Do any of you fly from the U.S. side of the boarder up to Sydney on Vancouver Island? I need to get there just for one day and wondered if it was worth the hassle of going through customs twice. If it's relatively painless, any tips on avoiding problems would be appreciated. I'd be coming from southern WA early in the morning and returning in the evening, same day.

Thanks for any sage wisdom you can pass along.

Mr. Ed

I would avoid Friday Harbor at all costs for clearing customs, they are only interested in clearing boats. BFI would be much less painful.

Sam

I have had the best luck at Bellingham.

X2 on Friday Harbor. Been hassled thoroughly by mean, dumb and incompetent CBP officers there.

I have done both. Canada didn't even come talk, I called Canpass they gave me an arrival number and said go spend all your money. Park at the Victoria Flying Club, not the FBO! FBO wants like $25 a night to park.

Friday Harbor is a "Landing Rights" airport. That is different than your normal POE. You have to call and ask them when you can clear customs. Ferries get priority! I would call them 1st for an acceptable time, then do the eapis BS. I did it the other way, got the conformation email, said I was good to go. When I called to give the 1 hour wake up call, that is when I found out about the whole "Landing Rights" thing. I had to change my arrival time.

They CBP agents were kind of dicks till they found out I was a fireman, then they were cool. Then they searched our bags because the puter told them to, hahaha What a fuc$up system.

Cheers

X 3 on Fridat Harbor customs agents being assholes. I've also cleared at bellingham once, they were cool. Jefferson County (Port Townsend) is probably as much on your way as anywhere, the agent is located on the waterfront in town but can come out to the airport by appointment. Call 360-460-6857 or 360-385-3777, per the Port of Pt Townsend website.

If you don't have Can Pass yet, you probably won't get it before you leave. It may be worth looking into it before you go and while in Victoria you may can get the Canadian paperwork done.

Never cleared at Port Townsend, but Bellingham CBPS can be pains in the rear depending on the agent.

Canada agents are, as Rob says, "welcome to Canada and spend your $$." With CanPass I think I have seen a Canadian customs inspector once in 20 or more trips. Normally you just call when you arrive and they will give you an entry number. Be sure to write it in your log book just in case there are questions later.

Just a reminder....NO HAND GUNS!!!!!... They are really strict on this. Your life would be easier upon entry if there were no firearms at all on the plane.

I had lunch in Roche Harbor today and afterwards walked down to the CBP office on the boat dock. Had some questions for them concerning boating into and out of CA waters. Also asked them about planes clearing since there is nice grass strip very close to the harbor that I flew the T-210 into awhile back, actually before '04. They said no wheel plane clearing but floatplanes are ok?

Without prior approval you are required to clear customs at the nearest AOE to the border AOE. An additional note, as we all know, pilots/planes must file E-Apis before leaving or arriving into the USA, boats do not. Somebody please explain the logic behind this.

It's too bad that we were not civil enough to have an open border policy like many countries in Europe. Shit, on that monument thing at the border it reads "Children of a common Mother" Well brothers should not treat each other as shit and be more trusting. Talk about a dysfunctional family.

My Golden Retriever really likes clearing customs at Roche Harbor.

I've had some interesting experiences clearing customs both directions in the Islands, all in boats. Many years ago, Wife 3 and I boated from Friday Harbor to Victoria, where in the harbor there's a tiny shack to check into Canadian customs, with a phone. We were required to wait until a pair of very young officers, a man and a woman, came to "check out" the boat--but all they did was ask half a dozen questions, and cleared us.

Then on my "Ultimate Small Boat Adventure" (still available through Barnes & Noble, only $15.95 ) in 2001, I had intended to check in at Nanaimo, but I was so worn out by the time I got somewhat past Sydney that I stopped at a harbor which had no check-in for customs, called them, and they graciously told me to check in in person at Nanaimo the next day, especially because I had my "boat gun" (12 ga. Mossberg SS short barrel) with me. So I did, and I was allowed in with my shotgun because I intended to use it as "protection from wildlife", since I was camping. The customs officer who accompanied me back to the boat did have to confiscate my Washington apples, however.

So then a few years later, current SO and I rented a Nordic Tug in Anacortes, WA, and cruised first to Friday Harbor and then to Sydney. At Sydney, when I told the customs gal on the phone that I had my shotgun, she said that a couple of officers would have to check us out. They came, and unfortunately instead of saying "protection from wildlife", I just said "self-protection". Whoops! Not allowed. Either confiscate the gun (permanently) or return to the US. We opted to return to the US.

But pup dog needed a break, so both officers accompanied Mah Woman to a grassy spot with the dog--leaving me at the boat with the shotgun!

But now we were required to check in at Roche Harbor--where I was given a lot of steely stares by the huge (like about 6'6", 300 lbs) US Customs officer--and because he'd gotten an email from Canadian Customs, he had to come aboard to see the shotgun to make sure I still had it! (why?)

So fast forward to a couple of years ago, when we again rented a Nordic Tug. This time, somewhat smarter, I had left the shotgun at home. So we arrived at Sydney, I called on the Customs phone at the dock, and upon identifying myself, the gal said, "Tell me, sir, do you have your shotgun with you this year?" But otherwise, she was friendly and gave us the customs number to attach to the boat.

