Getting searched at border crossings
 

I've been searched 6 times this month.

3 by us customs and 2 by canadian and 1 by hongkong.

is there some universal masterlist that makes me a terrorist?

Everytime I go through a bordercrossing im always getting searched.

I always tell the truth, and I even got searched when i was driving a nun back from a monastery in washington

I know there are a few canada border guards on this board... Can someone give me some insight on how you choose someone to be searched?

The last one was quite irritating, because they ask me who I know in the states, and soon enough im going to be giving smart ass answers if I keep getting searched.

maybe you look shady

On sunday a co-worker and I were searched as well. We had all our receipts, valued around $600us. We were sent inside, and they wanted his keys. Three border officials searched his truck for 20 mins. While we waited inside 1 other person was sent in, and we counted 75+ vehicals go though. I think its shady when people come across empty handed, those are the ones you check...we didnt lie, we just wanted deals, lol.

yeah i got searched like 3/5 when i cross the us border i dont get search by can. customs though. im scrawny and wear glasses like a nerd i ono why they would search me LOL but maybe it's just random. they take the keys and let the dog sniff out the car.

Yeah I've had my share of problems but never with the Canadian border officials. It's always been the US ones. I've even been held up a the border for up to 4.5 hrs while they questioned me inside their office, a few dogs to sniff things out, open up the bags and what not. Granted this was after 9-11 so I kept my cool. Of course only me and 1 other guy got pulled over, some older guy with a turban and big beard.

The last time I went down I had this conversation:

US Official: Where are you going and how long are you going for?
Me: I'm going down to Kirkland to visit friends and old co-workers for a couple of days
US Official: What did you do there?
Me: I worked at an architecture firm
US Official: What kind of things did you do while you worked there?
Me: Uhh, I worked on drawings, mostly plans of retail stores and casinos
US Official: Where do you live now?
Me: Vancouver
US Official: So why are you going so early to go golfing?
Me: Excuse me? Golfing?
US Official: Yeah, golfing. I don't see your clubs
Me: Uhhh, I don't golf
US Official: So why are you coming down?
Me: Uhmm, you just asked me that a few questions ago. I'm going down to visit some friends for a few days.
US Official: Oh that's right, here you go

That's the strangest conversation I've ever had with a border official. Sooner or later they'll get tired of you and let you go.

from talking to agents in the various areas at airport, it's either random ...they choose, every X person to search on a given day.

....but if you are on the no-fly list, then you get checked each time...I somehow made it on that list last year so it sucks as during check-in as they have to make a few phone calls.

for borders - it's up to the border agent after they question you. They also try to ask you trick questions in the conversation like aznrsx1979

my indicient was....
US: where you going?
me: down to the Outlet malls for a day trip
US: you bringing drugs or any weed on you?
me: <surpised> ...no
US: you sure?
me: of course not
US: you would tell me if you did right?
me: ya right <smile>
US: ok, have a nice day.

I fly on AC almost 3 times a month but my name ended up on AC's no fly list last year because it matched someone else’s name. It was such a pain in the ass because I was never able to check in online, pre book any seats and a few times I would be checked in but they would call my name at the gate and start asking me for 3 pieces of id. Lucky for me I met a nice AC employee in Toronto who was nice enough to spend 20 minutes talking to her head office to fix the problem.

And the only time I've been searched at the airport was last summer in Calgary. I was arriving from London on BA and the reason why they pulled me aside was because I was flying business class and customs got suspicious because I departed Vancouver and was coming back to Vancouver via Calgary. I explained to them I had to go through Calgary because I couldn’t get a direct flight into Vancouver using my points but I guess they didn't understand that so they spent about 20 mins looking through my bag and asking me stupid questions about where I purchased my cloth, if I had receipts, how I could afford to travel business class, what I was doing alone the trip, how did you get time off work, was I married, blah blah.

Funniest convo I had with a customs officer:
Driving down to US at Peace Arch. In the Nexus lane pulling up to the booth:

Customs guy: Who do you have in the trunk?
Me: Errr....no-one?
Customs guy: Oh,...do you have any Tim Hortons?
Me: Um. No...I don't drink coffee.
Customs guy: OK, have a nice day.

