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Border Crossing
Montreal is only 60 miles (100 km) north of Plattsburgh International Airport and features one major highway connection the entire way (Interstate 87 in the U.S. and Autoroute 15 in Quebec).
This connection crosses the border at Champlain, New York/Lacolle, Quebec, requiring drive-through clearance by customs and immigration personnel in each direction. The good news for air travelers coming from or going to Canada is that this process by car or bus takes the place of Customs and Immigration processing you would otherwise have to go through at each airport.
And there is more good news. The U.S. government has just invested more than $107 million (U.S.) in constructing entirely new border crossing facilities at Champlain, designed to make this crossing the most modern on the entire border. These new facilities will be fully complete in late 2008.
Canadian & U.S. Citizens Crossing the Border
- Have proof of identity and citizenship in either the form of a passport or enhanced driver's license.
- Have birth certificates for each child with you. If one parent is traveling with one or more of their children and not with the other parent, you should have a letter signed by the other parent indicating you have permission to take the child out of the country. This is to discourage child abductions, which we all want to do.
- Declare all items acquired for personal use or gifts. For guidance on duty free allowances click here.
- Declare all fruits, vegetables, plants and plant products, animals, birds, eggs, meat and meat products. While it may seem innocent to have some fruit with you for personal consumption, it is probably best not to bring it with you.
- Resident aliens must carry their resident cards and documentation at all times.
- Be patient. Have your documentation ready and lower your windows as you approach the booth so the official can see everyone in the vehicle. Be prepared to open your trunk, if asked.
Citizens of Other Countries
Citizens of countries other than the U.S. or Canada must have a valid passport (and may also require a Visitor's Visa, depending on their country of origin). You’ll need to park at the border station and go inside for what is usually a simple registration process. A small fee may be required. For additional information on requirements as they may apply to you, refer to the Canada Border Services Agency or the U.S. State Department.
Duty Free Allowances
The following is an attempt to summarize what you can take across the border into Canada or the U.S. without having to pay any duty or taxes. For a complete list, refer to U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the Canada Border Services Agency And please remember you can exceed these allowances but will simply need to declare it and pay some duty. Evasion isn't worth it!
U.S. Residents Returning from Canada to the U.S.
U.S. Exemptions for a stay in Canada no less than 48 hours:
- You may bring back tax and duty free items not exceeding $800 (U.S.) in retail value.
- Any amount over $800 (U.S.) is subject to duty.
- A family (related persons living in the same household) may combine its exemptions.
- Exemptions are based on fair retail value (keep your receipts).
- The exemption may include 100 cigars (non-Cuban), 200 cigarettes and 1 liter of liquor per person over age 21 (Customs enforces state liquor laws).
U.S. exemptions for a stay in Canada less than 48 hours:
- You may bring back tax and duty free items not exceeding $200 (U.S.) in retail value.
- The exemption may include no more than 50 cigarettes, 10 cigars (non-Cuban), 4 fluid ounces of alcoholic beverage or 150 mililiters of perfume containing alcohol.
- A family MAY NOT combine its exemptions.
- If purchases exceed the $200 exemption, you lose the exemption and all purchases become subject to duty.
For Canadian Travelers Coming to the U.S.
U.S. Customs permits Canadian residents to bring, free of duty, for personal use and not intended for sale: clothing, personal items and equipment appropriate for the trip, including 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars (non-Cuban) or 2 kilograms of tobacco, or proportionate amounts of each, and 1 liter of alcoholic beverages. Visitors in the U.S. for at least 72 hours who have not claimed this exemption in the preceding 6 months may bring gifts totaling $100 (U.S.) retail value. Perfume containing alcohol and valued at more than $5 retail, tobacco products and alcoholic beverages excluded from this gift provision.
For Canadian Residents Returning to Canada
Canadian residents are currently allowed to return, free of duty and taxes, with goods valued up to $400 (CAN) any number of times a year, provided the visit to the U.S. is 48 hours or longer. A written declaration may be required. You may claim a $50 (CAN) exemption on goods, excluding alcoholic beverages and tobacco, if returning after 24 hours or more and are not using any other exemption. If bringing back more than $50 (CAN) in goods, the regular duty and taxes are levied on the entire value. If returning after 7 days or more in the U.S., you may claim up to $750 (CAN) exemption on goods. Permitted within the $400 and $750 exemptions: up to 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes, 200 tobacco sticks and 200 grams of tobacco, and up to 1.14 liters (40 oz.) of liquor or 1.5 liters (1.6 qts.) of wine or 8.5 liters (9 qts.) of beer or ale (or its equivalent of 24 12-ounce bottles or cans). You must meet the minimum age requirement of the province to claim alcohol or tobacco products.
Duty Free Stores
There is not presently a duty free store at Plattsburgh International Airport . However, you’ll find duty free stores on both sides of the Champlain/Lacolle border crossing.
Currency Exchange
Check the current U.S. – Canadian exchange rate. There is also an International Currency Exchange in Plattsburgh off Exit 37 of Interstate 87.
Border Wait Times
Get current information on traffic and wait times at the Champlain/Lacolle and other nearby border crossings, in both directions:
Quebec Traffic Web Cams
Get a real time look at traffic at a number of locations in Quebec, including Autoroute 15 near the border and around Montreal.
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