Problems, Advice, and Stories on Border Crossing

[Flames9_RN 358]

haha, your post made me chuckle. Yeah, the ONLY reason I am leaving Canada is for Cody. Well happy to hear it gets easier, but at least I know to expect some hassle for a little. I am moving down next weekend, so I hope I get nice CBP officers!

You won't get hassled once you have ur greencard.

[NikLR 13,220]

Ya'll are not making me feel a-okay about crossing in a week. LOL I'm visiting my husband and am gonna make sure I bring a letter from my employer. I don't have a rental agreement anymore (lost it and it was in my maiden name) and i don't get paper bills.... What else could I bring?

[codygrace 14]

You can bring the NOA1 e-mail print out, to show that you are doing it honestly. They probably won't give you trouble. I just have the worst luck with these kinds of things. I think it's because I am young, and I cross in an empty minivan, I feel like I am an easy target. I don't think it helps much when most people think I look like I'm 16. Even when I handed in a winning lottery ticket the lady at the convenience store carded me, and didn't believe me. Same has happened at casinos.. I must have a bad aura or something. LOL.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Our trouble is due to the fact that I brought my husband over for 2.5 months with no ties. You don't need mailed bills, print your e-statements including your bank statement.

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

You won't get hassled once you have ur greencard.

Actually - I STILL get hassled, even with my green card.

Before getting mine, I had been refused entry into the US a couple of times (no deportation or anything, just a withdrawal of admission into the US) and I expected (and was) put into secondary all the time - by land and by air. But I've crossed into Canada three times now, since moving here (twice by land and once by air) and ALL three times I've been put into secondary with NO reason given. They ask me a couple of questions, I'm usually held up 15 or 20 mins and then I'm allowed to go on my merry way.

It's beyond frustrating. I can understand them checking to make sure my green card is legit, also I can understand them checking to make sure there's no warrants or criminal issues in regards to me but everytime they ask me questions about my past from waaaaaaaaaaaaay back and I KNOW they can see the answers on their computers. Sometimes I feel like they are jerking me around, to see if I'll give them a different answer. It's ridiculous.

Edited October 21, 2012 by Sweetcheeksss

[The Mean Lady 604]

Actually - I STILL get hassled, even with my green card.

Before getting mine, I had been refused entry into the US a couple of times (no deportation or anything, just a withdrawal of admission into the US) and I expected (and was) put into secondary all the time - by land and by air. But I've crossed into Canada three times now, since moving here (twice by land and once by air) and ALL three times I've been put into secondary with NO reason given. They ask me a couple of questions, I'm usually held up 15 or 20 mins and then I'm allowed to go on my merry way.

It's beyond frustrating. I can understand them checking to make sure my green card is legit, also I can understand them checking to make sure there's no warrants or criminal issues in regards to me but everytime they ask me questions about my past from waaaaaaaaaaaaay back and I KNOW they can see the answers on their computers. Sometimes I feel like they are jerking me around, to see if I'll give them a different answer. It's ridiculous.

It really irks me the way the USBP works, although, I will admit, in the estimated... idk... 20+ years that I can remember going back and forth from canada (when I was younger it was with my parents on vacation) I can see a definite lowering in the qty of people crossing. When I was a kid, the lines were MILES long on a sunday. Now, I wait maybe 15 minutes to get to a booth. I can't help but wonder if the attitude of border patrol combined with the heightened security since 9/11 hasn't caused this. It's not so bad for me having to cross so often lol.

Still, ever since bringing my husband over, i FREAK approaching the border. My heard beats a million times a minute and I just FEEL like i've done something wrong even though I haven't!

For 2+ years, it took well over an HOUR to get my husband through secondary (if he got through at all). In June it was a blessing at only 35 minutes! I had never felt so elated after leaving there lol.

[codygrace 14]

Darn. Here I thought my border issues were about to get smoothed out. I've never had a problem when I cross with Cody though, so hopefully that will continue being the case. I think they just jerk me around because they see an opportunity to exploit my feelings. I am somewhat comforted in the fact though, that there are others who get pulled to secondary every time without a cause. I'm also annoyed by the repeat of questions they have been asking me for the last 5 years or so. My answer hasn't changed, and it never will because I am telling the truth!!

