- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
United States Customs
Category: Public Services & Government Public Services & Government [Edit]
9901 Pacific HwyBlaine, WA 98230
(360) 332-5771
33 reviews for United States Customs
33 reviews in English
-
Review from Neal E.
9/24/2011 3 photos
My first time crossing the U.S./Canadian border by car as an adult.
This border crossing is the one located on the U.S./Canadian border on Interstate 5 (I-5) and Canadian Route 99.
The signs on I-5 indicated there would be a 15-20 minute wait. Okay, no biggie, I'm done with my meetings for the day and just need to get to my hotel - no hurry.
I thought it was cool that this was my first ever border crossing.
When I got up to the crossing and it was my turn, the border agent asked me several questions, as he was about to let me through - he was handing my Passport back to me - I asked if he would stamp it (I have no stamps in my Passport!).
He did and I was on my merry way! -
Review from B L.
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nexus office is located here. Very helpful and friendly ppl. The boarder crossing itself is a kind of a mess. The duty free line cuts into the front of line. Quite annoying.
-
Review from Mary Liz C.
Portland, OR
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I fear that writing a review for this place will put me on some kind of Government list. Let's just say that if you're traveling with foreigners make sure they have every single document they ever received regarding their entrance into the US.
-
Review from reyz a.
7/4/2011
I grew up in Canada. I'm a citizen of both countries. I have family on both sides of this border. I've been crossing either through the Peach Arch, this truck crossing or Sumas, with usually very little problems for yeaaaars. In fact, during the last crossing back to the US of A in April, the border guard, of Filipino descent, asked me stuff in Tagalog, which, being a coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside), I could not respond to. However, he was friendly.
This time, going south was different. The Peach Arch had a 30 minute wait, and this truck crossing had 25 minutes. Switcha-rooh, I would go across here.
Border guard: Are you a US Citizen?
Me: Yes.
Border guard: How long were you in Canada?
Me: 24 hours.
Border guard: Did you drive this rental car, all the way from California, to stay for only 1 day?
Me: Yes. I drove 17 straight hours, with 15 minutes sleep, from San Jose. I left after work on Friday and arrived for the family event in the church precisely at 11am Saturday.
Border guard: Why didn't you fly?
Me: Because I'm cheap...... Sir.
Border guard: And this is Sunday, and you're driving straight back to San Jose, with this RENTAL? You were in Latin America several times this year; You were in Cambodia and Vietnam last year.
Me: Yes. Yes. And Yes.
Border guard: Remove your cell phone ear piece. Leave your car keys on the dash board and make it clearly visible. Give me your passport. Step out of your vehicle and walk in the custom's house. Your car will be inspected. (Note the lack of the word, "please".)
I was questioned by a less-rude but stoically business-like inside customs agent, who reminded me of the penalties of not fully declaring everything that would be deemed illegal (huh?). Well, there's my aunt's fruit salad sir.
He stepped out to inspect my car. While doing so, I was watching this other border guard lady, of hefty persuasion, don on some Playtex gloves. Great. Cavity inspection, I thought. They'll make me pick up my wallet or something.
Inspection guy finished in about 15 minutes, and noticed I was nervously looking at the other border personnel avec the Playtex gloves (I kept hearing that phrase from a Jim Carrey movie, "the person with the rubber gloves was surprisingly gentle").
Inspection guy started laughing and says, "Oh don't worry about her. She's just cleaning up some spilled garbage. You may go".
Whew. What a relief. I never was so happy to drive another 17 hours back to Man Jose California. -
Review from Holly K.
10/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
After I do this rating, I hope the Homeland security doesn't come for me. I am giving them a two star and not one just because it was Labor day weekend and we were coming home from Canada and only had to sit in line less than fifteen minutes. However, the guy who questioned us, acted like such a jerk. We were wearing sunglasses and he had to ask all smart to take them off. There is no reason for this Uber authoritarian attitude. He could go over and talk to the Canadians who let us into their country nice and smiling.
-
Review from Sam D.
Redwood City, CA
11/1/2011
The people working at the crossing to get back into the U.S. here are complete douche bags. They are the rejects of law enforcement and they certainly wear it on their sleeves. If you are so unfortunate to wind up in the secondary inspection building watch out for the king douche bag whose name tag reads "Sharp". You should be able to spot him by his golden-brown sleazy 70's porno mustache and his crabby tone. Also watch out for the younger douche bag who looks and sounds like he's 12. You can tell that this kid was left out and picked on when he was younger..lots of pent up anger in this chump.
Bottom line is that these A-Holes have pathetic lives and jobs, and they probably have never even protected our country from a single act of harm in all of their sad years at the "peace arch" crossing. I hope they are reading this and it inspires them to do better with themselves. -
Review from blaie p.
