the worst of it because we are tourists and they want our money. The people who are crossing regularly for commerce or other reasons aren't usually as fortunate to be treated acceptably.

Sorry to hear about your experience crossing into the US, sounds like you may have encountered an overzealous border guard the first time and as a result you were flagged. They have tightened the border considerably post 9/11, for all, even Canadians who previously were perhaps treated a little better due to proximity and frequency of border crossings. Now, everyone is a foreigner and treated as such.

I doubt there is anything you can do about it now, other than go through the visa process. It's a good warning to other long distance riders to be prepared in their stories if they have been away for a while. Might be better to state that you just starting or are returning back home once you reach x destination. A full fare airline ticket in your possesion (that you can cancel later for a full refund) might be a useful thing to show at the right time.

If the visa process takes a while, and you need to a place to crash, you are welcome to ride a short ways into the interior of BC and drink cold here while you wait.

Mountain Man, that was one of the most clear, balanced and informative posts I've seen in a long while (from anyone but myself, I mean!).

To the OP and others: US customs can be tremendous jerks. Tread cautiously and you may improve the odds, but never forget that they are as often as not precisely the sort of power-mongering, irrational, armed-and-dangerous uniformed folks who inhabit border posts throughout the world. As an American, I can only apologize for their unpredictability and (often) unprofessionalism.

And yes, I think you're stuck going through the visa process. FWIW, Mountain Man has a few good stories to tell....

enjoy,

Mark

(from Mpeasem, Cape Coast, Ghana)

Thank you for your informations and experiences, it just helps to stay calm and not to go crazy.
This story isn't over jet...
The shortest way from the border was to go to Calgary and get my visa there from the Consulate. It's unbelivable but the next free appiontment for an interview (what you have to do) is in November! Now I have to drive to Vancouver where I got an appointment for the end of September. And still, even if you have the visa, it is not sure, that you can cross the border.

And by the way, where could I get a nice cold ?
Axel

Sir Mark, thanks for the kind comments. Unfortunately clear writing is an art form honed from years of practice and produced easily by those of you smart enough to pursue an area of study where it is emphasized. The rest of us have to fake it and rely on being tired or hungover enough to keep our answers short.. And as for border crossings, now there's a memory I have been trying to suppress. Enjoy your Ghanian holiday.

Axel, if you are killing time until the visa process kicks in, you are welcome to stay and scrub some of the road grime. I can also map out some interesting rides for you if you want to fill some of the time. BC is a pretty good place to be laid up for a while. I'll email you with my contact details, feel free to drop me a line.

And of course if you're still in the Calgary area you are more than welcome to visit us.

In fact we're planning an HU Breakfast this coming Sunday.

__________________
Ekke Kok

'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 250,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure 100,000 km (just finished Circumnavigating Asia)
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www.ekke-audrey.ca