So I got turned back at the border...
 

Apparently having "web developer" as a job is considered "suspicious" when entering the US, because they've caught on that I can do my job anywhere.

Since I couldn't "prove" that I was going to relax, rather than work... they denied me entry.

I said "I can work in Florida, I can work at home.... I can relax under the hot sun on the beach in Florida, I can't at home... now why would you go thinking that I want to go there to work??"

They said that since I could go online and work there, that they're not letting me in. After 2 hours of background checks and finger printing and stuff, they realized that I've got a squeaky clean life... and started being WAY nicer to me, in that they'd say "I'm really sorry, but we can't let you in".

So I turn back, go to Canada's customs and she says "They denied you? How come?" and I said "Apparently they think I'm going down there to start a 1 week career"

Despite her best efforts to contain it, she let out a laugh, handed me my ID and let me go.

ehhh not sure how to comment other than to say its truly fucked up

thats very fucked up

thank god

too many fucking canadians down here anyway

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

You should have turned around and gone back through. They would not have asked for your ID again.






Hey wait a minute......Your new employer is in FL....And you just happened to be going there to relax?

Uh huh.....I'm onto you, buddy.

I can't believe that happened

That really sucks. And you would think it's just US/Canada border crossings - which used to be the most easy and friendly in the world for citizens of both countries.

Wow that is really fucked up

Heh, yes well... they don't know that.

And I really did have thoughts about going back through, but on the slim chance that they do pull that crap again, I'd be screwed. Plus, I'm pretty sure that I am now flagged. I doubt they'd spend that much time on me there and not try to screw with me somehow (other than how they already did today).

Were you coming to steal my job in Florida? :winkwink:

I can. U.S. Customs thought Stuart was gay and they were hassling us over it a few years back. :1orglaugh

that sucks man, best not to mention what ya do, just going for relaxation, say nothing more

When i go through customs i try to say as little as possible.

What do you do for a living:
"i run my own media company"

What does that do:
"We deal with ad productions"

i also never make conversation unless they are the ones who initiatie it. Next time just say "i am a computer programmer". But that is not gauranteed to work either.

I am emailing the FBI with Stuart's picture and saying I spotted him walking out of a local mosque screaming "ALLAHU AKBAR"

I did that... errr.. well, I said "web developer" instead, but yeah... I didn't volounteer any info. But they just kept asking and asking and asking. I guess it was one of those random "Give the next car the 3rd degree" moments.
Kept asking where I was staying, how long, what I'll be doing, who owns the car, do you have any children, etc, etc.

And because they couldn't get any incriminating info out of me, except that he knew I could work from anywhere, they made me go inside and do it all over again.

That's fucked up man.

Only a matter of time before LOTS of people are not allowed to leave the usa. However, they will always let in 1000s of Mexicans down south.

On behalf of your porn brethern in Amerika, I apologize for the guberment telling you "Canuck Go Home", and effectively declaring you persona non grata...undesireable...eh!

Fortunately, there is lots to see and do in Canada:

http://www.bigthings.ca/sask/pictures/1moose1.jpg

A little ditty to cheer you up:

We're the second largest country
On this planet Earth
And if Russia
Keeps on shrinking
Then soon we'll be first
(as long as we keep Quebec)

The USA has tanks
And Switzerland has banks
They can keep them, thanks
They just don't amount
'Cause when you get down to it
You find out what the truth is
It isn't what you do with it
It's the size that counts!

ADG Webmaster

There is already an APB out for MaskedMan because of MannyThe Freak.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think that I'm just not meant to ever approach the border again.

Always travel with a golf bag, you're a semi pro golfer and going to play a few rounds in the sun to practice cause courses SUCK in Canada.

Did they say you'd be redflagged or would it show in future crossings that you were declined?
WG

That totally sucks!

Honesty is not always the best policy when at the U.S border. I usually have to lie to get through even when I'm not up to no good! For future reference, make up another profession, lol!

So how's that good looking kid of yours Stuard?

they took your fingerprints??

No, they didn't... and having nothing but a hunch, I'd imagine that they wouldn't. However, this is customs, so anything is possible.
After holding me there to do 2 hours of background checks and reports, I can't imagine they'd just forget it all.

