No Phoenix Forum for me, Fuck you very much US Customs (RANT)

You do have an option so you never have this happen again. Canada does offer full pardons, I believe it is 7 years after the charge. You can apply for it. If your record shows that you have not had any problems since they will give you the pardon without any problem.

Once you have the pardon customs, law enforcement, employers etc. can no longer treat it like a conviction since you have received a full pardon.
http://www.pardonservicescanada.com/

hmm could he deny you even though his supervisor would allow you? That sounds strange to me..

You do have an option so you never have this happen again. Canada does offer full pardons, I believe it is 7 years after the charge. You can apply for it. If your record shows that you have not had any problems since they will give you the pardon without any problem.

Once you have the pardon customs, law enforcement, employers etc. can no longer treat it like a conviction since you have received a full pardon.
http://www.pardonservicescanada.com/

Stay away from drugs, one small conviction can cost you problems forever. Just say no.

Hi New User, I hate to say it man but you're in the same boat I am in now. You will be harrassed by the US customs until the day you die about the entry denial that just happened yesterday.

I was denied back in 2001 for not having a return ticket for my trip to see my father who lives in the states. Everytime I travel to the states they always want to ask me about the denial which happened 4 years ago.

I always get in to the states but I have to show up super early to deal with any customs hassles that might occur.

DH

Where you from? In my country a minor offence like that is only shown on your paper in 5 years.

That's what I was thinking. 15 years later and it's still there? (And he was a minor when it happened)

I've just returned home from a trip to Vancouver having been denied entry into the USA by a dickless douchebag customs agent with a massive little man complex.

I left early this morning with one of our models to catch the ferry to Vancouver. I could not be more excited about heading down there, especially since Vegas was such a great time in January. We arrive well on time to the airport and are pulled aside by US customs for questioning.

No big deal, happens all the time, I travel to the USA 4-5 times a year. I'm assigned a scrawny 130 pound snickering, condescending agent who proceeds to ask me about past criminal history. I answer the same way I always do, Yes, I have a drug conviction- posession of pot.

That I got when I was 15 years old..

Yes, 15 years ago. And a clean record since, haven't even had so much as a drop of alcohol in 12 years now, much less drugs.

Well our US customs agent has decided now that he would like to flex what little power he has- to the absolute maximum level possible. He begins with small remarks to try and get a rise out of me, insinuating that I am lying to him. I smile and respond politely and honestly to every question. I'm so excited about the Phoenix Forum that it doesn't even occur to me that I'm not going to be allowed into the country.

I ask him politely if there's any chance of us still making the flight, to which answer nothing more than a slight shrug.

He asks me how much I was busted with 15 years ago, I say I honestly don't remember. To which he smirks, rolls his eyes and leans back and looks over to the other agents shaking his head.

I'm in disbelief at this stage at what a complete asshat this guy is. I cannot for the life of me figure out why he's acting like such an unprofessional jerk.

He then asks me with much incredulation "How can you not remember how much you had?!" To which I reply "Because it was 15 years ago" with my voice rising all of 3 decibals.

He then gives me the wide-eyes and warns me for a full minute that if I so much as raise my voice to him again he will have me thrown out of the airport. "Would you like that? You want me to have you thrown outta here?" he says to me. It suddenly dawns on me: I'm being verbally bullied by a man-child.

I'm instructed to wait outside, where another customs official (different department) kindly offers myself and my friend a drink, and, seeing my total frustration, confides in me that the guy I'm dealing with has a history of complaints against him. He strongly encourages me to lodge a complaint, insinuating that the guy I'm dealing with has few strikes against him left.

Meanwhile our flight has long since left. The airline has come into customs to instruct us that there won't be another flight until tomorrow.

The guy finally calls me back to his counter to happily tell me that they have found sufficient grounds to deny me entry into the USA. I calmly ask why, and he informs me that the found the drug charge to be sufficient enough reason to deny me.

The pot charge I incurred 15 years ago as a young teen.

I speak to his supervisor who tells me that he actually had suggested I be allowed through as the matter was so trivial, but the little man syndrome victim insisted I not be allowed.

I let little man syndrome victim know I'll be lodging a complaint against him for the way he handled it. He responds with the expected smarmy reply "Great! I hope you do!".

I tell the other (kind and helpful) agent that I will be writing a letter letting his bosses know how helpful and considerate he was through the ordeal.

For all of you in Phoenix who I was so looking forward to meeting and networking with, hopefully sometime soon, August Internext provided I can get this cleared up by then.

Have fun in Phoenix this weekend everyone, wish I could be there with you.

<End Rant>

Stay away from drugs, one small conviction can cost you problems forever. Just say no.

how's the weed up there in canada?

you should sue them for money lost if you have the money to sue. soon that guy will be busted down to security guard at the mall, if there is any justice. on a sidenote my sisters piece of shit exboyfriend was allowed through customs to japan when he has a record for making bombs in past. do they purposely pick the wrong ppl to question? it sure seems like it!

You do have an option so you never have this happen again. Canada does offer full pardons, I believe it is 7 years after the charge. You can apply for it. If your record shows that you have not had any problems since they will give you the pardon without any problem.

Once you have the pardon customs, law enforcement, employers etc. can no longer treat it like a conviction since you have received a full pardon.
http://www.pardonservicescanada.com/

BC weed is world-ranked. Wouldn't know first-hand cause I quit when I was 17(before moving to BC). But from what I hear its some of the best and most popular globally.

BUMMER!!
I was looking forward to seeing you again, Andy.
Hopefully at the San Diego show or FL Internext.

As far as I know, if you had a charge like that as a minor, then it should have been closed once you reached adulthood and is not supposed to be re-opened or brought up again. In fact they shouldn't even have that on record really anywhere anymore, nor can they use that against you. Look into it. I think you have a strong case on your hands.

Hey Andy, Since 911 they have been real ass's at the border. Drug and assault charges are number one on their stop list. Even if you have a pardon in Canada the U.S. does not recognize it.
My friends with past records apply for waivers before they head down. It's kind of like being pre approved to travel south. You might have to look into it before heading south again.

That pardon would be useless now that US customs knows about the offence.
BTW I think his record is auto-purged when he turned 18.

lesson learned: dont do drugs

Yeah, you might end up as a customs agent working 8hr shifts at an airport for the rest of your life. ^_^

Damn, I was so looking forward to the stash you said you would be bringing to Phx, guess I'll have to find another hook up.

that really does suck. guess you'll have to see a lawyer. customs agents are typically losers - they love the power they have over normal people. you had a model with you, he's probably a 30 year old virgin - this gave him more reason to fuck with you. customs = revenge of the nerds.

shitty deal bro. A little while ago me and my father were travelling over seas and had a stop over in the states. My father is arab, and he was going back home to Morocco with the intent of buying a condo there. Long storey, but in short he had to bring cash. So he had 60k in cash, all in a money belt. Trust me, if you're an arab, with 60k in cash, dont try and cross the US border LOL.

anyway, sucks that it killed your weekend, but like a lot of others have pointed out, it could be worse.