My U.S. Border Nightmare • Hacker News Board

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#241

Post by refurb » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 4:27 PM UTC

pyre wrote: post #26

potatolicious wrote: post #8

Author seems a bit naive about international sovereignty, though I suppose one can't exactly blame him for it. I grew up in Vancouver, a stone's throw from the border, so I suppose I take it for granted that we all learn very early on that CBP is a wretched hive of scum and villainy, and everyone knows someone who was chewed out, berated, and generally treated like a criminal by them. Seeing as how I work in the US n…

I will add an anecdote here. I have crossed the US-Canada land border many times. I've only ever been 'chewed out' by Canadian Border Patrol once . I've had this happen multiple times from the US Border Patrol and I'm a US citizen. The Canadian Border Patrol has always been calm, patient and understanding in my experience. The US border patrol is hit-or-miss. Some people are nice ( once I was only asked two questions…

The funny part is I've seen the same thing, in reverse!

I'm a Canadian citizen and I get no end of grief from the Canadian Border Patrol. "Are you trying to bring this car in illegally?" or "Visiting family? What do you mean by family?".

Then I return to the US and all I get is "Welcome home!".

It makes sense if you think about it. Who in the gov't cares if one of their citizens complain? It's not like you're going to stop coming back to your home country.

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#242

Post by yardie » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 4:42 PM UTC

choros12 wrote: post #211

DrJokepu wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As long as you have a EU (Schengen) passport, another EU (Schengen) member state can only deny your entry if its authorities can prove that you pose a "genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat". The burden of proof is on them. It's very likely that even if you have refused to answer eventually the border control officer would have granted you entry.

"genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat". Reading: they can stop anyone for any reason anytime at any place. EU is not much better than US. I hold Polish, German and US citizenships. Europe is actually worse because they think that they treat people better when in reality they are much worse it just doesn't get as much attention because it is not US.

Funny, I'm an American working in the EU and my experience has been loads better than when I go back to the US. Growing up in the places I have you learn to say as little as possible to authorities (ie, don't give too much rope to hang yourself).

In every country I've visited it's known your flight number, know your hotel address, know your return date, and if anyone asks, you are just visiting. Getting into specifics just invites more and more questions.

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#243

Post by jrockway » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 4:45 PM UTC

grecy wrote: post #95

jrockway wrote: post #47

If you're ever locked in a jail cell, I have one word of advice: lawyer.

As a foreigner being detained in the US, with no official status in the US, he had no right to a lawyer.

That's not true, but even if you don't have the right to a lawyer, a lawyer can start petitioning the court on your behalf. You just have to pay for it yourself.

Despite all the rhetoric about Guantanamo Bay and the 500-mile "Constitution-free zone", the government still has to charge you with a crime to detain you. And to punish you, they have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you are guilty of the crime they say you are. The Constitution applies to all "people", not just citizens.

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#244

Post by captainaj » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 4:46 PM UTC

I'm sorry for the author's experience but knowledge and preparation is the key to winning the war i.e. getting in the US and/or stay for certain amount of times. I'm not a lawyer but I have filed visa applications and petitions with the US Immigration Office USCIS many times by myself and have always been successful despite the fact that my country used to be in a war with the US. The laws are complicated if you don't read ahead and prep. If you do, it's a breeze. Hope this helps someone: visajourney dot com

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#245

Post by yardie » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 4:51 PM UTC

oldstrangers wrote: post #74

pyre wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I will add an anecdote here. I have crossed the US-Canada land border many times. I've only ever been 'chewed out' by Canadian Border Patrol once . I've had this happen multiple times from the US Border Patrol and I'm a US citizen. The Canadian Border Patrol has always been calm, patient and understanding in my experience. The US border patrol is hit-or-miss. Some people are nice ( once I was only asked two questions…

Some more anecdotes. I've crossed into Canada twice, both times awful. The first time (crossing from Detroit, heading towards Toronto) required having my entire car searched. The people were extremely unpleasant. Probably took close to an hour at the border. Coming home through Buffalo took two seconds. Second time was heading to Montreal from NYC and the guard was just generally a dick. Again, returning home, the gu…

I wouldn't be surprised if there is a system and your name popped. Years ago, going through US customs wasn't a big deal for me. Now, I've got loads more stamps and visas in the passport I get questioned more, every time. They'll ask about countries I've been in 20-25 flights ago. I give them the "fuck if I know" face.

Legally, they can't prevent me from entering the US, but they sure love to slow me down.

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#246

Post by maxerickson » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 4:51 PM UTC

wmoxam wrote: post #233

maxerickson wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just different. The lower 48 is roughly twice the size of the Schengen area, without any border control anywhere. Throw in Mexico, Canada and Alaska and you are up to 6 times the area, with 3 borders (and the Canada-Alaska border is sort of its own thing). "It's a big place" doesn't really relate back to border control policy, but the borders of the U.S. and Canada aren't really all that similar to the borders o…

"the borders of the U.S. and Canada aren't really all that similar to the borders of countries like the Netherlands or Spain" They used to be.

Yeah. I was thinking more about the physical scope of it and the variety and amount of traffic.

I imagine it would be far less expensive for the U.S. and Canada to just open the border and spend some of the savings on policing any problems from that, but I don't really expect that to happen in the near future.

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#247

Post by mmaunder » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 4:58 PM UTC

For what it's worth, setting up a C corp in the USA as a non-resident, which is technically legal, will almost certainly flag you for further interrogation by DHS. If they can find any reason to refuse entry, they will. It's happened to me. [I'm now a US citizen.]

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#248

Post by ajays » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 5:04 PM UTC

omgsean wrote: post #238

ajays wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've crossed into Canada numerous times. On the Buffalo border, if you basically said "I'm going to the casino" or "I'm going to the strip clubs", they just waived you right in. On the way back, depending on the person at the booth, it could either be a stern questioning, or a waive through. You learned to guess the demeanor of the agents by looking at the lines of cars; if one line was moving very slowly, it was bes…

Sundowners fan, eh?

LOL ... guilty as charged. :-D

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#249

Post by unreal37 » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 5:11 PM UTC

potatolicious wrote: post #116

floetic wrote: post #90

I was flying to San Francisco one day at Pearson and was faced with a similiar situation. I was turned down and asked to be withdrawn. I had all the necessary paper work and even brought my degree / lawyer look over my papers.

Were you applying for a TN via YYZ? That's one of the most notoriously difficult TN gateways, I'm surprised your lawyers let you fly through there. I've seen people go YVR-YOW-ORD-... just to avoid going through either YVR or YYZ.

I was told once it's better to drive to Niagara Falls, cross the border by car, get the TN there, drive back home, and fly to the US by plane a few days later.

TNs are best requested when you don't have a plane to catch in an hour.

Re: My U.S. Border Nightmare

#250

Post by jinushaun » Fri, Feb 03, 2012, 5:18 PM UTC

I travel a lot and I've never had as much problem traveling internationally as I do dealing with Canadian border guards. Oy vey. I always seem to get pulled over. I've since learned to practice my answers in a terse cold unfriendly manner. Smiles and friendly doesn't work.