Crossing the U.S. Border by Bus: My Experience

As a single traveler crossing into the U.S. by bus for the first time, I couldn’t shake one persistent worry: What if I get held up for questioning and my Greyhound bus leaves me behind? Fortunately, the experience turned out to be much smoother than I imagined, though it came with a few revelations.

After arriving at the border, we were instructed to grab our carry-on bags (larger luggage stayed in the hold) and line up inside a small room designated for bus passengers. There were four officers processing travelers: one with a stern demeanor, two who seemed neutral, and one friendly lady who stood out as the most approachable.

Non-U.S. and non-Canadian travelers were asked to raise their hands and were processed first. The room was small, so it was impossible not to overhear each other’s conversations with the officers. I was asked the following questions:

• Do you have anything to declare?
• Where are you going?
• What’s the purpose of your visit?
• How long will you be staying?
• Do you have a return ticket?
• What do you do for work?

As I answered, the friendly officer quickly inspected my bag. The entire interaction lasted no more than two minutes. It helped tremendously to have my travel plans organized and documents ready, especially my return ticket and the exact address of where I was staying. Start to finish, I was back on the bus in about 10 minutes.

That said, not everyone seemed to have such a seamless experience. The stern officer handled most of the detailed checks, and the three or four people who had to deal with him looked visibly uneasy. I also saw a couple of individuals get grilled—bags turned inside out, questions asked at length. One woman was even detained and didn’t make it back onto the bus. It’s worth noting that the people I saw being questioned more heavily weren’t minorities, so the stereotype about racial bias at the border may not always hold true, at least in this instance.

Tips for a Smooth Border Crossing by Bus

If you’re planning a similar trip, here are some practical tips to make the process easier:

1. Sit near the front of the bus. Being one of the first in line can save you a lot of time.
2. Have your documents in order. This includes your return ticket, your destination’s exact address, and any relevant paperwork.
3. Declare everything. When in doubt, declare it. I saw someone get into trouble because they misunderstood the announcement, thinking it applied only to goods over a certain value. It doesn’t—declare it all.
4. Keep your responses concise and factual. Border officers are there to do their job, not exchange pleasantries. Avoid unnecessary small talk, and stick to clear, direct answers.
5. Prepare for zero privacy. Everyone in that room will hear your questions and answers. If you’re someone who gets nervous easily, take a few deep breaths and remind yourself to stay calm and focused.

While my experience was largely positive, I recognize that I may have been lucky. A lot of factors—like which officer you get or how prepared you are—can influence the outcome. If you plan ahead and stay composed, your chances of a smooth crossing will certainly improve.

Disclaimer. The above text was written by chatGPT from the below word vomit I wrote on my phone while on the bus.

Single traveller travelling by bus. Not a Canadian or American citizen. First time traveling to the US, my biggest fear was what if I get held up for questioning and my greyhound bus leaves me behind. The experience was a pleasant revelation. As we entered the area designated for buses, we were told to pick up all our handbags (bigger bags stay in the hold) and line up inside a small room. There were four officers for processing - one stern, two neutral, and one lady who seemed the friendliest of the group. All non US and non Canadians were asked to raise their hands and were processed first. The room is small so everyone can hear the questions and your answers. I was asked: - anything to declare? - where are you going? - for what? - how long? - have a return ticket? - what do you do? As I answered these, the friendly lady inspected my bag. I was done in 2 mins. It helped to have the exact plan and prints ready, especially the return ticket. I was out and back in the bus in maybe 10 mins. I see a lot of reviewers who had bitter experiences with some pointing to racism as well. I probably got lucky because I didn't see anything on display here. That one stern officer was cold though and did most of the checking, and the 3-4 people who had to speak to him would definitely have a different opinion of the experience. Also the three individuas I saw getting grilled were all non-minority, so the racist stereotype attributed may not entirely be true. A poor lady's bags were turned inside out and another one was detained and did not make it back on the bus. Tips for a smooth experience if you're crossing by bus - Sit in front so you're first in line. - Have all your papers ready, esp the exact address of the place you're going to - Declare if you have any thing they mention in their announcements..Someone made the mistake of not declaring because they thought it was for goods "over a limit". You declare everything, period. - Our definition of rude may just be "talk business" to some. Cultural differences can also have an impact. Don't indulge in pleasantries with officers. Be crisp and detailed in your responses. Remember there is no privacy here. You're all standing in a small room as this process happens. It can be nerve wracking for some. I saw a tourist literally shaking. My experience was good here but I may have just been lucky. Just make sure to to prepare well and hope for the best!