Oh jeez, I remember another time: It was a summer morning and I had just came from traffic court in Chatham. I live in Toronto, and I got the ticket driving to the States so I figured since I'm half way to Cody's house already, I may as well make a couple day trip out of it. I had to get up at about 4am to make sure I got to court on time. I was wearing a sweater because it was dark and cold when I got up. I still had my sweater on when I reached the border because I was driving with the windows down. Miss, "why are you wearing a sweater?" - I explained. They made me go to secondary, and they asked me another couple times why I was wearing a sweater.. I asked them if it would just be easier for me if I took it off, as I had a shirt on underneath, she just laughed and handed me my ID back. GAH!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Guess I should rephrase it,lol Vast majority have no problems crossing with a greencard! And from my 8 yrs on VJ---vast majority have had no problems visiting their fiances or spouses. Some do, who knows why in some cases! One may be giving off certain body signals/postures that makes the Officer think your hiding something or he is having a bad day and enters something into the system! Thats sort of why I always say--it's up to the POE officer

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Ok - no idea if it applies to anyone here because I don't know what you look like but . . . I had a very good friend a number of years ago who was an absolute knock em dead gorgeous woman. I mean she was just beautiful! She told me that every time she crossed into the US, no matter what the occasion, she was always stopped, always sent to secondary and always had all of the different border guards come out and go through her car. She never had any reason to be stopped, they never found anything, and the one time I was with her when we crossed over on our way to catch the train to New York for a week's visit (and yes, we were pulled into secondary) - they barely glanced at the car, didn't bother to open any of the suitcases, but there were four guards who were standing there while one of them talked with us -ok, talked with her . So, it may be that you are a particularly attractive individual, and the guard at the front post is just trying to share some attractive scenery with the guys in secondary ! (That is the conclusion my friend reached for why she was stopped all the time). Of course, when your partner is with you, they are probably concerned that he'll get jealous if everyone stares at you, so they just pass you through .

Edited October 21, 2012 by Kathryn41

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

Ha! I wish that was the reason I get sent to secondary lol. I honestly have no idea why, and truthfully, I thought once I got my green card I'd be spared that little detour on my way passing thru the border. It actually frustrates the bejesus outta me. Even though we did everything legal, no overstay, no AOS after crossing as a "visitor", etc I still get treated as I was when I used to cross as a visitor. Grrrrrrr!! And it's not like I can (or would) be brave enough to actually confront them by saying I think they are signally me out unfairly.

[codygrace 14]

Ha! I wish that was the reason I get sent to secondary lol. I honestly have no idea why, and truthfully, I thought once I got my green card I'd be spared that little detour on my way passing thru the border. It actually frustrates the bejesus outta me. Even though we did everything legal, no overstay, no AOS after crossing as a "visitor", etc I still get treated as I was when I used to cross as a visitor. Grrrrrrr!! And it's not like I can (or would) be brave enough to actually confront them by saying I think they are signally me out unfairly.

Exactly! Wish I was drop dead gorgeous. I'd never call them out on it either because it would probably cause more trouble.

[The Mean Lady 604]

My husband is gorgeous to me, but unless every guy at the USBP is gay, I don't think that's why they pull him in =P

[Rob & Monika 87]

It really irks me the way the USBP works, although, I will admit, in the estimated... idk... 20+ years that I can remember going back and forth from canada (when I was younger it was with my parents on vacation) I can see a definite lowering in the qty of people crossing. When I was a kid, the lines were MILES long on a sunday. Now, I wait maybe 15 minutes to get to a booth. I can't help but wonder if the attitude of border patrol combined with the heightened security since 9/11 hasn't caused this. It's not so bad for me having to cross so often lol.

It's likely just the passport requirement that limits people. People can't just hop in the car and take a trip to Canada like they used to, have to get an enhanced license or a passport. It takes the spontaneity out of it.

[The Mean Lady 604]

It's likely just the passport requirement that limits people. People can't just hop in the car and take a trip to Canada like they used to, have to get an enhanced license or a passport. It takes the spontaneity out of it.

Sorry, that's what I meant by hightened security.

[Gypsyangel 11]

Actually - I STILL get hassled, even with my green card.

Before getting mine, I had been refused entry into the US a couple of times (no deportation or anything, just a withdrawal of admission into the US) and I expected (and was) put into secondary all the time - by land and by air. But I've crossed into Canada three times now, since moving here (twice by land and once by air) and ALL three times I've been put into secondary with NO reason given. They ask me a couple of questions, I'm usually held up 15 or 20 mins and then I'm allowed to go on my merry way.

It's beyond frustrating. I can understand them checking to make sure my green card is legit, also I can understand them checking to make sure there's no warrants or criminal issues in regards to me but everytime they ask me questions about my past from waaaaaaaaaaaaay back and I KNOW they can see the answers on their computers. Sometimes I feel like they are jerking me around, to see if I'll give them a different answer. It's ridiculous.

Same here. Before my greencard, I got pulled into secondary semi-regularly when I drove (not when I flew). I thought that getting my greencard would ensure that those days were over. Nope. Got pulled over even more. Which doesn't make any sense -- you've gone through this whole process, paid $$, been approved by Homeland Security. What do they think we're doing? It's not bad if it's not crowded, but once there was a Buffalo Bills game, so I waited almost two hours for a two-minute pulling up of my file. pita.

Since i became a USC in May, I haven't had any problems at all (knock on wood), which is a little weird after being hassled for years.