Border Crossing Problems

Apegirl
New Member



Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Vancouver

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:24 pm

 

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Hello, any sort of help on this topic would be most appreciated.

My boyfriend lives in Seattle, I live in Vancouver. For four years we have been regularly crossing the border to see each other (every month or so). This summer we were stopped at the border and I was not allowed to proceed because we had a car full of crap and they thought I was trying to move to the US, which is laughably far from the truth (I'm trying to get HIM to move HERE). It was not a pleasant experience, as you can imagine. After fingerprinting, mugshots and humiliating, agressive treatment I was sent back. I gathered the information they requested over the next few weeks (lease, insurance, letters from work) and made another attempt. After 3 hours they finally, grudgingly let me in. My question is this - is there any way to avoid getting the third degree every time I want to cross the border? Will I be delayed like this every time? I don't have a car, so getting through by Amtrak or Greyhound is very problematic, as I don't want to hold up hundreds of people.

Will getting a lawyer help? A Nexus pass? I'm at the point where I never want to try it again.

Thanks again.

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g-op
CanuckAbroad Regular



Joined: 25 Sep 2008
Posts: 32
Location: montreal

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:55 pm

 

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A lawyer cannot help you as every time you try to enter the US you can be subjected to questioning as to the reason and length of your trip. Under Law you are not even allowed to have a Lawyer present during you inspection by border officials. I would suggest you continue to bring up to date evidence of where you live as you have been previously not allowed to enter as they believed you may intend to stay. Also if you have filed any documents with canada showing you intend to have him immigrate to canada as you claim could help your case.

Good luck.

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Reba
Moderator


Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1448
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:18 pm

 

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Once you're flagged you're always flagged unfortunately.

And you wouldn't hold up hundreds of people on a train, they'd just go on without you!
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Apegirl
New Member



Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Vancouver

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:24 pm

 

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Thsnks for your replies. It's what I suspected, unfortunately.

One can hold up a whole bus for an hour or more at the border - I've seen it done. And if they turn you back on the train to Seattle you'll have to hitchike home from the tracks as there is only one train a day.

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1582
Location: Calgary

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:26 pm

 

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How are you crossing now, with a DL? Getting a NEXUS card won't help if you're using a passport. If you're just using a DL and a birth certificate there is a small possibility they may not match you up if next time you use a passport.

But like Reba said, once refused, always a hassle. I had a friend in an almost identical situation to yours, she got so mad she just dragged her bf home from Bellingham after having been sat at the border for hours and married him the next day.

Although he still had to go home and wait months for his visa.
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Steve.

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Apegirl
New Member



Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Vancouver

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 5:01 pm

 

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Steven,

I got my passport when my boyfriend and I started seeing each other, 4 years ago, in anticipation of more stringent laws. I've been crossing my "t"s and dotting my "i"s the whole time, which is the most annoying aspect of this.

Wonder what would happen if I tried to go through with just my DL and Birth Certificate?

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1582
Location: Calgary

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:27 pm

 

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Well you've got until June to find out.
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Steve.

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