Crossing the US Border

[OnTheWayOut]

These are the same questions I get asked and also when am I returning to Canada. I also voluntarily show them my business card (is this a bad idea?).

Showing a business card won't hurt but likely won't help.

I wasn't referring to the standard questions about work, money, home, etc. Both ways you get asked that. It is only going into the US I get that I get asked the really oddball, off the wall questions. I don't remember an example but you'll know when you get one. Happens maybe every 5th visit down or so ..... I have never had it happen returning to Canada, the US has always scrutinized a LOT more. But if you aren't lying or hiding anything it is no biggie.

 

[Dougal Short]

No, I was actually dead serious. It's not like they are asking for a fingerprint or DNA sample. Very unlikely that you would be caught if you have the passport of someone you look like and don't act nervous.

While I have never been asked for a fingerprint driving into the US, I have been fingerprinted and I have undergone retina scans coming into the US from elsewhere. Lest anyone is actually considering the old passport switch, let me assure you that this is REALLY bad advice. Perhaps in the good old days you might get away with it (assuming the border guy was partially blind and fairly drunk) but with the new chip cards, there is a very high probability of getting caught. In the post 9/11 world, I can't imagine how much shit you would end up in.

 

[kherg007]

How dumb can it be if it has a 100% success rate? Don't know anyone that's ever been caught! You give American's too much credit.

Many passports have biometrics these days so unless they can fake your fingerprints or other data then...into the hoosegow with your fellow ne'er-do-wells! lol

 

[dbiz2]

I haven't been to the US in over 20 years. About 18 years ago in my younger stupid days, I was charged with fraud. They said it would be espunged from my record. I'm aiming a trip to Vegas in the new year, is there anyway I can check to see if I'm gonna have a problem entering the states before I put time and effort into the planning.

Contact the LE agency and check with their records area, or better yet, contact the court of jurisdiction. Give them the relevant information and see if they'll let you know. Some entities may require you to do a formal records request and pay a fee. It's worth the money to find out before getting involved with U.S. ICE.

 

[dbiz2]

These are the same questions I get asked and also when am I returning to Canada. I also voluntarily show them my business card (is this a bad idea?).

Yeah, I believe you can't transport more than $10K in cash into U.S. I've never really had a problem with Canadian customs people (other than the usual "are you bringing any weapons into the country"--ahhh, the ugly American). Coming back into USA, the border people are dicks. Several times a month, I go over to Windsor and get chinese food. On one occasion, the ICE agent asked what I did. I said I went to have chinese food. They asked why. I said, "because I can."

That ended the conversation (and gave them the time to see if I was a wanted person) and I went on my way...

 

[basketcase]

Yeah, I believe you can't transport more than $10K in cash into U.S. ...

You're good as long as you declare it and can justify it. 10,000 is just the reporting minimum, same as with deposits in Canada.

 

[Shakeandbake]

If you had a criminal record in Canada and have never tried to cross the US border but obtained a Canadian pardon, it will not show up when you do cross. If you had a record and were refused entry to the US it doesn't matter if you have a pardon or not, you will always be in their system and will need a waiver.

This is accurate , USA does not recognize Canadian pardons so it may not always work. Most likely you will need a waiver

 

[LAS0023]

Not my experience. I had charges that were withdrawn but the Americans still had it in their system when I crossed for the first time more than a decade later.

That's because once you're charged you're entered into the CPIC system. Once the charges were withdrawn you should have petitioned the police to destroy your file.

 

[SkyRider]

That's because once you're charged you're entered into the CPIC system.

I'm not sure if it is the CPIC but every interaction you ever had with TPS is recorded on their system.

 

[Big Rig]

As a truck driver I strongly dislike crossing the border ( both ways as some things legal in the USA is not legal in Canada so I am cautious about what I buy in the USA)

Whenever they tell me to drive a truck across the border that someone else has driven I check for Marijuana butts in ashtray etc because if they find something I get nailed

As well, if they decide to examine my load that could take hours of my time I am not compensated for

At the border you are in a twilight zone between counties without the normal legal rights

Oddly, they search for terrorist explosives after you have crossed the bridge which itself is a major terrorist target

Imagine the havoc if bridges were attacked with a coordinated jihadist attack - Windsor, Port Huron, Buffalo, Queenstown ....

 

[Aardvark154]

I cross the border many times a year and you need to realize these border agents are well trained to pick up on clues that indicate someone is lying. Even though I have a spotless record and they see that when they pull up my info, I will get asked a seemingly random, off the wall question every now and then. It is not so much my answer they are scrutinizing, it is my response to the question. You cannot prepare for this, it will catch you off guard and get you nailed. I drive away shaking my head trying to make sense of the question, then realize it's purpose.

Always be honest and answer their questions as simply an directly as possible. Have your documents in hand, easy to do while you are waiting in line. They have a tedious but important job and they do not want to make friends or hear your latest joke. The easier you make their day, the easier your crossing experience will be. So be direct and do not elaborate unless asked to do so. The more you talk the more likely you will get yourself in hot water.

Oh and God forbid giving then an honest but complicated answer, or saying "at present I do X, but I'm considering changing my career to Y."

In my experience Canadian border agents seem focused on what I'm bringing back (i.e. duty taxes). US border agents seem focused on what I do (i.e. don't steal our American jobs). Never had a Canadian border agent ask me what I do for a living even when I checked business as the reason for travel.

Yes, I'd agree with you.

 

[dragnbiz]

In my experience Canadian border agents seem focused on what I'm bringing back (i.e. duty taxes). US border agents seem focused on what I do (i.e. don't steal our American jobs). Never had a Canadian border agent ask me what I do for a living even when I checked business as the reason for travel.

That's because you are a foreign national travelling INTO the US. They are concerned why you are entering their country.
As a Canadian re-entering Canada they know why you are coming back and don't care what you do for work. They want to know what you are bringing back to Canada.
If you are a foreign national entering Canada the questions are completely different.

 

[bazokajoe]

I recently traveled to the US through Pearson Airport.What shocked me was,I never had to remove my shoes,asked about 2 questions and only had to have my carry-on x-rayed. Didn't have to empty my pockets.Walked though US customs and was kinda shocked how little they seemed to care compared to other trips through US customs.

 

[Fritz96]

That's fine, US Customs doesn't have access to that.

I'm not sure if it is the CPIC but every interaction you ever had with TPS is recorded on their system.