A Question About Customs

[Clegane 0]

Hello there, I wasn't really sure where else to post this so sorry if I posted this in the wrong section or anything. I'm a 21 year old canadian Male who is currently unemployed and not in school. I'm planning a trip this july to visit my girlfriend who lives in North Dakota. I previously went too visit her this April and was pulled over for secondary inspection because I guess my situation seemed suspicious? I waited for 30 or so minutes before I was called up and asked a few questions. After I was handed my passport they sent me on my way. Will I be flagged everytime I re-enter the country to visit my girlfriend? I understand that I'm currently not working and not in school, but does that mean I'll be pulled over every time for second inspection?

I'm planning on visiting her again this july for 2 months or so, And i'm kind of worried that I might be denied entry or even worse. I was just wondering if you guys had any tips or suggestions on things I could bring with me to prove that I do indeed have ties with my country? I don't own a car and I still live with my parents but I do own a bank account and I do my taxes. Would a letter of invitation from her parents help at all? Could I bring or say anything that shows them I do plan on returning home?

Thanks for reading my post, Sorry if it's in the wrong section of the forum but this is the only place I could guess where to post this.

Thanks and have a nice day.

[Clegane 0]

Bump, Anyone have any suggestions?

[Ontarkie 14,193]

~~~~Moved to the Canada forum from General Immigration ~~~~

You will most likely be pulled into secondary especially with wanting to go for 2 months. I'm not very good coming up with ties atm but I'm sure others will see this and help you out.

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

I think basically you will be counting on the discretion of the border guard. They will probably see that you did not stay very long your last trip and that may help you. But being unemployed and not in school, you will most likely be pulled into secondary. The reason being, is that because you have no ties, you may overstay. They will probably ask how much money you have on you because how will you be able to support yourself for two months? Worst case scenario, you will be denied. Can your gf come and visit you instead?

[Clegane 0]

She could come visit me, Our plan was that I would go there for 2 months and she would come back down with me. Could I bring anything at all with me to prove that I do have ties too canada? I mean I plan on buying a round trip ticket, i've never commited any felonies or have anything on my record. I was also fingerprinted and photographed by customs when I was trying to enter the US "before I was sent too secondary" and I understand that rule doesn't really apply for most canadians? Still wondering why it happend to me..

[Rob & Monika 87]

Was that your first time entering the US? I think they pull everyone who has never entered before into secondary.

[Clegane 0]

Sure was, First time ever visiting the country.

[NikLR 13,227]

I've never been pulled into secondary even on a new passport with my new married name. But I have a job too.

You can bring bills and a lease agreement. I agree with making sure you have the money in the bank, in US funds, to be able to support yourself. Having a bank statement showing that may help too. However just be prepared to be pulled into secondary again or be denied. If that happens I just suggest she visits you instead.

Best of luck!

[Clegane 0]

They let me in last time while pulling me into secondary, They just asked me 3 or so questions and let me go on my way. I didn't really have much information with me proving that I had ties back home but they seemed to let me go. I'm guessing they wont be so easy going with me wanting to stay for 1-2 months?

[Clegane 0]

One more question, But how does one get a bank statement?

[Teddy B 17,252]

She could come visit me, Our plan was that I would go there for 2 months and she would come back down with me. Could I bring anything at all with me to prove that I do have ties too canada? I mean I plan on buying a round trip ticket, i've never commited any felonies or have anything on my record. I was also fingerprinted and photographed by customs when I was trying to enter the US "before I was sent too secondary" and I understand that rule doesn't really apply for most canadians? Still wondering why it happend to me..

The fact of the matter is that you really don't have any solid ties to Canada, at least not what US Customs would consider solid ties. Ideally you should have a full time job, a family(wife & kids) and own property, those are the most solid ties that are looked at. After that, it's kind of a crapshoot. You need to prove to them that you have more to go back to in Canada than you have to go to in the US. With your current situation that really isn't so.

My wife and I have been pulled into secondary twice each, me on the Canadian side, her on the US side, only once was either of us fingerprinted or photographed and that's when she was denied entry for lack of ties including not having a return ticket, so your probably fortunate in that regard. You have definitely been flagged and will more than likely be pulled into secondary the next time you attempt to cross the border. That doesn't neccessarily mean that you will be denied entry, but I honestly think a 2 month stay is shooting high. You would be much better off with another 2 weeks. How long was your first stay? You should probably go for close to that same period of time.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Teddy B

[Clegane 0]

I stayed for 3 weeks, I also went to visit her last april "Went on the 3rd, returned on the 24th" I plan on going sometime in july and was hoping to stay for 2 months, Would a month stay still be pushing it a bit too much? On another note,Does me being fingerprinted and photographed at the customs booth for sure mean i've been flagged? Does that mean i'll have a pretty hard time getting into the country everytime I visit? Or do they just do that at random?

Edited May 8, 2013 by Clegane

[Teddy B 17,252]

I stayed for 3 weeks, I also went to visit her last april "Went on the 3rd, returned on the 24th" I plan on going sometime in july and was hoping to stay for 2 months, Would a month stay still be pushing it a bit too much? On another note,Does me being fingerprinted and photographed at the customs booth for sure mean i've been flagged? Does that mean i'll have a pretty hard time getting into the country everytime I visit? Or do they just do that at random?

There is really no way to say for sure what is pushing it or not, but it seems 2 to 3 weeks has worked for you, so to play it safe you may want to stick with that time line. I have never heard of anyone getting fingerprinted or photographed just for the heck of it, so my guess would be that yes you are flagged, but again that's not neccessarily a big deal. I was flagged before my wife and I were married too, but never denied entry. Since we've been married and she has her green card, we always cross the border together and it's been a piece of cake. I believe you said you were photographed and fingerprinted on your first trip, were you pulled into secondary on your second trip as well?

You have been showing a pattern of short trips and returning when you said you would, which shows you can be trusted, that's a good thing. I personally would stick to the shorter trip, especially when purchasing a return plane ticket in advance. It would suck to be denied entry and then stuck with that ticket. A shorter time together is better than no time at all.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Teddy B

[Clegane 0]

I've only visited her once before, And that was during April when I was over there for 3 weeks. Like I said in my previous post I plan on going back this july. I was pulled into secondary on my first trip "The one in April" And that trip has been my only time in the US. I guess that might be my only option then, I might try going for 4 weeks and see how that turns out. I plan on bringing stronger ties when I go and I probably will since i've most likely been flagged. Do they usually tell you if you've been flagged or not?

[VeeNDee 44]

One more question, But how does one get a bank statement?

Depending on your bank and your decisions, you can print off your e-statements, bring or photocopy statements they have mailed to you, or go in person to your bank and ask them to print off bank statements.