CBP Romance detectors and relationship wreckers
Apr 7, 2015, 5:05 am
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
Very true. The other complicating factor is when you go. Frequent weekend trips to a large city by a female who declares herself as "self-employed" and gives her reason to visit as "seeing her boyfriend" may raise suspicions that she is a sex trade worker.
Apr 7, 2015, 7:59 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Posts: 50
I'm a 41 year old, accomplished educated woman. Hardly sex worker material. So funny how they think the worst of people
Apr 7, 2015, 8:12 am
#18
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
Far too many people adopt an imperious attitude and hostile approach when dealing with border crossings. It rarely ends well.
Apr 7, 2015, 8:33 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Somewhere In The Five Eyes
Posts: 228
JadeAngel,
Is NATGEO (cable) available to you? If so; consider watching the Border Wars episode re: a solo woman traveler that frequently crosses Detroit:Windsor. Upon arrival in the USA, do any of your transit actions possibly fit the model for someone trying to identify or shake surveillance?
Your situation has attracted attention. The accusatory/harsh questioning is a "Reid" interview (interrogation). Google it. Not much you can do, other than play along with Security Theater.
re: other documentation: carrying it MAY indeed be helpful. Tax docs, business licenses, business cards for your accountant, lawyer, landlord, whatever ...
re: Photos. Neither my wife or I carry family photos. Apparently, most couples do carry photos. It's just part of security theater. Play along to get along.
re: Nexus. After years of not having Nexus, getting Nexus may indeed raise your profile as it could be (mis)interpreted as a counter-intelligence action to deflect/avoid suspicion. Ironic/frustrating eh?
My wife and I occasionally travel separately to the same int'l destination. We both get quizzed, but she usually gets more scrutiny than me.
> 41, accomplished, educated ...
Does not matter. Your travel pattern fits a statistical model of someone who might be up to something. To get along, play along with Security Theater. Smile. Inspite of hostility, your role is to remain calm and gracious. If you play along & cooperate long enough, scrutiny will decline once CBP/ICE has completed their investigation. Yes, you both will indeed be investigated. No avoiding it.
Is NATGEO (cable) available to you? If so; consider watching the Border Wars episode re: a solo woman traveler that frequently crosses Detroit:Windsor. Upon arrival in the USA, do any of your transit actions possibly fit the model for someone trying to identify or shake surveillance?
Your situation has attracted attention. The accusatory/harsh questioning is a "Reid" interview (interrogation). Google it. Not much you can do, other than play along with Security Theater.
re: other documentation: carrying it MAY indeed be helpful. Tax docs, business licenses, business cards for your accountant, lawyer, landlord, whatever ...
re: Photos. Neither my wife or I carry family photos. Apparently, most couples do carry photos. It's just part of security theater. Play along to get along.
re: Nexus. After years of not having Nexus, getting Nexus may indeed raise your profile as it could be (mis)interpreted as a counter-intelligence action to deflect/avoid suspicion. Ironic/frustrating eh?
My wife and I occasionally travel separately to the same int'l destination. We both get quizzed, but she usually gets more scrutiny than me.
> 41, accomplished, educated ...
Does not matter. Your travel pattern fits a statistical model of someone who might be up to something. To get along, play along with Security Theater. Smile. Inspite of hostility, your role is to remain calm and gracious. If you play along & cooperate long enough, scrutiny will decline once CBP/ICE has completed their investigation. Yes, you both will indeed be investigated. No avoiding it.
Last edited by gqZJzU4vusf0Z2,$d7; Apr 7, 2015 at 8:42 am
Apr 7, 2015, 9:10 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Posts: 50
JadeAngel,
Is NATGEO (cable) available to you? If so; consider watching the Border Wars episode re: a solo woman traveler that frequently crosses Detroit:Windsor. Upon arrival in the USA, do any of your transit actions possibly fit the model for someone trying to identify or shake surveillance?
