I was nervous about crossing the U.S. border by car as a Canadian—here’s what happened

When I thought about plans to visit my mother over the April long weekend, I never thought I would be this anxious about crossing the border from Canada into Vermont.

What I’ve always viewed as a quick road trip from Montreal suddenly felt like risky business.

Recent cases have highlighted how some travellers are being held in detention for extended periods before being sent home, including one who spent nearly three weeks in custody and another who was detained for 12 days before being released.

As the date crept closer, and new reports about the U.S. tightening travel rules and safety advisories including registration and fingerprinting, I started to worry about how cautious I needed to be about crossing the border.

The Canadian government recently warned that the U.S grants its border officials the authority to search travellers’ electronic devices without needing to provide a reason—phones, laptops, and tablets included.

In a newly updated online travel advisory, the Canadian government also warned citizens to expect scrutiny at the border, noting that refusing a search can lead to consequences including device seizure, delays, or denial of entry for non-U.S. citizens.

Under U.S. law, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers can request passwords to access electronic devices during inspections. Travellers who decline may have their devices confiscated and experience significant delays.

What could potentially be problematic on my electronic device, and did I need to take action to protect sensitive information?

How much scrutiny should I expect from the border officers while travelling to the U.S.?

I was about to find out.

Prepping for crossing the U.S. border

To prepare for my trip, I checked the most recent travel advisory issued by the Canadian government.

Once we hit Phillipsburg (about an hour from Downtown Montreal) I placed my phone in airplane mode (which I would have done anyway to avoid data roaming) in order to avoid complicating the screening due to unanticipated files downloading.

Going through U.S. customs

Following Route 89 North to the Vermont-Canada border, we approached the Highgate Springs / St Armand port of entry.

Highgate Springs is the busiest border crossing between Vermont and Canada, and one of the highest volume ports between Canada and the U.S. 

I was taken aback that there was no line-up in front of the grey building, and the green light ushering us through illuminated almost immediately.

Pulling up in front of the passenger vehicle lane, my husband slowed the car down to a stop, turned off the engine and drew down the window.

I could almost smell the sap from the tapped maple trees in the air.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Canadian passports in hand, I leaned over to make eye contact with the border officer.

I was not prepared for what happened next.

This is how the conversation went:

The border officer asked: “Where are you going today?”

My husband responded, handing over the passports to the outreached hand: “We’re going to Jay Peak for lunch.”

Border offer: “What is the purpose of your visit?”

Husband: “We’re going to visit my mother-in-law.”

Border offer: “Was that your idea?”

Mike drop.

Unable to show any self-restraint, I emitted a guffaw. 

Never in all the years of travelling across the border by car has a border officer made a joke. 

Especially not a dad joke.

When my husband responded: “What do you think?”, that’s when I saw the border officer’s teeth for the first time.

It was a smile.

Handing back our passports he waved us through, our car cloaked in total silence and disbelief.

No joke.

What do you need to cross the land border from Canada to the U.S.?

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