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US Customs Border Permit


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Something new this year! We crossed the border to get a Canadian Fishing License. When we came back thru US Customs, we were informed that if we put in our boat from the MN side, fished the Canadian side, then landed our boat back on the MN side we needed an I-68 US Customs Permit. This is something completely different from your regular Canadian Remote Border Crossing Permit. You pay $16.00, get yourself finger printed, get your photo taken, and are issued a permit with these on it. I don't know if the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol will be out in force this week, but if you are fishing both sides you should be aware that one might be checked for FOUR different licenses/permits: Canadian Immigration, Ontario Conservation Officers, U.S. Customs and of course Mn DNR.

This is what we were told-If anybody has any info on this, it would be appreciated. Good Luck

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Yes, you are correct. The I68 has been in affect since last spring. You must have the permit, plus phone into US customs on your return to U.S. I have 3 licenses, and 2 border permits to fish LOW... Pain in the neck, and the pocket book.

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What a joke, next we'll have to get a passport for each minnow and nightcrawler in the boat and notify the next of kin of each lost minnow in its corresponding home stream jurisdiction with a governmental surcharge....... mad.gifmad.gifmad.gif

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I have never been up to Rainy River or LOW besides a MN fishing licence and the I68 what other permits do I need to get and where do you get them and the I68?

thanks

Chris

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Ha Ha, right on Gorilla!!!!

- Just wait, it will not be long until US customs sets up makeshift port buildings at the boat ramps so they can lock u in a mirrored room, search you and your belongings, and pat you down thoroughly. Go through Pembina and you will see what I am talking about. If I could afford it, I would have an attorny escort me. If you drive up allow plenty of time for inspection coming back through, at least an hour. I guess some are worse than others. If you are Canadien eh, no prob, you will coast right on through.

-Smile, you are on camera up and down that river, and I am not talking about the Sportsmans fishcam.

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They told us it went into effect in 1983!! Never heard about it until this year. Oh well I guess they need more money too.

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You need a Cn. Remote Border Pass to cross into Canada. You can purchase it at the Canadian Customs office on the Canada side of the border crossing in Baudette or any border crossing. It will cost $17 US and it is good til a year after your next birthday. You can also put a spouse on it at no extra charge.

The border pass for the US is $16 for a year from date of purchase. It is only good for soft water and you need to call in everytime you return to the US. You cannot put a spouse on it and you have to appear in person at the customs office everytime you return to the US on hard water.

Also be aware of the Canadian boating regulations. You need a lot of gear you don't need on the US side.

You do not have to call either customs office when entering Canada.

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Funny thing was the Mn. DNR guys at the landing had no idea what we were talking abut when we mentioned this to them. Sounds like if Canada is going to make some $ off of us the US wants their cut as well. Its a joke if ya ask me.

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A couple things about the I68. First, make sure everyone understands that this is a US document, not a Canadian document.

You can add your spouse to it and your kids but they need to be present at US Customs when you apply. They get a reduced rate as an add on to your I68. Our family got ours last year and I was surprised to learn that it was only good for the current open water season. I specifically waited until later in the summer when we were all crossing the border to get ours so that our entire family would be covered. I thought that this way we could use it up until one full year later. As it turns out, we only used the document one time and now it has expired. I think when it was all added up we had about $50 into the I68 plus the Canadian RABC. The RABC can also be applied for as a family but you are not required to apply in person and it lasts longer than one year.

A friend of mine got the same I68 document for his family a few weeks before we did and his says that it is good for one full year. Go figure. From what I heard later, the open water season limitation is what they are supposed to issue. Maybe they have some specific exception for US citizens that own a cabin in canada which is what my friend has.

It's getting to be a real pain to back into the US. I think I'll stick to customs or the remote border phones that some lakes have to call in when you cross back into the US. I still like the RABC due to its ease of obtaining for the whole family and how long it lasts but the I68 is a pain.

ccarlson

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I was in the customs office in Baudette 2 weeks ago. The officer I spoke with told me they didn't know how long the I68 was good for until recently. He said it is now good for 1 year from purchase. So if you get one in July, you have have to purchase another the next July. It is only good for soft water. I asked why, he said he didn't know. In order to change it you would have to deal with Wash DC.

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So, to recap for a first-timer planning a trip to Namakan border waters this June...I would need Remote Border Pass from Canada, I-68 from US govt., Minn. license and Ontario license. Correct? If so, is it possible to get any of these ahead of time? How? What else do I need to know about Ontario boating/fishing regs? I'd really like avoid breaking laws, considering that a) it's illegal and b)my 11-year-old will be along. confused.gif

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Krebber,

You pretty much have it. You just need to do one additional thing and that is to call the customs number provided on your I68 form every time you cross the border back into the US. If you don't have a cell phone that gets a signal you would technically need to boat directly to the nearest phone and call them and notify them of your return and any items you are bringing with you.

I asked the border agent when I got my I68 what do I do if I cross back over and don't have a cell signal and I get stopped by US border patrol. He said you tell them you are on your way to make the call right now at the nearest phone. He admitted it is a difficult thing to enforce.

You can get the RABC ahead of time through the mail. Be sure to include your family members that will be traveling with you across the border. Not sure if you can get the ontario license ahead of time, others may know.

The I68 needs to be applied for in person at a US customs office and all people in your family that want to be included on it need to be present at the time of application.

good luck.

ccarlson

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Krebber,

You have to go on line and find the boating regulations for the province you are entering. They are different than Mn. regs. and they will change with different lengths of boats. The longer boat the more hoops you will have to jump through.

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Oh, and don't forget you can't bring most kinds of bait back and forth across the border. You have to buy minnows and leeches in canada to use them in Canada. You need a receipt to prove where and when you bought them. You can have nightcrawlers packed in newspaper bedding only, no soil bedding.

And no beer in canada waters. If you are entering into canada with some you must declare it first and the packaging must be factory sealed while in the boat.

As you can see, I think that deciding to fish either one side or the other is much easier which is too bad.

Good tip on the boat regulations. You'd be surprised what you are required to have.

ccarlson

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ccarlson and tillie,

Thanks a ton for the help - as well as to others who have posted here. As I research/decide and chase the red tape, I will post results to help others. Boy that old joke is true: Hi, we're the government and we're here to help. Not! tongue.gif

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Krebber,

Not sure if I read your post wrong but if you simply want to fish the US side of Namakan you don't need any of those permits, except a MN fishing license. Namakan is split down the middle with the north-side in Canada, and the south in Minnesota...you can drive you boat for miles and miles and never need to cross into Canadian water if you don't want to...

There is a vast amount of water within the US boundary on Namakan, Kabetogam, or Sand Point & Crane lake...so depending on which direction you are coming from, why would you jump through all those hoops???

Just trying to help...

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