... We're heading back to the UK at Christmas, and the easiest/cheapest way was to fly Halifax > Philadelphia > Manchester.

When we landed earlier this year, we flagpoled at the Blaine border crossing, and of course, like everyone else, we were refused entry to the US.

Will this cause any problems when we get to Philly? I've no doubt we're not the first people to have been refused entry before, but I just wanted to double check.

Thanks

The 'refused entry' for flagpoling is only a technicality to avoid the Homeland Security guys filling in the unnecessary paperwork for a 5 min visit. It does not go on your record as a refused entry.

Unless of course there was some other reason why you were refused entry.

IIRC lots that post on here state otherwise. Didn't RICH do this and is now stopped each and every time he crosses the border?

Have you got an valid ESTA or do you need to apply for one . If it is the latter then apply sooner and see what the system says at the end of the process.

I'll do some digging to see if we need to get a visa or anything. Its not really a problem on the way there because there's not much gap between flights, but on the way back theres about a 6hr gap so we were hoping to get a quick trip in to Philly.

Soz to say this but I take it you know that you must be processed by US immigration and customs on both outbound and inbound routes EVEN if only transiting through the USA. It is a pain in the arse. I was quizzed more by US customs on a recent business trip to South American than the country I visited or Canada customs.

You need to fill in ESTA.

If you're only doing a transfer via the US, you won't be getting out of the airport....plus you won't have much time to see all that much by the time you get out of the airport and then having to deal with security on the way in again.

Hey Bob, it all depends on the airport. I did a transfer via miami and when I got through customs and immigration, I was (directed) ground side and then went through security to get air side again. I was initially surprised by this but I then remembered I had formally been through C & I so it made sense.

Like I said, if you left the airport, you wouldn't have much of that 6 hours to see anything, once you factor in time getting from airport to city, getting back and going all the way through security...that's even if you'd be able to get out of the airport on a transfer.

Yep, 7 years on and I still get subjected to secondary inspection every time. It adds at least an hour to the immigration process, mainly waiting in a chair before being handed back my passport and being told to have a nice day. It's a PITA.

That makes little sense - my refusal process included a full fingerprinting and a lengthy interview. I was there for over 2 hours. The paperwork for a 5 min visit would have been far quicker. I was told categorically I'd have to declare the refusal upon each subsequent visit.

So do I need to declare the refusal?
I was only refused because of the flagpoling... nothing more sinister.

Sounds like the same situation as I experienced. I was told I must declare it. I submitted an appeal to US immigration about 12 months ago, and got an acknowledgment of receipt a few months later, but have heard nothing since.

Ok. Not what we were told by the member of Homeland Security at the border as I asked specifically if this would cause issue in future.

We shall see next time I go over. If it does, I will kind of regret helping out the person doing the landing as all I was doing was providing the wheels.

The conversation I had with US immigration basically went like this:

USI: Purpose of visiting the US please.
Me: I need to re-enter Canada to activate PR.
USI: What if they refuse you?
Me: I have a valid TWP, so will continue to use that until the issue is resolved.
USI: A TWP doesn't guarantee you a right to re-entry, the US won't take the risk that Canada will refuse to permit you back into the country.
Me: I hold a UK passport, there's no risk you'll get stuck with me in the US. I also own an ongoing business in BC to attend to.
USI: We're not taking the risk, so will refuse you entry to the US. Step this way for processing.
Me: Will I have to declare the refusal each time I try to visit the US?
USI: Yes you will. It's a legal obligation.