Osoyoos border crossing stories?

[Cumungala]

I remember when I was 7 we took a trip into the US. Our main reason was to get some food that you cant get in Canada. Back then I used to collect pinecones and I got a few down there. When we were coming back into Canada, we were dealt with by two border guards and this is what they said:

"Sorry we cannot let you back into Canada"
"Why?"
"Number 1, you need to dispose of the pinecones; number 2, you need receipts for those cans of food and-"
So I interupted....
"Number 1, you can shut up, and number 2 you can shut up!!"

I got a looooong lecture from my mom for that!

[Impulse_rs]

I was in vancouver last summer with a friend and we thought we would check out the USA for a afternoon and go shopping. On our road-trip down there I had blown a brake-line and had fixed it on the dide of the road. When we went to cross the border they put us in examination for close to 5 hours. They said our hands where DIRTY and said we where trying to find an illegal border crossing. They pulled the stereo from my car, took door panels off, went thru all my paperwork etc I had in the trunk and than made us turn around and go back to Canada.They would not as such give us a glass of water, or let us lay our heads for a bit. Treated us like complete SKUM, yelled at us etc. Not once did I raise my voice, get mad etc... I was a very respectable 21yr old at the time driving a newer drug free vehicle. I had getting treated like trash for doing absolutely nothing wrong.

[Glacier]

Actually, a fair and non agressive foreign policy is their first line of defense, people don't fly planes and plant bombs for no reason.

Unless they are religious radicals...

Oh glacier, you don't really buy that line do you ?

No I do not. People always have their reasons, even if they are using twisted logic. You are correct that non-aggressive foreign policy may be the best way of preventing attacks, but one must understand that people have always attacked other nations unprovoked throughout history. I would also call the U.S. border checkpoints fair policy.

[Captain Awesome]

I wonder if at some point they decide to get rid of the border between Canada and US.

Wouldn't that be cool.

[theartsyfartsy]

I've never had a problem crossing at Osoyoos, probably because I've only ever done it once in my life.
I've had several (or at the very least, more than one) interesting experiances at the Peace Arch crossing though. The best - I was going to seattle with a group of friends and the guy asks if we have any alcohol or anything with us, and when we say no, he says "well I wasn't really asking about that, I'm more concerned about the,,," and then made a sign for pot. we were like. no and he was like "Well its going to be a boring night then isnt it?" and let us go
we were like. whaaaaaattheheckjusthappened"
I'm going to agree with what other people have said, I've had more unpleasant experiences coming back then going.

[johnp3]

I have had my vehicle searched at Osoyoos, Bellingham, and at Huntington. Bellingham was a bit of a pain as the guard lost my passport, till I saw it on his desk, then all was good. When you go to the boarder you are asking permission to enter there country. If you are polite 99% of them will be great. I worked at Sumas and crossed very often, when I took the dog the guard use to ask the dog if I was buying him an ice cream cone, they had real Ice cream not the plastic crap we have.

[Ironhorse1]

Customs officers don't do cavity searches themselves. They escort you to the hospital. Lol, they are not doctors.

[zoo]

I have been hearing more and more BAD stories about how the US treats people crossing the border specificly in the Osoyoos area.
I also wanted to know IF you are treated unfairly and made to do things against your will, IS there some sort of group/agency that will step in for this?

Interesting hearing it the opposite from what we always experience. Going down we have had great experience's. US customs polite but, coming back its a different story for us. Typical canadian style with 6 drive thru's at the border and only 1 ever open. Lines very long. We travel many times a year including for import of big items and always fellow the rules, but many times still get treated very poorly.
Saw a guy role up last week with the stickers still on his new winter tires. Made it through too.

[grammafreddy]

The only time I had trouble at Osoyoos was when I had the ex with me and he got mouthy. Then we had our vehicle searched. After that, he had to stay home.

[Smurf]

I've never had a problem. Crossed probably 100's of times, every province from Ontario to BC including the Osoyoos crossing in the last 40+ years. They entered the motorhome once at Osoyoos and checked for fruit, meat etc. in the fridge (During the big meat scare). And I believe we had the trunk searched once in Manitoba. Both sides always very good.

[Bsuds]

Too bad we couldn't hear from a Border Guard as to what stories they could tell.

By the way I have crossed the Border many times and never had a problem. But then I am always polite and never try to smuggle anything across.

[Ironhorse1]

Too bad we couldn't hear from a Border Guard as to what stories they could tell.

By the way I have crossed the Border many times and never had a problem. But then I am always polite and never try to smuggle anything across.

That would be nice to hear from one but I don't think they can really divulge much info to the general public.

[NotLikeYou]

Well I once made a wrong turn there and told them I didnt want to go to the US and I wanna turn around. WELL 6 hours later I finaly get turned around.

[Advocate]

All they ask for is politeness and honesty I would imagine. If you lack either of them, you're gonna be searched. If you go down looking or dressing like a bum, goth, druggie. Prepare to be held up.

or, if you are an italian that looks like a mexican
or, if you are a part FN part something else and look jewish
or, if you have a moustache that makes you look mexican

......four hours searching for info at Osoyoos border (many moons ago) just heading down for a game of golf.

[Advocate]

Too bad we couldn't hear from a Border Guard as to what stories they could tell.

By the way I have crossed the Border many times and never had a problem. But then I am always polite and never try to smuggle anything across.

one might tell you about the time she visited a lady's house to confiscate her wedding ring, because she didn't claim it when passing back through the border..............
heard a story in a bar, the next day the knock on the door.