Canadian refused entry - when can he try again?

[Msc75 0]

My Canadian friend was intending to visit me and spend the summer in the US, but he was refused entry for “insufficient ties to home country” after his connecting flight in Vancouver. He’s already visited the US couple times in the past and never had problems so he he was caught completely unprepared this time and I’m afraid did everything wrong. He only had a one-way ticket (didn’t book return yet since he’s waiting on quarantine rules to return to Canada to relax), he told them he’s a freelancer that works with both US and Canada based agencies, and his bank account showed less than $5K. He did bring his apartment lease in Canada good for next 12 months but they didn’t deem that enough. My questions: 

1. When can he try again? He’s contemplating getting more documentation and buying a round trip ticket to US this time before giving up and returning to Montreal.

2. What additional documents would help? He can probably get a letter of employment from his Canadian agency, add more funds to his bank account, and show rental history of 10+ years at his current residence. What else? 
3. Would a letter from me as a US citizen saying I and my husband will be financially responsible for his stay help or hurt his chances? 

4. If he gets denied again for trying twice in a short time, would he get a longer ban?

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

1.  I would wait several months.  He is now in the system as a possible risk to stay in the US.   He certainly needs a round-trip ticket, employment documents, lease documents, and anything else he can get to show why he MUST return to Canada....and WHEN.   His answers regarding his employment did a great deal of damage, imo. 

3.  Don't do this.  It will, likely, do more harm than good.

4.  Ban?  Did they give him an official ban? 

Edited May 31, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[Msc75 0]

No he didn’t get a ban, in fact the officer told him he could try again but I don’t put much stock into that answer. I just read that you CAN get a ban for 5 years if you get refused multiple times and tick them off. 

[igoyougoduke 1,662]

1 hour ago, Msc75 said:

My Canadian friend was intending to visit me and spend the summer in the US, but he was refused entry for “insufficient ties to home country” after his connecting flight in Vancouver. He’s already visited the US couple times in the past and never had problems so he he was caught completely unprepared this time and I’m afraid did everything wrong. He only had a one-way ticket (didn’t book return yet since he’s waiting on quarantine rules to return to Canada to relax), he told them he’s a freelancer that works with both US and Canada based agencies, and his bank account showed less than $5K. He did bring his apartment lease in Canada good for next 12 months but they didn’t deem that enough. My questions: 

1. When can he try again? He’s contemplating getting more documentation and buying a round trip ticket to US this time before giving up and returning to Montreal.

2. What additional documents would help? He can probably get a letter of employment from his Canadian agency, add more funds to his bank account, and show rental history of 10+ years at his current residence. What else? 
3. Would a letter from me as a US citizen saying I and my husband will be financially responsible for his stay help or hurt his chances? 

4. If he gets denied again for trying twice in a short time, would he get a longer ban?

1) Probably good to wait for a while before further entries

2) more ties to canada will strengthen. How is he a freelance and work for a canadian  agency. sounds like something went wrong during the interview

3) His entry is based on his own evidence.

4) possible they will deny again if he does not have additional evidence to support his immigrant intent - atleast that is what CBP interpreted.  ( Freelance + multiple entries to US in short time + not much in bank account ===  issue ) 

 

[FeelingYoung66 14]

I'm following this because my 24 yr old step-son (Canadian citizen living in Toronto) will be attempting to cross into the U.S. at Pearson airport next month for an extended visit to see us at our home in Texas (two months at least). He is single and will be traveling alone, probably on a one-way ticket because he isn't sure when he will want to return and also because he will be watching to see if the mandatory three-day hotel requirement goes away. He will have just graduated from his second degree program a few days before traveling and has no job in Canada to show the border officer for a tie back to Canada. He lives in Toronto with his girlfriend and their lease does indeed have both names on it.. but that really shows no kind of intent, does it. I'm now wondering if he might have the same problem crossing that your friend had?

[milimelo 4,505]

2 hours ago, FeelingYoung66 said:

I'm following this because my 24 yr old step-son (Canadian citizen living in Toronto) will be attempting to cross into the U.S. at Pearson airport next month for an extended visit to see us at our home in Texas (two months at least). He is single and will be traveling alone, probably on a one-way ticket because he isn't sure when he will want to return and also because he will be watching to see if the mandatory three-day hotel requirement goes away. He will have just graduated from his second degree program a few days before traveling and has no job in Canada to show the border officer for a tie back to Canada. He lives in Toronto with his girlfriend and their lease does indeed have both names on it.. but that really shows no kind of intent, does it. I'm now wondering if he might have the same problem crossing that your friend had?

