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The process for crossing the US-Canadian border is now absolutely ridiculous. I have been taken to, or going to Canada since the 1960's because half our relatives are there. Last month I crossed the border and was grilled and belittled like a damned terrorist. I was shaken and disturbed by the process for five days and could not even enjoy my visit. It was a horrible experience.
When I go to visit, I usually rent a room at a local inn. This costs about $600 Canadian and then just about all my meals are eaten at restaurants treating my Canadian relatives to a meal. Last year I spent over $1500 in ten days.... this year I spent five days and cancelled the rest of my stay and just went back home.
My relatives have all apologized for the actions of their border guards, but right now, it doesn't matter. I will NEVER subject myself to such a thing again. I will never go back there. Maybe I will have gotten over it by next year, but for now, I'm done with that.
Anyone else being treated with disrespect by Canadian border guards? Let's hear it. While I'm sure there are stories about Canadians being mistreated by US border guards, I don't know that end of it. What I hear is "welcome home" from the US guards. I used to hear, "welcome to Canada" when I said I was going to visit my family, but not anymore... and don't be slow about your answers when you are surprised by such things because then you must be LYING about something. And you better remember everybody's names and everything you have done for the last fifty years or you will be accused of driving under the influence or having a previous conviction!! It was a sickening, horrible experience and NOBODY needs to be treated like that for just trying to go see their loved ones. Canada can go to hell today, that's for sure.
I traveled to Canada twice and have had no issues. Just some questions like "Why are you visiting?", "How long?", "Where are you staying?"... Show passport and Welcome to Canada!
Keep in mind that since 9/11 they have more security because God knows what many people do, bring with them and tries to do. Canada doesn't want any illegal immigration. This security and questions is worldwide now, especially in western countries where terrorism have occurred.
However, I wish passport was not needed.
Just answer the questions properly, nicely and friendly... Smile and show all documents. Don't argue, look mad or angry.
TBH, I've met nasty personnel on both sides of the border, although the U.S ones are more frequently nasty, and generally nastier in general.
I've been belittled, insulted and threatened even by airline staff because of my race, so think about it, it could be worse.
This is the third thread this one has contibuted to in regards to his treatment by Canadian border guards. They really must have p****d in his corn flakes. His other posts weren't as nice as this one with Canada being referred to as a "crappy' country that thinks it's "special".
Cripes; we didn't start this nonsense. Your Homeland Security demanded we tighten it up or they would use bully tactics to slow down our commercial traffic.
I have to wonder where he's been all these months with TSA goons groping all of us and basically treating anyone flying into the U. S. from all points of the compass like terrorists.
The process for crossing the US-Canadian border is now absolutely ridiculous. I have been taken to, or going to Canada since the 1960's because half our relatives are there. Last month I crossed the border and was grilled and belittled like a damned terrorist. I was shaken and disturbed by the process for five days and could not even enjoy my visit. It was a horrible experience.
When I go to visit, I usually rent a room at a local inn. This costs about $600 Canadian and then just about all my meals are eaten at restaurants treating my Canadian relatives to a meal. Last year I spent over $1500 in ten days.... this year I spent five days and cancelled the rest of my stay and just went back home.
My relatives have all apologized for the actions of their border guards, but right now, it doesn't matter. I will NEVER subject myself to such a thing again. I will never go back there. Maybe I will have gotten over it by next year, but for now, I'm done with that.
Anyone else being treated with disrespect by Canadian border guards? Let's hear it. While I'm sure there are stories about Canadians being mistreated by US border guards, I don't know that end of it. What I hear is "welcome home" from the US guards. I used to hear, "welcome to Canada" when I said I was going to visit my family, but not anymore... and don't be slow about your answers when you are surprised by such things because then you must be LYING about something. And you better remember everybody's names and everything you have done for the last fifty years or you will be accused of driving under the influence or having a previous conviction!! It was a sickening, horrible experience and NOBODY needs to be treated like that for just trying to go see their loved ones. Canada can go to hell today, that's for sure.
Huh....I nearly had a finger up my ass because I wanted to go to the autoshow in Detroit. Meanwhile, HLS has crippled the border so much that it's ****ing up the economy in my city.
Of course, when I visit Detroit, they have to know exactly how much money I make per year, what my job is, how long I've been employed there, any OTHER jobs I've had in the past, and so on, and so on.
So RELAX, old man. That gate swings both ways.
YOU, POM, can go ahead and keep yourself, and your greenbacks, out of my ****ing country. How about that?
There are plenty of other well balanced Americans, whom are more than welcome up here. We don't need you.
I found your unpleasant experience interesting. Assuming you weren't annoyed by the first question and obvious about it, I hope your experience was only due to encountering an officious Canadian a__hole exercising the limited power all "gate keepers" have.
I grew up in New York, and travelled into Canada by car numbers of times, and never encountered any such attitudes at the border, except when returning to the US, and by US border officials. But that was decades ago, long before there were so many scum suicidal murderers around.
Your most recent experience is definitely discouraging. Although I don't fit ANY of Canada's officially permitted categories for immigration, I had hoped to relocate there now that I am retired, and financially independent with my savings and pensions. The reason for thinking to move there is it seems to me that ever since the Homeland Security creation, personal freedom and privacy keep diminishing here, while apparently still respected in Canada. Maybe these days that is changing there also.
I was going to ask if anyone knows how to move to Canada without meeting one of the officially annointed categories, but that seems moot considering your experience with officious paranoia at the border.
By the way: where was it that you had that experience?
I had hoped to relocate there now that I am retired
If you are over 54 and retired, you can forget it. I sympathize with you and truly wish there were another way, but we can't have one set of rules for Americans and another set for the "other foreigners". I can't bring over my parents from my country of origin because they too are over the age limit. They too have plenty of money and would have no need ever for social assistance or pension, but it makes no difference.
Dont take it so personally,these armed guards are just doing their jobs, last Xmas the wife and i and the two kids were shaken down at the US border south of Montreal, the car got torn apart and we all got to be interrogated ,i guess they didnt find what they were looking for as after the best part of an hour they released us and wished us well on our trip.
The previous summer we crossed into the US at Sault Ste Marie we were told to pull over and were escorted to an inspection area with one guard to our left with a big gun at the ready and another guard to our right with a spike strip at the ready, the kids thought we were going to be executed another interrogation and we were on our way.
So dont get all paranoid about the experience its just something thats part of entering the USA these days you get to be the subject of extreme scrutiny on occasion..
Dont take it so personally,these armed guards are just doing their jobs, last Xmas the wife and i and the two kids were shaken down at the US border south of Montreal, the car got torn apart and we all got to be interrogated ,i guess they didnt find what they were looking for as after the best part of an hour they released us and wished us well on our trip.
The previous summer we crossed into the US at Sault Ste Marie we were told to pull over and were escorted to an inspection area with one guard to our left with a big gun at the ready and another guard to our right with a spike strip at the ready, the kids thought we were going to be executed another interrogation and we were on our way.
So dont get all paranoid about the experience its just something thats part of entering the USA these days you get to be the subject of extreme scrutiny on occasion..
So Topic creator. You got your answer i suppose
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another interrogation and we were on our way.
