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Crossing the border....
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Feb 5, 2019 07:48:35   #
Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.
 
This is not the way to do it.....

Just sitting and thinking about that day I was going through customs in Canada and a rather stern looking agent said "papers" so I said "scissors" and was sure I had the win. So I threw both hands in the air to celebrate! Apparently that game hasn't made it that far north yet. They play a game called "Cavity Search". Not a fan


(Download)

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Feb 5, 2019 07:50:36   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
From what I've seen, border agents can't have a sense of humor. Part of the interview process involves telling them jokes. If they laugh, they don't get the job. : )

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Feb 5, 2019 07:56:13   #
anotherview Loc: California
 
This citizen has found via experience that flippancy does not play well with federal officers manning the U.S border.

Straightforward cooperation in adult mode with short answers do better going either way at the U.S. border when crossing.
Tom DePuy wrote:
This is not the way to do it.....

Just sitting and thinking about that day I was going through customs in Canada and a rather stern looking agent said "papers" so I said "scissors" and was sure I had the win. So I threw both hands in the air to celebrate! Apparently that game hasn't made it that far north yet. They play a game called "Cavity Search". Not a fan

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Feb 5, 2019 08:22:59   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
Tom DePuy wrote:
This is not the way to do it.....

Just sitting and thinking about that day I was going through customs in Canada and a rather stern looking agent said "papers" so I said "scissors" and was sure I had the win. So I threw both hands in the air to celebrate! Apparently that game hasn't made it that far north yet. They play a game called "Cavity Search". Not a fan


I find you can never go wrong by saying "Rock", that way they win....yes, Canada strictly follows the rules

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Feb 5, 2019 08:24:19   #
ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA
 
Don’t do anything like that with TSA either - they’ll call FBI. I had that experience when a colleague made a joke and he was detained for over an hour - we missed our flight. We kept that from our employer and client.

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Feb 5, 2019 08:27:05   #
ppkwhat Loc: Gibsonton, FL
 
Tom DePuy wrote:
This is not the way to do it.....

Just sitting and thinking about that day I was going through customs in Canada and a rather stern looking agent said "papers" so I said "scissors" and was sure I had the win. So I threw both hands in the air to celebrate! Apparently that game hasn't made it that far north yet. They play a game called "Cavity Search". Not a fan


In my experience traveling across borders all over the World, first as a Government Official and latter as an Export Manager for a large US Metalworking Machinery dealer and then as a tourist, the best attitude is responding the Custom Agent in a professional manner, as educated as you can with short and "to the point" answers, not elaborating much and keeping calm, not hurried as you wait the next question from the Agent. Thank him with a smile, wish him "have a good day, Sir" and get the heck out of there. In over 30 years of traveling I have never encounter any issues coming or going.

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Feb 5, 2019 08:29:20   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
ecobin wrote:
Don’t do anything like that with TSA either - they’ll call FBI. I had that experience when a colleague made a joke and he was detained for over an hour - we missed our flight. We kept that from our employer and client.


True, they are humorless and have the hammer....but I'm more worried about TSA agents stealing from my luggage.

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Feb 6, 2019 05:54:14   #
johneccles Loc: Leyland UK
 
Personally, I wouldn't let you in !

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Feb 6, 2019 06:06:35   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
johneccles wrote:
Personally, I wouldn't let you in !


Then again, I guess you have no say now do you! Cheers

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Feb 6, 2019 08:25:28   #
traderjohn Loc: New York City
 
Blaster34 wrote:
True, they are humorless and have the hammer....but I'm more worried about TSA agents stealing from my luggage.


More than baggage handlers??

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Feb 6, 2019 09:18:57   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
traderjohn wrote:
More than baggage handlers??


