Unfriendly customs officers :(

[solismaris]

This weekend we went to Montreal. The Canadian customs officer was efficient but polite. Asked all the right questions with a friendly manner and when finished wished us well on our visit.

Returning to USA was the polar opposite. The officer said absolutely thing; stuck out his hand. I figured he wanted our passports. "Why were you in Canada?" I answered. "What was the purpose of your visit?". I answered. "How long?". Etc. When finished, he thrust the passports back at us with the most unfriendly demeanor imaginable and said nothing. I figured that meant he was done with us and we pulled away.

No "Thank You". No "Welcome back to the United States." Nothing but a scowl.

In my experience this was not an isolated incident.

As an Ameican I am ashamed for our Canadian friends who come to visit us. Please know that we're not all jerks. But from your first encounter at the border you could be left with that impression.

[DustyR]

I trained CDL drivers for a major transportation company. Each trainee was sent to Canada with a delivery. Have your documentation in order and ready, answer all question directly, do not volunteer information unless requested. Short and concise answers are all that are required.

Those agents are human and often have a bad day as do we.

[Pipeman]

We travel back and forth across the border frequently and did it yesterday. I can honestly say in all the years that we've been crossing back and forth, we have never had a bad experience on both sides of the border. Yesterday the U.S. customs agent stated that I pulled a 5th wheel with my truck and I told him he was right. Didn't surprise me as we do a lot of camping in the States and it's all right there on the computer in front of him. He welcomed us and it was the same when we came back into Canada. There are some who are gruffer in their questioning but I would imagine it's can be a long day sometimes, for them.

[sue_t]

BigDaddyHfx wrote:
Whenever we cross back into Canada my favourite part is when they say "Welcome Home".

On one of our returns into Saskatchewan, we were asked if our dog was Canadian too. I yupped my response and started to reach for his papers. The agent waved us onward with the words, "Welcome home to you and your dog". Made me chuckle!

It might have been the smell in the truck, from when he snatched a skunk out of the ditch near Duluth, that prompted her to move us on quickly.

[BigDaddyHfx]

This summer we crossed the border with our cat. In the bed of the truck we had a bag with stuff from the litter box. Border agent asked if it was poop... I said yes and went to open it. He backed off of it like it was Ebola. That ended the vehicle check.

You get good and bad no matter where you go. Someone could be having a really bad day. You don't know what kind of attitude the guy before you gave the agent. Sucks that he wasn't more friendly but border agents (American or Canadian) have a responsibility to protect the country they represent. Some are a little more serious when they do it.

Whenever we cross back into Canada my favourite part is when they say "Welcome Home".

[kodiakcanuck]

Interesting perspectives from both sides. To add what other Canadians have said; 9 times out of 10, I found the US border agents friendlier and more welcoming to visiting their country. Lots have joked with us and told us to enjoy our trip or commented on how nice our destination was.

Coming back home I find the Canadian border guards very stand off-ish, with a "how dare you leave our country and spend your money someplace else" attitude, and bent to stump you up on their questions to catch you smuggling something :R I can only recall one time when we had a very polite and welcoming Canadian officer...

[W4RLR]

solismaris wrote:
This weekend we went to Montreal. The Canadian customs officer was efficient but polite. Asked all the right questions with a friendly manner and when finished wished us well on our visit.

Returning to USA was the polar opposite. The officer said absolutely thing; stuck out his hand. I figured he wanted our passports. "Why were you in Canada?" I answered. "What was the purpose of your visit?". I answered. "How long?". Etc. When finished, he thrust the passports back at us with the most unfriendly demeanor imaginable and said nothing. I figured that meant he was done with us and we pulled away.

No "Thank You". No "Welcome back to the United States." Nothing but a scowl.

In my experience this was not an isolated incident.

As an Ameican I am ashamed for our Canadian friends who come to visit us. Please know that we're not all jerks. But from your first encounter at the border you could be left with that impression.

Maybe he was constipated. Lewis Grizzard, the famed Southern humorist, attributed many a scowling person's demeanor to an inability to move their bowels. Then again the TSA and CBP did recruit some of their help with ads placed in pizza boxes, so you get what you pay for. This is just my opinion, your mileage may vary, batteries not included, member FDIC.