Bellingham, WA
12/19/2011
Wow what a cool place to go, maybe next time we can do a trip to Disneyland.
-
Review from Joanne S.
Sacramento, CA
It was my first time crossing any borders and this was really unpleasant experience. The wait was ridiculously long and when it was my turn to pull up, a buddy and I didn't pass the questions. Not sure what the reasons was. My guess was because of unemployment. So we had to pull to the side and go into their building and were asked more questions and waited some more. Lucky for us we had a guy that was nice, because there was another worker helping this gentlemen out and he was being a total d*ck!
This also goes for the Canada Customs! We were stopped both ways going to Canada and coming home to US!! If it's your first time traveling over the border, be sure to schedule extra time in your trip in case anything like this happens to you. -
Review from Janis H.
Kirkland, WA
3/15/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I'm laughing as I write this-- I think I have crossed the Canadian border about 500 times in my life. No kidding. It is always a welcome sight to see the Peace Arch, such a pretty park...but I hate the lines, the questions and the inspections! Bah!
They have seemed to improve the wait time over the last few years, but perhaps that is because I just default to crossing at non-peak times. Tip: stay for dinner in Canada and make the trip back to the States in the evening. The border and traffic on I-5 are much more tolerable. -
Review from S R.
Oakland, CA
5/8/2011
I'm a five-time veteran of this, the most popular crossing between BC and Washington state. I've never had an issue with the U.S. border agents. It's the wait when crossing from Canada to the U.S. that I can't stand.
Thank G*d the U.S. has its priorities straight, spending endless $$$ on war and corporate welfare, so we can't increase the number of lanes and allow U.S. citizens to re-enter their own country in less than 90 minutes at 9:30 on a Sunday morning (which has happened to me THREE times!)
I don't care how pretty the Peace Arch park is (which you can't exactly frolick in if you're waiting in line solo). This border crossing is an abomination. -
Review from Reena M.
11/29/2010 6 Check-ins Here
Usually, but not always, I find that this border crossing always ask more interrogative questions than the Pacific crossing, which make me really nervous... because let's face it; any time anyone asks you a million questions that you have to answer under a minute, you're bound to get sweaty palms.
However, they have more lanes than the Pac Hwy crossing so sometimes if could be faster.
The other reason I don't like this crossing as much is because the duty free store on this side isn't as great.Listed in: Going South... of Vancouver
-
Review from Ken L.
As of the June update from the government, travelers crossing into the United States at the Peace Arch land port of entry over the next several months will find reconfigured lanes and additional inspection booths in place to ease normal increases in cross-border traffic resulting from summer travel and construction activities.
Traffic patterns at the Peace Arch land port of entry have changed several times over the past 24 months due to construction related to the redevelopment of the port.
Currently, construction work is concentrated on the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 adjacent to the old port building. Five primary inspection booths, including the NEXUS lane for frequent travelers, are available in the southbound lanes.
At the end of July, work will begin to demolish the old port building and rebuild the westernmost lanes of southbound Interstate 5. During this construction phase, nine primary inspection booths, including the NEXUS lane, will be available.
No changes to the existing lane configurations of northbound Interstate 5 will be necessary. The entire redevelopment project is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2010.
Travelers are reminded that the Pacific Highway, Lynden, and Sumas ports of entry are available as alternatives to the Blaine/Peace Arch border crossing and additional inspection booths are open at Lynden and Sumas.
The Peace Arch port of entry construction project replaces the current facility which was built in 1976 and is functionally obsolete. The complete project is expected to achieve Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design Gold certification (LEED).
A portion of this project is being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. GSA was appropriated more than $5.5 billion under the Recovery Act to convert federal buildings into high-performance green buildings, and build new, energy-efficient federal buildings, courthouses and land ports of entry. The cool new facility will have 10 available inspection booths that replace the old structure.
Canadian Border Traffic Cams:
http://www.wsdot.wa.go...
If you cross the border often, I recommend that you spend $50 to get a NEXUS pass that expedites your way through the border. Individuals approved to participate in NEXUS receive an identification card that allows them to:
Receive expedited passage at NEXUS-dedicated lanes, airport kiosks, and by calling a marine telephone reporting center to report their arrival into the United States and Canada; and
Cross the border with a minimum of customs and immigration questioning
NEXUS applicants only need to submit one application and one fee. Applicants may apply on-line via the CBP Global On-Line Enrollment System (GOES) Web site. (https://goes-app.cbp.d...) Qualified applicants are required to travel to a NEXUS Enrollment Center for an interview. If they are approved for the program at that time, a photo identification card will be mailed to them in 7-10 business days. NEXUS allows United States and Canadian border agencies to concentrate their efforts on potentially higher-risk travelers and goods, which helps to ensure the security and integrity of our borders.