We very seldom deal with the baggage handlers and their actions have been noted but its a problem across the board, especially in the larger cities like Miami, JFK, Orlando and others. Numerous firings of TSA Agents in these cities due to theft....Some TSA agents are great, some have a sense of humor and then there are the bad apples....Cheers

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Feb 6, 2019 09:48:38   #
Halftrack
 
On a trip to Spain, I had my golf bag in a box to protect the bag. When I took the box from the carousel and turned, a weapon was put under my chin. Naturally, I froze. My niece stepped in and explained that the box contained golf clubs, then I had to open the bag, take out the clubs to show the Seville Guard that I was not a terrorist or member of "La ETA".

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Feb 6, 2019 11:39:57   #
markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ
 
Tom DePuy wrote:
This is not the way to do it.....

Just sitting and thinking about that day I was going through customs in Canada and a rather stern looking agent said "papers" so I said "scissors" and was sure I had the win. So I threw both hands in the air to celebrate! Apparently that game hasn't made it that far north yet. They play a game called "Cavity Search". Not a fan



Mark

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Feb 6, 2019 12:35:09   #
xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada
 
Flippancy and cajoling will never endear you to guardians at the gate.
Tom DePuy wrote:
This is not the way to do it.....

Just sitting and thinking about that day I was going through customs in Canada and a rather stern looking agent said "papers" so I said "scissors" and was sure I had the win. So I threw both hands in the air to celebrate! Apparently that game hasn't made it that far north yet. They play a game called "Cavity Search". Not a fan

Reply
Feb 6, 2019 13:21:56   #
LittleRed
 
As a Canadian returning home from a day the USA we normally are asked 4 ? They are - where do you live, how long were you out of the country, how much did you purchase, any alcohol or tobacco. If all are answered politely then we get a "have a nice day" and we go home. This is the exact process that occurred the last 3 times, it's almost like it's a script or something like that.
As a Canadian leaving home for a day in the USA we are usually asked a lot more ? Some of the more usual ones are - where are you going, how long are you staying, carrying any fruits or vegetables, are you leaving anything in the states, are you carrying $10,000 or more. If you are going to stay a bit in the states then ? about where you will be staying ( eg. Motel etc) is usually asked. Again speaking politely is the best and short answers are the best bet to get through with very little hassle. However, if the border person himself decides to open up the conversation then we have found that almost all have a quick wit and a pleasure to talk with. My wife and I are nature photographers and if we say that when asked "where are you going" and we say to look for some birds we have found us having many great conversations with the said guard, much to the displeasure of the long line of cars waiting behind us. One must remember that these people have a difficult and stressful job to do. Their main job is to protect the country and its people as best they can from harm brought in by others ( even their own citizens)! Probably a job I would not like myself.
My wife and I cross back and forth over the Canada/USA countless times (probably 40-50) every year with little or no problems as long as we remain polite and civil with the border personnel regardless or the direction we are travelling. Just be ready with your papers (passport) and answer all ? clearly and civilly and you should have no problems. But for God's sake don't tell an untruth for if caught the results can be disastrous. I know some people who crossed the border at one area (such as Detroit) and then recrossed the border elsewhere (such as Sault Ste Marie) have lied about how long they were out-of-country so as to bring back more purchases duty free. That now is a no-no as the border computer systems for each country are now tied together so that a passport scanned by the US authorities will be shown by the Canadian computer scan when you try to recross. They always know exactly how long you we're across (even though that is one of the ? asked 😱). If you do be ready for a good fine and future border crossing problems.
Another untruth that is fairly common is for those south of the border, this one dealing with firearms. Handguns/firearms of any type are severely banned in Canada but still a considerable number of people will falsely claim to have none even though they do when crossing into Canada. If the border guard is suspicious that a unclaimed firearm is present he can do an extensive search himself, or if too busy can give the information to the Federal Police Force (RCMP) to do a follow up check. This means the person could be stopped much later at a distance from the border and then have a extensive search done. Either way, if a undeclared firearm is found it will result in confiscation, large fine and banned from crossing in the future. Not something any traveller would aim for, all the result of one "little"lie. Since I personally do not own a firearm at the present I don't know the consequences of bringing one into the USA, maybe similar!
So if you are planning coming into Canada/USA and also returning play it smart and don't rock the boat, tis not worth it.

LittleRed (Ron)

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