Your situation has attracted attention. The accusatory/harsh questioning is a "Reid" interview (interrogation). Google it. Not much you can do, other than play along with Security Theater.
re: other documentation: carrying it MAY indeed be helpful. Tax docs, business licenses, business cards for your accountant, lawyer, landlord, whatever ...
re: Photos. Neither my wife or I carry family photos. Apparently, most couples do carry photos. It's just part of security theater. Play along to get along.
re: Nexus. After years of not having Nexus, getting Nexus may indeed raise your profile as it could be (mis)interpreted as a counter-intelligence action to deflect/avoid suspicion. Ironic/frustrating eh?
My wife and I occasionally travel separately to the same int'l destination. We both get quizzed, but she usually gets more scrutiny than me.
> 41, accomplished, educated ...
Does not matter. Your travel pattern fits a statistical model of someone who might be up to something. To get along, play along with Security Theater. Smile. Inspite of hostility, your role is to remain calm and gracious. If you play along & cooperate long enough, scrutiny will decline once CBP/ICE has completed their investigation. Yes, you both will indeed be investigated. No avoiding it.
Is NATGEO (cable) available to you? If so; consider watching the Border Wars episode re: a solo woman traveler that frequently crosses Detroit:Windsor. Upon arrival in the USA, do any of your transit actions possibly fit the model for someone trying to identify or shake surveillance?
Your situation has attracted attention. The accusatory/harsh questioning is a "Reid" interview (interrogation). Google it. Not much you can do, other than play along with Security Theater.
re: other documentation: carrying it MAY indeed be helpful. Tax docs, business licenses, business cards for your accountant, lawyer, landlord, whatever ...
re: Photos. Neither my wife or I carry family photos. Apparently, most couples do carry photos. It's just part of security theater. Play along to get along.
re: Nexus. After years of not having Nexus, getting Nexus may indeed raise your profile as it could be (mis)interpreted as a counter-intelligence action to deflect/avoid suspicion. Ironic/frustrating eh?
My wife and I occasionally travel separately to the same int'l destination. We both get quizzed, but she usually gets more scrutiny than me.
> 41, accomplished, educated ...
Does not matter. Your travel pattern fits a statistical model of someone who might be up to something. To get along, play along with Security Theater. Smile. Inspite of hostility, your role is to remain calm and gracious. If you play along & cooperate long enough, scrutiny will decline once CBP/ICE has completed their investigation. Yes, you both will indeed be investigated. No avoiding it.
Apr 7, 2015, 10:27 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,398
High end sex workers generally are educated. CBP has no way to see that you're accomplished. Nothing that you have described on here excludes this scenario.
Apr 7, 2015, 10:45 am
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Don't smile and be too friendly with CBP and CBSA, if selected for (or seemingly on the verge of) secondary search/interrogation -- that is too often taken as a sign of "has something to hide" and results in more issues.
Sexist profiling is an issue at border crossings, and it's never entirely avoidable if you do enough crossings.
Sexist profiling is an issue at border crossings, and it's never entirely avoidable if you do enough crossings.
Apr 7, 2015, 11:14 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Posts: 50
Don't smile and be too friendly with CBP and CBSA, if selected for (or seemingly on the verge of) secondary search/interrogation -- that is too often taken as a sign of "has something to hide" and results in more issues.
Sexist profiling is an issue at border crossings, and it's never entirely avoidable if you do enough crossings.
Sexist profiling is an issue at border crossings, and it's never entirely avoidable if you do enough crossings.
Apr 7, 2015, 12:11 pm
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
Were you born in Canada? Are you a visible minority? That may affect whether they question whether you have ties here. It's not fair but border guards aren't in the fair business.
I've never been questioned about "ties to Canada" but would think presenting my DL with home address, health card and firearms license would help establish that I wasn't just passing through Canada to get to the USA.
Apr 7, 2015, 12:25 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Somewhere In The Five Eyes
Posts: 228
> How does one defend themselves from being unjustly labeled?
You ... cannot *defend* from being unjustly labeled. You simply keep answering questions and adding to the collection of ancillary docs that further prove a strong tie Canada. Being a good girl and having no prior over-stays is a very good thing. But ...
Apparently, you fit one of (many) profiles. Until CBP/ICE begins and completes their investigation, you should expect continuing scrutiny and being delayed:detained. Or; perhaps you (or the boyfriend) share a name with a bad actor. Or; perhaps the boyfriend has an unsavory item in his history. Or; perhaps a rival (of you or him) has decided to mess with your relationship.