I suspect that ratings and our experiences will definitely improve going through the new port of entry. December 2010 is just around the corner my friend and my feeling is that the US will then have a modern facility we can all be proud of! -
Review from Sachi M.
10/8/2010 5 Check-ins Here
Hey, it's something Governmental that has to be done. This is a pretty place to do it. If you are stuck in a line up, your passengers can get out and use the park washrooms :)
This one tends to be busier because it's straight off Hwy 99 / I-5.
The Douglas Crossing nearby is for Trucks, but anyone can go too. That one's usually better for lineups (Pacific Hwy #15 / Route 543).
Usually, the lineup is worse for going into USA.
The lineup to Canada has always been under 30 minutes for me, except that one time just as the Canadian Dollar hit parity with USD. I had to be in USA for a different reason, but, coming back in the evening, it was a 2-hour wait with all the Canadians getting back from their Outlet shopping! -
Review from Catherine W.
10/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
With the dollar on par with the greenback one must know that the line ups to get into the US of A are going to be a mother ... (you get the picture). So on Saturday I had an appointment in Burlington at 1:30 and I decided to leave New West at 8am lol. There is nothing like being prepared for a potential wait of hours but guess what? Because we were prepared for a long wait, we got a short one and were through the line in about 30 minutes. It was longer coming back into Canada.
I must say that I am surprised the US Government didn't have their new border crossing done in time for the Olympics. I can just imagine how bad the line ups were then with all the construction. They still aren't done and was very glad we went as early as we did. -
Review from Crystal H.
3/29/2010 3 Check-ins Here
The moral of this story is, always be prepared for any and every question. Sometimes you'll have a couple of hours to get your facts straight, while you sit there gritting your teeth and wondering why one border crossing has over 2 hours wait time and the other has only 1/2 hour. Other times, you'll fly right up to the front, so fast in fact that you'll have to eat the receipts of things you don't want to declare. Like the five shirts and 4 pairs of undies you might just be wearing.
A re-enactment of numerous border interrogations:
Southbound:
Custom's Officer : Where are you headed? What's the purpose of your trip?
Me: To Seattle (usually). To help with a party.
CO: Please come with me.
Me: Stuck in a waiting area with pews for seats answering questions like "What kind of work do you do." "Who issues your pay cheque?" "Is that an apple?" "You're going to have to leave that frozen lasagna with us." "What firearms do you have in your car?" "Do you have any narcotics?" And so on.
Northbound:
Custom's Officer (CO): Where is home ma'am?
Me: (wondering, ma'am? Do I look like a ma'am?) Vancouver. [smile]
CO: "Have anything to declare?"
Me: "Yes, I spent $60 shopping at Target." [don't smile]
CO: "Alcohol? Tobacco? Did you receive any funds or gifts valued at over $10,000 dollars?
Me: "No, no, no" (I wish I wish, eff ya I wish!)
CO: Are you carrying any firearms, bear spray or pepper spray.
Me: Uh, maybe. I think I have pepper spray in the glove box.
CO: Ma'am you're going to have to let me see that. [Long pause, reads the canister, types some info into her computer] This is dog repellant. The reason we ask these questions is because it's a federal offense to carry firearms and pepper spray in Canada. Do you understand?
Me: Yes ma'am!
CO: Welcome home.Listed in: Weekend Getaways, Oh Canada!
-
Review from Roanna Z.
Updated - 7/13/2010 1 photo
Code RED code Orange! The border guards were all buzzing like bees in a disturbed hive when we arrived to the gate this time. Something's up in the ether.
Our friend hands over his Swiss passport and we hear "we've got another one"
Thanks, that's great. *Heart rate picks up* "Pull up there, to the left, take this card inside"...
We had already waited 35 minutes in the car line and now this. *prays to self* (please let us in we have show tickets.)
Inside it's like an international village of people from all over the globe, all waiting, watching the officers posturing up.
One officer questions a Chinese family next to us: "how much money do you have?" --and you? (points to husband.)
Our officer to us: "do you have friends in the U.S.?"
Where do they come up with these questions?
Any ways, all's well. They let our sorry asses in :-)
*Some advice for border crossing:
Don't run over the border guard.Listed in: Somewhere over the rainbow…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/9/2010
We must be really lucky, because we had a breeze going into the U.S. and again on the way back into… Read more »
-
-
Review from Don B.
