flight to US + US customs security question
 

Hi,

I am taking my first flight ever to the US (i usually just cross by land), and I heard of stories of people having to be fingerprinted. My question is do I have to be fingerprinted? What are my options if I refuse to do so?

Are you flying out of a Canadian airport with US pre-clearance?

Ciao,
FH

yes, I am flying out of Pearson International (YYZ) in Toronto. I am not sure what you mean by US-pre clearance. I have been at the terminal (terminal 1) where I will be flying out of and there is a seperate section/zone for departures to the USA. I think that is a security zone but I am not sure since once you go past the small doorway the view is blocked off from the exterior.

You don't have to give fingerprints, especially if you are departing from Canada (you will clear the US border at Pearson), but the US Customs personnel do not have to allow you entry into the US, either. So you might be turned away if you refuse.

I don't know if Canadian citizens have to give fingerprints or not. But, if you are not a US citizen, you do not have a 'right' to enter the US. I know that sounds kind of harsh, and I wish the US would do away with its more nonsensical policies like this, but as it stands this is the policy now.

ah, thank you kindly for your clarification etch :D, I can understand your point of view in terms of the US refusing entry if I refuse to do so. But do you think if I talked to them (very politely) about it and asked to get a interview or a search or something instead could that be an alternative? I really would rather to not give out personal data like that, but if there is no other choice then I would do so.

I think that doing this would invite a lot of unwanted attention. I'm not very familiar with Pearson, but I believe it is the busiest Canadian airport offering US preclearance, and the officers would probably not have the time or inclination to offer any special considerations. In some ways, the land border crossings are easier in this manner, but again, I'm not sure that Canadian citizens have to give fingerprints.

I'm departing Halifax for the US tomorrow through their preclearance facility, and I'll keep my eyes open, but I'm a US citizen and wouldn't be subjected to fingerprinting.

I don't disagree that US border controls are unnecessarily onerous and unfair to visitors, especially in an economic downtown. That said, though, the US still has the right to protect its borders, and disallow potential visitors should they be deemed a threat.

Nearly every country in the world (with the exception of the EU Schengen zone) does it too. Some are even more strict than the US. Canada bars you from entry if you've had a DUI conviction. And try bringing any amount of alcohol or charity relief supplies into, say, Guatemala or India without paying the customs officer a little, shall we say, "release fee" or gift.

Again--I agree that the gov't is far too overzealous in collecting fingerprints of visitors, and that CBP is frequently an organization of power-tripping bigots. But that still doesn't mean we don't have the right as a soverign nation to protect our borders.

--Sam

Oh well. Hopefully all will go well, and I think that I am making a mountain out of a molehill with all this worrying :P Thanks for the replies :)

My main quarrel with CBP is when they do their jobs in a rude, condescending manner. I believe that most CBP officers are professionals, but it is too easy for someone with a power trip mentality to abuse their authority. I would like CBP (particularly the younger officers) to realize that the people they are usually dealing with at airport entry points are often tired after a long flight and may not speak good English. I've travelled all over the world and can almost count on being able to speak English to a customs officer. I don't agree with collecting fingerprints from anyone trying to enter the US without some kind of reasonable suspicion.

No, CBP have asserted in their published procedures that Americans do not have that right, but the right of return is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a treaty to which the U.S. is a signatory and hence legal bound to its provisions, so it is only a matter of time before the CBP's obviously ilegal policies are challenged and struck down in court.

To the OP - You're going to have to suck it up and accept it. If you refuse and they subsequently refuse you entry, prepare not to go to the US for a LONG time.

To the OP: Canadian citizens do not need to be fingerprinted to enter the US. Pretty much everyone else does, but not Canadians. At least not yet....

So, it doesn't matter if you're entering FROM Canada, it's your citizenship that matters. It depends on whether you need a visa to enter the US or not. Canadian's don't need a visa, and don't need to give fingerprints.

thanks for the tips :) As long as I am good to go this one time I will be happy. Afterwards however, I will think twice before flying across the border and probably do something more scenic i.e amtrak train or greyhound bus. I should have done alot more research beforehand so as to have saved myself a headache from all of this.
But either way Im still excited about getting to see however small part of Chicago that I can fit in a few hours.
I really appreciate the tips, but I dont want to assume anything since I have learned this quite well: "assumption is the mother of all F* ups"

I did some more research into the department of homeland security, and after spending some time browsing their website http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs...rial_0695.shtm according to them I may or may not have to provide biometrics (eye scan + fingerprints) but chances are good that I wont have to. It seems very reassuring. Previous posters were correct, thank you kindly :)

I think you will be fine. At worst, you'll run into a Curious George of an Immigration officer (like I did today at YHZ preclearance) who will want to know everything about your trip and why you are taking it. They will probably ask you who you are going to visit and be incredulous if you tell them that you are not planning to meet up with anyone in particular. Ah, the joys of what should be a simple matter of declaring your citizenship and having your passport come back with no wants or warrants...