From what I understand country of your origin/citizenship can not deny you entry. But it can sure make a hell out of such welcome. Usually, I got some kick when flying back in, when an officer would not crack a half of smile, always ask where and for how long you've been and overall would not make your coming back much welcome.
This time was different. I was coming by car and from Canada. Technically, I was out less than 48 hours. So sure, my country did not miss me much.
In hope of making things a bit easier crossing the border back, I chose different, less busy crossing and again was going in not-so-busy time.
But those exact factors stacked against me. Officers' logic is reversed. Just because I chose their crossing (which still had huge lines of cars going into Canada, hence not completely unknown to others), I must be at fault.
Oh, yeah, and that stamp from Canada entry was probably not working in my favor. After all, Americans don't need visas or stamps to go to Canada (yet).
Here, I was told to leave the car and keys by the crossing booth (looks like toll collector's) and to proceed inside. There we've gone through a lot of questioning again.
Asking similar questions as before (see Part 1), including where and who I live with and favorite money questions.
So, while one officer took my car for inspection and disassembly - yes, he drove that away and went through it without me being present or any other witnesses. Without seeking or obtaining my consent, either. The other officer in the meantime was working on me.
Trying to be my buddy he asked me have I crossed this border in certain years and have I ever used this particular crossing. I did not and told him so.
For reason not exactly clear to me, this officer (they never go into trouble of identifying themselves), told me that it's quite opposite and that I'm not doing too well. Why would he persistently lie to me??? (I asked him few more times if he was sure.)
Being still my "buddy", he said that I was not doing good so far, but he'll give me one more chance - was there anything in the car - weapons, drugs, money! - that I wanted to tell him before they found themselves. I'm not a smuggler, but I can have some money occasionally even forgotten, so I had to think. Anyway, I had none.
When the first one came back, second one (buddy) stepped out, so this one had not much to do. But he could not just hang around, so he ordered me to "dump" my pockets out. Again, we went through all the contents, counted every single dollar bill, and gone through why is it that I'm carrying cash on me.
When the second one came back he proceeded to enter extensive notes into the computer.
Oh, the funny thing is that when I told them that I got stopped going to Canada, "buddy" asked me for what reason. To which I honestly answered "you guys never tell". He disagreed. So, when it was all over and he went to show me where my car was I asked him what was the reason they stopped me - he said that they "are trained and that the officer felt like I had to be checked". So I summarized, feeling was the reason.
P.S. I was not comfortable anyone looking through my belonging and my car, including driving it. Did not think as much of it until my car thoroughly inspected by experienced mechanics lost all the power and stopped in the middle of highway in the middle of night!
Perhaps, officers wanted to give me one more reason to carry sufficient amount of cash, as it certainly became necessary and handy in that situation.
This time was different. I was coming by car and from Canada. Technically, I was out less than 48 hours. So sure, my country did not miss me much.
In hope of making things a bit easier crossing the border back, I chose different, less busy crossing and again was going in not-so-busy time.
But those exact factors stacked against me. Officers' logic is reversed. Just because I chose their crossing (which still had huge lines of cars going into Canada, hence not completely unknown to others), I must be at fault.
Oh, yeah, and that stamp from Canada entry was probably not working in my favor. After all, Americans don't need visas or stamps to go to Canada (yet).
Here, I was told to leave the car and keys by the crossing booth (looks like toll collector's) and to proceed inside. There we've gone through a lot of questioning again.
Asking similar questions as before (see Part 1), including where and who I live with and favorite money questions.
So, while one officer took my car for inspection and disassembly - yes, he drove that away and went through it without me being present or any other witnesses. Without seeking or obtaining my consent, either. The other officer in the meantime was working on me.
Trying to be my buddy he asked me have I crossed this border in certain years and have I ever used this particular crossing. I did not and told him so.
For reason not exactly clear to me, this officer (they never go into trouble of identifying themselves), told me that it's quite opposite and that I'm not doing too well. Why would he persistently lie to me??? (I asked him few more times if he was sure.)
Being still my "buddy", he said that I was not doing good so far, but he'll give me one more chance - was there anything in the car - weapons, drugs, money! - that I wanted to tell him before they found themselves. I'm not a smuggler, but I can have some money occasionally even forgotten, so I had to think. Anyway, I had none.
When the first one came back, second one (buddy) stepped out, so this one had not much to do. But he could not just hang around, so he ordered me to "dump" my pockets out. Again, we went through all the contents, counted every single dollar bill, and gone through why is it that I'm carrying cash on me.
When the second one came back he proceeded to enter extensive notes into the computer.
Oh, the funny thing is that when I told them that I got stopped going to Canada, "buddy" asked me for what reason. To which I honestly answered "you guys never tell". He disagreed. So, when it was all over and he went to show me where my car was I asked him what was the reason they stopped me - he said that they "are trained and that the officer felt like I had to be checked". So I summarized, feeling was the reason.
P.S. I was not comfortable anyone looking through my belonging and my car, including driving it. Did not think as much of it until my car thoroughly inspected by experienced mechanics lost all the power and stopped in the middle of highway in the middle of night!
Perhaps, officers wanted to give me one more reason to carry sufficient amount of cash, as it certainly became necessary and handy in that situation.
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