3/5/2010
Why is it every time I cross through Peace Arch I get hassled, and every time I cross at Blaine, it's a breeze? I gotta start going with my better judgment and just hit Blaine every time.
Once when I was a kid my mom took us on a road trip to Alaska and we had to spend a couple of hours here while they interrogated my mom to make sure she wasn't "fleeing" from the USA with her two sons.
Then one time my friends and I got hassled coming in because (well, ok, I can't blame them for this one) one of the girls in our group didn't bring ANY identification... to an international border crossing... yeah. Needless to say, that took a while. Then on the return trip, temporary papers in hand, we got stopped by US agents and treated like criminals for a couple of hours as they suspiciously searched our shit while yelling at us. The found nothing because we had nothing to hide. Thanks assholes. Welcome home. At least the Canadians were nice about it when they stopped us on the way in.
Most recently, I was on my way up to the land of Poutine and boots, and since the wait was nil at both Peace Arch and Blaine, I decided why not? Let's go through Peace arch. It's technically nicer looking, and my passenger had never been here. Of course we get stopped, searched, interrogated.... they were convinced we were on our way into Vancouver to work (I don't know if it was the box full of 1,000 sporks, the Yelp burst megaphone, the jerry can, the extension cord, the 6 or 7 Yelp logo shirts, or what, that gave them that insane idea). On a side note, this is what happens when you work out of your car and you don't clean it out before you go to visit the Olympics as a tourist. They did eventually let us in, with a concerned (You gotta love Canadians, they're so unfailingly nice!) admonition that if we got caught working in Canada we'd be kicked out for a year.
As you probably guessed, I crossed through the truck crossing at Blaine on my way back. 3 to 4 questions and a "Welcome to America".
Plus one star because the processing building on the Canadian side is pretty nice.Listed in: Planes, Trains, and…
-
Review from Devo S.
6/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Uhm, not fun, but could have been worse...
-
Review from samuel a.
3/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Don't bother going southbound here, go to the Douglas crossing instead. I've been harassed here by the border guards - one even had the gall to ask me if I spoke english. Yes bub! I speak better engrish zan you!
It's just a busy crossing and when given the choice the answer is easy. -
Review from Kyle F.
10/6/2009 2 photos
USA entry looks like hell and gives an awful first impression for outsiders entering the US for the first time. Agents are somewhat harassing, but they are trying to weed out suspicious people through iffy answers. I was asked what I do for work 3 times within 5 minutes in an attempt to fluster me and get different answers.
Agent then commented on my "pretty clothes" on hangers in the window and asked what I was up there for.
Do I have a girlfriend that lives in Vancouver?
Why did you go up alone?
You've lived in Oregon your whole life and this is only the first time you've been to Canada?
Etc.. Was glad when I finally got to go. -
Review from Kristen M.
Hillsboro, OR
8/19/2010
Coming from Washington to BC is a breeze, you just get stopped for a couple minutes to be asked about your passport, reason of your visit, if you are carrying $1,000,000 dollars and if you are carrying any firearms. Which my answer were for vacation, I wish I had that amount of money and no firearms whatsoever.
The place is pretty nice and clean considering that they are going under construction. But looking at the way back into the US, it was quite a line and so my fellow friends and I decided that it would probably take a while for us to enter back into the US.
Going home:
We left on a Tuesday morning before lunch and it took us about 1 hour just to get out of the area. The lanes merged into one lane and another lane for those who are paying for the NEXUS pass (those who frequently cross the border). Some people got out of their cars to take pictures of the structure before they got closer to the border.
Overall, keep in mind that you're going to spend some time here, so keep that into consideration on your drive. -
Review from Jimmy L.
Renton, WA
9/18/2008
Wow,
Talk about a waste of freaking time. We had to leave quite early in the morning so that my buddy could catch his flight out of Sea-Tac. We thought that leaving at 10AM would give us plenty of time to get back into the US and have some lunch before we took him to the airport. Boy were we wrong.
TIP! If you EVER leave America Jr. to return/visit the REAL America, stay to your farthest left lane. If you don't you'll be stuck there for an eternity.
Moving at a turtle's pace, I got to see how nice and green the grass was and also got to watch as people got out of their cars to walk around (faster than the flow of traffic). I saw many speed bumps, some arc thing and an occasional ice cream cart or two. It took us about an hour and a half to get through the border while sitting in the right lane, only to find out that the LEFT lane splits into TWO at the border!
Needless to say, I was pissed. Some signs would have been nice. Next time I go to Vancouver, I might just swim across to save me some time. -
Review from Howard L.
