Visiting Canada - security screening process?
 

So in just a while i'm flying to Canada, but reading all the posts here about the Canadian border patrol/agency/whatever have gotten me just slightly paranoid.

What can i do to make the process easier? Lucky for me i'm flying with a Swedish passport so that shouldn't raise too much suspicions - i hope.

It's not really a long visit, only 8 nights.

From what i have understood they might be interested in seeing stuff like a return ticket, bank statements, maybe a visa-card or so. Is it common that they ask people about where they work for such short trips? In such cases - what kind of documentation would they prefer?

Most of this has to do with variable factors. Age being a huge one. If you're young the border patrols fear you coming and staying (this is true for most countries). If you're older (25+) you get asked reason for visit, duration and where you're going. After that I haven't had much more at an airport. At a ground grossing I've had much worse.

Return ticket and access to money would probably the next questions if they want to go further.

I wouldn't get too worked up about it. Having a business card should do for proving employment. Let them waste their time (and yours) calling your employer if they decide you're suspicious.

Have your passport and customs declaration card in hand when
approaching the officers podium.

They will ask the purpose of your visit and length of your stay.

More information at the link below:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcome...ore-border.asp

Much of this is a bit arbitrary and unpredictable. Other parts of it are just stupid. Last year I was detained, questioned, accused of all kinds of nonsense and held for 2 hours at Toronto. Finally got a lawyer and was on my way (cost me 300 CAD). From the lawyer I learned that they had just gotten some big, high profile pedophile bust just a few days before, so now every agent was targetting every solo male traveller in the hopes getting their next promotion. Another time i flew into Toronto (from Europe), where i was spending a couple of days before continuing on to a longer holiday in Niagara Falls and the Adirondacks before returning to my home in Europe. First, they informed me that because I was a US passport holder, they considered the length of my "trip" to be only the two days I was spending in Canada. But, because of course I had packed for a 3 week holiday, the amount of luggage I had with me was "suspicious".

They employ some real brain trust geniuses at the CBSA.

I have flown via Vancouver from Europe and it was quite painless. When I left the flight I was taken to the Customs and Border Patrol and was asked to verify my luggage. The officer only asked why I was in Canada and I said "I was in Transit" to the USA. Then I was taken to the US Border Patrol Passport Kiosk where I swiped my Passport and was asked to take my photo. Then I was asked the normal declaration questions and a receipt was printed.

I then took the receipt to the next agent and then proceeded to the TSA Security Line. All in all it was very easy.

Since you are not transferring all you will do is go through passport control on arrival and on departure you will be in the US Pre Clearance Area depending on if your airport offers this and you will arrive as a US Domestic Passenger .

I think I will go via Canada to and from Europe so that I can arrive into the US as a Domestic Passenger. I wish all US Airports would offer this Passport Kiosk to all passengers as it saves time from filling out the cumbersome form and it can be translated into other languages as well.

Montreal
 

Was interviewed on the bridge off a FRA-YYZ flight a few years back. Possibly random, possibly targeted I have no idea (one-way ticket bought an hour before take-off and no checked luggage). Toughest interview ever, most questions intended to provoke hesitation or worse, answers didn't seem to matter, except for company I was visiting closed and not having after-hours number to confirm.

At some point I mention connection to Montreal. Interview stops on the spot, passport returned, 4 agents (yes 4, 3 watching 1 talking) suddenly uninterested, free to go. Montreal is a magic word (maybe). Try it if need be!

Just be careful and don't say you are "working" in Canada :p ! My boss was held for 4 hours and needed multiple faxes to "prove" he was going to a business meeting and would not be "working". I, right behind him, said I was a tourist.

OP: If you actually are going to Montreal, then sure. But if you lie to the CBSA agent and get caught that's where the problems start. As long as you don't have any skeletons in your closet and answer all questions truthfully, you shouldn't have any issues.

The last time I was thru YYZ the main questions were why are you coming to Canada, where are you staying (specific hotel), and what type of work do you do (to make sure you have some cash to cover the trip and a reason to go home). Bring itinerary/hotel reservation printouts in case they want something in writing. I thought it was quite painless.

CBSA do seem to cross the t and dot the i especially for business meetings even under NAFTA. I've always been sent to secondary and asked to provide documentation. One agent even mildly "coached" me on what to say to him to be admitted under NAFTA. Decided to get rid of this nonsense and got NEXUS instead.