Border Information

Border Entry Requirements for Riders and Teams

New for 2010.  Due to the Radiation Portals (which scan all vehicles for the presence for of radioactive materials) at the U.S. Border anyone who has had medical tests and/or treatments involving radioactive material may face a short delay. Please call U.S. Customs at 907-767-5511 to see what information you might be able to provide to speed up your clearance. It is suggested that your leg 7 rider NOT fall into this category.

Due to increased border inspection requirements, all riders who cross the US-Canada border will be required to stop and show identification (a Passport, some exceptions noted below) to a US Customs Officer. This includes all leg 7 riders on solo, two, four and eight person teams.

Leg 7 riders will have to stop at the US-Canada border. Once riders have entered the bike lane at Canadian customs, there is to be no passing. 

Updated Information (As of May 30, 2010):  Bike Riders will NOT have to go through the radiation portals but will get off their bikes at the portal, walk/jog to the Customs officer on the sidewalk (where bikes cleared last year) present their ID, get cleared and then ride off.  There will be 2 to 3 volunteers slowing bikes down and stopping them at the radiation portals.  At that spot the bikes have to go off the pavement and around the outside of the portal which is why they will then have to walk/jog their bike up to the Customs clearance spot.

All leg 7 riders must stop and show their Passport to the Customs Officer there.

A rider without ID at this point will not be allowed to proceed. 

All other team members will stop at the border in their vehicles, present Passports, and clear customs in the usual manner.

Support Vehicles and Other Drivers at the Border Crossing

U.S. Customs has asked us to pass along this important advice. US Customs will have extra officers and 2 lanes to expedite border crossing. Drivers of vehicles MUST have ALL of the Passports for the passengers in their vehicle in their hand and ready to pass to the customs officer. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the vehicle being directed to a holding area and the occupants may experience lengthy delays in waiting for clearance.

U.S. Customs would also like to advise riders and support vehicles that most delays and long waiting times in the last few years have been caused by drivers and passengers who wait until they are stopped before looking for their ID papers.

Acceptable Identification

Passports will be mandatory identification for anyone crossing the border, with limited exceptions for US residents - active Military, Landed Immigrants, and some other cases.

Please go to travel.state.gov and click on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative in the middle of the page or call your closest US Customs and Border Protection Office if you need additional information or clarity about your personal situation.

These are the same ID requirements as for anyone crossing the border. If you have any questions, call US Customs at 907-767-5511 or Canada Customs at 907-767-5540.

Food, you and the border

Update from US Customs (as of May 30, 2010):  Do NOT to bring fruit/vegetables unless they are in original bags showing product of US.  This includes bananas and oranges.  Also dog food has to be in original packaging showing Made in the US

The following is from the US Agriculture Inspector:

• Sheep or goat meat of any sort (dried, raw, or cooked) is prohibited
• Dried, raw, or cooked chicken, beef, and pork products are enterable. This includes eggs and pet food.
• All whole fruits and vegetables are subject to inspection and must have proof of origin (i.e. packaging, labeling) to determine admissibility.
• Most sliced fruits are admissible following inspection. Fresh sliced citrus (e.g. grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges) and peaches are prohibited.
• All items with proof of U.S. origin are admissible.
• Commodity admissibility is subject to change depending on changes in exotic pest risk or disease status.