He was joking because he had a big ass grin on his face, but I thought that we pretty weird. Most customs guys are pretty serious.

On a more serious note, last year, for some reason, I was "blacklisted" somehow. Not exactly a no fly list, but I was always sent into secondary screening at YVR for no particular reason. Was a royal pain in the ass, and it caused me to miss a connecting flight at LAX once because of this reason. Every single time, I'd be sent to secondary screening, I'd wait for about 30 minutes, they'd call me up, look at my passport, type some stuff, then hand me back my passport and send me on my way. No questions, no explanation.

I had a work visa for work so it shouldn't have been an issue regarding my going to the US for work. It went on for probably 6 months until I finally got my Nexus pass and now I just bypass the line. Never did find out why I got blacklisted

When I landed in San Fransisco I had a 14 hour layover (did it purposely so I could go see san fran)

When I got to the exit, the guy asks me if I'm making a connection or a going to arrivals, and I tell him I have a long layover so I'm going to go explore sanfransisco. This put up red flags everywhere. I got searched, My luggage was torn apart, I was asked if I knew someone, why I was dressed the way I was dressed, where I was coming from, why I would go to vietnam... etc

The one that got me

him: "does your computer have a password?"

me: "no"

He then opened my laptop to see If I was lying.

WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!

^
Did your computer really not have a password?

You should ask them to say "please" next time.

no password??!?!? wow.. i can't do that..

Don't mean to jack the thread but is there any way of checking if you're name is on the no-fly list? I just recently came back from 4 weeks in HK and SE Asia and at HKG, flying back to YVR, I got held up at the boarding gate. Asked for my passport & boarding pass, asked twice by two different staff members if I checked any baggage which I didn't since I was backpacking with only a carry-on size. That was it and I was let on. I wouldn't mind checking if my 'name' is on the list or not.

Well you do look kind of shady.....


But honestly, in 05/06 I had your same problem. Doesn't matter how I dressed or who I was with, I'd be pulled into the little interrogation room. I have a problem on my record tho.

You just look shady and somebody put you on the list.

did they let you on the plane? there is your answer genius.

to the OP you are probably now on a list. enjoy getting checked everytime you go now.

The reason border guards sometimes ask you the most random questions is because they want to see how you react...

The way you react is a very effective way for them to determine whether you're sketchy or not...well one of the ways...

i stared down a CND boarder guard once, because he was asking the most ridiculous questions. then he asked me, "have i offended you in anyway?"

i said " you tell me."

then he fucked off.

clowns

I got caught with 10 cartons of cigs (for my bro, I don't smoke) after my second trip to China in 04'. Long story short they told me they put me on the blacklist and that I would get searched every time after that. Dumb mistake, should have declared.

Since they I have traveled international close to 25 times and I've never been searched, asked more than 5 questions, or pulled aside. US and Canada.

Funny because ever since 04' I now itemize my luggage and keep receipts. for EVERYTHING lol...

So yeah, you probably look like a terrorist or drug mule.

ive only been searched once at the border, and around 5 times at the airport.

border was totally "random", and i just happened to have three caps of ecstacy in my backpack, which was in the back of my truck. they didnt find the caps, but they did confront me with an orange that i forgot to declare. hahaha.


i've been strip searched at sea-tac. that sucked.


i think it has to do with reasoning. every time i've been searched it was because i was totally casual about it. if you speak strong, they seem more willing to let you slide.

Two universals about the Canada/US border crossing

1) They ask stupid questions that don't make sense on purpose. It's meant to throw you off. When you look at them like 'wtf, this guy is a retard' that's the point- if you're more concerned with some stupid questions than anything else, it generally means you're not hiding a kilo of pot in the trunk.

2) If you say you're going to see friends there's a 50% chance you're getting pulled over.

... and never cross the border through the kootenays with hockey bags in the middle of summer... even if you truly are going to spokane to play hockey.