Of course he will starting with just the one way ticket. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Get him a round trip ticket which allows changes to the return leg if he’s not sure exactly when he will return.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

I was denied entry twice.  I agree - we Canadians take for granted the ease of traveling to the US.  CBP told me to ALWAYS have a return ticket.

 

1. In truth, he can try again immediately.  But unless his circumstances have changed he is likely to encounter the same result.

 

2. What shows the CBP that he MUST return?  If he is able to spend extended amounts of time in the US, then what can he show as to why he must return?

 

3. In my experience, this will hurt.  CBP wants to see that the traveler can support himself/herself while in the US.  Showing that you are paying for his trip does the opposite.  

 

4.  It's possible.  I was not given a ban but certainly threatened with one.  That decision will be up to the agent on the day he travels.  

 

Good luck

[JeanneAdil 6,562]

 he told them he’s a freelancer that works with both US and Canada based agencies, 

 

The Internal Revenue Service considers freelancers to be self-employed,

 

so ,  how now does producing a letter of employment help?  

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

ALWAYS have a return ticket. ALWAYS. From ANY country.

You can always change the ticket. And this isn't only for the US. I've traveled extensively to many countries all over the world. Roundtrip ticket... ALWAYS. (unless moving or studying there-)

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

I’m surprised no one mentioned that he was coming here to work..as a tourist... he needs proper work visa to work in the US- even remotely. This could have hurt him as well. IMO having a job that can be done remote significantly hurts having ties to home- since it can be done anywhere (with proper visa) and there’s no physical location to get back to. 

[JFH 12,190]

With an ongoing lease obligation, less than $5k in the bank and no means to work here I’m not surprised he was denied. That $5k will be gone in no time just paying his bills back home. What will he live off here? 

[SalishSea 17,936]

9 hours ago, Msc75 said:

My Canadian friend was intending to visit me and spend the summer in the US, but he was refused entry for “insufficient ties to home country” after his connecting flight in Vancouver. He’s already visited the US couple times in the past and never had problems so he he was caught completely unprepared this time and I’m afraid did everything wrong. He only had a one-way ticket (didn’t book return yet since he’s waiting on quarantine rules to return to Canada to relax), he told them he’s a freelancer that works with both US and Canada based agencies, and his bank account showed less than $5K. He did bring his apartment lease in Canada good for next 12 months but they didn’t deem that enough. My questions: 

1. When can he try again? He’s contemplating getting more documentation and buying a round trip ticket to US this time before giving up and returning to Montreal.

2. What additional documents would help? He can probably get a letter of employment from his Canadian agency, add more funds to his bank account, and show rental history of 10+ years at his current residence. What else? 
3. Would a letter from me as a US citizen saying I and my husband will be financially responsible for his stay help or hurt his chances? 

4. If he gets denied again for trying twice in a short time, would he get a longer ban?

He cannot legally "freelance" in the US, even if the source of income is in Canada.  Most adults cannot afford to "spend the summer" without working.

 

Not surprising at all that he was refused entry.

[DGF 730]

1. If they didn't tell him when, immediately.

2. Did they give him a list of documentation he should bring with him next time? There used to be a pdf of it floating around but I couldn't find a link to share. If they did, he should get as many documents on that list as possible before trying again. Employment letter won't mean anything since he's remote and doesn't have to be in a specific location.

3. Hurt if anything. 

4. Bans in preclearance (airports) are exceedingly rare. He will most likely be denied entry again and perhaps threatened with a ban. If he tries a third time he'd be risking it imo. 

[Msc75 0]

Thanks for the opinions. I was most curious to know if there's a difference between trying again with more paperwork in a week as opposed to 3 months later, if his circumstances are the same. 

 

If there's a list of documents that might tip the scale in his favor, I'd love to know that. Would cushioning his bank account help? He has a larger chunk of money he can transfer from Paypal (which is where he gets paid through). 

 

Ironic thing is he worked for immigration in Canada for 6 years and says he's seen this happen hundreds of times on the other side of the border, but never thought it would happen to him. He last visited the US 2 years ago for couple weeks with no issues and he was a freelancer then too. He says he was never questioned before. The only difference was that his ticket wasn't one way then,  and it was before covid. The one way ticket was because he didn't know when the quarantine would be lifted but was obviously not a well thought out move in hindsight. 

Edited June 1, 2021 by Msc75