US Gov Immigration – Point Roberts

Point Roberts customs is overwhelmed and actually gave us entry instructions which they later said were wrong and decided to detain us overnight for 18 hours (or longer until we could get an emergency customs broker on the weekend).
We were bringing a boat back from Canada (Customs handles land and sea entry) and a week prior had called this office to get instructions on clearing customs. The officer told us we’d need proof of purchase, $ 19 for a user decal fee, and to complete a form which they would have available in the office.
Then when we arrived to the boat they told us the only way they’d release us is if we hired a customs broker to fill out the forms. They wouldn’t let us do it ourselves, even though the Customs officer I spoke to last week had said we could.
There is very little US cell phone reception in Point Roberts, so it can be difficult to reach people. I’m sure going through by car is rarely a problem, but for boaters I’d avoid this port (which seems to be what they want, since they’re understaffed and disgruntled about having to handle sea entry).

I’ve been through this immigration point twice to enter into Point Roberts. It’s nice to see a friendly face and also feel that you’re back in America once you’re crossing the border.
The first time I came through was in the evening as the sun was setting. I was trying to get a picture of the post office to say I had been there. The sun chased behind me rushing toward the horizon and I still had hope I’d get the pic I drove through the border twice to get to. Sadly, the sun won and setted before I could get a decent shop of the post office.
So, I made a second trip. The second time, they asked all the pertinent questions and when asked the reason why I was coming in, I told the man that I needed a new picture of the post office. His face became confused and he asked was this a hobby or something. I explained that it is and that I needed Pt. Roberts to complete my journey through every city in Washington State. Then a grin came on his face and he went through the trouble of going through all the immigration booths to find me a map of the Pt. Roberts area (which I didn’t need since I had been there before). I thought that was very nice and he didn’t have to do that. Don’t get it twisted though… this is the US/​Canada border immigration so they may not be as nice to you.
Overall, both times I went it was very fast and friendly which is a change from normal border crossings. Basically, from the US and back you have to cross the border four times (Blaine to Surrey, Tsawassen back into the US to Pt Roberts, Pt Roberts back into Tsawassen and finally Surrey back into Blaine. Look Point Roberts up on a map and maybe make a trip up to see this crazy odd little peninsula piece of Washington not attached to Washington State.

This brings me to TSB Shipping.
And Amazon orders, cheap shoes and whatever else i’ve decided to purchase off the internet at 2 o’clock in the morning.
And to cheap gas, and wine, and that lovely little café.
And it does so quickly, with 15 minute max wait times and generally cheery border officers.
I like this.

My fifth time through this border crossing. All has been fine. The American border guards have been wonderful, but this time all hell broke loose. I should have known to switch lines when the border guard pulled in two people ahead of me.
I know that there are government cut backs, and quality control may have gone down, but come on. I won’t get gas or a package there for at least a good couple of years.
If you go, go on foot.

It’s a US immigration. What can you expect?
I occasionally do the Point Roberts run just for a change of scenery or to pick up mail with my girlfriend. Usually I’m crossing on a weekday so the routine is basically the same. Things start picking up around noon. There always seem to be a just a little bit of a wait. Very rarely do I get here and I go straight through. It’s all the Canadians doing the lunch time dash for cheap gas or to pick up parcels.
I don’t usually encounter too much of a problem crossing here as the officers know exactly why people cross here. I mean… where you gonna really go?

Very professional, and usually quick to get across.

I was very impressed at the speed, and even the level of service when I came through this border last weekend. Anyone who is going over this side, either lives here, is getting gas, or is picking up a parcel (as most people South of the border send to one of the number of post office boxes here!). Even though they only have 2 entrances for the regular folks (non NEXUS), they get through the line-​ups pretty quickly.
They don’t become the stereotypical robot guards like the other gates, and will ask you questions like they are having a conversation with you, that makes it all the more pleasant, like a host bringing you to a table in a restaurant. I think it also depends on your mood too, and to not give attitude when your going through a border crossing. Mostly good experiences, and if your open with them and their questions it just is easier for you to get through.
If you get here early, it’s not much of a wait to get through, the later you get here, like any borders, the longer you are idling and wasting gas! It’s a small community your going through on the way here, and just know that if you don’t have a Nexus card, make sure to stay off the right lane, or be looked at as a line budging prick who no-​one likes to let in, or make the full reverse, which I saw on this day. That is a long reverse to get yourself back in line.

I’m so in love with this border crossing after having to endure Peace Arch/​Pacific crossing. I don’t think we have ever had to wait longer than 20 mins on Saturdays and the officers on both sides are polite and efficient.

Everybody knows that nobody really comes to Point Roberts for the great tourist attractions, or history. Nope. You’re here to pick up a package, fill up your car, and GTFO.
Thanks to some cartographers not doing their homework in the 1800s, this little enclave is the perfect way to get around the legalities of international shipping. As a result, there are lineups like crazy on Saturdays, as most package holding places aren’t open on Sunday.
Tips for getting to your package faster:
a) Park on the street just before the border (Diefenbaker Park comes to mind), then walk across. You can see a mass exodus of people pulling dollies and wagons here. Quite hilarious, and there’s a ton of parking. Customs is super quick when you’re a walk-​in as it’s obvious you aren’t stashing that new laptop in your jacket.
b) If you are going across to MAIL a package (ie sell something), then the flat rate is $ 11USD per vehicle, regardless of the value of what you’re selling. Something to keep in mind. I found this out the hard way once. However this doesn’t apply to. *drum roll* walk-​ins. Again, the dolly/​wagon wins.
I’ve taken advantage of this piece of land several times, and each time the officers were very courteous. Totally wish I could say the same for Blaine. It’s like they send all the nice ones here.

As a resident of Point Roberts for several years (crossing into Canada and back for work every day), and a vacation-​visitor since childhood, I have certainly had many interactions with the CBP officers at the U.S. port of entry in Point Roberts. I have found them to be consistently professional, thorough and courteous. Although I have not attempted to do anything even remotely illegal to test their attitude when challenged, I have witnessed interactions with other travellers who were less wise, and I have not seen Point Roberts CBP officers treat anyone inappropriately. I have entered the U.S. far less frequently at Pacific Highway, and have had negative and frustrating experiences there.
A few years ago, I had a strange entry in their computer file for a while (not under their control) and even though it necessitated significant paperwork for CBP Point Roberts every day for several months until it was cleared up by the agency responsible for the mistake, CBP officers did the extra work without making me feel bad about it — good-​natured teasing: yes, being discourteous: definitely not!

Point Roberts is a geographic anomaly: the only reason it’s in the USA is that the 49^th north parallel, by international treaty in the 1800s, cuts off this small peninsula from the rest of Canada. That kind of made me want to visit.
I had to pick someone up at the Tsawwassen ferry so decided to come down here to pass the time and fill up my car. Border guards were friendly, and probably really bored. I asked for (and got) a matching pair of passport stamps from the border guards– the American one insisted on putting the stamp on the page with the Pacific Northwest totem pole (the new USA passport)…points for that. When I told the Canadian guy that I came to get gas (noticed that it was a lot cheaper than in the neighboring Canadian city), he said «you’re not even FROM here and you know that this is where to get gas!» Extra points.
Did you know: Point Roberts is the only place in the USA where gas prices are quoted per liter and not per gallon?

Rude border officers. The Canadians are nicer to Americans than the US officer are to their own people.

This is probably the best border crossing of them all. It’s quick and easy to get across. I think the longest I have had to wait is 20 minutes and that’s with the line up half way down the hill.
I have never had an issue with the border guards either.