Windsor, Ontario, Canada to Detroit, Michigan, USA | Customs and Immigration

This is guest post from  Sjoerd Bakker http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=752824  from a recent crossing. 

AMBASSADOR BRIDGE DETROIT TO WINDSOR
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9lUHfceMYQ2dm1nTHhjTFA3M2pLcUdRVUlKbU5UYnRGVW1R/edit?usp=sharing

The border  between  Windsor, Ontario and  Detroit, Michigan currently  has one  road tunnel between the city  cores and one huge suspension bridge  named Ambassador Bridge  . Planning and site preparation is currently  (2014) ongoing for the construction of a second border bridge  at a point somewhat south of the existing bridge. No motorcycles are permitted in the tunnel so this bridge is the only option for motorcyclists.

The Ambassador Bridge dating from 1929 is located at south of  both cities' centres  and hooks directly into the Interstate 75 in the USA  .On the Canadian side  it has a direct feeder into the Highway 401  freeway  and Highway 3 and other  easily found connections onto  the routes across the city and  into Ontario . The  feeder to 401  , Huron Church Road , is in  2014 nearing completion of a total  reconstruction  with widening  and  tunnelling . This should ease    traffic   which can at times be very  slow and dense and  carries a constant flow of heavy transport trucks.

The border facility layout on the Canadian side is very  straightforward and easy to navigate.
The USA side border facility on the other hand is  a cramped and convoluted setup as  repeated expansions have eaten up all available space.

USA TO CANADA
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9lUHfceMYQ2dm1nTHhjTFA3M2pLcUdRVUlKbU5UYnRGVW1R/edit?usp=sharing

Layout of USA CUSTOMS FACILITIES and  traffic routing:
Approaching the Ambassador Bridge  from Michigan can easiest be done  from the interstate highway system  of which   I-75  , the Fisher  Freeway , passes directly by the bridge .  The Freeways  I-94 and I-96  plus others also converge  on I-75 . Detroit city center  can be reached directly by Fort Street from the bridge or by these freeways. Along the I-75  there are large , clear well placed  traffic  control signs  warning of the upcoming exits  for " BRIDGE  TO CANADA"

An important note here  : TURN OFF YOUR  GPS  if you are relying  on such  .
Once you know that you want to use  this border crossing you do NOT  want  any distraction  while having to drive in  five lanes of busy traffic   and trying to correlate  the time-lagged GPS  with real- time  highway signs and fast approaching  exits. You could  easily sail by  your exit  which would then require you to  find a turn- around exit and  come at it once again with different  parameters .Within the Detroit border terminal area  traffic routing is tight and convoluted and GPS  will be useless. In fact there are actual signs  there instructing that GPS be  turned off.

LEAVING THE USA    FROM    I - 75  NORTHBOUND
From I-75 coming from  Ohio you will see the bridge well ahead of time .Moderate your speed and move to the  near outside  right lane when you  pass  the River Rouge industrial area exits 43 and 44  when BRIDGE TO CANADA signs will begin to appear. Slow down some more and move to the right  side lane  nearing Exit 47 B  then  at the sign peel off  to right on that exit as it passes under West Grand Blv. WATCH AND OBEY YOUR DIRECTION SIGNS  and you will loop around beneath a bunch of highway  ramps  and find yourself  inside the  fenced border terminal compounds.Follow the   signed  traffic  lanes for AUTOMOBILE traffic along the outside fence   past the  duty free shop. Do NOT follow the transport trucks north of that shop .

LEAVING THE USA  FROM    I  - 75  SOUTHBOUND
Coming in on I-75 from the North you need to follow direction signs at Exit 47 C ,peel off on the right and follow the lanes into the  customs compound merged with traffic from the south. Once you enter the compound area you are committed to the bridge because there are no straightforward public exits. If you try a U-turn  past  US Customs  on the bridge you will have  some explaining  to do but it  can be done if you do not want to go across . However  you are committed to paying the toll twice , there is a toll booth on the US entry ramp and at  US customs exit.

