An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Advise Travelers To Prepare For a Busy Holiday Weekend

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Advise Travelers To Prepare For a Busy Holiday Weekend

Release Date
Wed, 10/03/2012

Buffalo, N.Y. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds travelers planning cross border trips over the next weekend to make sure they have the proper documents and to plan for a possible increase in traffic throughout the weekend due to the Canadian Thanksgiving and U.S. Columbus Day Holiday on Monday, October 8th. CBP officials want to inform the traveling public that there are a number of steps that can be taken to facilitate their arrival into the United States.

Travelers should check traffic conditions at the four border crossings within the Buffalo/Niagara region and select the crossing that is least congested. Travelers can easily obtain current border traffic conditions by calling the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission's toll free number at (800) 715-6722 or by visiting any of the following websites:

Travelers should familiarize themselves with the "Know Before You Go" section of the CBP Web site and consult the border wait times page. Wait time information is updated hourly and is useful in identifying periods of light traffic/short waits. Travelers should have their approved travel documents available for inspection and be prepared to declare all items acquired outside, or being imported into, the U.S.

In compliance with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) implemented June 1, 2009, all travelers, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, need to present an approved travel document to enter the U.S. by land and sea. These documents include a valid Passport, U.S. Passport Card, Trusted Traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST) or an Enhanced Driver's License. Children under the age of 16 can present an original or copy of their birth certificate. Please visit the WHTI Web site for additional information.

CBP strongly encourages travelers to obtain a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled travel document such as a U.S. Passport Card, Enhanced Driver's License/Enhanced Identification Card or Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST/EXPRES) to expedite their entry and make crossing the border more efficient.

WHTI compliant, RFID enabled documents help reduce the time it takes to process travelers at the border. No personal identification information is stored on the RFID chip embedded in the cards - only a series of ones and zeros that points to information in a secure CBP database.

CBP also reminds U.S. lawful permanent residents that the I-551 form (green card) is acceptable for land and sea travel into the U.S.

Cross-border travelers are encouraged to participate in the NEXUS program, which allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to proceed with little or no delay into the United States and Canada. Application forms are available on the Canada Border Services Agency website and travelers can apply online at CBP.gov. Additionally, NEXUS information is available toll-free at (866) NEXUS 26 ((866) 639-8726).

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021