Remind me not to take any more one-night trips to Canada.
This week, I took advantage of a great fare from ONT-YUL on United to spend a couple days mileage running and one day in Montreal.
I have taken quick trips to Canada twice before, though both in Vancouver, and did not expect to be hassled after arriving from Dulles yesterday morning. The immigration line was being worked by three agents: two gruff looking men and an overweight woman. I find that that male border agents tend to ask more questions (especially Canadian ones) and did not feel like explaining why I was only staying for a day.
I got in the woman’s line and she started quizzing me when she saw that I was only going to be staying for one day (note to self: just put five days on next time). I explained to her that I got a good deal on airfare and could only set aside one day from my schedule to visit Montreal. She was not amused and sent me over to the "office on the right."
Inside, I was "interrogated" by a much friendlier female border agent about the purpose of my trip. Five minutes later, she accepted my story and I received a special immigration stamp in my passport and on my arrivals card.
Unfortunately, that secondary stamp meant secondary screening for my carry-on bag. I was interrogated again–more so than the previous two rounds of questioning–as the contents of my duffel bag were emptied out and closely scrutinized. I finally made it out.
I’ve heard of Canadian immigration doing this before to mileage runners, but this was a first for me. What is your experience with Canadian immigration and customs?
On my way out this morning I had another round of questioning by DHS and and accusation that I sounded like a "foreigner," but I’ll save that story for tomorrow.
I had a different issue (admittedly more suspect), but the same experience when attending a conference in Montreal a year or two ago.
I flew in, but was driving out with a friend. They didn’t like the one-way aspect of my flight thinking I wanted to stay or something.
Same deal though sending me off to a separate area to have everything in my bag inspected. “Why do you have a computer?” etc. I’ve never been questioned so much in any other country. Are people really trying to escape to Canada?
I write this from Canada on a work trip, I have had to go to immigration, but never to the point of having my bags searched, even when arriving with only a carry-on (but that is because I left my suitcase at my hotel here, since I was just home for the weekend). The worst I’ve dealt with actually was the third degree from a border agent in the us pre-clearance area when returning home
@mowogo: Speaking of US border agents, I got quite a grilling today. I’ll post about it tomorrow. Worse than the Canadians.
No personal story, but just today I was talking to someone who had to interrupt our conversation because immigration at YOW was calling him to confirm that his client actually had a meeting with him today. Unbelievable.
Any U.S. or Canadian resident who is planning to cross the border even occasionally should join Nexus. It’s $50 for 5 years, which to me is worth paying for even 1 trip a year, just to avoid the questions, not to mention the line-ups. And for someone like me who crosses the border frequently, Nexus is beyond priceless.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/nexus_prog/
p.s. the Verification Code I had to type in for this comment was “naziqn” — which somehow seems appropriate.
Re: “just put 5 days next time”
Don’t immigration officers have the details of your ticket on screen? Can they see the return date? Being caught in a lie wouldn’t make things easier
@Erich: I was just being facetious, but that’s a good question. I actually think they do not pull you the details of your ticket on the screen.
So….You are now aware that Canadian and US immigration have set up the same kind of screening techniques. Enjoy! It’s what the rest of the world get to have when they enter the US. Canada is , after all, a sovereign foreign country. Single males beware you ARE A TARGET.
@KT: Why do you suppose Canada has chosen to adopt this technique?
The interesting thing in my travels so far, is that I’ve found intra-Canadian security to be just as strict as the new transborder security procedures, and this was for a simple flight from YUL to YYZ (was trying to vacation in YUL, but work needed me to work in YYZ
This happened to me at YUL. I was also staying one night. I’m a blogging and was there for a blogging event.
I was a single woman traveling alone. I’m a mom of four and don’t think I fit any type of criminal profile! Apparently, they were either just having a bad day or didn’t like my answers.
They had me in tears by the end and did verify my story with the company who brought me there. Still, very frustrating and not a single one would explain to me anything and well all very, very rude!
@Briana: Wow. Sorry to hear how rude they were.
Canadians are generally such kind people and have one of the most liberal immigration policies in the western world. Sad that they adopted such a vicious immigration scheme.
Can you tell me if you got a ticket ( infraction) in Montreal for something other than a speeding ticket .. public urination…. what can they do to enforce this ticket? Is there a way for them to enforce it?
@Jane: Public urination? I hope there’s a good story behind that!
They’re not going to send bill collectors to the United States, but the ticket might show up in their immigration computer the system the next time you try to enter Canada and you may not be able to enter the country until you pay up.
Well the ticket for urinting was $372 yup my son couldn’t hold it while walking back to the hotel and couldn’t find any public bathroom open so he went into an alleyway and wouldn’t you know it an officer gave him a ticket. $100 would have been stiff but $372 is outrageous. It wasn’t as if he was doing it because he just had no values – he had togo an eerwhre they went the french doormen wouldn’t let them in. I think it’s a scheme. Ayhow after writing letter to plea for a lesser fine – the raised it to $392 Guess he won’t go to Montreal anymore. And we all thoroughly enjoyed the city.
Wow. That’s harsh. Was the cop waiting in the alleyway?
Wow, after reading this I will re-think my idea about traveling to Montpelier for business via Montreal.
@Jim: Montreal is a beautiful city and I loved my time there, but I was frankly shocked at how I was treated once the immigration authorities found out I would only be in town for one day.
Perhaps if you state you are in YUL because of the cheaper flight and will be driving over the border, you won’t be hassled as much.
I guess my problem was that I was too honest.
In my experience, Canadian Immigration is slightly paranoid about Americans coming over and taking their benefits and jobs. They are friendly, but wary which produces an interesting combination.
@Jim: I’ve done a similar thing, flying into Buffalo and driving to Toronto and have found that they can be even harsher about accessing the country than just flying in. If you go that route, make sure you have a Purchase Order for your work there as they will demand to see it. I was almost refused access on one of my regular trips up there because of this.
@Nick I’ve experienced it first hand…
I drove up to Canada about a year ago for a one-day academic conference. Border agent at the Peace Bridge was polite and professional – standard questions and then asked for something in writing regarding my conference, naturally I showed him my registration/ payment receipt e-mail (which also contained driving directions, where to sign in on the day of the conference, meal information, etc…). After studying it for a minute and typing a few things into his computer (possibly verifying my story, I have no idea) he hands it back and said he’d accept it this time, but a registration receipt was not an acceptable substitute for an official letter of invitation. Told me in no uncertain terms that next time I was to have a hard copy letter on the organization’s letterhead or it would be a refusal, and he was making a note of it in my immigration file.
Conference next year is in Montreal… we’ll see how that goes