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
from here on out im taking the pacific crossing. Everytime i cross from canada back to US they treat me like a criminal. I understand that they are supposed to but don't give me an attitude and ask me the same question ten times in different ways to see if i am lying. I get my car searched everytime. I'd rather they had a dog do a lap around my car and let me go instead of opening all my stuff
-
Review from Xav V.
10/31/2008
Here are some things I can usually count on when making a roundtrip from Seattle to Vancouver via the Peace Arch Port of Entry.
-Getting into Canada is always a breeze. The agents are polite, sometimes even personable, and efficient.
-Slower Moving Lines into USA v wait time for entry to Canada
-US agents behaving like bullies
Today for example on the bully aspect. There was one agent pacing up and down between the waiting cars. He occasionally would start pounding on the side panels of a vehicle or demand for a door to be opened for him to do a search. Hey, I get it when it's your "turn", but what the hell with picking on us in line. So he gets to my car and starts berating us (my sister and I) with questions while he shines his flashlight in our eyes. Prick....
One star for being the gateway to Canada. Another for the polite agents I encounter on my way up. A big middle finger to the guys and gals who hold the key to access of my homeland.Listed in: Hall of Shame: 1 and 2 star…
-
Review from Tammy H.
Sandy Hook, CT
10/1/2011
The boarder agents in the states are total a holes. They are rude.
-
Review from Tolga E.
Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
3/8/2010
Crossing an international border is never fun. Passports, security checks, curious looks, inspections, people with guns, the feeling you're going to get arrested and you don't even know why. These are not pleasurable experiences.
Because of this, I can totally relate to those who have previously reviewed the Peace Arch crossing. However, I will say that both sides, particularly the Canadian side, really stepped up their act for the Olympic Games in Vancouver. They operated with ALL lanes open for the entire two weeks. I never waited more than 15 minutes and I crossed into Canada 5 days in a row at various times. Sure the agents asked a bunch of intrusive questions, but that's their job. Overall it was very smooth. On the US entry, the wait is longer, there are less lanes, they take photos of you every single time. Not fun. But again, doing their jobs.
Also, I didn't get a chance to, but you do have the advantage here of this being a really nice park right on the coast. If you're going to sit in your car and wait for hours to cross a border, this is probably the most beautiful place to be stuck doing it. -
Review from Robert S.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2009
So I drive a big rig for a living and I just started to go too Canada again after about 3 years of just driving I-90 to Butte and back to Tacoma
so far there has been no problems as I am coming back empty there shouldn't be, so I hope it stays that way
I usually come back threw Sumas so I shouldn't cross here, but that isn't always the case like last week when Sumas was under water from flooding and I had to come back to the arch
well its a new year and a new route, may it continue to be smooth sailing or trucking as it may be -
Review from Emma L.
12/2/2010
Note to self: While American border patrol guards totally understand that driving from Vancouver to California for some In-N-Out burgers is reasonable, Canadian border patrol guards do not.
-
Review from Larry L.
7/15/2010
Peace Arch is great. Beautiful setting and very fast service (for us Nexus members) Sometimes, if Nexus is lined up 5-10 minutes, then we just sit back and enjoy the ocean view from the car.
Going into Canada at the Peace Arch is lightning quick (nexus members) -
Review from Stephanie K.
Manhattan, NY
10/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Oh those crazy mounties with all their redic questions like I'm smuggling drugs or Mexicans into Canada. Pretty easy to get through the border, though those border patrol will throw down the Spanish Inquisition every time.
-
Review from Wilbur L.
Los Angeles, CA
9/8/2008
the border crossing at peace arch epitomizes governmental complacency and lack of efficiency. my buddy and i came up on the border this sunday at 10:30am to return to the land of "feets" and "pounds" only to be stuck in horrendous traffic for well over 90mins. seriously? wtf border patrol?
does it really take 90 mins to wave 50 cars through the border? -
Review from Rick S.
Carlsbad, CA
8/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
We waited an hour to get through here mid-day. Make sure you're in the left-most lane otherwise you'll be passed by large numbers of cars that pretend they're going into the Duty Free shop, but don't.
-
Review from Phuc B.
San Jose, CA
5/5/2010
giving this spot four stars based on my experience crossing into canada and back into the u.s.
going into canada, they made us pull over and went into the building for background checks. they were pretty polite and the whole process took about 15 mins. building looked nice.
going back into the U.S., we saw a sign that said the wait was gonna be 60 mins. we went into the duty free store and somehow ended up in the nexus lane, which when we figured that we weren't supposed to be there, it was too late to back out. so we went forward and asked the border patrol how we can get back in line, he just gave us some attitude and told us to cut in front, so that whole process took about 15 mins also, building was crappier on this side and the guards weren't as friendly.
