Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate - Denver GA's doing Immigration Work!

Ok so we've all been through the pre-boarding document check for international flights. They look at your BP and your Passport and mark the BP with a highlighter.

The GA's in DEN took it to a new level today. For my flight to YYC I was asked where I resided and then asked to show my Permanent Residency card. I told the GA I lived in Calgary but I don't have permanent residency but I have a work permit. She then asked to see it and almost ripped it out of my passport. She then made sure it was still valid.

Since when do United GA's handle immigration matters? Have they been deputized by the CBSA? I think they have gone off the reservation.

I explained to them that I don't need a work permit or a visa to travel to Canada and asked why it was any of their business. They just said they were doing what they're told.

It's perfectly normal for check-in agents or gate agents to ask to see your visa or other documents required for the country you're traveling to - that isn't unusual in the slightest and happens everywhere. The reason is that the airline bears the cost of sending you back if you don't have the correct documentation.

In this case though, I'm not 100% clear what they were looking for. Are you referring to a Canadian work permit, or a US one? If it's a Canadian one, then I believe they were correct to check for this. Are you a US citizen?

1. It is UA doing UA's work, not that of any Canadian government agency.

2. If you do not have the proper documents for admission to Canada, UA is fined (a large amount of money), pays for the security costs associated with holding you until the next flight back to DEN, and then flies you back to DEN. While UA can try to collect that from you, it may be tough.

3. The specifics of what the GA asked for what you showed are not clear because it's unclear whether you are a Canadian national returning to Canada, a USN traveling to Canada or a national of a third country resident in the USA or Canada.

4. Don't show the necessary documents, UA will refuse to carry you.

I am a US Citizen. I need nothing other than a passport to travel to Canada and live there for up to a 183 days without a visa. A work permit doesn't actually give me any right to enter the country only to work there. I have traveled all over the world and never been asked of anything other than a passport if that's all that's required.

I go back and forth between the US and Canada weekly and never been asked this.

I have to agree w/ the OP that this is a bit strange. Sometimes people do tend to take things too far if they're not sure exactly what is required to successfully do their job. Of course this isn't limited only to GA's. I think you just got someone who didn't know the rules well enough.

Sorry ladies and Gents, I should have been more clear in my op. the only document required for me to enter Canada is my US passport. That's why I was questioning the inquiries of the GA's. And the fact I fly between the US and YYC and YVR and never been asked to show anything other than my passport and never been asked any questions regarding residency.

I am a US Citizen. I need nothing other than a passport to travel to Canada and live there for up to a 183 days without a visa. A work permit doesn't actually give me any right to enter the country only to work there. ... the only document required for me to enter Canada is my US passport.

I think you are mistaken. You can be granted permission to enter Canada for certain purposes, but not any purpose, with only a US passport for up to 183 days.

Try this the next time you enter Canada: tell the CBSA agent that your intent to enter Canada is to find and work a job. They won't let you in for up to 183 days for that purpose just because you have a US passport.

I agree that it's perfectly normal to ask for documents (usally passport and visa where applicable) which allows you to enter destination, but it's not normal for GA to ask what's purpose of your travel, how long are you staying and then check whether you have proper documents for that particular reason of visit. Only immigration officer can do latter.

I can see this happening if you are on a one way ticket.

Other than that the Passport is the only document the agent needs to verify providing your stay period fits the visa free duration as outlined in TIMATIC.

What questions the Canada Border Agency ask and determines one persons admissibility is a different topic. We are talking here about airline employees. They have to verify valid travel documents that are in line with published entry requirements. Beyond that they have absolutely no say.

I can see this happening if you are on a one way ticket.

Other than that the Passport is the only document the agent needs to verify providing your stay period fits the visa free duration as outlined in TIMATIC.

What questions the Canada Border Agency ask and determines one persons admissibility is a different topic. We are talking here about airline employees. They have to verify valid travel documents that are in line with published entry requirements. Beyond that they have absolutely no say.
"No say?" If the carrier has a reasonable belief tha a pax will be denied entry / excluded, it most certainly may deny carriage.

I think you are mistaken. You can be granted permission to enter Canada for certain purposes, but not any purpose, with only a US passport for up to 183 days.

Try this the next time you enter Canada: tell the CBSA agent that your intent to enter Canada is to find and work a job. They won't let you in for up to 183 days for that purpose just because you have a US passport.

I agree with you. That would be up to CBSA not a GA to decide. I also didn't say anything about being able to work in Canada just because I have a US passport. :confused:

I am a US Citizen. I need nothing other than a passport to travel to Canada and live there for up to a 183 days without a visa.

Replace U.S. with Canadian, Canada with the U.S. and the situation may likely be the same, save that most Canadian travellers fly from preclearance airports so there's no cost to the airlines if the passenger is denied admission to the U.S.

I can see this happening if you are on a one way ticket.

Other than that the Passport is the only document the agent needs to verify providing your stay period fits the visa free duration as outlined in TIMATIC.

What questions the Canada Border Agency ask and determines one persons admissibility is a different topic. We are talking here about airline employees. They have to verify valid travel documents that are in line with published entry requirements. Beyond that they have absolutely no say.

The airline has to ensure the passengers it carries into Canada will be allowed into the country, and has financial liability otherwise, as many have pointed. It is common for gate agents in Europe to ask for visas before boarding passengers to Canada or the US, when such visas are needed. I've had the same sort of questions asked by US Airways GAs when flying from the US to TLV on a Canadian passport, for example.

"No say?" If the carrier has a reasonable belief tha a pax will be denied entry / excluded, it most certainly may deny carriage.
On which airline? Delta's International Contract of Carriage talks only about documents not being in order and says nothing like what you say above. Can you say which airline has the rule you cite?

"No say?" If the carrier has a reasonable belief tha a pax will be denied entry / excluded, it most certainly may deny carriage.

Will that be the new excuse for IDB now?