US or Canada Side

I agree. The $30 is not a big deal.

The main issue is the 4-6 week wait time on the application (kinda too late for this year now) AND the following question:

Please note that false statements regarding the following questions may result in the refusal of the RABC permit and that the CAN $30 processing fee will NOT be refunded.

Have you, or any of your dependents to be included on the RABC permit, ever been convicted of one of the following offences for which you/they have not been pardoned:

A crime or offence in any country, including a misdemeanour? (Yes/No)
A contravention of the Canada Customs Act? (Yes/No)
A contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act? (Yes/No)
Have you, or any of your dependents to be included on the RABC permit, ever committed a criminal offence? (Yes/No)
If the answer is “Yes” to any of the questions, please provide details (type of conviction, date of conviction):

So, to me, this opens up a can of worms on the DWI thing again.

Drive to port of entry, either Fort Frances or Rainy River port of entry in Baudette. 15-30 minutes you have a RABC in hand. Bring passport or birth certificate and state issued ID and you wait in person for them to fill out paperwork.

Done.

Yes the DWI thing is still very unclear, but you can get a RABC in person at a port of entry like I mentioned above.

My experience last year was I drove to the Rainy River office and received my RABC in less than 30 minutes. Also, this includes a DUI a party member had 10+ years prior.

OK thanks! That sounds much better than waiting 4-6 weeks (at least at this point of the year). The DWI I am referencing is also 10+ years, but in reading through the verbiage on the application, not exactly sure how to answer the question (whether is has been officially “pardoned” or not). So, this has been helpful!

Keep in mind the 10 years time frame does not start from when you got the DWI. If I remember right it starts when your sentence was up. For most that would be it starts when you finished probation.

Mike is correct, make sure the 10 years is from the very end of any probation or sentence. I have been through all of this with my buddy over the last couple years. If you have any doubt about the 10 years, I do not recommend going to the port of entry. We did this 2 years ago in ft. Francis going up to the river. After being denied for the RABC he was deemed inadmissible. We were then escorted by armed gaurds back to the bridge. That was the easy part. Trying to then come back into the us was a nightmare. We were pulling a boat in a snowstorm, my buddy was just deemed inadmissible into Canada, it was 1230 in the morning and we said we just wanted to go fishing. It turns out not all of the border agents are familiar with rainy river fishing. We tried to explain our situation with numerous people for the next 3 hours. Finally after all of our “background checks” came back we were released. No harm done but damn that was a nerve-racking experience. When I first applied for a RABC I went down to the BCA and obtained my record to verify my DUI was removed and then answered NO on the question and sent a copy of the record with it. Maybe unnecessary but at least I had an excuse for why I answered that way on the form because it is so vague.

Mike W wrote:

Keep in mind the 10 years time frame does not start from when you got the DWI. If I remember right it starts when your sentence was up. For most that would be it starts when you finished probation.

This is correct and it is stated that you MAY be deemed rehabilitated.

Although they do offer a one time free pass (Temporary Resisent Permit). This is one time only and afterward your passport is marked and you will not be admitted unless you apply for rehabilitation. They also warn you that if you try to cross again you can become banned from CA.

The DWI of reference is actually 20+ years ago. However hearing horror stories like that is why I wanted to find out if the RABC was really necessary in the first place.

Doh

Worth a read.

https://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/can-i-fish-the-canadian-side-of-the-rainy-river-during-the-spring-season/

Do I need a RABC (Remote Area Border Crossing) to boat into Canada to fish?
No. The RABC has lost some of it’s luster with the fairly new rule that it is now OK to boat into Canadian waters without checking in with CBSA. Previously, when it was required to call into CBSA prior to entering Canada for a day of boating or fishing, and as long as everyone on board the boat had the RABC, no check in was necessary. Now, travelers boating into Canada waters who will not be touching land do not need to report.

Forgive my ignorance, do you need an RABC if you have the outdoorsman card and valid Canadian fishing license to fish the Canadian side?

Good post Biggill.

I think that link, along with the phone calls I’ve made to (877)854-RABC, give the definitive answer that indeed you DO NOT need an RABC to fish the Canadian side. Just the Ontario Outdoors Card and Canadian Fishing License.