[nxtrafalgar]

As a New Zealander, it amazes me that the US and Canada do not have closer relations with regards to customs and so forth. I understand that both countries are large, but this situation seems a little ludicrous.

I recently travelled to Australia on business - which, I suppose, is the larger neighbour in the same way the US is to Canada.

Through immigration and customs at both airports, I was never obliged to actually interact with a real person: only check-in machines, face scanners, and a quick walk past sniffer dogs.

[robteix]

It used to be much more relaxed. After 9/11 things changed and the US started paying more attention to border crossings.

[Sgt_Apone]

I remember those days. You didn't need a passport to cross and half the time you got waved through because you knew the border guard by name.

[vinay427]

This has more to do with Australia than the Aus/NZ relationship. They also have this process with other "low risk" citizenships such as that of the US.