Immigration: Secret Code
 

Anyone wise in the ways of deciphering the red number
the Canadian immigration officer writes on the customs form?

I assume the 'R' stands for resident, but what does
the number mean...it seems different every time?
What number would indicate that I'll be directed
to secondary screening?

The officer?

You are right - R is for resident. Each day they change the numbers to something different that means you will get a secondary search.

If you have Nexus and go to the US... if you get V-RR you will be pulled aside for a secondary search...

If it was public knowledge, then it wouldn't be so secret and useful for smugglers, non-genuine visitors and other not-completely-honest folk. ;)

I think the number has to do with the type of goods you carry and/or if you get a secondary. R34 is the most common one I get on mine which is usually when I tell them I've bought just a few pieces of clothing.

Codes change by the day and are different at each port of entry.

Don't bother with trying to figure them out.

Just hope they use the right code. I was once asked what kind of firearm I was carrying. The reason I was asked is someone wrote down the wrong code!

I would think that an organized group of travelers armed with blackberries could circumvent this security measure if they were trying to smuggle some items in thier luggage.

1) Have 3 or 4 people arrive at say YYZ same day prior to your flight. They relay back what code they got and if they were sent to secondary.

2) Bad-guy 1 shows up with Bad-guy 2.

3) If Bad-guy 1 ones get code for secondary he lets Bad-guy 2 exit with the bag or vice-versa.

And how do they know which code is which?

Yes, like most government tools, it is so antiquated. Plus you are asked not to fold the card, yet it does not fit in any shirt pocket. Bad design.

If it changes everyday, they certainly do mistakes.

They would simply have to had 2-d barcode on each card and relay the information from the immigration officer to the custom officer.

I always fold my cards because they don't fit.

R= Resident
V=Visitor.

Number doesn't matter unless its the "number" of the day.

That can change by the shift.

There is little point in figuring that out.

If you are non resident and you don't get a line through the sheet then you are off to the room at the back!

As someone who is always sent to secondary screening by CBSA, I can attest that the numbers/codes always change. Sometimes the number by name is circled, sometimes it is a written number.

Question. If your family is travelling with you, do they have to appear on the same customs card as you? Can they be on one card go through initial immigration, me on another card and pay my visit to secondary? We are all Canadian citizens.

Oops, mis-read what you wrote, will concur! 18 years and only checked once!

You are free to use separate customs forms for each family member.

However, the CBSA agents have access to your PNR, so if you have all just travelled on the same flight/PNR, and present yourselves separately, that may raise some 'red flags' ...

Until I got my Nexus pass I was 18 years an not secondary... now with my Nexus pass I have been to secondary 5 times in 4 months...:td:

And even more frequently than that sometimes.

I've also gotten a card once that had no R or V.

Thank you, I was always wondering what to look for

I find that hard to believe. At the big custom halls they have could have 20-30 agents working. Where / how would they be able to communicate the code switch?

You've gotta be kidding me -- do you actually think I'm going to tell you how it can possibly be done?

No. But I don't think it is illegal to wonder out loud for us mere mortals :D

The codes also tell quite a lot about the immigration officer's discretion. Sometimes when you approach them, they will assess where you came from by asking you where you originated your journey and the last time you left canada. All to see if you're condricting the info you present on your customs form. They will sometimes ask for your itenitary even if its a E-ticket.

Last year I had to go through secondary when arriving YVR from LAS, which was the first time I've done that routing (drove into YVR and flew to LAS and back). Apparently the routing you do can trip flags -- I'm pretty sure they communicate with the US immigration folks upstairs at YVR.

Sanosuke!

Prior to getting my Nexus, I was 4/5 times pulled into secondary at YOW. I guess they don't like under-20's with a passport full of visas.

YOW and DTW always ask 'how can a student afford to travel so often?'. Before I used to tell them 'saving', and 'backpacking', and that usually got me pulled into secondary. Now my answer (albeit not true), is 'my Grandparents', and they seem to prefer that answer.

Jeez...the computer must think you are an Al Queda or Abu Sayef member!

Ummm...do they not all have computers hooked up to the scanner that they swipe your passport through? Perhaps, email, IM or some internal program is used to broadcast out the changes? No different than any other company needing to get time sensitive information out.

I'm sure they can also communicate with each other in case one notices someone/something suspicious in another line. They often look up and scan other lines where the LOS of other agents might be blocked.

And do you think lying to a CBSA officer is a good idea? If they catch you in your lie one day, secondary will be the least of your worries.