REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

1exotic · 03-16-2011, 01:07 AM

When you enter the US they ask the usual questions at the border crossing, also I assume they enter info on what the purpose of your trip is... and the time you enter the US etc. Does that information get shared with the Canadian customs officers when you are driving back to Canada through the border crossings? (when they scan your passport).

Just wondering because when coming back they made such a huge deal out of a regular trip thinking for some reason I wasn't telling the truth (which I was)... Not complaing just curious if this has anything to do with both US & Canada border officers sharing info on the database.

can anyone chime in some info on this subject? I am just wondering that's all. I read around and didn't exactly get the answer I was looking for.

thanks

Autorice · 03-16-2011, 01:12 AM

they don't unless you're on both of their 'watch lists' at the land border. sea, train or air then yes they have the manifest.
USA has a lot of gadgets at their arsenal, Canada does not (according to a CBSA friend)

1exotic · 03-16-2011, 01:22 AM

I remember a story on Global that the Canadian customs didn't get info from the US side, so that just got me wondering on what exactly they know and don't. I could careless just wondering like I said.

and watch lists would consist of people like Scamthony? lols.

Arash · 03-16-2011, 01:26 AM

Please tell more, inquiring minds want to know.

fliptuner · 03-16-2011, 01:34 AM

Went to Blaine today to pick up some parts. Took the Peace Arch there and Pac Hwy back.

At both crossings the US Border Patrol was stopping Canadians approaching the Canadian border. It totally fucked up the line and they were being real assholes about it too - asked me a million questions and tossed my car. Even when I crossed to go into the States the US Customs guy was just normal.

1exotic · 03-16-2011, 01:51 AM

So basically for the most part if you are not on some wanted list US & Canada do not share info? and they just take a guess if you are BS'ing them? pretty lame.

Sp0r3 · 03-16-2011, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fliptuner

Went to Blaine today to pick up some parts. Took the Peace Arch there and Pac Hwy back.

At both crossings the US Border Patrol was stopping Canadians approaching the Canadian border. It totally fucked up the line and they were being real assholes about it too - asked me a million questions and tossed my car. Even when I crossed to go into the States the US Customs guy was just normal.

I thought that's their routine method for seeing if anyone is hiding things they aren't suppose to bring across the border. Besides, until you cross the booth, you are still under US jurisdiction. And with US customs people, they can do almost anything they want when they relate it to border (or homeland) security.

Autorice · 03-16-2011, 03:45 AM

yup if on USA soil the CBP can do anything like rip through your car and every panel for 4 hours+

scamthony wouldn't warrant sharing info...

they don't take guesses, they will ask numerous questions and what you answer and how you answer determines if you're BSing...

they will ask the same question worded differently three or more times and then probe deeper and ask THOSE questions worded differently again.
where did you go? how much did you spend? what did you eat there? how often do you come here? why did you need ___ here instead of there? what do you do for work?

and of course they interview passengers separately and compare notes.

TheNewGirl · 03-16-2011, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1exotic

Just wondering because when coming back they made such a huge deal out of a regular trip thinking for some reason I wasn't telling the truth (which I was)... Not complaing just curious if this has anything to do with both US & Canada border officers sharing info on the database.

thanks

If you regularly go down to the the states, particularly for short trips alone you should invest in a Nexus pass (which will pre clear you though a lot of your security crap).

Regular short trips across the boarder is a behavior that warrants attention as far as the boarder service is concerned. You could be picking up all manners of things and smuggling them into the country after all as far as they're concerned. They do keep track of the frequency of your returns into the country and which crossing you usually use.

Nvasion · 03-16-2011, 06:28 AM

they dont share info unless your a gangster

InvisibleSoul · 03-16-2011, 09:09 AM

They must know at least some basic information, like when you crossed through the border... otherwise what's the point of even asking how long you've been away for, if they can't verify it?

Glove · 03-16-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fliptuner

Went to Blaine today to pick up some parts. Took the Peace Arch there and Pac Hwy back.

At both crossings the US Border Patrol was stopping Canadians approaching the Canadian border. It totally fucked up the line and they were being real assholes about it too - asked me a million questions and tossed my car. Even when I crossed to go into the States the US Customs guy was just normal.

I think there is some kind of alert or something going on,

I went to the states yesterday and there were ARMED military guards with M4's at the canadian crossings,

then I was asked repeatedly if anyone had asked me to drive them accross the border.

fliptuner · 03-16-2011, 11:45 AM

Yup, that's what I encountered.

All the redundant, pointless questions, trying to stumble me was kind of annoying. I'm very conscious about how I talk to the border guards (and those border patrol guys) - direct, clear, short answers.

Expresso · 03-16-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvisibleSoul

They must know at least some basic information, like when you crossed through the border... otherwise what's the point of even asking how long you've been away for, if they can't verify it?

