American boyfriend denied entry a year ago; can he visit now

Hi.

Does anyone have any idea how to contact CBSA in advance to find out if an American can come visit Canada? My boyfriend got harassed on his last time into Canada because they 'found' an undeclared knife (small and used as a tool) in his car(appeal is pending).anyway, it was a year ago and we want to visit my family for a week or so. I wanted to contact someone in advance to find out if he can visit, what to bring to prove that its a short vacation and that he will be returning to the US etc.

Has anyone had a similar problem?

If he's been banned for possession of a prohibited weapon (i.e. a Criminal Code offence), then he's banned, especially if he's got an appeal pending.

Depends on the basis of the ban, if they just turned him around and he's engaged in a customs appeal to get the knife back then he shouldn't have a problem.

You have a right to know what is in the CBSA system under the terms of the Privacy Act, so you can contact them and ask, but they'll need a request in writing.

But the actual decision to allow entry is at the discretion of the CBSA officer. I can't see your having a problem other than the knife seizure.

I have to say a lot of these CBSA weapon things are BS, I've seen them virtually take cars with American plates from big gun-owning States apart at the border looking for weapons. However, possession of an ordinary pocket knife on your person or in your car is not an offence (provided you have a legitimate reason - the law says you can't do it except for reasonable purposes, basically it must not be carried for use as a "weapon"), but CBSA wet themselves if you tell them you have a pen knife in the glove compartment. I always put mine in the trunk before I cross in case I get searched.

Was he told he was given a ban of any particular time frame? If not (I think they're usually given in writing), then techncially he should be allowed to visit. But its totally up to the officer he happens across when he gets to the border unfortunately.