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Customs agents advise travelers to prepare for a busy holiday weekend, offer tips to speed U.S.-Canada border crossings

Posted 8/30/12

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are reminding travelers planning cross-border trips this Labor Day weekend to make sure they have the proper documents and to plan for a possible increase in …

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Customs agents advise travelers to prepare for a busy holiday weekend, offer tips to speed U.S.-Canada border crossings

Posted

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are reminding travelers planning cross-border trips this Labor Day weekend to make sure they have the proper documents and to plan for a possible increase in traffic.  

Customs officials say there are a number of steps that can be taken to facilitate their arrival into the United States.

Travelers are encouraged to prepare for cross-border ravel in advance and can obtain local border traffic conditions by visiting the CBP website at www.cbp.gov.  Wait time information is updated hourly and is useful in identifying periods of light traffic/short waits.  

Travelers should familiarize themselves with the “Know Before You Go” section of the CBP Web site and consult the border wait times page (Know Before You Go) (Wait Times - Airport and Border). Travelers should have their approved travel documents available for inspection and be prepared to declare all items acquired outside or being imported into the U.S.

In compliance with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) implemented June 1, 2009, all travelers, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, need to present an approved travel document to enter the U.S. by land and sea.

Approved documents include a valid Passport, U.S. Passport Card, Trusted Traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST) or an Enhanced Driver’s License.  Children under age of 16 can present an original or copy of their birth certificate.  Visit getyouhome.gov for more information.

CBP strongly encourages travelers to obtain a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled travel document such as a U.S. Passport Card, Enhanced Driver’s License/Enhanced Identification Card or Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST/EXPRES) to speed their entry and make crossing the border more efficient. 

WHTI compliant, RFID-enabled documents help reduce the time it takes to process travelers at the border.  No personal identification information is stored on the RFID chip embedded in the cards – only a series of ones and zeros that points to information in a secure CBP database.

Frequent cross-border travelers are encouraged to participate in the NEXUS program, which allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to proceed with little or no delay into the United States and Canada. Application forms are available on the Canada Border Services Agency website at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca and travelers can apply online at www.cbp.gov. NEXUS information is also available toll-free at 1-866-NEXUS 26 (1-866-639-8726).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry.  CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.