In my uninformed opinion, by far the best credentials for an easy USA /
Canadian border crossing are: middle / upper middle age [or older]; Caucasian
skin, short hair, an uncrowded vehicle, no sign of nervousness or agitation,
and no sign of being intoxicated, high or happy. When we lived in the south
central part of BC a lady we knew was a retired Canadian customs border control
office who told us that they were supremely well trained in recognizing body
language and could pick out miscreants as easily as identifying a $3 bill. This
seemed to play out when we recently crossed the St Stephen, New Brunswick /
Calais, Maine border. Is was as easy and un-stressful as smiling at the greeter
in our local Walmart. Likewise coming back into Canada. We've been through the
Surrey, Peace Arch BC / Blaine, WA crossing any number of time and again the
same easy passage. IMHO, these so called enhanced border crossing facilities
are for the nervous at heart.
jh
On 01/06/19 07:28 PM, Scott Gomez <sgomez.baja@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> It was. But according to my Canadian friends here, the Nexus pass still
> requires a stop at the northern border. It's just less of a line.
>
> Are you saying the E driver's license lets you just pass through with no
> stop?
>
> On Sun, Jan 6, 2019 at 1:04 PM Jan Steinman <Jan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > From: Scott Gomez <sgomez.baja@xxxxxxxxx>
> > >
> > > Moose said: " but frequent crossers on land get a Passport Card that can
> > be
> > > scanned as they cross without stopping."
> > >
> > > I have both Sentri and Global Pass clearance and card, as well as a
> > regular
> > > passport card and a chipped passport. Is there's some card that's higher
> > > level than those?
> >
> > The original question was apparently about the WA-BC border, no?
> >
> > WA State has an "extended" (or "enhanced?" not certain what the "E" is
> > for) driver license that allows you to go between WA and BC via car, foot,
> > or boat without a passport. When you get your EDL, you must present a valid
> > US Passport.
> >
> > Another program is the US-Canada "NEXUS" Pass. It's $50 for five years,
> > and you have to go to a specified location that has both US and Canadian
> > officials, during business hours, where you get fingerprinted and present a
> > valid passport for either country.
> >
> > The NEXUS card is not a replacement for a passport, but rather a passport
> > enhancement. You can cross the border with just it, but they may ask to see
> > your passport, as well. It is good between anywhere in the US and anywhere
> > in Canada, for car, foot, or boat only, BUT at least for the Vancouver BC
> > airport, you can use the card to "cut the line" at airport security to a
> > special checkpoint where they don't even make you take your shoes off! It's
> > good for at least 1/2 hour less time in line. At highway crossings, there
> > is also a special "NEXUS Lane" that saves you at least 1/2 hour of waiting,
> > too.
> >
> > Neither of these are useful unless you live in the area, or otherwise
> > cross the border frequently.
> >
> > Jan
> >
> > --
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> >
>
> --
> Scott
> --
> _________________________________________________________________
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