I have not had very much interaction with an immigration officer since I received my CANPASS (and now NEXUS) years ago. (I think I’ve had my card for about 7 years now – has it been that long?)
When I have had interaction with a CBS officer (before CANPASS/NEXUS) it has been generally painless.
My wife use to ask me, why I would go to the CANPASS/NEXUS machines when there was not a single person in the immigration hall. I told my wife, the less I have to deal with
any immigration officer from
any country the happier I am.
One time my wife was returning back to YYZ and met up with a very rude and ignorant immigration officer. My wife had been visiting me for a couple of days mid-week in FLL (I work in the US on a TN). She also has had a CANPASS/NEXUS for years. Ever since that point in time, the immigration hall may not have a single person in line and she’s bellying up to the NEXUS machines
without exception!
As far as the customs card, I believe Canada’s cards are efficient. Many from other countries have commented to me how nice it is to have one card for immigration and custom purposes. In addition someone once said to me that Stats Can also uses them however I’m not sure if this is true.
As far as lining up to see an immigration officer, before NEXUS I would line up and
never change lines. I figure someone is looking around to see if people are jumping lines. I only would move over if someone called me over.
I remember a buddy of mine and I went to IAH for the wkend. It was when AC first started to fly there and there was an introductory fare. We got back to YYZ late in the evening (but on time). It was around 23h00. The immigration hall at T-2 was packed. We were in line for about 40 minutes. When we got to the immigration officer the lady started off by saying – all in good humour “I have a question for both of you. For the last 20 minutes you have been in this line and smiling, laughing and joking while everyone else have been upset for waiting so long. Why?”. So my friend, who was a controller for the company that I worked for (and I reported to him) said, I told my friend (me) that when I get to the counter I’m going to tell her the penis joke and he has been trying to convince me not to tell you the joke. So we ended up telling the joke and the three of us laughed and off we went.
But generally, like others have stated, I won’t go to a female immigration officer - never been sent to secondary but oh so many questions. Another time my same friend in the above story and I were coming back from PLS where my brother lives. The female immigration officer asked me what I bought and if I bought any gifts for anyone else. I mentioned I bought x, for myself and a, b, c, d, e for my wife total of $500 for the week. The immigration officer then asked my friend what he bought and he said $40. She then asked him two more times (total of three) if that’s all he bought. He finally said it was only $40 because “I’m not married”. I started to stifle my laugh. She looked at me. I said nothing and she sent both of us on our way.
Actually – just one exception about going to a female officer. On occasion, when I flew in YYZ late into the evening, there was one female immigration officer that was a
hot blonde who wore black-rim glasses. I would always go to her post
every time.