[wilber1]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

dieharder wrote:

skrams wrote:

joe b. wrote:
One of my Mexican buddies who is a dually, Mexican and Canadian, when he and his wife enter the U.S., they use their Canadian passports, when entering Canada, they use their Mexican passports.

He shouldn't do that. If you have citizenship in a country, you are to use that country's passport to enter.

Says who? There is absolutely nothing that says you have to.

The language quoted below from a Canadian Government site having to do with Mexican travel seems to indicate that at least when entering/leaving MEXICO, holders of dual Canadian/Mexican citizenship are to use their Mexican passports. Seems logical to presume they're to use their Canadian docs when entering Canada.

M wrote:
Under Mexican legislation (Art. 12, Ley de Nacionalidad), holders of dual Canadian and Mexican citizenship are required to enter and leave Mexico as Mexican citizens. Those who contravene the law may incur heavy fines (Art. 33-1, Ley de Nacionalidad).

Source

Probably not necessary but definately easier. At major airports Canadian passport holders can use machines that scan your passport and declaration. The agent just checks that the picture matches the holder. NEXUS holder ID is checked by a machine that does a retina scan.

[homefor2]

On a trip through Blaine WA. I was driving my red Z06 Corvette to visit relatives. When I pulled up to the US customs the young guy said "First I would like to say I like the way you are taking care of my car" then after the standard questions, he yells over to the next customs agent while pointing at my car, "Hey Fred, 505 HP" then smiles and says "go ahead". We were both having a good day.

[homefor2]

My wife spent the week-end in Blaine Wa. with her sister and I drove down to pick her up a few days later.When coming back home at the Canadian Customs, we were asked the usual "do you have anything to declare ?" from the female customs officer. NO was my answer. My wife leaned over and said "yes we do" and gave me a "are you stupid" look before proceeding to declare what she had purchased. Next question, "do you have any alcohol?" No was my reply. "yes we do" (with that same look) was her reply.

I guess the customs officer must have also had a husband that was also a bit of an air head at times because she could tell I wasn't trying to be dishonest, just forgetting that those questions were for both of us not just me. luckily she waved us through. After my wife gave me the "what were you thinking" routine, we had a laugh about it.

[Dog_Folks]

Also remember they are not there to be a "Welcome Wagon."

They are there to protect our borders and prevent bad people and things,like drugs and terrorists, from getting into the country.

Are they perfect? Of course not.

But neither are the folks trying to cross the border.

[okgc]

Remember the Border guard may have had a tourist with a disgruntled attitude ahead of you.

[lakeside013104]

rickm wrote:
Always remember...... in the scheme of things, there is God, than there is the Customs Agent!

O.K. let us think this statement over somewhat. The first person in your statement has the power to make your life as you know it disappear. You implied that the second person of your statement has even more authority. In that case, POOF, there would be a lot less unhappy travelers with disgruntled attitudes crossing the borders. Just think how nice it would be then to have a border agent's job: Absolutely ZERO unhappy travelers to deal with.

Where do I apply for a border guard position?

Lakeside

[Pangaea_Ron]

We just came through immigration in Dubai (UAE). You pass your passport through a scanner, a gate opens, your facial photograph is taken, another gate opens, and you're done. Pick up your bags, pass through the "nothing to declare" gate, and off to the hotel on a free shuttle. There was no need to interact with anyone? Actually it was kind of scary.

[JaxDad]

skrams wrote:

dieharder wrote:

skrams wrote:

joe b. wrote:
One of my Mexican buddies who is a dually, Mexican and Canadian, when he and his wife enter the U.S., they use their Canadian passports, when entering Canada, they use their Mexican passports.

He shouldn't do that. If you have citizenship in a country, you are to use that country's passport to enter.

Says who? There is absolutely nothing that says you have to.

http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/08/04/dual_citizens_carrying_foreign_passport_turned_away_at_florida_airport.html

A gate agent is looking out for the Company's best interest, NOT necessarily anyone else's.

If a person arrives in Canada who is deemed to be in admissible (for any reason) it is up to the airline that brought them in to get them back out of the country.