The horror of border control
 

So, this week my family came to visit and we were all set to pick them up in Buffalo driving across the border from Fort Erie. I expected to have some trouble cross to the states as they tend to be over zealous though a 2 and a half hour wait seemed excessive even then but then, coming back today after dropping them off to go home, already sad that they were leaving I had to deal with the most horrid border patrol officer I think I have ever met.
First she questioned my BUNAC visa being authentic, then she demanded to know why we applied for our spousal visa outland via london when inland is so much faster (what?! I don't know where she gets her information from!). When she asked me where I got my information from and I told her from the CIC website she rolled her eyes and said, 'uh no, it's faster inland.' I'm not sure what business that was of hers anyway to be honest, if I wanted to send the ruddy applications to the moon what difference would it make? We were then sent to go and see immigration canada and the girl there was lovely and sent us on our way without problem. She seemed a little confused why we were there at all!
Ok, so in conclusion, after 4 terrible experiences out of 5 crossing the border in the last 2 years I've decided not to do it again. Too stressful because you can't lost your temper with them but you have to take their terrible attitudes and it's such a waste of time all round.
I've finished ranting now, anyone else had similar experiences?

Re: The horror of border control
 

Nope, but commiserations anyway.

The US officers were more of a problem than the canadian ones back when I was on a temp permit, but you just bend over, take whats coming, then count to ten and get on with life again. They have a job to do weeding out the ne'er-do-wells I guess. I wouldnt want to be them (other than for the benefits and job security:) )

Re: The horror of border control
 

Crossed the border at least 30 times in the last 18 months - occasionally you'll get someone who wants to be pedantic, but 9 times out of 10 if you're polite, smile and nod in agreement with whatever nonsense they feel like spouting or just say "oh, I didn't realise that", then it works out fine.

The minute you get aggressive or argumentative with them is when you've just signed yourself up for a potential rubber gloving...

This applies to both the US and the Canadian side!

Re: The horror of border control
 

Well duh!

Re: The horror of border control
 

I've crossed the border as a vistor, on Bunac, as a PR and various stages inbetween. I realise it is all a bit inconvenient and lengthy, but I wouldn't go as far as "horrific".

Try landing on a working holiday visa from Australia, to come and live with a guy you met on the internet and have never seen in person. To be grilled on all of that and then flagged as being a potential human trafficking risk. That is something to worry about.

Re: The horror of border control
 

You mean Abu Graib rules apply.

Re: The horror of border control
 

I have crossed the US border approximately 410 times in each direction, by wheeled vehicle, commercial flight, private plane, boat and on foot. Once I had an unconcealed but forgotten banana, that time went badly. Once I was unable to convince the border agent that "Jim" as shown on one document is another form of "James" as shown on another document, that led to secondary inspection and much bleating from the uniformed.

Otherwise it's been unremarkable, sometimes my passport goes unopened, but then I try to say nuffink and, if required to answer a question, to do so succintly and truthfully.

Re: The horror of border control
 

Firstly a simple answer to all IO's questions about applying outland is the right of appeal which cannot be taken away, however the statement about inland apps is absolute BS, AIP alone takes 6 months.

My experiences have been somewhat mixed, Ive had the most miserable git in the world who kind of reminded me of hitler, power mad and no idea what the hell he was doing. Had a snotty cow who sent me to the most adorable CIC officer in the world, who after confiscating my 6 stake and kidney pies (declared them) told me every option I had to be with my fiance, had a lovely French Canadian at the BC border by car who said it had been a long day, was pouring with rain and just wanted to go home.

As for the US, same again, some polite, some just downright arrogant yanks. But all in all I think its like any customer service, you get the ones who want to help, and the ones who want to control. Still I would'nt let it stop me crossing the border no matter how much hasstle, we are constantly told 'those with nothing to hide blah blah blah', so why let some muppet in a suit, who 'thinks' they know what they are talking about, take away your freedom?

Re: The horror of border control
 

You poor thing. He sounds like a right creep. I hope they arrested him and he got locked up for long time. The internet can be a dangerous place. I saw a programme on NBC about internet predators, its scary stuff.

Re: The horror of border control
 

Er, I should clarify. I am neither Australian, nor the person who hauled themselves to Canada to meet the Internet Canadian. That was a friend of mine. Incidentally, he did turn out to be a masssive creep, but not in the people trafficking sense.

Re: The horror of border control
 

Apologies, but it can happen to anyone these days.

Re: The horror of border control
 

My theory is that the more unimportant, boring, small and irrelevant a border post is, the more crap you get. I've had the most trouble with US border guards at Point Roberts (pimple on the arse of Canada) and Skagway, Alaska. New York? Couldn't have cared less. Through in minutes.

