john smith wrote in message ...
wrote:
Acquiring the user fee decal in advance has been a requirement for
years.

I'm not so sure about that.

It's a post-911 thing.
In 1990 I acquired one when I came back from Canada.
Prior to departing for Canada in October 1991,because of all the press
about new entry requirements, I spoke with US Customs and was informed
that they no longer sold the decals at that Airport of Entry. I was
advised to purchase the decal prior to departure.
I think that if you are landing at a US Customs base of operations
airport, you should be able to purchase a sticker on the spot, as long
as it is during normal office hours. Just a guess.
It also used to be that Customs and Border Patrol would alternate months
serving the remote Airports of Entry. Post 911 and now that they are
combined under the same agency, you get two "agents" greeting you, one
in each uniform.


I"ve never seen "Boarder Patrol" when crossing from either Canada or
Mexico. I've crossed about a dozen times since 9/11. I've also never
had a customs sticker when I've crossed (I throw them away after
buying them because I don't want to damage the paint on my Mooney).
I've always just given the Customs guy a check for $25. Several weeks
later the sticker arrives. I've crossed via 1/2 dozen different
locations in CA, AZ, WA.

-Robert