They ask so they can figure out what your exemptions should be.

jpoon · 03-16-2011, 12:40 PM

As long as you look decent and normal and answer their questions in a good manner (and truthfully) you shouldn't have a problem. I have always wondered if they keep info when crossing the border too..

I have never been stopped and searched but I was on a bus tour once in the US and someone on the bus was caught with some vegetables..which caused everyone to go through the whole search and interview process.

I do know people that have gotten away by hiding things in their car, but that's a huge risk that they're taking. One that I'm not willing to take..simply because if I'm caught once, I'll probably be noted down and maybe blacklisted...causing alot more trouble than I want in the future when going through the border.

InvisibleSoul · 03-16-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HachiSix

They ask so they can figure out what your exemptions should be.

Sure... but what if you say a week, when you've been gone a day? Surely they must know.

Ch28 · 03-16-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvisibleSoul

Sure... but what if you say a week, when you've been gone a day? Surely they must know.

they'll ask you where you stayed and if you can verify it

bloodmack · 03-16-2011, 02:32 PM

First time i went to the border since 2001 was to get four loko and they tore my car apart and didn't even give me the hardware back so I could attach my interior panels on properly. Truly a dick move.

InvisibleSoul · 03-16-2011, 03:29 PM

Funny, this exact question was asked like five years ago...

http://www.revscene.net/forums/do-ca...s-t366774.html

Some other times on RFD:

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/canad...n-away-447993/

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/do-u-...mation-430316/

I would be quite surprised if they don't actually know.

I'm also surprised nobody knows for sure.

death_blossom · 03-17-2011, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvisibleSoul

They must know at least some basic information, like when you crossed through the border... otherwise what's the point of even asking how long you've been away for, if they can't verify it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ch28

they'll ask you where you stayed and if you can verify it

they do not have this information on hand right away. at the booth, they only scan your passport and check what they have in their own records. if they are suspicious of something, then the CBSA officer will send you to the inspection area. from there, they do a thorough inspection which may include them to contact US border and get information on when you passed, etc. that is where they can check. they still need to ask Americans for that info, it is not shared across their computer systems.

bloodmack, sorry to hear your car got ripped apart. who did this? CBSA or US border patrol? if it is CBSA, I heard you can get a form to fill out and have repairs done and charged to the CBSA, they will pay it.

I never fuck around at any of the borders. they have the right to do all sorts of nasty shit to you just because they feel like it.

TheKingdom2000 · 03-17-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by death_blossom

they do not have this information on hand right away. at the booth, they only scan your passport and check what they have in their own records. if they are suspicious of something, then the CBSA officer will send you to the inspection area. from there, they do a thorough inspection which may include them to contact US border and get information on when you passed, etc. that is where they can check. they still need to ask Americans for that info, it is not shared across their computer systems.

^Source?

Ch28 · 03-17-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by death_blossom

they do not have this information on hand right away. at the booth, they only scan your passport and check what they have in their own records. if they are suspicious of something, then the CBSA officer will send you to the inspection area. from there, they do a thorough inspection which may include them to contact US border and get information on when you passed, etc. that is where they can check. they still need to ask Americans for that info, it is not shared across their computer systems.

bloodmack, sorry to hear your car got ripped apart. who did this? CBSA or US border patrol? if it is CBSA, I heard you can get a form to fill out and have repairs done and charged to the CBSA, they will pay it.

I never fuck around at any of the borders. they have the right to do all sorts of nasty shit to you just because they feel like it.

I've been asked to provide a hotel reservation when crossing into the US and when we came back through Canadian Customs.

They never pulled us aside to call and verify but they do ask occasionally.

mmmk · 03-17-2011, 11:32 AM

Edited: Delete post

falcon · 03-17-2011, 12:32 PM

No matter what I am doing I always say I am picking up a package when I go south. When I come back to Canada, I say what I really did be it went shopping, day trip to Seattle, actually picked up a package etc.

I've just started doing this because US border guards are a giant pain in the ass and will give you grief for anything and everything. The money excuse to always get through without getting pulled aside is you're going to pick up some packages.

And I do this all the time, and never have had an issue coming back to Canada. So I assume, no... they do not share info.

TheKingdom2000 · 03-17-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcon

No matter what I am doing I always say I am picking up a package when I go south. When I come back to Canada, I say what I really did be it went shopping, day trip to Seattle, actually picked up a package etc.

I've just started doing this because US border guards are a giant pain in the ass and will give you grief for anything and everything. The money excuse to always get through without getting pulled aside is you're going to pick up some packages.

And I do this all the time, and never have had an issue coming back to Canada. So I assume, no... they do not share info.

I don't think that is a sufficient enough experiment to say US/CA do not share information.

Now if you were to say you're going to Portland for a couple days when in fact you were just going to premium outlets for the day and you come back to Canada and tell the CBSA that you just went to premium outlets and they don't ask you about Portland, that would probably be a better test.