Crossing US Border
- Thread starter Mama'sboy
- Start date
I have noticed a few travelers with tats, piercings and long hair getting extra screening checks at the airport (one guy I saw get checked at security check, customs and at the gate at YVR), so I might suggest keeping alternative dress to a minimum. But as long as you have nothing to hide (drugs or record) you should be fine.
Thanks for the info HFS.
It was a simple one in 2000, he went through a check stop, got busted and chose not to contest it. 6 months later he had that blowy thing put in his car so he could drive as long as the blowy thing did not register alcohol on his breath/system.
It was a simple one in 2000, he went through a check stop, got busted and chose not to contest it. 6 months later he had that blowy thing put in his car so he could drive as long as the blowy thing did not register alcohol on his breath/system.
I recall a few years back, a Bay Area colleague coming to Vancouver for business got held up at the border for 2 days due to a DUI conviction and eventually sent back without entry. That always surprised me because I could not figure out why border officials on either end would give a dam.
I had a DUI 19 years ago and it never even crossed my mind when I travel and I have never had a problem in international airports the last 15 years. I guess at some point it stays in the past...
I had a DUI 19 years ago and it never even crossed my mind when I travel and I have never had a problem in international airports the last 15 years. I guess at some point it stays in the past...
Its not a problem to cross into the US border with a simple DUI (summary conviction as HiFI pointed out) since its viewed as a misdeamenour and hence does not have the same weight placed on it by US border officials as their Canadian counterparts. Canadian customs requires those convicted of DUI (who are not citizens of course) abroad to apply for a waiver and I remember reading somewhere that it was in the neighbourhood of $300/visit (?)
Applying for a pardon removes/clears the record but this only make a difference had the US immigration not downloaded your record prior to its deletion or if you had never attempted to cross into the US while you had a record.
Applying for a pardon removes/clears the record but this only make a difference had the US immigration not downloaded your record prior to its deletion or if you had never attempted to cross into the US while you had a record.
Ok...I actually know a bit about this stuff.
You can be denied entry for no reason whatsoever. Just the way you part your hair is enough. Any drug conviction will, however, guarantee your denial into the US. Impaired charges are ok....unless you are a habitual offender. Assault convictions are also iffy. On a spouse- denied, causing bodily harm-denied, aggravated-denied, common-most likely allowed.
The biggest thing is do not try to lie. They know what your record is before they ask you anything about it. If you lie, it is in your record and you will not be allowed back. Lots of times they will ask how much your fine or penalty was for your crime, they judge the severity of it by this.
You can be denied entry for no reason whatsoever. Just the way you part your hair is enough. Any drug conviction will, however, guarantee your denial into the US. Impaired charges are ok....unless you are a habitual offender. Assault convictions are also iffy. On a spouse- denied, causing bodily harm-denied, aggravated-denied, common-most likely allowed.
The biggest thing is do not try to lie. They know what your record is before they ask you anything about it. If you lie, it is in your record and you will not be allowed back. Lots of times they will ask how much your fine or penalty was for your crime, they judge the severity of it by this.
Oh yeah...and the pardon, it will take up to 2 years to get one right now. You will go thru all the paperwork, and they may not give you one.
Show up early, dress nice, be sober, be polite, and have a passport. You'll be fine.
Show up early, dress nice, be sober, be polite, and have a passport. You'll be fine.
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1. Loudly announce your right to enter the nation that consists of “Infidels” – this breaks the ice.
2. Ensure you have rubbed ammonia nitrate (fertilizer) on your clothes and demand a swab screening – this ensures continued employment for NSA staff.
3. Have wires poking out of your jacket and shoes. Use red, blue and green colours, as a minimum – ditto benefit to point 2.
4. Have a poorly concealed earpiece in that FBI surveillance teams routinely use – this increases your status to border personnel.
5. Keep looking at your watch and over your shoulder every few seconds – heightens your apparent importance and need to quickly enter the country.
6. Intersperse the looks with a quick “We are ready commander” and similar quotes whisper into the walkie-talkie you are carrying – demonstrates that you are a team player; the US likes team players.
7. Produce two pieces of identification. Ensure your real name appears on neither and ensure both have different names and D.O.B. – everyone enjoys a mystery, border personnel are no different.
8. Have a duffle bag that is handcuffed to your wrist – only important people on important missions have such.
9. Be clothed entirely in black with your ceremonial dagger prominently displayed – this demonstrates confidence in your need to fulfil whatever it is you are trying to fulfil.
10. Act like you are really angry and nervous at the same time. If you are not already sweating from the black clothes, carry water to wet your brow to give it a sweaty look – this demonstrates your concern for this important process and gives the border personnel a heightened sense of worth.
That should do it. Have fun on your trip.
Mama's Boy, don't listen to the above. Try the following, it will work for sure:
1. Loudly announce your right to enter the nation that consists of “Infidels” – this breaks the ice.
2. Ensure you have rubbed ammonia nitrate (fertilizer) on your clothes and demand a swab screening – this ensures continued employment for NSA staff.
3. Have wires poking out of your jacket and shoes. Use red, blue and green colours, as a minimum – ditto benefit to point 2.
4. Have a poorly concealed earpiece in that FBI surveillance teams routinely use – this increases your status to border personnel.
5. Keep looking at your watch and over your shoulder every few seconds – heightens your apparent importance and need to quickly enter the country.
6. Intersperse the looks with a quick “We are ready commander” and similar quotes whisper into the walkie-talkie you are carrying – demonstrates that you are a team player; the US likes team players.
7. Produce two pieces of identification. Ensure your real name appears on neither and ensure both have different names and D.O.B. – everyone enjoys a mystery, border personnel are no different.
8. Have a duffle bag that is handcuffed to your wrist – only important people on important missions have such.
9. Be clothed entirely in black with your ceremonial dagger prominently displayed – this demonstrates confidence in your need to fulfil whatever it is you are trying to fulfil.
10. Act like you are really angry and nervous at the same time. If you are not already sweating from the black clothes, carry water to wet your brow to give it a sweaty look – this demonstrates your concern for this important process and gives the border personnel a heightened sense of worth.
That should do it. Have fun on your trip.
The question is, do you plan on coming back?
Went south last month and had no trouble getting into U.S. with passport. However, coming home ran into the most miserable sum-bitch you can imagine. State side they at least treated us decently. Coming back they seemed to assume that everyone is a douchebag. Problem is, if you take offense you'll receive a much longer visit at Canada Customs.
Isolated case? I dunno...
Went south last month and had no trouble getting into U.S. with passport. However, coming home ran into the most miserable sum-bitch you can imagine. State side they at least treated us decently. Coming back they seemed to assume that everyone is a douchebag. Problem is, if you take offense you'll receive a much longer visit at Canada Customs.
Isolated case? I dunno...
