Going through Canada with our Robot - Advice?

[FoleyEngineer]

Hi,

We're considering doing the Ra cha cha event at the end of this month in Rochester, NY. We're in Detroit MI and the quickest way is through Canada.

If we have the robot, some spare parts, our batteries and control board thrown in the back of a minivan and a covered pickup truck, will we be able to get through the border at either Windsor or Sarnia and then back through again at Buffalo?

Similarly, if we decide to attend the Toronto Regional in '08 would we have the same (or worse) problems?

Thanks for your advice to those who do this on a pretty regular basis. Much appreciated!

John

[Karthik]

Hey John,

You shouldn't have any problems getting your robot through customs. Just explain that you're going to a high school robotics competition, and that you're not leaving anything in Canada. Just to be safe, you may want to have an itemized inventory of what you're bringing across with you, in case they ask. Also, an event flyer showing the date of the Ra-Cha-Cha event would be a good thing to have.

As for attending the Toronto Regional, the situation is the same for what you're bringing across the border. What's different is that you'll be shipping your robot, and as such it will clear customs differently. Since last season, GM Canada has agreed to broker all American crates coming to the Waterloo and Toronto Regionals. For more information, visit: http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/site/node/778.

If you have any questions, just send me a PM and I'd be glad to help you out. We'd love to see Foley Freeze come play in Toronto.

[amos229]

As Karthik said your robot and gear should not have much trouble going throug hyour border. They will probably search through the majority of it and then clear it to pass through. The harder part will be making sure everyone has all of the required ID to get back into America. Passports are golden. If you dont have them you may have some trouble and also if you dont have your passports, carry all your social security, photo id (drivers license or permits), and notarized copy or original birth certificates. Good Luck, AMos Mainville

[FoleyEngineer]

Thanks so much for the prompt replies. You've been a big help!

John

[RoboDriver]

in 08 it will be vary hard because all team members going will need a passport to get in to canada because of that law

[FoleyEngineer]

On the US State Department's web site (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html) it says that for land and sea travel, as of:

JANUARY 31, 2008
U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

I'm not sure what other "government issued photo ID" the students could get if they don't have a drivers license. We've got a lot of freshmen and sophomores who don't have their license yet. The birth certificate part is probably easy but you need a gov't issued photo ID too. Suggestions?

[Cynette]

On the US State Department's web site...
DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

I think you'll be able to see what this means before you actually have to comply with it in 2008 - but it will most likely apply to your under 18 students.

Many states also offer non-driver id cards.

another random thought? Are public schools considered government entities? Most schools require a student id now.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by FoleyEngineer

I'm not sure what other "government issued photo ID" the students could get if they don't have a drivers license...Suggestions?

Most states offer photo IDs at the same place you get a drivers license.

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by FoleyEngineer

I'm not sure what other "government issued photo ID" the students could get if they don't have a drivers license. We've got a lot of freshmen and sophomores who don't have their license yet. The birth certificate part is probably easy but you need a gov't issued photo ID too. Suggestions?

See here for the info on Michigan's state ID cards. They're $10, but that's much cheaper than passports.