Is entering the USA at Hyder, AK actually legal, or only tolerated?
It is mentioned in many places that there is no US border post when entering Hyder, Alaska, a community not connected by road to any other in the USA, and that persons are permitted to cross into Hyder from Canada without inspection. For example, see here.
What is the actual rule on crossing into Hyder, AK from Canada?
- Is there a specific US law or ruling that legally exempts people from checking in with US immigration when crossing the border at Hyder?
- Is crossing into Hyder actually illegal, but tolerated due to practical purposes?
If crossing into Hyder, AK without inspection is actually 100% truly legal, are there any special rules? For example, are non-US citizens theoretically required to determine in advance if they would be admissible to the USA and only enter Hyder if they fulfill the requirements (even though, in practice, they won't be checked)? If someone, lawfully in Canada, would normally require a visa to enter the USA, do they need that visa if they only want to go to Hyder, or is Hyder exempted from ordinary visa requirements since there is no inspection?
For example, it looks like Romanian citizens are currently ineligible for the US Visa Waiver Program but may now enter Canada visa-free. If a Romanian citizen is lawfully in Canada (either as a visa-free tourist or on a Canadian student, work, immigrant, etc. visa):
- Can they legally just mosey on over to Hyder for the day?
- Can they legally visit Hyder if they first obtain a US visa, even though it won't be checked (but being in possession of their visa makes their unchecked visit legal)?
- Would any attempt to cross from Canada be illegal, only tolerated, because US officials have a gentleman's agreement not to investigate or prosecute?
Best Answer
The US really treats Hyder as part of Canada in a lot of ways. Even its flights to US airports are considered to be international flights.
Aside from by air, or by a dangerous overland journey through the mountains, there is nowhere to go from Hyder except to Canada, so on a practical level, there is no need for border inspection. Few foreigners go there, except perhaps for some international or Canadian visitors who want to tick off the "I've been to Alaska" box or buy some American beer. In fact, the town gets its telephone service and utilities from Canadian providers.
The question of whether people banned from the US are allowed to visit is interesting. My instinct is that they are still banned, but that no one would find out so the odds of harm resulting are slim to none. And, as has always been the case, if someone wants to go from Hyder to another point in the U.S. by land or air, they will have to report to a US Customs and Border Protection inspection station. (That was true in the days when many crossings on the Canada-US border were unmanned; people were supposed to cross and go to the nearest inspection site voluntarily. That didn't always happen, obviously, which is why we now have manned crossings.)
It's an interesting little quirk in North American geography.
Another quirk is the Northwest Angle on the Manitoba border - only accessible by water from the US. It has customs inspection, but by video terminal.
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Do you need a passport to go to Hyder Alaska?
The other thing to see and do in Hyder is a visit to the Salmon Glacier. Officially in British Columbia, the fifth largest glacier in Canada can only be reached by road through Alaska. Passports are not required to cross into Hyder but are needed to return to Stewart.What is Hyder Alaska known for?
It has a tiny year-round population of 87. After a gold rush boom in 1898, it's now referred to as "The friendliest ghost town in Alaska." The economy is based on tourism, and in the 2010's the town boasted over 100,000 annual visitors. The easiest way to get to Hyder is to drive through British Columbia, Canada.What is there to do in Hyder Alaska?
Eight miles north of Stewart along Highway 37A is Clements Lake Recreation Site. From May to October, Clements Lake offers good opportunities for picnicking, canoeing, camping, and a sandy beach for swimming. From Hyder you can also reach Salmon Glacier, the fifth largest in Canada and a spectacular sight.How do you get Hyderized?
Get Hyderized at the Glacier Inn in Hyder Alaska by taking a shot of 150 proof everclear alcohol with no smelling, no tasting, and only one chance. Try this on your Alaska road trip through British Columbia to Hyder.Canada-U.S. border towns fight for right to bubble together
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