Or; perhaps they've simply got WRONG information. Someday they may finally ask a direct question that will allow you to correct the possible misinformation.
Your choices are:
- Grit your teeth, smile & comply.
- Move the boyfriend to Canada
- Marry the guy and move to the USA.
- Get a new boyfriend, one that resides in Canada
You ... cannot *defend* from being unjustly labeled. You simply keep answering questions and adding to the collection of ancillary docs that further prove a strong tie Canada. Being a good girl and having no prior over-stays is a very good thing. But ...
Apparently, you fit one of (many) profiles. Until CBP/ICE begins and completes their investigation, you should expect continuing scrutiny and being delayed:detained. Or; perhaps you (or the boyfriend) share a name with a bad actor. Or; perhaps the boyfriend has an unsavory item in his history. Or; perhaps a rival (of you or him) has decided to mess with your relationship.
Or; perhaps they've simply got WRONG information. Someday they may finally ask a direct question that will allow you to correct the possible misinformation.
Your choices are:
- Grit your teeth, smile & comply.
- Move the boyfriend to Canada
- Marry the guy and move to the USA.
- Get a new boyfriend, one that resides in Canada
Last edited by gqZJzU4vusf0Z2,$d7; Apr 7, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Apr 7, 2015, 1:42 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Posts: 50
There's no guaranteed way unfortunately. We are at CBP's mercy when we attempt to enter the USA just as Americans are at the mercy of CBSA when coming to Canada. Neither agency will ever be confused with the Welcome Wagon.
Were you born in Canada? Are you a visible minority? That may affect whether they question whether you have ties here. It's not fair but border guards aren't in the fair business.
Were you born in Canada? Are you a visible minority? That may affect whether they question whether you have ties here. It's not fair but border guards aren't in the fair business.
Nope not a visible minority. Canada born and raised
Apr 7, 2015, 1:45 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Posts: 50
> How does one defend themselves from being unjustly labeled?
You ... cannot *defend* from being unjustly labeled. You simply keep answering questions and adding to the collection of ancillary docs that further prove a strong tie Canada. Being a good girl and having no prior over-stays is a very good thing. But ...
Apparently, you fit one of (many) profiles. Until CBP/ICE begins and completes their investigation, you should expect continuing scrutiny and being delayed:detained. Or; perhaps you (or the boyfriend) share a name with a bad actor. Or; perhaps the boyfriend has an unsavory item in his history. Or; perhaps a rival (of you or him) has decided to mess with your relationship.
Or; perhaps they've simply got WRONG information. Someday they may finally ask a direct question that will allow you to correct the possible misinformation.
Your choices are:
- Grit your teeth, smile & comply.
- Move the boyfriend to Canada
- Marry the guy and move to the USA.
- Get a new boyfriend, one that resides in Canada
You ... cannot *defend* from being unjustly labeled. You simply keep answering questions and adding to the collection of ancillary docs that further prove a strong tie Canada. Being a good girl and having no prior over-stays is a very good thing. But ...
Apparently, you fit one of (many) profiles. Until CBP/ICE begins and completes their investigation, you should expect continuing scrutiny and being delayed:detained. Or; perhaps you (or the boyfriend) share a name with a bad actor. Or; perhaps the boyfriend has an unsavory item in his history. Or; perhaps a rival (of you or him) has decided to mess with your relationship.
Or; perhaps they've simply got WRONG information. Someday they may finally ask a direct question that will allow you to correct the possible misinformation.
Your choices are:
- Grit your teeth, smile & comply.
- Move the boyfriend to Canada
- Marry the guy and move to the USA.
- Get a new boyfriend, one that resides in Canada
Apr 7, 2015, 9:01 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AS, US, Hilton, BA, DL, SPG, AA, VS
Posts: 1,628
I can't see the US ever abolishing border controls a la Schengen. Even without factoring 9-11, the political aspects of trying to do something like that would be a nightmare, and frankly not worth the effort, IMO. Once you factor in 9-11, it becomes basically impossible.
