CBSA: formerly, Immigration Canada. The nightmare ends?
Jun 24, 2012, 12:05 am
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA. UA 1K, reluctant but * best in class * DL FO/MM. Former BA jumpseat rider and scourge of Dilbertian management and apologists. As LX might - and do - say: "....an experienced frequent flyer of international airlines"
Posts: 3,386
CBSA: formerly, Immigration Canada. The nightmare ends?
A favorite subject of the FF community of late. Immigration Canada had become one of the worst experiences. For me too.
But.... at my last encounter with IC - CBSA, now, I think - the agents were uncommonly civilized and, gasp, helpful. This was at YUL.
As you know, previous experiences at YYZ and YVR have been, well, among the worst experiences ever. The treatment at YVR in particular excelled even the US former INS when I was a non-immigrant
That was a Kafkaesque nightmare.
This time, to my surprise, multiple secondaries were adjudicated unnecessary. Only required at Immigration and not Customs. When I self-reported for secondary at primary inspection, the inspector asked, "Why"? After checking the record, the guy said, "OK, off you go but I can't see the need for this" [neither can I, but that's not what they said before]
This time was the secondary inspector stated "I don't know why you're here." After a brief check, "Ah, I see, but this was almost twenty years ago, and is a minor infraction. I will forward a request to have this removed from the record."
This would be awesome - if it were to mean no more three-hour entries into Canada, no more secondary by Kafkaesque officials both at Immigration, and then with the scarlet X, at Customs. Which is what has been happening over the past several years.
This might allow me to make more use of THE OPULENT AC 333 instead of the THREADBARE UA763 for example.
But.... at my last encounter with IC - CBSA, now, I think - the agents were uncommonly civilized and, gasp, helpful. This was at YUL.
As you know, previous experiences at YYZ and YVR have been, well, among the worst experiences ever. The treatment at YVR in particular excelled even the US former INS when I was a non-immigrant
That was a Kafkaesque nightmare.This time, to my surprise, multiple secondaries were adjudicated unnecessary. Only required at Immigration and not Customs. When I self-reported for secondary at primary inspection, the inspector asked, "Why"? After checking the record, the guy said, "OK, off you go but I can't see the need for this" [neither can I, but that's not what they said before]
This time was the secondary inspector stated "I don't know why you're here." After a brief check, "Ah, I see, but this was almost twenty years ago, and is a minor infraction. I will forward a request to have this removed from the record."
This would be awesome - if it were to mean no more three-hour entries into Canada, no more secondary by Kafkaesque officials both at Immigration, and then with the scarlet X, at Customs. Which is what has been happening over the past several years.
This might allow me to make more use of THE OPULENT AC 333 instead of the THREADBARE UA763 for example.
Jun 24, 2012, 11:08 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Sounds like he can't, since his record isn't "clean". The story I got out of that is never fool around with Customs since any infractions can have a lifespan of 20 years or more. 
Jul 2, 2012, 8:55 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Programs: AC *E/PC Gold /BW Diamond/Hertz Gold Plus/SPG Gold/Marriot Silver/ TUMI Alpha
Posts: 1,470
I know a lot of CBSA officers by nature of my job.
It is NOT a fun place to work, the old timers are entitled which makes the environment dreadful and the pay isn't that great. I know some excellent officers but the overall environment sucks.
Even working with them on a professional and equal (i.e. Federal to Federal Dept basis), it is a pain dealing with them.
Nexus/GE are your best friends.
It is NOT a fun place to work, the old timers are entitled which makes the environment dreadful and the pay isn't that great. I know some excellent officers but the overall environment sucks.
Even working with them on a professional and equal (i.e. Federal to Federal Dept basis), it is a pain dealing with them.
Nexus/GE are your best friends.
Jul 2, 2012, 10:36 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
I know a lot of CBSA officers by nature of my job.
It is NOT a fun place to work, the old timers are entitled which makes the environment dreadful and the pay isn't that great. I know some excellent officers but the overall environment sucks.
Even working with them on a professional and equal (i.e. Federal to Federal Dept basis), it is a pain dealing with them.
Nexus/GE are your best friends.
It is NOT a fun place to work, the old timers are entitled which makes the environment dreadful and the pay isn't that great. I know some excellent officers but the overall environment sucks.
Even working with them on a professional and equal (i.e. Federal to Federal Dept basis), it is a pain dealing with them.
Nexus/GE are your best friends.
BTW, look up the FB-03 pay scale. It's almost doubled since I started. We're not all complaining, maybe those that you talk to all have something in common...
Jul 4, 2012, 12:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Programs: AC *E/PC Gold /BW Diamond/Hertz Gold Plus/SPG Gold/Marriot Silver/ TUMI Alpha
Posts: 1,470
Yeah, it must really be a drag for the 22 year-olds who are used to feeling so entitled in everything else they do in life to realize that nothing makes up for years of service (or life for that matter). I've been on the job for 15 years, and the people starting these days want EXACTLY the same postings, vacation days and shifts that I had to put my time in to achieve and earn. The pushback towards reality is what makes the "environment dreadful," but this is caused by the attitude of the new hires, not the experienced officers. Trust me.
BTW, look up the FB-03 pay scale. It's almost doubled since I started. We're not all complaining, maybe those that you talk to all have something in common...
BTW, look up the FB-03 pay scale. It's almost doubled since I started. We're not all complaining, maybe those that you talk to all have something in common...