Any interesting border crossing/port of entry stories?

[bcla]

I think I mentioned that I visited British Columbia a could of times on my last trip to visit my BIL living in the Seattle area. Over the years I've crossed into BC by ferry as well as via the road border.

One of the crossings did seem to be a bit more convoluted than I remember. I was just with my wife and we left our kid with her family near Seattle. I think we were asked where we were from, where we planned on going, but this time I was asked if it was my own car. It was a rental, but I suppose the Canadian border agent couldn't see the Oregon plates or the no smoking sticker with the window rolled down. When I got back the first time into the US I was just asked where we'd been and if we were bringing back anything. It was actually kind of exotic foods, although the agent didn't even blink when I told him that we had cooked duck tongues (it's complicated). The second time there wasn't much drama getting into Canada, but returning to the US we were asked where we were from and the purpose of our visit. We indicated that we were from the San Francisco Bay Area and that were were going to BC (Richmond) for the Chinese food. She asked "Don't they have that in San Francisco?" My answer was yes, but not in Seattle where we were staying.

I remember my first visit to BC in 1986 for Expo 86. We took Black Ball Ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria. I'm not sure if this was normal (or maybe something they did around Expo 86), but our agent at the ferry terminal was an extremely pleasant RCMP officer in full ceremonial uniform. He had a mustache and was basically a Canadian tourism marketing dream. He was super nice and just a little bit silly. Since then I've never experienced any border/port of entry agent that pleasant in over 30 years.

I do remember some trips to Asia where it was kind of weird. Once (1985) I was asked where I was going to school, and the Customs agent asked if it was rough there. He seemed to have some sort of familiarity with where I lived. Another time we brought back some cooked meat pastry, and the US Customs agent started poking at one piece with a ball point pen to the point where we just tossed that piece. Another time it was really odd because the Customs agent released a woman (I think ethnic Chinese but a US citizen) and then kind of asked if anyone could get her and ask her if she even knew what she was writing on the declarations form. I know there's a basic English test for naturalization, but I've known of a few naturalized US citizens who really couldn't properly fill out a Customs form in English.

 

[NMAmy]

I was entering the UK and when asked the reason for my visit, told the agent that my father-in-law had passed away and I was here for the funeral. He asked where my husband was and I told him he was already there and that he had been caring for my FIL before his death. He then told me very snottily, "How long? He can't just stay here as long as he wants." Umm, yeah, he can, my husband is a British citizen.

Last time, they thought I was an "overstayer" because I travel to the UK fairly often and I had traveled abroad for Christmas and then back to the UK to fly out. Always carry your flight info.

 

[willowsnn3]

I've only crossed a border once. My dh at the time was a truck driver and he had a load to take to a water treatment place in Banff, Canada, so I jumped on the chance to go with him.
We drove from Georgia to Montana to cross the border there.
When we got to the border all the usual questions were asked like what we were bringing in etc. It was a flat bed truck so the load we were delivering was pretty visible, lol. We had to go into a little building and give the agents there our driver's licenses and then we were escorted to a good sized waiting room with several other people in there. We had to wait a pretty good while and I dozed off but woke up when I felt something wet touch my leg. It was a drug sniffing dog that actually rubbed his big wet nose on me, lol. After that several people were called into another room and one of them came back and told his friend who was waiting for him that they were not letting him "in".
Finally we got called back and they gave us our licenses back and told us to have a good visit. My dh asked what they were looking for and they told us they do a background check and check the driving records for things like DUI and such.

This was in 2002.

 

[SC Minnie]

I had a coworker going on a business trip to one of our mills in Canada with several other coworkers. When they were going through Customs they asked her if she ever when by another name. She was in her early 30's and never married so said 'no'. They pulled her aside and made her wait for hours. Then they pulled her into an interrogation room and questioned her. She had forgotten her name was changed when she was a toddler. Her father had left her mother and her mother changed coworkers last name to her name.

 

[Magpie]

A series of interesting interactions at customs was one of the factors that led to me renouncing my US citizenship last year.

