Travel to the US from Canada

Hello All,

I've been researching all day and I've come across a few threads from this website that seemed helpful, so here goes my story...

I'm a 26 year old male from Canada. I've never traveled overseas, and the last time I visited the US I was under 18 and with parents.

I live and work in Ottawa, Ontario and my girlfriend is a Canadian with a T1 visa working in Seattle.
This past weekend I flew (one way) from Ottawa to Vancouver and my girlfriend drove from Seattle to Vancouver to pick me up. On the way back we were asked the regular questions at the border and when I asked how long I intended to stay I answered truthfully "a couple of weeks". We were diverted to secondary screening and when inside my girlfriends vehicle was searched and I was asked many questions about my employment and living situation, etc.
After a wait I was asked to step into a room where and officer proceeded to scan my fingerprints. I assumed this was because he was permitting me entry until about halfway through the process he said "You were denied entry, so when we're turning you back to Canada." I was half shocked and nervous and asked "Why am I giving you my fingerprints if I'm being denied entry? I've never committed a crime in my entire life" He proceeded to tell me that this was standard procedure for denial of entry into the US. I was told that because I didn't have proof that I was returning to work in the US and didn't have a return ticket booked that how could he know I was coming back.

Here I was after purchasing a ticket to spend a couple of weeks with my girlfriend and I'm stuck in Canada on the West coast where I have no friends/relatives. I stayed in a hotel that night and had no other choice than to return to Ottawa on the flight the following day.

I have been online all day trying to find out my options (as I don't want to wait 6 months to a year to visit my girlfriend.) I guess I was naive in thinking all I needed to cross the border was my passport. It was my first time crossing and had I known the documentation I needed I would have obviously prepared them.

All advice is welcome but I'm specifically looking for advice from anyone who has had a similar or direct experience and what they did to remedy this.

My questions are as follows:
If I have never committed a crime, or done anything remotely close to it, is it possible that this was a random event? Looking back, I had probably over-packed (which I tend to do anyways,) had no return ticket bought (I innocently intended to book one from Seattle after I got there,) and I had no documents to prove where I worked (had NO IDEA I would need these.)

Even though I had no intention whatsoever of staying, in hindsight I can see why it looked questionable. I now realize burden on proof in on me. I'm trying to do everything I can to see my love, so please help!

I intend on booking a flight from Ottawa to Seattle (I believe that Ottawa has pre-clearance to the US) sometime next month. Where I was denied entry last weekend will I be "red flagged" or anything like that? Just to be clear, the officer never mentioned anything other than needing to prove I was returning. i.e. no other reason was given to me, and I assume he would have mentioned if there were some other reason. I will bring paystubs, a note from my work stating that I work there and when I will be returning, and a valid passport. Is there anything else I can do?

You are red-flagged. You needto carry iron-clad proff of your reissnce, your job, and a petty detailed idea of how long and what you will be doing in US.

Entering US is not a right. You must convince -- each time you enter -- that you are going to leave, and that you have requisite ties in Canada that will encourage you to go back.

Hello AGN, thanks for your reply.

I will have no problem getting proof of my job (letter from them explaining that I work for them and when I will return.) I can also give them details of how long and what I will be doing in the US. My onlt issue is my residence. I pay rent to my roommates but only my name is not on the lease. Will letters from my bank, work, etc with my address on them be sufficient? I find it hard to believe that I am red flagged when all I did was simply not have the necessary documents on me at the time. Please explain my options if you have any info.

And also, what exactly does "Red-Flagged" mean? Why would I be Red-Flagged? Does this simply mean I need to carry the iron-clad proof you spoke of, or will it be near impossible to travel to the US in the future regardless of what I do? Is there any way to rectify this? I realize it is a right and not a privilege, however almost everyone I know has traveled to the US at some point or another, and I've never heard of anything like this before in my life.

You are flagged. period. This means that you can and will be pulled into secondary everytime you cross.

This happens dozens of times a day at almost every crossing.

My girlfriend and I had the exact same thing happen to us, only the roles were reversed, I am a US Citizen and she is Canadian. She was denied entry into the US and "red flagged" because we also did not buy a return trip ticket and she did not have concrete proof of residence or employment in Canada on her. She is self employed and lives in her Mother's house. This was her first time ever crossing the border for more than an over night trip and didn't know all that was required for her to cross when staying for a longer period of time, she had intended to stay for a month, maybe two. We were also seperated at the border and I had to fly home alone and eat a $600 plane ticket. It was all circumstantial and looking back at it, I can't say I blame the POE Officer at all for denying her entry based on what we came to the border with. We also had no intentions of her staying here permanently, but were naive/ignorrant to what was actually required for her to cross the border and stay in the US for an extended period of time. It was an expensive lesson to learn.

The POE Officer gave my girlfriend a list of things that would be required of her if she wanted to attempt to cross the border again. She was able to get everything on the list within a few days, we purchased a round trip ticket for her and she was allowed to cross. She is "red flagged" and gets pulled into secondary every time she crosses into the US, but it's no big deal as long as she's carrying all the paperwork that is needed.

Leon, You may want to get a signed letter from your roomates stating that you live there and how much you pay for rent each month. Any cancelled checks or receipts to prove that you pay rent would help too. Anything that helps prove permanent ties to Canada will help. A return ticket is a must! Good luck!

Thanks for the replies!

Does anyone have any idea, if I am approved when I try again with proper proof of ties, how long I will be granted? If a B-2 likely to be issued to me, or a conditional certain period of time? Does this depend on the POE officer and their mood at the time?

Given the problems you faced, I'll be quite sure that they will issue you an I-94, with a short return date, based on how specific you are about your plans in US.

You won't be waved through.

Does anyone have any idea, if I am approved when I try again with proper proof of ties, how long I will be granted? If a B-2 likely to be issued to me, or a conditional certain period of time? Does this depend on the POE officer and their mood at the time?

My girlfriend has crossed the border 3 times since she was "flagged" and has never been issued an I-94, even on the first crossing after she was denied entry she was allowed in on a B-2. I'm not sure why she was never issued an I-94, but I think a lot of it depends on the feeling the POE gets from you and what your history is.If you don't have a criminal background and you don't appear nervous and act like you're trying to get away with something, you may get through without an I-94.