DUTY  FREE
There is  a  US duty free  store and  fuel  station  within the compound where you can fill your gas tank  before hitting the higher prices in Canada   and use  the washroom . Gasoline Pumps will accept cards or US  bills  and if you  are owed any change simply take the  pump receipt inside to collect it. Out of the duty free  pumps area continue  along the fence  , through the TOLL BOOTH . Pay in all US or all Canadian currency  , a mix is not permitted. You will  complete the  loop  which then puts you  upward on the  access ramp  to the actual bridge  heading south.  You  will have nothing to do with US  customs  or immigration.

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This is guest post from  Sjoerd Bakker http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=752824 from a recent crossing - continuation from previous post. 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9lUHfceMYQ2V3JMUkdFTEFPTkRJQ2hYRVI0ODUycDZhMENR/edit?usp=sharing

ENTERING CANADA
Proceed south  over the bridge, read the overhead traffic signs and stay in your designated lane. On the Canadian side the traffic lanes fan out to  a good number of  custom gates  which may not all be in use , depending on traffic demand. Move into  a line for any gate which is accepting traffic but not the extreme right truck lanes. Unless you are a frequent  crosser here (unlikely if you are reading this) you will not have a " fast card"  so DO NOT  use the lanes designated  for those cards. If you do  so without a card you will automatically be hauled over for a thorough  inspection and a scolding.

Have your passport   and other documents  at hand and ready to show. A Canada Customs officer in the booth will want to see your passport  or passport card and ask a few questions about if you are bringing in any excess  money, booze, drugs, guns,contraband produce , where you live, where you are going. If you are not a US or Canadian citizen nor documented landed immigrant   they may have other questions . In either case  if you provide satisfactory answers , have the required documentation  and are not observed to be sweating bullets or otherwise acting nervously  you will be quickly let through. If there are some suspicions or missing paperwork you will be asked to park at the next building  to the right and undergo a secondary inspection. This entire process is usually very quick - once you get your turn.

When you are cleared you simply drive ahead and onto the  busy  rebuilt Huron Church  Rd which feeds you toward  the 401 and Highway 3, or you can hook around to the north and  visit the riverfront  park areas and drive into the  center of the city of Windsor directly opposite the Detroit skyline. You are now SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

CANADA   TO   USA

Coming from the east  via the 401 or Highway 3  you will be funnelled  NORTH onto renewed Huron Church  Road with  its motels, restaurants and shopping areas. When you are  near the end of the bridge and see a Mc Donald's to your left at the intersection move  ahead past the lights  and railroad crossing into the LEFT  side lanes. After those traffic lights  non- border    traffic  heading  into the city swings to the right  . Motorcycles and cars  wishing to go to the USA  must take the  LEFT EXIT, marked AUTOMOBILES ONLY  to get onto the Ambassador Bridge  to Detroit. There is no toll gate at the Canadian end nor any customs requirements to fulfill when leaving Canada in most cases. However if you are driving  a vehicle temporarily imported to  Canada you will need to  fulfill certain requirements for removing that vehicle from the country, but you should already know this .
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9lUHfceMYQ2bUJqdV9TTnByY19GWEl1YW1IYW9pWTlDVFZZ/edit?usp=sharing

Simply because  there is no  physical barricade  here to prevent you from leaving Canada  it does not absolve you  of the responsibility  to be aware of rules for  leaving  here and entering the USA.

There  is a  Canadian duty-free shop at this entry to the bridge and you can take the  time now to park there  and go inside  for a free coffee, maybe  buy a desperate  last chance souvenir trinket . And use the washroom  because there may be a long wait on the USA   end of the bridge. Get out your passport  now and any other documents  and drive North into the USA obeying the overhead lane signs.

