[Away Point]

I know this has been covered here quite a bit, but I was hoping someone could point me to phone numbers for US and Canadian Customs.

Sorry for asking what has probably already been covered, but I didn't have much luck searching.

Thanks!

 

[Stodge]

Most Canadian places where you can enter by water have a phone with the number posted that they will direct you to. It's like 1-800-can-pass...I think.

For the U.S., the last time I called in, I used the Algonac number and they had me call the bridge. I didn't put the bridge number in my phone.

But, if you call Algonac and ask them, they can give it to you. 810-765-5454.

 

[freckles]

313-393-3949 is the number I have for Detroit Customs. I called it (at their advise) a half hour before coming into Metro Beach. They said they'd have an officer meet me to do an inspection.

 

[SEMIJim]

I just did some on-line research and made some phone calls (I needed to get these into my cell phone, anyway):

If landing in the U.S. on the shores of the Detroit River or Lake St. Clair up to and including Harrison Township: (313)393-3793

If landing in the U.S. on the shores of the St. Clair River or Lake St. Clair down to and including Harrison Township: (810)985-9972

As you can see: If you're landing in Harrison Twp. you can flip a coin.

If everybody on the boat doesn't have either a NEXUS or I68, you will likely be told to proceed to a specific check-in location. If everybody on the boat does have either a NEXUS card or I68, they will probably tell you to proceed to wherever you planned to land. They may or may not indicate they wish to inspect boat and passengers in the latter case. If they do wish to inspect: They'll usually agree to meet you wherever you intended to land, but no passengers or goods may leave the boat until DHS CBP arrives.

If you, as boat owners, have NEXUS cards instead of I68s, you can still ask for a Boat(er) Registration Number (aka: "BR Number"). Then DHS CBP can relate your NEXUS information to your boat's information (type, colours, size, name, HIN, etc.), and simply ask for your BR Number on your return, which saves a lot of Q&A on each return.

Jim

 

[Nobama]

Canadian Customs is 1-888-CAN-PASS or 1-888-226-7277. You must call from land in Canada. If you use your cell somehow it recognizes this and won't allow the call to go thru. Call ahead about an hour or so by cell when coming back to the States and you can get a heads up of where to go if requested. Have done all the drills, Canada is great to work with, but be accurate when they ask you incidental questions like amounts of alcohol and tobacco. I have never had a problem no matter how much I have reported to have on board, but I have heard unpleasant stories of folks who have intentionally under-reported.

 

[freckles]

QUOTE(Nobama @ Jul 23 2009, 11:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Canada is great to work with, but be accurate when they ask you incidental questions like amounts of alcohol and tobacco. I have never had a problem no matter how much I have reported to have on board, but I have heard unpleasant stories of folks who have intentionally under-reported.
I had an issue with Canadian customs last month at the Cove Marina. I specifically told them exactly what I had on the boat, alcohol-wise and the "officer" reamed me for bringing too much. He said I couldn't possibly drink all that in a weekend. True, but who drinks ALL the alcohol (or eats ALL the food for that matter) on their boat? Can I help it if I like to have a choice when it comes to drinking?

 

[SEMIJim]

Ok, researched the Canadian end of the business.

You can try 1-888-CANPASS (1-888-226-7277). According to the CBSA agent with whom I just spoke: It may or may not work from a U.S. area code and exchange. (It just worked from my office phone. Haven't tried it from my cell phone yet.) If that does not work, you can call the toll number for the Southern Ontario region: 519-967-4320.

See also: CANPASS - Private Boats (CBSA web site).

Jim

 

[Away Point]

Thanks everyone!

LSCN'ers are the best!

We'll be heading to the Bruce this weekend for more than a week, and this info is one more thing I can check off my to-do list.

Sure hope we have good weather! View attachment 64371 View attachment 64372 View attachment 64373