All in the name of good international relations, right?

Cary

And remember... the computer NEVER forgets. A buddy prepped all winter for his Canadian sailboat adventure. When they hit Canada, customs asked his deck hand/friend if he had ever been arrested. He said no. They said come with us. In the end, an arrest 50 years earlier and mostly forgotten was enough to get booted back to the U.S. And to add insult, they told him he could pay a fee to regain his reputation with Canada. The whole trip ground to a halt and did a 180. Owner of the boat had to fly to Ketchikan and ride along on another sailboat for the duration. They just seem to get very impressed with their own power... at the borders. Something about the psych test to get an interview. I just can't figure out which questions lead them to confirm you are a douche bag.
I took the MN multiphasic (sic) personality disorder MMPD test once for the SO. When it got to the part asking if you had sex with a dog... I just tried to picture the moron applicant who checked yes or maybe.

flightlogic wrote:............I took the MN multiphasic (sic) personality disorder MMPD test once for the SO. When it got to the part asking if you had sex with a dog... I just tried to picture the moron applicant who checked yes or maybe.

Don't knock it unless you've tried it.

exodus wrote:It's too bad that we were not civil enough to have an open border policy like many countries in Europe. Shit, on that monument thing at the border it reads "Children of a common Mother" Well brothers should not treat each other as shit and be more trusting. Talk about a dysfunctional family.

That's just what Ahmed Rassam thought. He was the Algerian terrorist caught coming off the Victoria-Port Angeles ferry back in 1999, with explosives & plans to bomb LAX on new's year eve. He was stopped coming into Canada in 1994 with phony documents, but claimed political asylum and they let him in anyway. Even went overseas to train in an al-Qeda camp in Afghanistan in 1998 and returned to canada afterward on a phony passport. I hope that's not the kind of "children of a common mother" you're referring to. There is a good reason for border checks, but I agree that a 20-year-old DUI arrest shouldn't trigger a reaction.

Try Anacortes 74s nice little sleepy airport . Went direct to KTN Ketchikan about 530 nm and talked to Canadian controllers. Lots of seaplane bases but not much for land airports , did this delivering airplanes to Alaska several times -no customs to check.

Anacortes is not an airport-of-entry. I believe the choices are Friday Harbor, Bellingham, Paine Field, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Boeing Field. Customs has an office right on the airport at Bellingham, and probably Paine & Boeing too-- the others are a call-out show. Port Townsend (Jefferson County) is listed as a monday-friday op, but it's probably the nicest GA airport on the list , with a good cafe on the field to boot.

I just hung up from talking to a BCP agent in Anacortes. He said that with prior contact with the Anacortes BCP office, floatplanes could clear customs there. I am sure that E-Apis requirements are mandatory as we all know. Anybody wanting to clear at Anacortes with a floatplane, CALL 360 293-2331 for verification and information.

hotrod150 wrote:Anacortes is not an airport-of-entry. I believe the choices are Friday Harbor, Bellingham, Paine Field, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Boeing Field. Customs has an office right on the airport at Bellingham, and probably Paine & Boeing too-- the others are a call-out show. Port Townsend (Jefferson County) is listed as a monday-friday op, but it's probably the nicest GA airport on the list , with a good cafe on the field to boot.

Customs They do have a desk at airport lobby. Maybe a call out ???

hotrod150 wrote:

exodus wrote:It's too bad that we were not civil enough to have an open border policy like many countries in Europe. Shit, on that monument thing at the border it reads "Children of a common Mother" Well brothers should not treat each other as shit and be more trusting. Talk about a dysfunctional family.

. I hope that's not the kind of "children of a common mother" you're referring to. There is a good reason for border checks, but I agree that a 20-year-old DUI arrest shouldn't trigger a reaction.

Fuck no, What the fuck are you thinking. "children of a common mother" refers to both countries heritage from British settlers long ago. I was speaking from a idealistic point of view. Unfortunately today's world dictate's that both countries need strong border security. Unfortunately Canada's security needs a bit of work. I can tell you that US justice is the envy of many Canadians. There is countless examples of international criminals tieing up the Canadian legal system thwarting immigration authorities to expelling them from the Country. It is utter bullshit, a joke. Here in the US, the justice system knows how to deal with scum bags. It is often criticized for having the highest percentage of it's population under incarceration, but when you do the math, those imprisoned deserve what they get and they get plenty of chances to make amends and squander it, so fuck them.
Hopefully one day Canada will get it shit together and get tough with potential terrorists and int drug gangs and put the mother fuckers where they belong. behind a wall of bars for long time. North America needs a unified border protection policy that is tough, so that both Countries can live without fear and live a life of freedom.
Now that I'm started and full of hot air. I'd like to say that the idea of shutting down Guantanamo bay is utter bullshit. send the worst of the terrorist scum there and let them rot, free from the influence of liberal left wing do gooders who think these murderous wretches deserve a second chance. Off shore, out of sight and out of mind is where they belong!!!
This is important. Write your Congressman today and let them know that Guantanamo is a strategic asset that the US cannot afford to lose.