Return trip is the problem!!!!!
Dave, I'm not a expert on this subject, but here are some pretty accurate possibilities. The entrance into Canada is fairly straight forward. You must call custom as soon as you set foot on Canadian soil. They will ask several questions..how many people on the boat, the purpose of the visit, how long will you be staying, etc. etc. Then one of two thing happen 1)they give you a entrance # to use during your visit....pretty simple...., or 2) they advise you to stay put and they come to the marina for some quality face-to-face discussions. The second option is very rare, but does happen form time to time. I use to keep my boat in Canada and have seen the border patrol in various marinas. Coming back into the states is a bit more complicated, and I must admit I believe the boarder patrol works hard to keep us save...we just have a whole lot of border and a whole lot of people to check out. Upon reentering the US you must call the border patrol immediately upon arrival. At that time there are 2 documents that will allow you trouble free entrance 1) A Nexus pass, a pass that you buy (in advance) fill out a questionaire on, and submit photo ID. A Nexas pass can be used for a entire family, provided that is how the application was submitted. Allow 45-60 days for processing. 2) a I-68 form, these you can purchase in a single day, but you must go in person to a entry port with proof of citizenship and 2-3 photo ID's (one to be pasted on the form, one for the border patrol records. These are to only two documents that I'm aware of for easy entrance, via water, into the states. A passport may, may, may, may work if the patrol officer is in a good mood, but I can assure you , it is not what he wants, and he may let you know in so many word that that you are violating the law. If you do not have one of these two prearranged documents the border partol has the option of having you proceed to an official "port of entry" for further discussions. I'm never had to do this, but I would be surprised if they were pleasant one-on-one discussions. If you have 5 people on your boat and 4 of the 5 have Nexus or I-68 and one does not, YOU ARE ILLEGAL. As I said earlier, the border patrol takes their job very seriously, you would be wise to do the same. I love going to Leamington, I love going to Pelee Island, I love going to Colchester...but they are in Canada and Canada is a different country. Do the paperwork and no problem. Lake Erie Metro Park is in Michigan at the Western End of Lake Erie. It is located where the Detroit River empties into Lake Erie. But hey, Rocky River is georgeous!!!!!...maybe we should ask Bill & Connie, John and Joan to have next year's O'DAY Rendezvous there.!!!!!!!!!