I emigrated to Canada with my mother when I was nine. I became a Canadian citizen when I was a teenager. I renewed my US passport once, but eventually let it lapse in 2000. For years, I traveled on my Canadian passport without any difficulty at all, regularly visiting friends and relatives in the US.

Three years ago, however, the border guards suddenly began asking for my US passport, which I thought was odd. I told them I didn't have it on me, and for awhile that seemed to be acceptable. One guard eventually explained that "technically" I should have been using my American passport to enter the US all this time. I explained that it had lapsed, and he seemed okay with that.

But then, last year, a customs officer at the airport very sternly advised me that the US does not "recognize" my Canadian citizenship (!) and that he had no obligation to even let me into the country without a properly valid US passport. By that point I'd already started the renunciation process, but now I was worried that I could be prevented from entering, as long as I was still a US citizen without a valid passport. Not wanting to risk ruining an upcoming Disney trip, I went and got my US passport renewed, a mere three months before renouncing my US citizenship. (My goodness, those passports have gotten gaudy, compared to the 1990's version!)

It was an annoying added expense, but better than risking any more issues at the border.

And now that I'm "just" a Canadian citizen with just my Canadian passport, the border guards seem to be happier. I haven't had any more issues at the border, and all crossings have gone smoothly. I still carry proof of my renunciation, though, just in case.

Being told that the US didn't consider me a Canadian wasn't my only reason for renouncing, but it was definitely a factor.

 

[bcla]

A series of interesting interactions at customs was one of the factors that led to me renouncing my US citizenship last year.

I emigrated to Canada with my mother when I was nine. I became a Canadian citizen when I was a teenager. I renewed my US passport once, but eventually let it lapse in 2000. For years, I traveled on my Canadian passport without any difficulty at all, regularly visiting friends and relatives in the US.

Three years ago, however, the border guards suddenly began asking for my US passport, which I thought was odd. I told them I didn't have it on me, and for awhile that seemed to be acceptable. One guard eventually explained that "technically" I should have been using my American passport to enter the US all this time. I explained that it had lapsed, and he seemed okay with that.

But then, last year, a customs officer at the airport very sternly advised me that the US does not "recognize" my Canadian citizenship (!) and that he had no obligation to even let me into the country without a properly valid US passport. By that point I'd already started the renunciation process, but now I was worried that I could be prevented from entering, as long as I was still a US citizen without a valid passport. Not wanting to risk ruining an upcoming Disney trip, I went and got my US passport renewed, a mere three months before renouncing my US citizenship. (My goodness, those passports have gotten gaudy, compared to the 1990's version!)

It was an annoying added expense, but better than risking any more issues at the border.

And now that I'm "just" a Canadian citizen with just my Canadian passport, the border guards seem to be happier. I haven't had any more issues at the border, and all crossings have gone smoothly. I still carry proof of my renunciation, though, just in case.

Being told that the US didn't consider me a Canadian wasn't my only reason for renouncing, but it was definitely a factor.

It's not really that they didn't recognize you were also a Canadian. If there's an issue, you might have been denied aid from a US embassy or consulate that might normally be given to US nationals living in Canada. That would be recognizing the nature of dual nationality. Also, while in the US you might have been denied the aid of a Canadian consulate. I don't believe there's any law that addresses dual nationality, but as a practical matter the State Department addresses how to handle it.

But the requirement that a US citizen must enter the US on US travel documents is fairly well established. It might not have been terribly strict years ago. I've heard of people using regular driver licenses to cross the US/Canada border and they'd just look up status in a database. Adults could still use birth certificates as proof of citizenship for border crossing, and Canada still allows this. Even today you might be able to enter Canada using your US-issued birth certificate and another photo ID, although it might be illegal for you as misrepresenting yourself as a current US citizen.

 

[kimblebee]

Not for me but my dad always has an interesting time. He's Australian with landed immigrant status in Canada. He has a visa that he has to show every time he crosses the border.

A few years ago the visa had lapsed and he was stuck at the border for hours. Eventually it was sorted out but there was talk of deportation (probably a scare tactic). Now, every time he crosses to the US he has to be fingerprinted and have a retinal scan.

