Canadians, what kind of hoops do you to visit the US??

[Mexivoof]

We were talking to the receptionist in our Hotel . She is Mexican with a Canadian Husband (I don't know if he lives in Canada or Mexico) from British Columbia. She visits Canada regularly but also has a sister in Austin TX.
I do not know if the sister is here legally (there are some questions you do not ask!) but she will not visit her because of all the road blocks the American government has thrown up. She would have to appear at a hearing in Merida (and pay for a nights lodging) to prove that she has employment and I can't remember what all else in Mexico before she can enter the states.
As an American I have never had any hassle entering any country (except for that missing front plate on the car I was driving into Windsor).
Most if not all of the 9/11 hijackers came in over the Canadian border; WHY are we UBERharrasing employed Mexican women who just want to visit their sisters??

[Babaloo]

this topic is so important
you had to post it three times

[Cosmo]

....what they said...

[Mexivoof]

I did not intent to send it more than once and have been trying for the last half hour to erase the other two. Good thing my wife is asleep with thw dogs.
If any moderator is still awake out there, I really only want this on here once!!

[Ginger]

I've posted many times in reports and such about the hassles we almost always go through at the border. However, John has to always enter with a waiver of admisability visa because of what we would term up here in BC as a minor law infraction (he didn't inhale, really! ). Our hassles have ranged from full-on vehicle stripping, 'we're taking you to jail', connecting plane missing, tactics, to a simple wave inside to have a short chat with Homeland Security. I'd add that we don't have these issues entering any other country, just the US.

My neighbour's husband is from Puerto Vallarta. At Christmas they had booked a flight for his sister to come up for a visit. Unfortunately, at the last minute a large hassle ensued because her flight had a quick stopover on US soil before landing in Vancouver. US would not let her enter without a visa that would take up to 6 months to get after applying, even though she wouldn't even be getting off of the plane. What a hassle! She ended up not being able to come at all.

[Bumper]

We've travelled over a good part of the world, and I guess I'd have to say we've never really had a problem going anywhere. I suppose we've crossed into the US well over 100 times, driving or flying. Yes, they're more vigilant now than they were, and the process is generally slower, but we've never been more than slightly inconvenienced or delayed. We travel everywhere with passports, and have since the 60's. We also do some preparation beforehand to make sure we have the appropriate documentation in place. We make sure we know the rules, and we follow them. Maybe we're just anal old fuddy-duddys, but I'm frequently amazed and amused by the horror stories people relate of how they were hassled or victimized because they couldn't be bothered to do some homework in advance of travelling. Take responsibility for yourself, find out what the rules are, follow the rules, and you'll be fine.

Now, having said that we've never had any difficulties going anywhere, I'd have to say the most bother we've ever faced has been with Canada Customs on our way home. Like I said, we don't cheat, so the process should be pretty straightforward, but Canada Customs hires their people with specific requirements in mind. Specifically, abruptness, insolence, arrogance, and just plain rudeness.

[Commando]

Originally Posted by Bumper

We've travelled over a good part of the world, and I guess I'd have to say we've never really had a problem going anywhere. I suppose we've crossed into the US well over 100 times, driving or flying. Yes, they're more vigilent now than they were, and the process is generally slower, but we've never been more than slightly inconvenienced or delayed. We travel everywhere with passports, and have since the 60's. We also do some preparation beforehand to make sure we have the appropriate documentation in place. We make sure we know the rules, and we follow them. Maybe we're just anal old fuddy-duddys, but I'm frequently amazed and amused by the horror stories people relate of how they were hassled or victimized because they couldn't be bothered to do some homework in advance of travelling. Take responsibility for yourself, find out what the rules are, follow the rules, and you'll be fine.

good advise bumper. we also travel with passports and have been to canada and mexico many times and never been hasseled. getting passports for the kids a few years back seems to have made things easier than traveling with birth certificates. maybe we've just been lucky.

