To me, it's personally amazing than more friendlier the country, more problems there are crossing the border. By friendly I don't mean happy and "careless", like Mexico - no offense, people view Mexico and its inhabitants as easy-going.
No, I mean countries we have good relationships with.
Alas, I'm talking about Canada here. I was crossing US-Canadian border by car. To avoid huge delays, I got there around 6am. Big mistake!!! No delays meant that border patrol, whatever the proper name for that Law Enforcement agency is, was not actually busy, but had to be. Hence, very invasive and thorough search.
That included: taking the car apart, using special tools to look through and literally disassemblying some parts, going through all belongings - from clothes to all the documents to cards, cash and ids. Canadians went to check my auto registration. I was asked a lot of various and rather invasive questions - from normal where I'm going and for how long to why my car is registered in certain state, which countries (!) I have bank accounts in.
I was asked how much money I had number of times. Then it was counted. Then I was asked why I need so much (!?) cash. Was even asked if I'm planning to invest in Canada. Like if that's something they seriously discourage.
My fault was that I got there when they got some time on the hands to kill. And that I was in Canada just recently.
The message I got that Canada does not welcome US citizens, especially often and with money.
I also got official paper stapled into my US passport allowing me to stay in Canada for three days and not allowing to engage in either work, or studying of any sort. I was given the date by which I had to exit the country and the paper was to be surrendered on exit so to prove that I did not overstay my welcome at our friendly northern neighbor.
I remember the times when DL and a smile was enough to go north, but now... "go south, it's peaceful there"!
P.S. Heard many stories from people who when faced with requirement of submitting fingerprints to be considered for entry to US chose otherwise and went to visit and spend their time and money somewhere else. Now I see that Canada is not much behind.
Au contraire, traveling to other, more dangerous countries, provided with much eaiser and friendlier greeting both at border and by people within.
No, I mean countries we have good relationships with.
Alas, I'm talking about Canada here. I was crossing US-Canadian border by car. To avoid huge delays, I got there around 6am. Big mistake!!! No delays meant that border patrol, whatever the proper name for that Law Enforcement agency is, was not actually busy, but had to be. Hence, very invasive and thorough search.
That included: taking the car apart, using special tools to look through and literally disassemblying some parts, going through all belongings - from clothes to all the documents to cards, cash and ids. Canadians went to check my auto registration. I was asked a lot of various and rather invasive questions - from normal where I'm going and for how long to why my car is registered in certain state, which countries (!) I have bank accounts in.
I was asked how much money I had number of times. Then it was counted. Then I was asked why I need so much (!?) cash. Was even asked if I'm planning to invest in Canada. Like if that's something they seriously discourage.
My fault was that I got there when they got some time on the hands to kill. And that I was in Canada just recently.
The message I got that Canada does not welcome US citizens, especially often and with money.
I also got official paper stapled into my US passport allowing me to stay in Canada for three days and not allowing to engage in either work, or studying of any sort. I was given the date by which I had to exit the country and the paper was to be surrendered on exit so to prove that I did not overstay my welcome at our friendly northern neighbor.
I remember the times when DL and a smile was enough to go north, but now... "go south, it's peaceful there"!
P.S. Heard many stories from people who when faced with requirement of submitting fingerprints to be considered for entry to US chose otherwise and went to visit and spend their time and money somewhere else. Now I see that Canada is not much behind.
Au contraire, traveling to other, more dangerous countries, provided with much eaiser and friendlier greeting both at border and by people within.
No comments:
Post a Comment