Stu, the thing that sux now is on your file when you hit US customs, either by car or boat or plane, they will read "Denied Entry" and you are set up for all sorts of hassles and further denials.

He's doing really well, and still growing faster than a super grow weed. He's 21 months now and wearing 4 year old's clothing. We just bought him size 9 (toddler's) shoes.

He makes me very proud. He already insists on having his own keyboard to pound away on :1orglaugh

Were you driving from Canada to FL?

So, if I say I am going to Canada to visit a client on business, is that going to get me turned away?

Yup, made me go inside and get my fingerprints done. I heard the guy a little while later go "it's negative", which I presume to mean that there were no matches in their records.

I was driving to the Buffalo airport so that I could fly to FL. There goes an empty seat on a plane and a charge on a credit card.... for nothing.

Yup, that's what worries me. I'm going to be hassled for life now over nothing.

Should have flown out of TO. They are not as likely to turn you around if you are already a U.S. airport.

I don't have a passport... and you can't fly out of the country without one.

I had the same thing happen to me once, you will be in the "blackbook" for a while 6 month ban.

Everytime now you will need documentation to get down there (if they allow you to go down) and you will have to go thru secondary screening at Immigration.

As many "differences" as we have had recently I feel sorry for you about this as it's a huge pain in the ass to deal with and I would'nt wish it on my worst enemy.

DH

Try a disguise next time...

http://www.vilewatch.com/founder/ima...e_disguise.jpg

Or tell them you are just going to Seattle for some Starbuck's, and you'll be right back. They fall for that one every time...

ADG Webmaster

I got denied at the New York border going to Montreal a few years ago so I swung around through Vermont and had no problems.

Yeah, like I said... had I of done that, there was the risk. And I might have taken it, except that they detained me for so long, that I'd have been late for my flight anyway, so there was no point anyway.

You must play alot of public courses. The course I've played in Canada have been awesome. :)

Well, except the public ones. :)

Was it a round trip ticket? That would seem to comfirm your story.

Hopefully you got a refund or can re-book your flight.

ADG Webmaster

Yup, round trip ticket... I showed them all my flight info, flight numbers, times... everything. I was going to come back on Sunday.

I guess one week of working there would have devastated the economy or something.

Not if you say you are going to deal with a Canadian contract and can show you have ties in the US. People are more likely to go down there to work than to come up here, you guys pay WAYYY less taxes.

On behalf of the country that I was born in, raised in, and made my money in, I would like to say that I am really sorry.

I think that it most likely has more to do with the fact that people from canada are poor drivers, and look really bad in the speedo's, but you never know.

But I am really sorry that happened. One day they will learn.

it's really funny how customs have their priorities mixed up. They tie you up for 2 hours over nothing, not to mention they are doing this based on the fact they think you might think refuge there. But what a waste of taxpayers money on this crap. Let the terrorists through, we need to stop Stuart because he might be moving here, what a real national threat.

What if you would have said you were meeting with a potential client that wanted to outsourse web development to your Canadian company - do you think they still would have denied you entry?

Just wondering?

Hey, I resent that.... I'm not a bad driver.

:upsidedow

That's not cool, duuuuuude...

No idea man... I think they went and confused themselves, because they convinced themselves that if I can work from home, and I can work from there, I have to go back home... there was no way around it. I can't go somewhere else because I have the potential to work from there, since the internet is everywhere, and that's what I work on.

The more they tried to wrap their own heads around it, the more they convinced themselves that I had to be going strictly to do nothing but work.

dont feel bad. I have been denied access at the border and im american lol.

Someone mentioned they "flag " you so you cant come back in. I dont think this happens most of the time as i have had troubles getting in before and if they deny you , just turn around and take a different lane..

over the last 5 years the "employment" issue is a big deal for the american border crossing agents. If they think for a second you wioll be taking a possible job away from an american they will deny you.

Always say your travelling for a short funeral then coming straight back.

Oh, and thank goodness I have mainstream legit sites, because they actually went to them!
First they hassle me because I make websites and can work from anywhere, then they demand that I give them examples of some websites that I've made as proof that I really am a web developer.

I swear, they just saw me coming and said "Let's not believe anything this guy says and have some fun with him."

wtf? (...)