Border crossing with residency card (aka green card)

[R and F 34]

Ok I am putting my experience here even though Farid my spouse is from Morocco. We went across to Mexico to leave my cousin at a bus station and we had never had trouble before crossing the border because usually the person working customs when we go by is someone we know from within my hometown etc. Anyway, this time there was a young man possibly in his late 20's and he took my passport and Farid's residency card. Well immediately he asked Farid where he was from and how he had gotten to the US. Farid answered him and he said ok I am sending you to secondary inspection and he directed us where we were to go. We were told to exit our automobile and go into the immigration office. I sat down and Farid was taken into an interrogation room. He said he was asked the same questions that the first guy asked him and he was asked my birthdate, our marriage date and if he was employed and by whom. They asked him how we met and where we lived. Farid says that the man was very respectful and courteous but was just doing his job. I was not questioned only was given my passport back and then Farid came out of the office and we were led back to our automobile and we left. Oh the young man who first detained us asked Farid if he had ever been in jail while in the US and also if he had family besides me here. He also asked him if he spoke Spanish and Farid said, "muy poquito" and the young man just laughed. Overall we know these people are just doing their jobs and at least we were treated well and we do not have any complaints.

I thought I would just share my experience with VJ.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I don't know if this is true or not but I was told once by a border guard when I was crossing into the US pretty regularly that all border guards stationed on the Canadian border had to serve time first on the Mexican border - I think he said a minimum of 2 years or something like that. I suspect if you get some border guards newly relieved from their assignment on the southern borders they may not yet be used to dealing with the clean-living, law-abiding Canadians - which the majority of us are - thus their 'attitudes'.

[redmen99 1]

I cross often at Thousand Islands when I visit my husband in the Toronto area and depending on where he is coming from he usually crosses there as well.

My second trip to see him I had this customs guy, who had a mustache like Lemmy from Motohead and an Irish Accent. I told him I was going to visit a friend for the weekend. He asked me if he was a boyfriend and I said, I'm not sure yet, that is what I'm going to find out. He asked me if he treats me well, and I said he did. He then said, if he doesn't treat you well, bring him to me and I'll take care of him for you. I about laughed by butt off at the border! He let me go right through after that.

My most recent one: I drove home through Thousand Islands yesterday and got this woman customs agent. You know the usual questions, where do you live, where you coming from... I was visiting my husband, we went camping for the weekend. She looked at me like I had 5 heads. Wait, so you live in the states, and he lives in Canada and he visits you sometimes too? I'm thinking is this the first time you ever heard of this? I mean really??? I mentioned we just got married in June and we filed for the CR-1 visa, but it was still in the I-130 stage. THAT she understood! Little did I know our I-130 was approved last Friday!

[Marilyn. 340]

my hubby said the grilling hr got at the Vancouver airport was a piece of cake compared to crossing over the Mexican Border which he did a lot of times because his dad had a business down in Mexico

[neiks 19]

We need a border guard in here to explain this

Sorry trailmix, I'm not touching this one. lol

[SpiritAlight 1]

I'll make a confession right here live on VJ:

Every time I sit there waiting, and/or being interrogated, I start to fantasize about the day I am eligible to apply to become a CBP.

What better way to get understanding not to mention some unmentionable perks.

[neiks 19]

What better way to get understanding not to mention some unmentionable perks.

Trust me, you probably won't have a better understanding but just more confused. lol...

[SpiritAlight 1]

PS Do you work there????

[Krikit 1,165]

PS Do you work there????

She's with the Canada Border Services.

We need a border guard in here to explain this

Sorry trailmix, I'm not touching this one. lol

Chicken!

[Rustbelt 0]

I don't know if this is true or not but I was told once by a border guard when I was crossing into the US pretty regularly that all border guards stationed on the Canadian border had to serve time first on the Mexican border - I think he said a minimum of 2 years or something like that. I suspect if you get some border guards newly relieved from their assignment on the southern borders they may not yet be used to dealing with the clean-living, law-abiding Canadians - which the majority of us are - thus their 'attitudes'.

We've heard that too. For sure you can tell the newbies, whether it's newly appointed or new from Mexico. They're the ones with uniforms cleaned and pressed to military standards asking a ton of questions of everyone in the Nexus lane.

[neiks 19]

QUOTE (Kathryn41 @ Sep 15 2009, 03:15 PM)

I don't know if this is true or not but I was told once by a border guard when I was crossing into the US pretty regularly that all border guards stationed on the Canadian border had to serve time first on the Mexican border - I think he said a minimum of 2 years or something like that. I suspect if you get some border guards newly relieved from their assignment on the southern borders they may not yet be used to dealing with the clean-living, law-abiding Canadians - which the majority of us are - thus their 'attitudes'.

