Canada Customs Card Coding
Nov 19, 2003, 10:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 62
Canada Customs Card Coding
Is anybody here familar with what the alphanumeric coding that the customs agent writes on your "Welcome to Canada" card means? I once knew a border guard who worked at Windsor. She told me that YYZ uses a different coding scheme than them, but generally speaking, the higher the number that they write on your card, the worse it is. This seems to jive with what I've seen....mostly people have R11 and R23 written on their customs cards. I've always wondered what those two codes meant though.
Nov 20, 2003, 12:02 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 718
I've often wondered about this too and have heard various theories. I know the R stands for Resident.
I think the number is completely random, meaning NO SEARCH REQUIRED, and that they pick a SPECIFIC number on any given day that becomes the code for SEARCH REQUIRED.
I think the number is completely random, meaning NO SEARCH REQUIRED, and that they pick a SPECIFIC number on any given day that becomes the code for SEARCH REQUIRED.
Nov 20, 2003, 2:02 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: BKK
Programs: None. I'm cured.
Posts: 825
The number is randomly chosen and changes daily.
Other than R for resident and V for visitor, the number either gets you a secondary or walks you out the door.
(the brother of an old ex-girlfriend of mine worked for Canada Customs at YYZ. We had a few good conversations.)
MCM.
Other than R for resident and V for visitor, the number either gets you a secondary or walks you out the door.
(the brother of an old ex-girlfriend of mine worked for Canada Customs at YYZ. We had a few good conversations.)
MCM.
Nov 20, 2003, 8:26 am
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,127
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Altaflyer:
You are wasting your time trying to figure this out.</font>
You are wasting your time trying to figure this out.</font>
Nov 20, 2003, 7:47 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 62
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by taupo:
Couldn't agree more. Keep the shfincter firmly clenched till you have exited the customs hall</font>
Couldn't agree more. Keep the shfincter firmly clenched till you have exited the customs hall
</font>
Nov 20, 2003, 8:03 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: YYZ/YHM/BUF
Programs: AA Plat, HH Gold, MR Plat
Posts: 4,212
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by notam:
I don't know if that's such a good idea. One of the things customs look for is an irregular gait. Sounds like a recipe for a rubber glove search to me</font>
I don't know if that's such a good idea. One of the things customs look for is an irregular gait. Sounds like a recipe for a rubber glove search to me
</font>
Nov 20, 2003, 8:41 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 9,999
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It used to be any number divisible by 9 is okay, no secondary inspection necessary. So I used to get R99 and R88 quite a bit.</font>
BTW, I have an "irregular gate" due to old leg injuries. I've never been sent to secondary for it. (And if I had, based on an injury, I suspect there'd be hell to pay.)
Nov 20, 2003, 9:15 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
No it doesn't change daily... it changes every shift!
It's a random code and it basically cannot be deciphered.
But you should worry when an immigration officer puts "LLPOF" on your Customs Declaration.
It's a true incident as per my Customs Officer friend. It stands for Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire! Guess where that poor sod ended up?
It's a random code and it basically cannot be deciphered.
But you should worry when an immigration officer puts "LLPOF" on your Customs Declaration.
It's a true incident as per my Customs Officer friend. It stands for Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire! Guess where that poor sod ended up?