RetiredbutWorking
Central Texas
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Joined: 02/10/2006
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I don't understand how someone’s life can be wrecked by not being allowed into a foreign country without proper documentation. Yes, if you are a Canadian or Mexican, the US is a foreign country. Believe it or not, we are a sovereign nation with our own laws. It doesn't matter what the law is in Manitoba or Monterrey, what matters is that you must have the proper documentation to enter the US. After all, you are visiting our country and must obey our rules. People can castigate the officials at the border all they want, but they are just doing their job. It is not the fault of the conscientious border guard, that someone does not have the proper documentation. It is the travelers’ fault. The US will continue to accept and actually encourages visitation by properly document visitors.
RBW
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bobofthenorth
Somewhere in North America
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Joined: 03/10/2008
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obgraham wrote:....... and I keep it on a USB drive hidden in my MH. So if Joe Border wants some documentation, it'll be "okay, I'll come in with my little netbook, fire it up, and produce one for you". If they don't like that copy, well, so be it.
That's really good advice and we are certainly moving in that direction. The bigger issue though is that they didn't say "we need A & B & C & H documents." Rather they simply said "give us more" followed by "that isn't enough".
As far as the plan of going out to the moho and coming back in to produce the documents - that simply wasn't gonna happen. We offered to do that several times. It might work if you take the computer & flashdrive in with you initially but I wouldn't want to bet on it. It appears that once they get you inside the customs building you are either going on or going home. The only way you go back to the moho is once they have decided the first question. What many posters seem to have failed to realize is that virtually everything we ultimately produced was material that was in the bus from the beginning. We just kept rustling up new paper in the hope that eventually something would satisfy the crossing guards. The only "new" material we produced was a photograph of our cubevan that I took when we went back to Chilliwack. For those posters who claim that we just needed to have our paperwork in better order I'd like to ask "how many of you travel with photographs of every vehicle you own ready for presentation at the border?"
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MichDoc
Michigan
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Joined: 01/02/2006
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bobofthenorth, if you feel that the rejection of the proofs you presented was unreasonable, then I wonder if maybe the problem with the customs people could possibly have been a reaction to your attitude instead. Your previous mention of living in the U.S. as being "a nightmare" rather than "a dream", and referring to the U.S. as merely being "in the way" of your final destination of Mexico, offended me, and may have done the same to the officials you were dealing with. I suppose that if I attempted to enter Canada with a belligerent, or condescending attitude, or an obvious feeling of entitlement, I might tend to antagonize the Canadian border guards as well, and possibly be forced to "jump through a few hoops" that I otherwise may not have encountered. Just a thought.
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The Texan
Summer: Cascade, Idaho - Winter: Quartzsite, AZ
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Joined: 01/16/2004
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MichDoc wrote:bobofthenorth wrote:The implicit assumption during our ordeal was that our dream is to live in the US. That simply isn't true - nightmare maybe but certainly not our dream. The country just happens to be in the way between cold and warm.
Well then, see? It will all work out if you just take your own advice and fly to Mexico. That way you won't be forced to live a nightmare, and the customs and border people won't have to waste their time with you. Why do some Americans on this forum think they have to be nasty to our friends to the north, when the heartless American border guards take it upon themselves to make up new rules and regulations and create problems and hard feelings, when there should be none. Don't forget, the border is a "no mans land" where the laws of the US don't apply, only the rules and regulations made up that DHS thinks need enforcing. We are starting to take on the aura of a communist state with such heavy handed tactics at our borders. Payback can be h___ when Canada decides enough is enough and starts the same tactic and the shoe is on the other foot. Will sure kill the tourism in Alaska.
Bob & Betsy - USN Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 & FT Class of 2002
'05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins, 405w/23A solar sys -With-'05 GMC Sierra LT, CC, Z-71, W/ Arctic Cat 500A & Suzuki KQ 400A, riding in or behind the pusher.
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bjbear
Cold Lake, AB, Can
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MichDoc has put it well. The U.S. has the right to ask for any document they want before they let you in as a guest. It is their country and they make the rules....just as we do up here. Personally I am getting a little tired of Canadians dumping on the United States. Anyone who full times and therefore does not have clear ties with a home base in Canada should realize that the customs officers are just protecting the jobs of Americans. They do not want to let in someone who they think might stay and work illegally.
And yes, I spend a lot of time in the U.S. and it is a "dream" experience for me!
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Harvard
51.37N 114.42W
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Joined: 12/24/2005
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bjbear wrote:MichDoc has put it well. The U.S. has the right to ask for any document they want before they let you in as a guest. It is their country and they make the rules....just as we do up here. Personally I am getting a little tired of Canadians dumping on the United States. Anyone who full times and therefore does not have clear ties with a home base in Canada should realize that the customs officers are just protecting the jobs of Americans. They do not want to let in someone who they think might stay and work illegally.
And yes, I spend a lot of time in the U.S. and it is a "dream" experience for me!
\
Here here, well said. Thank you.
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cruiserjs
Aurora, CO, USA/ Mesa AZ/ openroad
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Harvard wrote:bjbear wrote:MichDoc has put it well. The U.S. has the right to ask for any document they want before they let you in as a guest. It is their country and they make the rules....just as we do up here. Personally I am getting a little tired of Canadians dumping on the United States. Anyone who full times and therefore does not have clear ties with a home base in Canada should realize that the customs officers are just protecting the jobs of Americans. They do not want to let in someone who they think might stay and work illegally.
And yes, I spend a lot of time in the U.S. and it is a "dream" experience for me!
\
Here here, well said. Thank you.
And I agree also. If you don't know the rules - don't play the game!
Mod.- time to close this one also??
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moisheh
North America
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Joined: 05/04/2002
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I think some of the Americans in this thread are taking this personal. I would say that the OP did have the normally required papers. Most of us on these forums cross into the USA many times in a year and have been doing this for years. Normally if you present a passport that is all you need. One could also present a Canada Health card, Social Security card, Canadian credit cards, Canadian DL and registration. Any of those items should be enough to prove that you are not moving to the USA. If indeed the requirements have changed then it is incumbent on Homeland Security to publicize these changes. Then the OP and others could easily comply and every one would be happy. No need for any USA bashing by posters or nasty comments from American posters.
Moisheh
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sbishop
Eagle Rock, CA
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Joined: 08/09/2001
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I for one do not know the requirements and I live here, maybe as moisheh states if our government would post or at least publish the requirements our friends from the Great White North could spend their much needed money here or transit our country and get to another country. If I call the Canadian Offices they tell me the rules and I can play by them, we should reciprocate.
moisheh wrote:I think some of the Americans in this thread are taking this personal. I would say that the OP did have the normally required papers. Most of us on these forums cross into the USA many times in a year and have been doing this for years. Normally if you present a passport that is all you need. One could also present a Canada Health card, Social Security card, Canadian credit cards, Canadian DL and registration. Any of those items should be enough to prove that you are not moving to the USA. If indeed the requirements have changed then it is incumbent on Homeland Security to publicize these changes. Then the OP and others could easily comply and every one would be happy. No need for any USA bashing by posters or nasty comments from American posters.
Moisheh
David Bishop
1990 Bounder 27D
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