Never had any trouble with Canadian border officers.

Re: The horror of border control
 

True words. What with all the trafficking, drugs and violence it's a wonder we all make it through the day. Thank goodness the border control people do such a fine, upstanding job.

Re: The horror of border control
 

A wise clarification as for a moment I thought you were talking about an august and venerated poster on this fair board.;)

Re: The horror of border control
 

Ah. 2 plus 2 = "BE forum revealed as hotbed for sordid internet trafficking activity".

I now have to wonder if I have ever come across as even vaguely Australian. I would rather know, so I could work on overcoming it.

Re: The horror of border control
 

Ah, you could have been travelling from Australia and not neccessarily of it. I think we picked up on your Irish'nesness. Somehow.;)

Re: The horror of border control
 

Was it the name that gave it away?

I'm glad that is all cleared up now. No one has been trafficked, by BE posters or otherwise. Now lets move on, or I'll not be allowed out of the basement at all this week.

Re: The horror of border control
 

You could try asking a moderator to change your user name to one that indicates your provenance.

Re: The horror of border control
 

No time for that, I have to get the Fosters in and light up the barbie.

Re: The horror of border control
 

I can confirm that you are certainly not Australian or you would know that you can't buy a can of fosters in Australia for love nor money.

In two and a half years I havent seen it sold anywhere once.

Re: The horror of border control
 

And people say nasty things about Oz. The absence of Fosters is a stella recommendation.

Re: The horror of border control
 

Never a great experience. I've only had good experiences with Canadian border control, but unpleasant experiences with US border control - I've never met one who was in a good mood and they are very ignorant of what non US visas/stamps mean, i.e. when they are asking where have you been and what are you doing.

I've never worked on border control, but have worked extensively in visa processing. I would have been disgusted with any of my staff had they acted in the way that US border control routinely act.

Re: The horror of border control
 

My 2 cents worth...

US Border Control, down here on the southern side, tend be jerkoffs with huge chips on their shoulders and Hispanic names. Every time I crossed with a British passport I would be lectured about how I was supposed to have a visa and that the Visa Waiver Program 'didn't apply' to me (they could never explain why not, exactly), or I would be asked. "where have you come from?" - well, I am at a land crossing on the border with Mexico, where do ya think?

There's an excellent word in Spanish for such uninformed and uniformed clowns - 'prepotente'...kinda' translates into 'little hitler' or 'jobsworth'.

Re: The horror of border control
 

It was just a bad end to a difficult week and I can't understand why the woman was so bitchy, she talked like a teenager and was just too rude. When I tried to explain about BUNAC she asked me if it was 'authentic'...but she wasn't interested in any of my explanations, the girl in the office was really quite lovely and seemed so confused as to why I was asked to stop. Ridiculous. Back when I worked at HR if I heard any of my staff talking to someone the way she talked to me we would be having stern words but I don't think it's that easy to complain about border patrol.
When I traveled across to the US from Canada a couple of years back (when I was a sweet and slightly naive lone traveler) I was told by the border patrol to show him all the money I had on me, as I was just going to start my trek america trip I had everything in cash and travelers cheques, over $1500 worth mostly hidden in my bra. He had me count it out on the counter in front of 30 complete strangers I was going to be on a bus with for 18 hours. What a jerk!

Re: The horror of border control
 

Mmmm... not always true...

Stewart BC to Haida Alaska has (or had 20 years ago) a very "fluid" border. When staying there once I took a trip into Haida with a buddy who lived there who offered a joint to the American border guard - and he took it gratefully and didn't check any paperwork or nuffink!! The denizens of said US town also walked around with .357s on their hips "in case of bears!"

Quite surreal!

Re: The horror of border control
 

I went to Seattle last week with my girlfriends that were over visiting form the UK.

2 of us had British EU passports, the other had a Southern Irish one, with only 5 months left to run. We didnt even think about it - trundled up - stood in queue - v grumpy desk officers - then the really grumpy one came over and pulled us out of line (uh oh) .
He then proceeded to be really friendly and introduced us to Finn the next door officer who had Irish heritage . . .he then studied my mates passport for ages, consulted some huge book and some other offficers - oh shit we thought - the hotel is booked etc. . . . .

Then some nutter came in on a bike with no ID and started spouting off - so he just stamped our green visas and off we went!

Coming back the Nucks were grump AND searched the boot of my car! Prob cos they could see 10 Abercrombie and Fitch bags - unfortuntaley for them it was 10 t shirts in separate bags!

(the 3 I pads were under the wheel arches! ;) )