 

[Magpie]

It's not really that they didn't recognize you were also a Canadian. If there's an issue, you might have been denied aid from a US embassy or consulate that might normally be given to US nationals living in Canada. That would be recognizing the nature of dual nationality. Also, while in the US you might have been denied the aid of a Canadian consulate. I don't believe there's any law that addresses dual nationality, but as a practical matter the State Department addresses how to handle it.

But the requirement that a US citizen must enter the US on US travel documents is fairly well established. It might not have been terribly strict years ago. I've heard of people using regular driver licenses to cross the US/Canada border and they'd just look up status in a database. Adults could still use birth certificates as proof of citizenship for border crossing, and Canada still allows this. Even today you might be able to enter Canada using your US-issued birth certificate and another photo ID, although it might be illegal for you as misrepresenting yourself as a current US citizen.

According to the border guard, "When you're on US soil, you're a US citizen. Period! The US does not recognize dual nationality." He was very forceful.

Now, he may have been wrong, but I'm still glad not to be having to debate the finer points of citizenship law with border guards every time I cross. There's a lot to be said for simplicity!

I've since heard that my (possible) lack of official dual status in the US might have something to do with being a minor when I took my oath of citizenship in Canada. Or it might have been the year I naturalized, as the rules changed several times in the 1980's. In any case, having a valid Canadian passport, as well as my Citizenship card, I'm fairly certain I would never have had an issue seeking aid in a Canadian consulate.

For what it's worth, the US consular staff have been terrific, every time I've had contact with them. Though, the embassy security set up is a little alarming.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I've uneventfully crosse the US/Mexican border with items we shouldn't have had (including a stuffed armadillo and ammunition).

And we've been completely searched (due to a Canadian in the van). But, the closest thing to "interesting" was my Mexican driver who couldn't drive a stick killing the engine a dozen times trying to cross into the US. The border guard asked me to take over.

 

[dish rag]

Not really and we do it several times each month. Recently the camera was unable to pick up the number on the the plate, when we got back to Ontariowe had to get new plates. The questions are getting more interesting though and that started about a month or so ago we notices. An example would be them wanting to know where we keep our car. She carries a Canadian passport and me a USA one. Just this past week we were asked how and where did we meet. I shouldn't have, but told him it was really none of his concern. He looked at us, handed the passports and said to have a good day. Sometimes we have bicycles on the back and they will check how the are mounted, when we have the dog they ask for her shot records. Sometimes now they look into the records and bring the license plate thing up, I'm not sure why.

 

[Magpie]

Not really and we do it several times each month. Recently the camera was unable to pick up the number on the the plate, when we got back to Ontariowe had to get new plates. The questions are getting more interesting though and that started about a month or so ago we notices. An example would be them wanting to know where we keep our car. She carries a Canadian passport and me a USA one. Just this past week we were asked how and where did we meet. I shouldn't have, but told him it was really none of his concern. He looked at us, handed the passports and said to have a good day.

I think the "how and where did you meet?" is a standard question. We have a good friend in New York, and for the past 20 years we've been driving down for the occasional weekend, just to visit. Every time, they ask us, "Got any plans for the weekend?" "Where will you be staying?" "How long have you known your friend?" and "Where and how did you meet him?"

We don't mind. It's not a secret. We met at a festival, and hit it off, and have been friends ever since.

 

[dish rag]

I think the "how and where did you meet?" is a standard question. We have a good friend in New York, and for the past 20 years we've been driving down for the occasional weekend, just to visit. Every time, they ask us, "Who are you visiting?" "Where will you be staying?" "How long have you known your friend?" and "Where and how did you meet him?"

We don't mind. It's not a secret. We met at a festival, and hit it off, and have been friends ever since.

This is what they ask me and my wife when we are in the car together. It would be like them asking how did you meet your husband.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

This is what they ask me and my wife when we are in the car together. It would be like them asking how did you meet your husband.

Trying to trip you up in the event you're not who you claim to be and/or smuggling contraband.

 

[dish rag]

Trying to trip you up in the event you're not who you claim to be and/or smuggling contraband.

