U.S. Customs question

[Papa_Jim]

We're in the process of flying down to San Fran to help our son and daughter in law move. We booked our flight weeks ago, and suddenly, she gets promoted which includes a move. They are living in a 5th wheel, and for now, they are going to find an RV park close to where her new office is. When we land, I'm driving their 5th wheel about 7 hours to the new spot. They are in the process of finding an RV park while we are flying down.

When we hit U.S.Customs, the customs officer asked where we were staying when we got there. I replied, 'my son's 5th wheel.' She replied, 'And where will that be, sir?' I replied,'In transit anywhere along the road 7 or 8 hours south of San Fran., is the best I can tell you right now. They haven't nailed down where they're parking the RV yet."

She wasn't going to let us into the States. Finally, she relented, but she wasn't happy about it. She said she wouldn't do it again. Next time I better be able to provide an address that's we're staying at.

Since when do I have to have an address that I'm going to stay at? In a couple of months, we're planning an RV trip through the States with no destination address. Does that mean they won't let us in?

[ninos]

Since you allready know what they are going to ask you for the future then have a adress ready in your mind to tell them or If you are driving your rv in to the US and you are just going to travel then you tell them that you are not staying any where just traveling in your rv or give them an adress for one of the campgrounds where you are goint to stay, now If are flighing In you better have a adress In mind even If Its a campground adress, that's my opinion about this, Joe.

[bdpreece]

Darn transient Canadians. Trying to sneak into our country via an airline and then having the nerve to not have an address for the safe house they will be hiding in. They probably will be promoting the gal any day now for being so diligent.

[TW]

snowbirding is fine, but to help move a familymember!!!!?

[1ciderdog]

I retired from US Immigration in 1993 and things may have changed a bit under the Homeland Security administration but I can think of no logical reason you must have an address in the US to visit the US. In the old days it was more important that a visitor has/had an address to return to in his/her home country. We have thousands of visitors that simply want to travel around the US and many do not have an address but more of a general itinerary of where they might want to go or things they may want to see; and they should have the funds to support themselves for the duration of the visit. I think the inspector was having a bad day and you were unfortunate to encounter her. I have entered Canada several times without a destination address and hope they don't or won't require one.

[powderman]

We gotta be careful of those icebacks sneaking in.

[Janshark]

One year, the ex and I went south in a huge van conversion. At the border they asked us where we were going. We named about 12 U.S. states. He asked us how long we were going for... told him 16 days. He couldn't believe we would see all of those states in 16 days. But we did it!!

Last year when I snow birded for the first time (by myself) I used my Nexus card and the Nexus line... it took 3 agents to guide me through! They got so distracted that they barely asked me anything!!

This year I'm having my horse shipped down to live at my friend's place in AZ so I'll be taking all of my horse tack including 3 saddles. That is going to be interesting to explain if they search me. And I do live full time in my RV which they don't like either. I'll just use my ex's house (formerly mine and all my i.d. uses that address) as my "home base".

Happy trails!

[ParTheCourse]

If she had reason to prevent your entry but “relented” she should be fired. If as it sounds, she was having a bad day, she should be given a week off without pay then sent back to rookie school until she learns how to deal with people.

As Abraham Lincoln once said in part:
“if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Sounds like that holds for women also.

On the other hand an up front explanation instead of “in my son’s 5th wheel” may have had had a better outcome too.

[Seajay]

I have crossed the stripe going both ways. When I cross going north and they ask....''Destination?'' I say Alaska or Nova Scotia. they ask ''Duration in Canada'' and I usually guess one month plus or minus. Never had a problem. When we come back to the States, they usually ask for our address in NC and do we have anything to ''declare''. ''Welcome home, drive safely'' Never had a problem. You must have gotten someone that was new or trying to impress their boss with their efficiency. I strongly agree with the guy that quoted about those ''Icebacks'' from Canada. We really need to watch them cause you never know when they will try to sneak out of Canada with its free health care and lack of guns and friendly folks, and beautiful scenery and jobs and all that other stuff that they want to run away from in Canada.....(yeah sure)
Welcome my Canadian friends and I will apologize for any problems you have entering our country.

God bless our troops and keep them safe
God bless our vets .... ALL GAVE SOME .... SOME GAVE ALL ..

[cvrvr]

Ain't the TSA wonderful.
George

[TXiceman]

Give and honest Canadian the 3rd degree to enter the USA and they won't do squat to stop the flow from the south border.....Hope when you go home, they will let you leave...they may conjure up some new rule to keep you here.

I will apologize for our inept Immigration office.

Ken

[Lued]

A big 10/4 TXiceman, Maybe send her down to the southern border for awhile till she get a better attitude.

[Ottawa]

In all my recent crossings in to the US, this is a fairly standard question, to which I respond with the destination address of the campground I will be staying at. If flying usually give them the name of the first hotel I have booked. As with others not sure what the value of the question is, but answer it anyway.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

In all my recent crossings in to the US, this is a fairly standard question, to which I respond with the destination address of the campground I will be staying at. If flying usually give them the name of the first hotel I have booked. As with others not sure what the value of the question is, but answer it anyway.

That is what we do when we are entering Canada. Worked quite easily.