[MN Annie]

Getting to Alaska from here is a challenge if a person has been convicted of a DWI, since Canada probably won't let them enter their country. I know people here that have cabins in Canada that can't get to them because of their DWI (which is a felony in Canda).

[Tommygurl]

There was just a story on the news here where the US denied entry to a Canadian woman at the border here....No criminal record but from what I understand they were not convinced she wasn't going to try to stay in the US illegally.
We are hit & miss at the US border...we have had the car literally stripped then they took some ashes out of my husbands shaving kit & proceded to pretend to test them (literally particles of dust) to see if it tested positive for pot. What a joke! Other times they haven't even looked at our paperwork. My husband has a US work visa so I always have a notorized letter from him allowing me to enter the US with the kids as well as a recent utility bill to show them we do in fact have ties to Canada....the last time I told the customs agent...."Heck no I am not staying in the US...no Tim Hortons!".....
They can be real jerks.....refer to my trip report from December.

Originally Posted by Mexivoof

We were talking to the receptionist in our Hotel . She is Mexican with a Canadian Husband (I don't know if he lives in Canada or Mexico) from British Columbia. She visits Canada regularly but also has a sister in Austin TX.
I do not know if the sister is here legally (there are some questions you do not ask!) but she will not visit her because of all the road blocks the American government has thrown up. She would have to appear at a hearing in Merida (and pay for a nights lodging) to prove that she has employment and I can't remember what all else in Mexico before she can enter the states.
As an American I have never had any hassle entering any country (except for that missing front plate on the car I was driving into Windsor).
Most if not all of the 9/11 hijackers came in over the Canadian border; WHY are we UBERharrasing employed Mexican women who just want to visit their sisters??

[fijidawg]

I was interested to hear on a Seattle radio station that Americans are being increasingly turned back at the Blaine border crossing bcause of DUI's and pot possession convictions, that in many cases are 20+ years old. It seems Canada does not consider them so minor.

[Mexivoof]

Originally Posted by Bumper

We've travelled over a good part of the world, and I guess I'd have to say we've never really had a problem going anywhere. Canada Customs hires their people with specific requirements in mind. Specifically, abruptness, insolence, arrogance, and just plain rudeness.

Crossing the US/ Canadian border 3 times in a day I found the opposite to be true. The Canucks were nice, the Americans were what you said. This was in Niagara Falls after we flew into Toronto then rented a car and drove over to the American side and back to our hotel in Canada.
PS Hated driving the QE1, worse than any Chicago freeway

[Canard]

Originally Posted by Mexivoof

Most if not all of the 9/11 hijackers came in over the Canadian border;

I don't mean to hijack this thread but this assertion is simply not true. The majority of the 9/11 hoods were in the US legally and did not arrive via Canada. The myth that they came from Canada was made up by Fox news and right wing radio announcers.

Back to your regular programming.

[MartyC]

My daughter met and married an American in Feb 2002. They had to get married in Canada because if they had gotten hitched in the states, she would not have been able to work until she was granted permanent residence status. Well, 18 months after the wedding, and after a trip at her expense to a 1 hour meeting in Montreal, she finally was granted permanent residence status. At the opposite end of the spectrum, my aunt met and married an American, walked into the US Consulate here in Vancouver, and walked out less than an hour later with a green card. Granted, that was 25 years ago, but what a change. The times are certainly different.

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by Mexivoof

Most if not all of the 9/11 hijackers came in over the Canadian border;

Originally Posted by Canard

I don't mean to hijack this thread but this assertion is simply not true. The majority of the 9/11 hoods were in the US legally and did not arrive via Canada. The myth that they came from Canada was made up by Fox news and right wing radio announcers.

Yah, I missed that in the original thread. PLEASE don't make these kinds of assumptions, it really tarnishes your neighbour's image. This is completely untrue.

[StephenB]

I've been hassled more by US customs than anywhere else in the world. So much for being a US citizen! But then again, I'd rather have them do thier jobs than not.