That's a myth. Most of the US CBP officers at the Northern border have started there and there is no mandatory service on the southern border. You may see alot of transferees from the Mexico border that want to get away from the chaos there. Or there be new hires that the job postition they get offered is the southern border and they take it - do their time there and transfer up to the northern border as soon as they can.

On the other hand Border Parol may have a mandatory service at the southern border. Most Border Parol I have met have done some time at the southern border.

Edited September 24, 2009 by neiks

[thetreble 19]

On the other hand Border Parol may have a mandatory service at the southern border. Most Border Parol I have met have done some time at the southern border.

According to Homeland Security USA, since everything on tv is REAL and FACTUAL..duh...that southern border is Crazzzyyyy.

[Flames9_RN 358]

back in my navy days, San diego was our 2nd home! And of course one had to catch the trolley and head over to Tijuana! lol Coming back to the USA was crazy! Long people lines, and a long wait for cars! One one occasion we saw TWO groups of people trying to sneak in! 1 group was trying to bend down low and sneak by the officers. Well that didnt work! WHAMMOOO a bunch of POE officer came from no where and snagged them,lol and then we could see 3 or 3 guys running outside and trying to jump the fence, with POE officers following behind them!! I imagine they got caught as well

[JillA 2]

On the other hand Border Parol may have a mandatory service at the southern border. Most Border Parol I have met have done some time at the southern border.

According to Homeland Security USA, since everything on tv is REAL and FACTUAL..duh...that southern border is Crazzzyyyy.

The southern border is pretty crazy, 2 days ago 3 vans stuffed with 77 illegals tried to rush the border, and a bunch of people ended up getting shot including officers (Tijuana)

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I'm a 51 year-old white guy, educated, clean cut, short hair, friendly smile. My wife is a 47 year-old USC. Born to a Swedish father and a German mother, I had visited 32 countries and lived in 8 by the time I briefly moved to my uncle in Florida, back in 1986. Between 1986 and 1994, I had traveled between Europe and the US more times than I can count. My passport was literally filled with stamps.

Had not left the US since January 1994 until recently, when the wife and I flew to the US Virgin Island to celebrate our 3rd. wedding anniversary.

Using a ferry from St. Thomas (USVI) over to Tortola (BVI), we were greeted by the British Immigration officer. She was very friendly, a couple of short questions about our visit, stamp in passports, and then "have a great day."

On the way back from British territory into US territory, we bumped into 2 lanes. One lane for USCs, the other one for non-USCs. Well, my wife is a USC, I'm not. Do we split, and if so, who of us gets the one and only customs form we got as a "family" traveling together? The wife wants to drag me to the USC lane, but I tell her that I'm not a USC, so the other lane it is.

Twenty-some minutes later, it's our turn. Wife is easily processed (about 10 seconds), then it's my while she's standing next to me. Passport inspected, page by page. GC inspected. Scanned. Computer confirmed. Questions asked and answered. Then it's fingerprinting time. Right thumb. Four fingers of right hand. Left thumb. Four fingers of left hand. Now a photo. A last check, and I'm released. My wife, who I usually keep out of this nerve-wrecking immigration stuff, is upset. "Why are they doing this to you? You are my husband! You are a permanent resident!"

A few days later, we fly back home. At check-in at Charlotte Amalie, the same thing happens again. I feel like a criminal, trying to sneak into a foreign county, not like a permanent resident. Changing planes in Puerto Rico, we again are questioned!

Finally, it's boarding time. We walk through this tunnel that is connected to the airplane, and while we go around a "turn" in the tunnel, a uniformed guy jumps up on me (I almost hit him accidentally) and asks me a question I didn't understand. I ask again and he repeats: "what's your country of citizenship." Citizenship . . . wait . . . Germany. "Move over there please. Again they check my papers, every single one from boarding pass to passport to GC, all the stuff I had stowed away in my carry-on luggage . . . my wife looking at me like she can't believe it . . . before they finally let us board.

Again I am confirmed that the US Border patrol nowadays consists primarily of brainless drones who are drilled like chimpanzees to assume everybody who's not a USC is out to harm the United States of America and should be met with utmost caution. It's sad, so sad, and unique on planet Earth.

In a bit, I'll post part 2 of my experiences here: "A sure way to get rid of tourism."