<p>We are flying into upstate NY and then driving up to Montreal for my d to start at McGill. It will be her first entrance into Canada as a Canadian citizen, so she will need to get her passport stamped for McGill’s residency forms. We’ll be coming up from Glenns Falls on the I-87. There is a website that shows the wait times for the crossing on the I-87 and after days of checking at all times during the day and night, the best wait I have see has been 30 minutes. For those with experience, is the Rouse’s Point crossing faster? Would we be advised to head for that one? The website only lists the major crossings.</p>
<p>From my experience, at the very high peak tourist times, Rouse’s Point may be faster, but usually Champlain has many lines open and Rouse’s Point only has one lane. It is always hit or miss with Fridays being the worst. But to be honest, it will take you much longer to get back into the US than to get into Canada.</p>
<p>One additional question: We will be crossing at Thousand Island Bridge north of Watertown, NY. Are the customs offices at all these crossings open all hours for submitting that study permit application? I would assume they were, but one never knows with border issues.
The website mentioned in the first post might be this one. It has some helpful info on border wait times and is updated every few hours.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html[/url]”>http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html</a></p>
<p>Orlandymom: As with all websites, your mileage may vary. That site looks official, but the data is often obsolete or wrong. Either conditions vary in a very short time or the data is not gathered in a consistent manner. For example, my wife went up to MTL yesterday–when she left home the wait time at Highgate was listed as 1 hour to enter CA. Her drive is 45 minutes to the border-- she got thru in 5 minutes. The moral is, you have to live with the wait so bring a good book on tape or cd.</p>
<p>I do not know specifically about the Watertown crossing, but it is a major entry point.</p>
<p>I’m glad Orlandymom gave the 1000 island border a shout-out. I just crossed threw it a few days ago to visit Kingston. While I can’t answer her question, I CAN say that it was incredibly quick (no more than 10 minutes waiting time) both ways through. To the OP, perhaps I-87 isn’t the way you want to go. I not incredibly well versed in the highway geography of NY but if your near 1000 islands, I would HIGHLY suggest using that as your entry point.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your replies. I guess we will have to wing it. I don’t care about the wait going back down, but we have some time issues on the way up. I guess the earlier we get going, the better off we’ll be. Montreal is a straight shot north from where we will be, so even with a long wait the Champlain or Rouses Point crossings are our best bets.</p>
<p>That’s good to know that the wait-time websites are to be taken with a grain of salt. I guess they are the same as those signs that are posted along passport lines at airports…“Wait time X minutes” when it really turns out to be Y minutes and then some.
Did anyone with prior experience have any insights to what it was like submitting the study-permit application at the border?</p>
<p>We had no problem getting the permit at the Highgate border crossing in Vermont. The customs authorities were well aware of the process and it took less than 15 minutes, at most. I felt that once we had the CAQ the rest was a breeze. Just be sure to bring all the necessary paperwork ( and the fee! ).
By the way, the study permit is for three years only, although almost all US students take four years to complete McGill. So you will have to renew the permit ( and pay another fee! ) after three years.</p>
<p>mcgilldad, did you have a list of everything your daughter was bringing to school, complete with serial numbers, etc? I’m thinking it’s not really necessary unless you have a trunk full of electronics, etc! Also, is the fee payable in cash (US$ or CAN$) and/or credit card? And, finally, did they ask to see all the financial documentation that we needed to send for the CAQ?</p>
<p>ginak: I had no list of anything she was bringing- I was just asked if it was all being left in Canada to be used by the student. The fee is in Canadian dollars, and I used a credit card, although cash is always good ( your credit card company probably gives the best exchange rate, mine does). I had all the documentation with me, but they never looked at it, I assume they felt that having the CAQ was good enough proof. (Somehow, I think that third-world students get a more thorough check.) Make sure you have the students passport handy for the student visa is quite large and is folded and stapled into the passport.</p>
<p>Get in a wheelchair and get some fake canadian army badges. When they question you, just say you were in some major war or something like the French and indian. Then they won’t bother you anymore cus they don’t wanna mess with any old guys.</p>
<p>I also have a question about this, except going the other way. What’s the best way to get to lower New York (actually, about the middle of it) from McGill? I have family in New York State that I’d like to visit every now and then. Is there like a train that goes down into New York or do you have to drive? Flying is kind of a waste when it’s so close.</p>
<p>there’s an AMTRAK train (once a day I think). Takes about a day to get to NYC</p>
<p>There are busses too. I don’t know how long it takes or how good they are. I would hope that they’re as good as the Orleans Express busses that go to Quebec City, but I have a feeling they’re more like the Greyhounds that go to Toronto (those aren’t so nice)…</p>
<p>EDIT: OK, those are Greyhounds, and it takes 7.5 to 8.5 hours according to their website.</p>
<p>The train often does not run on time, because Amtrak has the lowest priority on using the tracks leaving Montreal. But, the ride is beautiful and comfortable. If you book online, you can get a reasonable fare. Bus travel in the US is much less pleasant, but more efficient.</p>
<p>Another question about passing at the border, I’m pretty sure we’re going through Vermont. This may be a little bit different since documentation is different for Canadians than International students, but do you show only your CAQ and study permit as well as your acceptance letter? All I have is my birth certificate and acceptance letter and some other proof of Canadian citizenship. Hopefully this is enough?</p>