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This is guest post from  Sjoerd Bakker http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=752824  from a recent crossing - 2nd continuation from previous posts.  
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9lUHfceMYQ2dUVUWDVKSFhadXdZUVczbkR5Y1F6Nl9PNkFr/edit?usp=sharing

At the end of the bridge the automobile traffic fans out to  many  lanes and gated  US Customs booths  with a small building dividing them into two groups. Get in  a line for any one of the booths which have a green light or big OPEN sign  above them   and crawl ahead. Obey the instruction to  stop signs at the booth entry , move ahead to the inspector when your turn comes. Motorcyclists - Shut off the motor , remove helmet and sunglasses ,show your passport and answer any questions clearly.

NON CITIZENS  of the USA or Canada may   be subject to extra  scrutiny and will be told to park under the roof  at the customs building  in the center of the row of booths to undergo a secondary check and  further processing.  Such tourists will be told where to park and to leave the keys , cameras and cellphones in the vehicle  and to go inside while they sniff through your belongings. You will be struck by the seriousness of these agents on the lookout for terrorists and perverts! You are being watched by multiple video cameras, no funny business allowed! No photography permitted.
Go inside the cramped outdated little office and  register with the agent with the clipboard ,give your name ,receive an application   form  to complete  then take a seat to await your turn .
The  application form you may be given is for the " I 94"  a temporary visitors card and  you need to fill it out in pen in  clearly printed letters. Although it is  green in colour this is NOT the Green Card  so sought after by potential immigrants.

NOTE : before the border you should  have  at the ready an address  of a hotel in the USA  or of your actual destination. The I 94  questionnaire asks for an address  and phone number in the USA where you may  be  reached. Lately  your email address is also requested. Without an address they can deny you entry. They DEMAND an address , it is not accepted if you say you will find a motel somewhere when the need arises, . So pick a hotel ,  pick  ANY hotel!  It does not matter if you never set foot there, they want an address and phone number .     Give them something to make'em happy.!
On the other side of the application are a number of silly questions  which should all be answered in the negative .Extra-American non- citizen tourists making a  visit to the USA MAY  need to have extra documentation as to proof of onward passage  arranged and paid for,  the reasons for visiting, financial resources , sterling character etc etc.   If you are driving a vehicle registered and plated in a country other than Canada or USA  you may also have further documentation  demands  such as to EPA conformity- research this when still at home and prepare!

When your turn comes go to the agent  at the counter, hand over the completed form and answer  other questions .You will get your fingerprints  and photo taken. If all goes well you will be asked to pay $6 for the I 94 card  which is  valid for 3 months and a stamp will be put in your passport. If you already possess a visa for a longer stay  you may be spared some of this  activity. Then you will be allowed to leave, you are announced as coming out for the guys inspecting the cars  and your keys will be given  back to you and the exit door will be unlatched.

Drive ahead out of the inspection area and to the  exit TOLL BOOTH of the bridge and pay .Then you are free . Depending on your destination you can now get directly onto I-75  North (to I 94 and I-96  etc)  or loop over and around for I-75 SOUTH to head for Toledo or Mexico or ......... Or you may turn right  then onto the surface streets  and Wayne Ave to Detroit  city center.

OF INTEREST  near the bridge  terminal on the west side of I-75  is the neighbourhood now called MEXICAN TOWN  where, true to the name, a bit of urban revival  by a  sizable influx of Mexican immigrant entrepreneurs has recreated a  deteriorating  area into a cluster of Mexican restaurants and shops. If you are ending a trip to Mexico or on a weekend cross border hop you may enjoy having an authentic Mexican meal at any one of the restaurants. If you want to visit these Mexican restaurants then do not get on the I-75 access ramp but split off to the right  onto 21st Street immediately after leaving the toll booth  and drive north the two blocks until you hit   the intersection of  West Vernor Highway. Turn west and cross  I-75 , travel  and  turn south   on 23rd or 24th Street and you are among the restaurants.

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