That's right, they are just looking into inconstancies in what you tell them. We drive into the US and fly to Fla. from there. We do this very often. They can see how often when they scan the passports. Now they have been asking what do we do with the car, if we are flying what airline and so forth. We leave the car at the airport, I would figure that's what most people do and that it's a dumb question. But you are right, they are looking for inconsistencies.

 

[Westcoastwild]

What do duck tongues taste like?

I was pretty weirded out the first several times I crossed into Canada as an adult. They ask some really random questions, some of which just stump me. Then I figured out they're just trying to trip you up and it's about how you answer usually. Go a lot less stressful but still...

They like to ask when I've last been to Canada...I have a terrible memory and hate this question.

I used to store my camping gear in my trunk all summer. No longer do. Apparently it's suspicious to have your sleeping bag in the trunk. I suppose they may suspect I plan to live in my car...but I mean, I don't see any benefit to living in my car in Canada over living in my car here.

They've asked me if I smoke weed (no) do I have any in the car (I just said I don't smoke)...but then it occured to me that this was right after rec pot become legal in WA, so that may be something they were asking everyone at the time.

They've asked me about the dent in the hood of my car...apparently that puts me under extra scrutiny.

I couldn't remember if I'd ever been fingerprinted- don't ever say "maybe...I don't know" to those guys. It cost me an extra 20 minutes, which mostly involved 3 minute explanation on my part and then 17 minutes of him staring at me.

The worst was when I first moved out here- a coworker lived on the very edge of the border, like the last turn before the crossing. I missed my turn and couldn't figure out how to turn around...so went through the crossing and they escorted me back the other side. Was definitely judged for that. Got my enhanced license the very next day so I could fake a shopping trip if it happened again.

I realize none are that dramatic but the reason I find these so weird is that this is all car crossing for day trips. (For Asian food and shopping and the aquarium). When I cross by bus or by train or by boat, the agents are a lot less weird about it. Even with no return ticket. Even for an overnight or weekend trip. I always wonder if I'd get fewer questions with a newer car

 

[Magpie]

This is what they ask me and my wife when we are in the car together. It would be like them asking how did you meet your husband.

I still don't think I'd think twice about the question, especially if my husband and I came from two different countries. "We met at a mutual friend's wedding! Actually, he remembers meeting me before that, but I didn't notice him until the wedding. Blah, blah, blah..."

 

[bcla]

What do duck tongues taste like?

They basically taste like nothing unless spices are added. It's almost all muscle except for a little bony part, so it doesn't have that creamy duck fat flavor. It was $30/lb, but they didn't have the full beak so it would literally be about 100 per pound. These were the ones I got (photo posted to Yelp by someone else):

It was really weird why I got them too. I'm not a big fan of them, but when a Chinese friend found out that I was visiting Seattle, I was asked to bring some duck tongues (with beaks) from the San Francisco Bay Area because there's no place around Seattle that has them. A few places in San Francisco have them, along with some in Oakland. I went to the place in Oakland the morning before my flight to Seattle, but the employee there told me that they would be ready in an hour. I'd actually bought them for this friend before when we had lunch together in Oakland with my family. And just to satisfy her, we made a detour to Seattle's Chinatown just to see if we could find any.

 

[bcla]

I've uneventfully crosse the US/Mexican border with items we shouldn't have had (including a stuffed armadillo and ammunition).

Didn't a former Marine get in trouble for that? Well - I think he had them with actual guns that were loaded and where he could reach them.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just a couple of "not so dramatic" ones - first trip to Europe (with my mother). When we went through customs on the way back into the US, we were asked if we had anything to declare. We said "one bottle of champagne". The customs guy looked around at the people carrying inlaid tables, 6' decorative birds, and multiple cases of wine, and shook his head and said "welcome home".

Another time, returning from Canada to the US (driving) my husband was asked "Who's Susan?" We were driving my car - personalized plates.

 

[dish rag]

I still don't think I'd think twice about the question, especially if my husband and I came from two different countries. "We met at a mutual friend's wedding! Actually, he remembers meeting me before that, but I didn't notice him until the wedding. Blah, blah, blah..."

Well that's what mine does goes on and on and on, the officer can't hand the passports back fast enough. Lol