I'm having my usual hot dog and drink at the Bellingham Costco. Anyway, US border guard tells me today, "I'm giving you a gentle warning." I'm like, wut?

Apparently, I'm in the yellow zone. There's green, yellow (amber), and red. I've been crossing too many times. Continues to tell me I'm in the US more than at home. The magic number is 180 days in a year and I'm getting there. I go twice a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I guess the two road trips to LA put me into the yellow.

Gotta cut back in case I want to see some hockey in Vegas. I cracked a few jokes and he forgot all about it and said have a good day at the casino.

I had no clue that was a thing. I'll never hit that point but it's good to know.

Also if you are gone more than 6 months in a calendar year, your Provincial MSP may be invalidated as well.

That's why Snowbirds in Arizona and Florida, etc make sure to high tail it back to Canada during the summer months.

MG1, the 180 day rule also has some tax implications.

Following link explains it pretty well:

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tool.../INF19970.html

I knew this, but didn't think to relate it to day trips where you're back in Canada at the end of the day.

It's the number they use to determine residency. If you're ever unfortunate enough to have to file a US tax return, they actually make you document each trip across the border on your return do determine your residency.

I'm somewhat surprised though that they'd give you a hard time over day trips though. It sounds like even if you're over for an hour to pick up a few packages, it counts as a day?

Yup, according to the border guard. Anyway, here I am again at the deli in Costco. Last time, I missed the Ready lane by a minute or two and had to plead my way into the half hour line up. Today, I got to PA before the 1:00 pm cutoff. Went through within 30 seconds. No mention of anything about being in the yellow. Regular line up was 30 to 40 minutes long. Nexus was lined up, but not Ready Lane, lol. Anyway, a few Nexus drivers figured it out that Nexus works at the Ready Lane. A few of them switched over as soon as they saw every car in the Ready Lane being let through ASAP.

There were quite a few Washington plates heading south. I guess none of them have Nexus or Enhanced Drivers License.

Been a while since I've crossed Point Roberts but was wondering how is it? Are the lines super long now? Been about 3 years since I last went lol. Thinking of going during the mid day while everyone is at work and hopefully can get a few packages.

will i get notified of nexus interview by e-mail? GOES website suggested that I should login often for the next 2 months ResidentSleeper

You have to book the interview yourself. Constantly logging In will allow you to get an earlier interview, if there is one available.

I took me just over 2 months to get accepted, weird thing was i got the notification email at 11pm on a saturday night.
Dont forget your birth certificate, there is no mention of it on the required documents, yet they ask for it SeemsGood

No such thing as "while everybody is at work." So many people have flexible hours, on vacay, or not working (like me).

I was at Costco Bellingham a couple of weeks ago and overheard these two young dudes........ one of them said, "Don't any of these people work?" I chuckled inside and wanted so badly to say to them, "Um........ why aren't you at work?" They were two fairly tall, Breaking Bad types, so I just whistled Dixie and minded my own business.

Does anybody know the duties/fees on bringing wheels across the border from Pt Roberts? I'm thinking of ordering some and picking them up and I've read mixed reviews on duties. Some sites/calculators state 6% and some state up to 18%.

Purchased from California but I believe not made in North America - (Work Wheels)

Thank you,

I think this all depends on the CBSA Officer, 12% seems to be the norm of the declared product value with proof of purchase.

Travellers - Duty and Taxes Estimator

I think autoparts is 8% duties + 12% tax.

However, The 1 time I've had to go in to pay, they just charged me taxes and never the duty.

I was only charged tax when I picked up my wheels and tires, it was a while ago so ymmv.

Do I have a better chance getting through with $160 of value myself with nexus or $210 combined with a friend in the regular lanes?

^^ Highly unlikely to get tax at only $160 (if you are coming through PR).

Wait, what?

Does this mean that the border guard was following you around before you got to Costco, or was he sent to look for you afterwards? It's kind of weird how they didn't mention this when you were first crossing, because it would've shown them on the system.

I doubt Blaine will tax you either. I came up last weekend with $170 of stuff through NEXUS and got the usual "is any of it alcohol or tobacco?" before getting waved through.

I find the limit is around $200-$250 before they start sending you inside.

there is no such thing as limit, it all depends on which border guard you get lol. I went trough Nexus with 250$ and got waived, next time i went through with 110$ pair of shoes and got taxed lol

edit : both through blaine

Where is the cheapest place to get stuff shipped at Point Roberts? Thanks in advance.

Went around 1pm and it wasn't too bad, about a 10 minute wait at Point Roberts today.

Taxed on the way back to Canada though :( A bit over $500 between my wife and I

I don't know if In Out Parcel is the cheapest, but I used them a few times, and I liked the service.

I went through PR twice within 2 weeks. One was for $150; I got waved through. Two was for $210; I got waved through as well. :fullofwin: