Most stupid question you were ever asked at customs
- Thread starter richierich
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Not a question, per se, but I learned a very bizarre regulation we have here in Canada. I bought a little wheel of cheese in Amsterdam as a gift for my mother. Turns out you can legally bring cheese into Canada, but the allowance per person is very strange. You don’t pay duties on up to 20kg of cheese, but with a maximum value of 20.00. How are you supposed to get 20kg of cheese for under 20.00?!
visited Jamaica with family we used our jamaican passports and the costums lady asked "how long are you staying"? we are like huh? we were born here
I like to take an annual trip once a year with a different child, to spend quality father son/daughter time just the two of us. Left via USA, visited 4 other countries with my oldest son. Not once did any of the country emigration officials ask if I had a letter from the mother.
Get back to Canada and I get a female CBSA officer ask me where is the letter of permission from the mother.
I was like, we are returning to Canada after visiting 5 countries, kind of late to ask for one now don't you think?
Fuckk did she snap at me telling me how I most have one. Laughed at her and told her, I don't need one.
So she starts arguing with me as to how it's the law, at which point I couldn't contain myself and started laughing my ass off.
Told her to check the regulation because there is no such law, there is a suggestion, to have one, but there is no law, and as long as custody is joint and you stated that on passport application you don't need one.
She was pist, I was laughing....
Get back to Canada and I get a female CBSA officer ask me where is the letter of permission from the mother.
I was like, we are returning to Canada after visiting 5 countries, kind of late to ask for one now don't you think?
Fuckk did she snap at me telling me how I most have one. Laughed at her and told her, I don't need one.
So she starts arguing with me as to how it's the law, at which point I couldn't contain myself and started laughing my ass off.
Told her to check the regulation because there is no such law, there is a suggestion, to have one, but there is no law, and as long as custody is joint and you stated that on passport application you don't need one.
She was pist, I was laughing....
US side of the Peace Bridge. I hand over my US passport and the guy asks me what my citizenship is. Dude, you’re looking at my passport!
O
OnTheWayOut
I get odd questions every now and then as I go to the US several times a year. Wish I could remember them but they are so off the wall I just put them out of my mind. One I do remember entering the US the agent sees my work ID, he asks "how did you get that job". "I applied" was my answer. Drove away with SO and I laughing our asses off. They ask questions that seem to make no sense to gauge your reaction, the answer is irrelevant. If you react in a certain way you will be detained and searched or worse. You do not want to be flagged in the system.
A few comments here act as if it's a game crossing the border, it is not. These folks have power to make your life hell if only for a few hours if you piss them off or cause suspicion. A good rule is to always keep your answer short and direct and do not attempt humor or jokes, they have a job and the easier you make it for them, the more likely it will go well for you. Remember, they do not need a reason to search or detain you, they can claim you triggered an indicator.
Leave your Mr Wiseguy crap or comedian act at home or suspend it while speaking to these folks. Once you are flagged traveling becomes a lot more difficult. Make their tough job easier is always good advice.
All that said I have been following this advice for over 20 years and have only been pulled over for secondary inspection twice. Once when I became a landed immigrant entering Canada (mandatory) and the other shortly after 9/11 when the US agent told me that they were searching every hundredth car and I was number 100. It was no big deal, went inside, emptied my pockets as they searched car .... 15-20 minutes and we were gone no issues. But if I had triggered an indicator it would have been a very different story.
But yeah, every now and then, out of the blue, they drop a real freaky question just to observe your reaction. You just have to shake oyur head and laugh .... AFTER you drive off.
A few comments here act as if it's a game crossing the border, it is not. These folks have power to make your life hell if only for a few hours if you piss them off or cause suspicion. A good rule is to always keep your answer short and direct and do not attempt humor or jokes, they have a job and the easier you make it for them, the more likely it will go well for you. Remember, they do not need a reason to search or detain you, they can claim you triggered an indicator.
Leave your Mr Wiseguy crap or comedian act at home or suspend it while speaking to these folks. Once you are flagged traveling becomes a lot more difficult. Make their tough job easier is always good advice.
All that said I have been following this advice for over 20 years and have only been pulled over for secondary inspection twice. Once when I became a landed immigrant entering Canada (mandatory) and the other shortly after 9/11 when the US agent told me that they were searching every hundredth car and I was number 100. It was no big deal, went inside, emptied my pockets as they searched car .... 15-20 minutes and we were gone no issues. But if I had triggered an indicator it would have been a very different story.
But yeah, every now and then, out of the blue, they drop a real freaky question just to observe your reaction. You just have to shake oyur head and laugh .... AFTER you drive off.
Not me personally but a friend
Was flying to Aruba
Customs insisted he drive home to get his old passport to show them the valid US Visa so he could fly over US airspace
Plane not landing to refuel, noone getting off plane in the US, but for some (prob racist) reason he could not use his Canadian passport to fly over US airspace, they insisted he get his old passport for them
Nearly missed his flight because of this (and of course the extra $$$ for taxi both ways)
Was flying to Aruba
Customs insisted he drive home to get his old passport to show them the valid US Visa so he could fly over US airspace
Plane not landing to refuel, noone getting off plane in the US, but for some (prob racist) reason he could not use his Canadian passport to fly over US airspace, they insisted he get his old passport for them
Nearly missed his flight because of this (and of course the extra $$$ for taxi both ways)
ive never been asked anything out of the ordinary by customs ; however on my last vacation when I was coming back thorugh Pearson intl airport ; I got scolded by the female customs agent for waiting for my family in one of the hallways you come out of after they ask you for your declaration card..
She literally saw my family still coming through and told me to keep walking & that the area was a "no stopping " zone.
Needless to say I laughed and walked away ..
She literally saw my family still coming through and told me to keep walking & that the area was a "no stopping " zone.
Needless to say I laughed and walked away ..
This is true and the weirdest thing to me
If someone asks a question I sometimes assume and explanation is relevant but they really do not care and will just cut you off
They actually prefer yes / no answers with no further info offered
What do you suppose she was going to do about you not having the letter, refuse you both entry?
I’ve been grilled a few times by Canadian customs on the purpose of my visit. When I say work they have several follow-on questions to make sure I’m not a consultant. They want to know which bank I’m meeting with, who I’m meeting....
Back in the day. In Vancouver. One would drive to Point Roberts to get cheap gas.( Look it up on the map.) I used to go on Monday nights after work. I was stopped every time by the same guy who appeared to be Mexican. He would ask "What is the purpose of your visit to the U.S. ?" . I would reply. "to get gas at that Chevron station about 100 feet behind you.just like everybody else". He would then hassle me about the contents of the van I was driving. When I explained there were work tools and junk in the van, he would refuse me entry. I started emptying the van of work tools before I went down, until I gave up. Turned away at the U.S. border by a Mexican.
Totally correct. Remember, they have more power than the police. They don't need probable cause to strip your vehicle down to parts if they think you might be smuggling something. Don't lie to them, don't be a smart ass, and remember, when you're between borders (before officially entering the country), you have few rights.
We used to take the 45 min drive to Ogdensburg NY a few times a year to stock up on groceries that are not available in Canada (LandOLakes butter, Cabot Cheese etc.) One time they had a great sale on paper towels so got a couple of packages too. At Canadian Customs we got the usual "how long have you been away" me: "1 hour" him: did you purchase anything?" me: "yes went to Price Chopper for some groceries" He could see them in the back seat.
him: "do you eat paper towels?" me: "no, why?" him: "they aren't groceries" me: " I bought them at the grocery store" him: they are not groceries".
At this point I was thinking of a witty reply when the image of me bending over and hearing the sound of snapping rubber gloves came to mind. Instead I thanked him for pointing out the difference to me and told him I would not make that mistake again. He waved us through but it was a very real reminder to me of the danger of what making an off the cuff remark could be.
him: "do you eat paper towels?" me: "no, why?" him: "they aren't groceries" me: " I bought them at the grocery store" him: they are not groceries".
At this point I was thinking of a witty reply when the image of me bending over and hearing the sound of snapping rubber gloves came to mind. Instead I thanked him for pointing out the difference to me and told him I would not make that mistake again. He waved us through but it was a very real reminder to me of the danger of what making an off the cuff remark could be.
A US citizen mate of mine was married to a Puerto Rican woman (who are also US citizens) and he told me 20 years ago a customs/immigration officer at JFK insisted on seeing her passport and visa to come to the USA and thus would not let her in...he could not convince the guy that Puerto Ricans are Americans and don't need passports or visas to enter back then. Eventually after an hour a supervisor got them in secondary and let them go on their way.
