Okay guys here is the rest of the story. Sorry I have taken so long to get this all out. Before heading out to the border crossing I printed up the email from my customs broker who had specific instructions for the border crossing. They told me that I had to go to this exact crossing, and it had to happen on that day. They also told me that I had to cross with the commercial vehicles, and not with the normal vehicles.
We got to the border crossing about 40 minutes after leaving the university in Welland, and pulled in with the tractor trailers. We were getting strange looks from the truckers while in line waiting our turn. Eventually we got strange looks from the regular automobile drivers, maybe because we were in the trucker line, but more likely because we were in a strange Japanese space van. It took about 30-40 minutes in line before it was our turn, and as we pulled up the customs officer at the booth, he welcomed us, and asked why we were not in the regular vehicle line. I started explaining that I was importing the van, and the customs officer was looking and talking to Brad in the passengers seat. Shortly there after he realized I was the one talking, and driving, and was a bit surprised. We then handed him our passports, drivers licenses, and the customs brokers paperwork that we had just printed up.
Amazingly the customs broker was super friendly, and looked at my paperwork briefly before asking where I got the paperwork prepared, and whether I was importing for sale, or personal use? I replied that it was through a customs broker. He then asked me how much I had paid for it to be prepared? I replied with around $6-800 including the $400 bond fee, and duty tax,etc.. The customs agent then said I had wasted my money as it wasn't necessary, and that I could have done it on my own at the crossing. Brad wasn't thrilled to hear this as we had wasted a day of travel waiting for this paperwork, and suggested that we just try to cross without it earlier in the trip. The customs agent then told us to sit tight while he checked on a few things in the booth. About 10 minutes later he poked his head out of the booth, and apologized to us, saying he was indeed wrong, and that the paperwork was needed, and I was smart to use a broker. I was thrilled to hear this, and so was Brad because it meant we hadn't wasted our time fully. Another 5-10 minutes went by before the agent was car side again, and handed us back our passports, and the paperwork I had given him. He instructed us to park over with the tractor trailers, and enter another building with a red door, and walk through the halls until we reach room 116. We were to bring the paperwork in there,and put it on the counter. We did this, and were then told that there was a waiting room across the hallway. We entered the room with some of the oldest vending machines known to man, and a bunch of angry truckers. We shortly found out why the truckers were angry as a few mentioned they had been there 2+ hours just to pay a $10.95 fee. We sat quietly, and I was wondering what would be next, and how long we would be there.
While looking out the window I noticed a flat bed truck with a long articulating arm with some sort of sensor attached to it. I saw this truck driving along side tractor trailers that would pull up every few minutes. The tractor trailer drivers would exit the truck,and the flat bed truck would drive along the side of the tractor trailers to x-ray them I believe. I assumed we would have to do the same as a friend of mine had his Delica x-rayed when he imported his in Washington a few months ago. About a half hour later they called my name, and I entered room 116 again with Brad. The customs agent who we had talking to earlier handed me my envelope with all of my paperwork, and aid " you are all set, and your paperwork is all stamped". He then mentioned that there was a $10.95 fee to finish the crossing. I handed him $11, and he handed me a shiny nickel back.
No X-rays, no vehicle inspection, no body cavity search, and most importantly no vehicle seizure, and crushing of my van. We got back in the Delica, and looked at each other in wonder as to how easy it was to do what I was thinking would be the worst part of the trip. Out on to the interstate in the grande ole U.S. of A, and east towards Massachusetts. After driving around Buffalo on a few secondary interstates we got to Route 90 East, and had about 8-9 hours ahead of us. We stopped shortly after getting on 90 at a rest area for fuel, and much needed food after not eating since breakfast at the hotel. I then drove all the way until we hit the Mass Pike many hours later. At the first rest are on the Pike we stopped for fuel again, and Brad took over the driving. We arrived at Brads house in Georgetown MA around 3-3:30am, and there was no way I was driving the 2 hours south after all that, so I crashed on his couch. We got up around 9AM, and headed out for some breakfast in town before I headed the 2 hours south to get home. I was home about an hour or so to shower, and gather some clothes for camping, and headed over to my parents house to show the van to my sister, and mother. After that I was back home, and loading up my stuff in the Suburban for a 3+ hour drive north to New Hampshire where my family was still camping. Traffic through Boston sucked, and I was still tired from all the driving, but I was so happy to be back with my wife and kids.
So that is my little adventure for a weird JDM minivan. I am so glad I did it, and look forward to more adventures in the van with my family. Many thanks to my understanding wife Becky, my kids Lucas & Alex, Brad, Craig and his wife, Al, Erin, James, and all of the other people that we encountered on the way. Chris
