tcook052

http://canadianpress.google.com/arti...B0hCrUMquD65Hw

HALIFAX - U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins admits border security can get a little tight at times, even for his tiny dog.

AC110

Please, don't even joke.
Some of our southern neighbours really believe that.

AC110

You must not travel much. And good luck growing an international business, if that's your tolerance level.

Of all the aggravations I've had to deal with traveling, living and working overseas, the very worst of aggravating border personnel has been the very least of my problems. You'd have had a grand old time in the USSR or post-Soviet Russia.

Yes, we have irritating border officials and policies, but so does the US and most other places. It's really the luck of the draw.

1K_From_SNA

When I went in to get my Nexus card I asked about that (and the agent was very nice, and friendly). Basically she said you can, but if someone sees you it will raise a big red flag, and you'll probably find it wasn't worth it in terms of questions/time etc.

I still like the idea, has anyone tried it, they saw you, and they didn't care?

YVR Cockroach

That's what they advise/encourage you to do on the left coast crossings. Only tried it once. Just had to go into immigration so that the agent could see that there was someone to pick up the non-U.S./Canadian traveller. All told, I think it still saved at least 1/2 hr if not more. That said, I've only done that once.

On a side note, my partner's work colleague lost Nexus because he was commuting weekly from SEA with a non-Nexus cardholder, and was too lazy to have the non-Nexus work colleague take down all his belongings the one time they were pulled over.

YVR Cockroach

Anything to avoid blaming themselves.......

1K_From_SNA

I got my card in BUF, where they told me, but the majority of my trips are through Blaine. I have to update my drivers license next trip so I'll ask them there. On your side note they harp zero tolerance, and I don't want to lose it because it has worked out great for me.

jayson

I'm sure it depends on where you are crossing and why.

I've never had a problem from Detroit to Windsor probably because Windsor has casinos which are in direct competition with Detroit. I'm sure inspectors there were told to 'be nice' to casino goers lest Canada lose the legions of blue haired ladies from Toledo, Cleveland and other 'nice' places blowing their social security check.

However, I'm sure if a good ol' boy in a pick-up truck, confederate flag and Mississippi plates want in- I'm sure Canadian customs is a bit more skeptical.

Jayson

YVR Cockroach

Yes, do ask just to be sure (and report back what they tell you). The non-Nexus passenger thing is o.k. (I asked again in Vancouver early this year) but you have to make sure the non-Nexus pax takes all his her belongings across on foot. And to be safe, no agricultural items in your car. Not even a forgotten apple core or orange peel in the garbage. You just have to be totally aware, and in control, when using Nexus to cross.

They can take aware the card even for customs violations (or misunderstandings) into the U.S. or Canada even if you are not using Nexus at the time.

bocastephen

This is abit of a side question for US Immigration experts. My travel companion is on the H1b visa as I previously posted, but is concerned about crossing back and forth with just the I-797 Notice.

Would they need to schedule an appointment at a US Consulate to convert the I-797 into a H1b visa stamp, or would it be possible for them to have that done at US Immigration in Blaine while I'm doing my Nexus interview?

xTWAnowAAer

Last week i was in YUL for one night. The Canadian customs asked me why I am coming, I said for business. He then asked what type of business, I said sh***y. With that he burst out laughing and said have a nice stay.

polonius

My experience has been the same. I travel all over -- Europe, Asia, Africa, etc., including regularly to countries regularly referred to as "totalitarian", such as Belarus, Saudi Arabia, etc., and I have been subjected to the same kind of intense "grilling" as I have from the Canadians. One time I had three different agents all ask me the same questions in turn. I answered the first two politely, but the when I was asked a third time I noted that it looked as if someone was trying to verify my "story" by testing the consistency of my responses. She responded that "we have the right to be suspicious," and I said, well then I have the "right" to be offended and the "right" to consider you an aggressive, suspicious busybody. That sort of thing happens all the time at Canadian immigration, but almost never happens anywhere else.

As for the USSR, I first went there in 1980, and returned numerous times over the next decade and NEVER experienced the kind of hostility the Canadians dish out. NEVER had my bags opened, which the Canadians do regularly. It sounds more to me like you are the one who doesn't travel much.

AC110

I must lead a charmed life then. I, for some reason, rarely seem to have these problems. Personally I've traveled far more than most people (certainly less than many here on FT) and I find that I have a fairly smooth ride almost everywhere.

I wonder why I so rarely have problems and you regularly have hostility 'dished out' to you?

BingoLoco

I just plain won't subject myself to Canadian immigration again without a very, very good reason for doing so.

Way to go, Canada!

st7860

when going through Canadian immigration, you get the feeling as if they don't really care what you say but they are asking you to see what you will say next.

when going through US immigration, you get the feeling that they care what you say, but they only seem to care about security issues.