From

Location

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Date Posted

43.841677 , -79.086692

Well, I go to the states 8-10 times a year. I have mailed bubbles from there before. This last trip I had over a dozen bubbles. Some for auctions, some for personal requests.
I made the 2 hour drive to the US border in Niagara falls. I had 3 orders (non pumpkin related) to pick up at the UPS store in Niagara USA.
When they asked my if I had anything to declare I explained that I have a few letters to mail with pumpkin seeds. I got directed to Customs where I sat in a waiting room for 2 hours to be called. They finally called me and explained that I could not bring the seeds into the USA.
I had a choice of them being destroyed or returning into Canada with them. I asked if I could leave with them for a couple hours till I returned. No can do. They wouldn't hold them. I was escorted back to the Canadian side. I explained to Canadian customs the story and asked if they could hold them for a couple hours. NO CAN DO. So I had to drive north on the highway, pull over and hid them in a bush under a piece of carpet I found.
Now I head back to the states. Yep, they wanna do a full search of my vehicle. Sit in the waiting room and wait to be called. The ripped my truck apart looking in every nook and cranny. 1 1/2 hours later I was cleared to leave.
Go my stuff at the UPS store and headed home. By this time it was dark out. Had a bit of a hard time finding my seeds hidden in the bush. lol.
What a cluster F***!!!!!! :-(

1/16/2013 8:22:54 AM

Western NY

Dang, Chris. You're on a watch list now for sure.

1/16/2013 8:39:18 AM

ShagHarbour n,s canada

why so hard i shi[ seeds America from canada all the time

1/16/2013 8:42:14 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

That sounds like a nightmare!

1/16/2013 9:09:59 AM

Piqua, Ohio

next time don't declare anything and hide 'em really good!!!

1/16/2013 9:12:40 AM

canal winchester ohio

You tried to be reasonable with stupid. You will lose everytime doing that.

1/16/2013 9:22:13 AM

canal winchester ohio

Josh there will not be a next time. I am sure they took his personal information so now EVERYTIME he comes into the US he will get the same treatment. Hell, as crazy as ousystemis now I would bet if he boards a flight into anywhere into the US he will be getting a prostrate exam.

1/16/2013 9:41:04 AM

43.841677 , -79.086692

I refuse to hide anything going across. I don't want to loose that privilege. Normally they just let me cross with them.
Now I'm probably on homeland security's top 10 list. Body cavity search on every trip. :-(

1/16/2013 9:41:26 AM

canal winchester ohio

Prostate....spell check didn't catch it.

1/16/2013 9:41:41 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Iceman...whoZ now enjoying a warm sunny cruiZe in Hawaii... had told me a simlar story laZt year...he had to go back and forth...the sad part Chris iZ I bet you got the feelingZ the customZ agentZ enjoyed it...and you did nothing wrongZ.....they didnt hurryZ, tookZ their time, and Iz hope they put your vehicle back perfect!

1/16/2013 9:42:16 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

So you stashed that 1725 Harp I gave you under some carpet on the side of the road?? Wow!!

You are on the crap-list now Chris...so much for being such an honest traveller...not that it would have helped, but get your Nexus pass...makes travel to and from the US from Canada sooooo much easier.

1/16/2013 10:59:41 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Funny it's like that with our good neighbors up North. The Mexican border is a different story. Just put anything you need with an illegal and it will make it across safely, and the seeds might even get a drivers license and college tuition.

1/16/2013 11:01:42 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

...and bad advice Josh...you get caught lying or telling a half truth at any point of entry into the United States from Canada...and you can kiss your freedom to travel between our 2 great countries unhassled goodbye...

Since 75% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the nearest border crossing into the USA, alot of us travel often for business and pleasure...you gotta be good all the time...there is no margin for error any longer.

1/16/2013 11:04:29 AM

Hampstead, NC 28443

That would explain the auction bubble for MPGs. Thanks for the update Chris.

1/16/2013 11:25:22 AM

Hobbiton New Zealand

I am on the watch list here in New Zealand I get pulled aside everytime leaving or entering for a supposed random check! I am the lucky number everytime? My wife thinks it is funny and guesses how long it will take to get stopped.

1/16/2013 11:30:24 AM

43.841677 , -79.086692

Scott, yes your bubble was one of them. Really sorry. You will get it.

1/16/2013 11:54:12 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

After the first cavity search they do on you, I bet you get clear sailing from there! LOL

1/16/2013 12:23:58 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Chris, that sound earily familiar. Several years ago I had the same thing happen to me at the peace arch crossing. I volunteered I had seeds for a club meeting. They said I needed a phytosanitary certificate. I managad to get one from a sympathetic cusoms worker at the truck crossing.I was also escorted back to the canadian border.
Strange how you can take a pumpkin full of seeds across the border without any problem and you get turned back for taking a few packs of seeds.

1/16/2013 12:28:20 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Chris, that sound earily familiar. Several years ago I had the same thing happen to me at the peace arch crossing. I volunteered I had seeds for a club meeting. They said I needed a phytosanitary certificate. I managad to get one from a sympathetic cusoms worker at the truck crossing.I was also escorted back to the canadian border.
Strange how you can take a pumpkin full of seeds across the border without any problem and you get turned back for taking a few packs of seeds.

1/16/2013 12:38:05 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Just wondering.....is it difficult or costly to get a phytosanitary certificate?

1/16/2013 3:54:16 PM

Wallingford,CT

I tried the import of small lots of seeds in 2006. It works! You apply for the import permit, send the required forms to the shipper and you get seeds. No phytosanitary certificate is required. Information can be found at this link

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/smalllots_seed.shtml

1/16/2013 6:12:25 PM

Pemberton, BC

I work with CFIA on a daily basis when we are shipping seed potatoes in the spring. If you have to do it again bring all your seeds in one batch and they will do the whole works under one phyto, then you have no hassles. And don't even get me started on the restrictions for shipping "seed" between our 2 countries.

1/17/2013 1:43:53 PM

Johnston, Iowa

What a nightmare!

1/18/2013 4:22:34 PM

Webster, NY

I came over the border after Niagara one year. When asked where I had been, I told him a pumpkin growing seminar. When asked if I brought anything with me, I told him some seeds. He asked to see them. He must have looked at the packages for 5 minutes. I told him I would open them for him if he wanted to look inside. He then gave them back and I was on my way. I was sure they were lost. I must have lucked out.

1/18/2013 5:10:32 PM

So does this mean it is not possible for a US grower to send a bubble to a Canadian grower?

Or can the bubble still go through the mail, just not be transported in person?

1/21/2013 7:06:01 PM

[email protected]

Chris
They do keep a record and everytime I cross they ask me is I have seeds, and the funny thing is, I say yes, tell them 3 or 4 bubbles, and they let me go.
I think its strictly a "What kind of mood their in" because I've been across 20 times since Vegas and never an issue.
This is only for going into the US If any Canadian is expecting seeds from the US, there is no issue.

1/21/2013 8:01:50 PM

43.841677 , -79.086692

Hey Eddy, you can be rest assured I won't be testing their "mood" again. Not worth it.

1/22/2013 7:42:31 AM

South Carolina

I think mine got snagged on the way back to the states Cueball. :(

1/22/2013 12:11:05 PM

Ontario, Canada.

LOL at Chris, what a mess you've made buddy. Not sure if we can ever again have a friendly border now that "Heavy D" has been pissed off. This whole trans border issue is such a joke. Be done with it finally and make us all one big country.

1/24/2013 1:45:19 PM