To add to this ongoing commentary ,, US Customs and Homeland security seem to sometimes leave common sense behind in their dealings with the public . A question asked in a survey of US citizens who travelled frequently . What was the least pleasant part of a trip > dealing with Customs . A example of no common sense . Two guys go out in their SeaDoo in the thousand islands near Kingston, Ont, The watercraft breaks down and they drift into the US landing on a beach , Somehow they are spotted and picked up by US Customs and are deemed to have illegally entered the US . They of course have no ID, in fact all they are wearing is a bathing suit . Now it gets really funny/pathetic .. They are such a risk that they spend 3 days in US jail for having the audacity to break down in the middle of the lake and then illegally 'enter' the country . some one with common sense might have just offered to put a tow rope on the jetski and towed them back to the Canadian side but the mindset of some of these guys is just strange . My neighbour tells me a story of an acquaintance . She is clearing US customs at vancouver airport on her way to hawaii , The officer asks how long are staying in Hawaii? Three months is the reply . Are you going to work there ? No I 'm staying with my boyfriend . Oh how long have you been doing this ? for the past 4 years. [ He can check her entry history on his computer] and she says he comes to canada for 2-3 months at a time as well .. The officer ponders this... Next question. Is he going to marry you ? The lady is a bit taken aback by this and replies Well we haven't got to that point yet >. Officer pauses then replies Well If he has not married you by now he should . I'm going to deny you entry . Someday You'll thank me for this !! she is flabergasted and walks away in disbelief Apparently it takes her a large effort to get this undone as once " denied entry' you are in the computer and are screwed up good . If she had the presence of mind to pull out a sheet of paper and asked the officer to write down his reasons and quote the sections of the rules which guide him perhaps he might have rescinded his decision ? That is taking it way over the top , From my discussions with people who have regular dealings with US Customs many officers interpret the " rules' differently depending on what day of the week it is or what phase of the moon is showing. A close friend's daughter is a canadian citizen who went to University in Chicago worked in N.Carolina for 2 years got a new job in SanDiego and was is in the process of getting a getting her work visa thru the system with a new employer as the sponsor. She comes back to canada to go to Grandma's 90th birthday party There is a bit of a slow down in the process of having her visa completed and printed . It has been done but she had yet to get the paper copy . It was posted on the US customs and immigration website . She goes to Vancouver airport to Sunday afternoon to catch flight to San Diego.. US Customs officer asks her what she is doing she explains , says she has Visa completed and approved here is web address so he can look it up . He asks where is paper copy , she explains not yet in hand wanted to go to Grandma's birthday in canada . pls check website . He says no paper , no entry . go away ; makes comment to the effect I could lose my job if I let you in .. She leaves bewildered fortunately her mother is still at airport . They get in car and go to Peace Arch border crossing where she explains situation to very nice young agent who looks up the visa confirmation on line says all is in order and remarks better get on your way to Sea-Tac as quickly as you can . She is just able to catch last flight and connection to SanDiego .. What a mess all because this one officer can't/won't accept a online visa confirmation , When another officer an hour later goes out of his way to be helpful and passes her thru no problem . Some agents seem to be a law unto themselves and have forgotten the adage "Too whom much is given much is expected "
entered the US . They of course have no ID, in fact all they are wearing is a bathing suit . Now it gets really funny/pathetic .. They are such a risk that they spend 3 days in US jail for having the audacity to break down in the middle of the lake and then illegally 'enter' the country . some one with common sense might have just offered to put a tow rope on the jetski and towed them back to the Canadian side but the mindset of some of these guys is just strange . My neighbour tells me a story of an acquaintance . She is clearing US customs at vancouver airport on her way to hawaii , The officer asks how long are staying in Hawaii? Three months is the reply . Are you going to work there ? No I 'm staying with my boyfriend . Oh how long have you been doing this ? for the past 4 years. [ He can check her entry history on his computer] and she says he comes to canada for 2-3 months at a time as well .. The officer ponders this...
Next question. Is he going to marry you ? The lady is a bit taken aback by this and replies Well we haven't got to that point yet >. Officer pauses then replies
Well If he has not married you by now he should . I'm going to deny you entry . Someday You'll thank me for this !! she is flabergasted and walks away in disbelief
Apparently it takes her a large effort to get this undone as once " denied entry' you are in the computer
and are screwed up good . If she had the presence of mind to pull out a sheet of paper and asked the officer to write down his reasons and quote the sections of the rules which guide him perhaps he might have rescinded his decision ? That is taking it way over the top , From my discussions with people who have regular dealings with US Customs many officers interpret the " rules' differently depending on what day of the week it is or what phase of the moon is showing. A close friend's daughter is a canadian citizen who went to University in Chicago worked in N.Carolina for 2 years got a new job in SanDiego and was is in the process of getting a getting her work visa thru the system with a new employer as the sponsor. She comes back to canada to go to Grandma's 90th birthday party
There is a bit of a slow down in the process of having her visa completed and printed . It has been done but she had yet to get the paper copy . It was posted on the US customs and immigration website . She goes to Vancouver airport to Sunday afternoon to catch flight to San Diego.. US Customs officer asks her what she is doing she explains , says she has Visa completed and approved here is web address so he can look it up . He asks where is paper copy , she explains not yet in hand wanted to go to Grandma's birthday in canada . pls check website . He says no paper , no entry . go away ; makes comment to the effect I could lose my job if I let you in .. She leaves bewildered fortunately her mother is still at airport . They get in car and go to Peace Arch border crossing where she explains situation to very nice young agent who looks up the visa confirmation on line says all is in order and remarks better get on your way to Sea-Tac as quickly as you can . She is just able to catch last
flight and connection to SanDiego .. What a mess all because this one officer can't/won't accept a online visa confirmation , When another officer an hour later goes out of his way to be helpful and passes her thru no problem . Some agents seem to be a law unto themselves and have forgotten the adage "Too whom much is given much is expected "