Canadians must be angels -- or at least have no record -- to visit US
 

MONTREAL (AFP) - What used to be the world's longest undefended border has become a major headache for many Canadians trying to enter the United States as customs officials are calling those with any criminal offense record persona non grata in the United States.


After September 11, 2001, customs officials zealously applied a law prohibiting any foreign national with even a minor criminal record from entering the country, unless they get a waiver from the US government.


Quebec businessman Pierre Charade, who has crossed the US-Canadian border several times per year without the slightest of problems, was on a business trip to Florida with his colleagues when one youthful indiscretion stopped him in his tracks.


The TV producer, re-telling his recent travel woes, said an immigration officer searched through his computer for criminal records on him and his travel colleagues.


"When he came out of his office, he said to me: 'Sir, you are a criminal. You were arrested in Toronto 36 years ago,'" Charade said.


"I thought it was a joke. I even looked around for a hidden camera and then he said to me: 'No, you are not welcome in the United States.'"


For breaking a school window 20 years ago with some friends, Charade had been sentenced to a 100 dollar (72.50 US) fine.


The price he must pay today is much higher, on both professional and financial levels.


If Charade, in his 50s now, wants to cross the border eventually, he has no choice but to obtain a waiver, which costs an average of 250 US dollars.


Added to that are fees for Canadian groups to assist people in gaining the US waivers. They can range between 550 and 750 dollars (400-543 US dollars).


One of these groups, the Montreal-based National Pardon Center receives about 100 calls daily from businessmen, truck drivers and other Canadians obligated to clear their names for entry.


"For two years now, we've heard from a lot of people, who never had problems crossing the border, saying they were surprised to be refused entry," said spokesman Shereef Elshasei.


If US officials seem zealous the first instance a person with a criminal record tries to enter the United States, every other attempt risks resulting in the seizure of goods or even the locking up of the individual, he said.


"Everything is up to the discretion of the (US) agent," he said, noting that drunk driving infractions pass but not drug possession charges.


"Their methods are sometimes a bit cowboyish," Elshasei said.


Another case in point, according to the center's records, is a Montrealer, who was stopping in Miami on his way to the Caribbean.


"When he boarded, he was handcuffed and spent the night in jail before being sent directly back to Canada on a flight," he said.


For others, the problem is not so dramatic, but simply humiliating.

One businessman had to suffer through an agent asking, "Which one of you two is the criminal?," he said.

With Ottawa and Washington having strengthened bilateral cooperation to fight against terrorism, US Customs officials have access to computer criminal records from Canada's federal police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, making it easier to spot a minor infraction.

Between five and 10 percent of the 31 million Canadians have a criminal record.

Since US authorities accord only one-year to five-year waivers, Canadian sins could be a major bonanza for US coffers into the future.


If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.

But were letting the fucking illegals cross the US/Mexican border.. Shit I'd rather have the Canadians any day over worthless wabs!

jDoG

Well hasnt it always been like that?! Having a criminal record wont get u in the States. My friend cant cross since his DUI

Tell me about it! :mad: I missed two flights on my way to Pheonix last year to meet up with the Lightspeed crew and I have no record! I guess I look like a terrorist or something. To be honest I wasn't prepared for all the questions and I must of looked guilty as hell! Well you live you learn! The good part is I got to seat in first class for all my aggravation! :1orglaugh

Damn funny is it was not so sad!!

Irony is the highest conviction rate in the world is with US citizens - it won't be long before they get convicted for breathing!

What would happen if Canada and other countries started this crap and rejected admission of US folks??

All sad paranoid shit!!

Is it really surprising that the US does not want CONVITED Canadian criminals in their country? We have enough of our own.

Maybe we can do a prisoner swap!

We have enough lazy people here already, we do not need any more!

i guess I wont be allowed in the states since long ago i was arrested and charged with shoplifting (14 years ago) and unlawful use of a firearm (12 years ago).. What a fucking joke..

I guess its perfectly ok to allows murderers and rapists to live in the states and be allowed to walk the streets... all of this shit is getting way out of hand

Nope. Before you could cross freely with no checks at all. They would just ask to see your birth certificate to prove you were born in Canada. I've driven back and forth across the border a thousand times without as much as a second look. Things change.

Brad, there seems to be a lot of angry Canadiens who have criminal records on this board....

Glad they cannot come to the US!

What kind of stupid justification is " Well they have so many murders on their streets, whats a few Canadien criminals gonna hurt?"


HAHAHAHA

How about if the US exports all of our criminals to Canada??

thats fucking retarded, i can see where they are coming from to an extent but its only gonna stop a few 'real' criminals from getting across. most ppl, like myself are just average guys who got into a little trouble in their younger years. i haven't tried to cross since 911 but im betting i might have troubles now. i committed one crime when i was 18 and learned my lesson, but i can't go to the states now? fuck, seems the US is really trying to isolate itself as of late.

Uh, they aren't looking to live there.

Cross-border shopping has always been a big thing, and I'm sure the tourist dollars help, if they didn't then I wouldn't see the stinking Disney World ads on my TV all the time.

Seems stupid to be denied entry to a country for something as simple as a DUI or smashing a window when you were a kid.

:2 cents:

stop making sense.

Sorry... I meant to say:

Fuck the Canadians! Keep all the fur-trapping pot smokers and their hippy Prime Minister out of the U.S.!

:glugglug

depending upon what you mean by "unlawful use of a firearm," I wouldn't want you here either.

Now if it meant you were out shooting cans in a field somewhere and you got popped by the local cop...big fucking whoop...but if it means you were pulling it out during a traffic altercation...different story completely.

its a new world,

I used to feel like I had the right to cross the border at will,

I used to shop in platsburg years ago, once a month,

but the last time I visited the states on my way to carolina,

I was very vague with the customes officer, and I guess not prepared,

or maybe i was used to being rubber stamped on my way to vegas twice a year,

but on this occasion the guy really busted my balls and I almost missed my flight,

he had me babbling like a idiot, once I realized he was serious,

we got into a debate about business deals VS consulting,

and wether I neaded a visa to enter the contry, and what my qualifications were adn what work I was doing and for who,

and this was for a 3 day simple business trip,

its a new world these custome guys have grown some balls,

which I guess is good in a post 9/11 world,

Its much easier to go over for a vacation or some shopping than a business trip.

Same thing if your coming to Canada from the states.

I know webmasters from the US that have been denied trying to come over to Canada, with the same kinds of reasoning I've seen in this thread.

But breaking a window 36 years ago? Come on, that in itself is enough to sit back and laugh.

Lazy?? Half the people that are going across the boarder have jobs and work wtf is that all about? Lame!

Never say you are going on business, Personal is the best way to go, I still get my balls busted each time, but there is less questions they can ask if you say Personal as opposed to business.

Well, same thing will apply to George Bush if he wants to visit Canada once he becomes an ordinary citizen. :glugglug