My Canadian Passport...Problems

[Mike B]

Whenever I cross the border into US, I am sent for a seconary check. This has been a problem since I have obtained my Canadian Passport last September. It appears as though someone with a name similar to mine has a criminal record. But, after 5 -6 crossings, it still has been ongoing, albeit last time, we hadn't even gotten out of the car to go into the office when Border Guard came over and gave us the "all clear". The person that they are looking for is American...

My question is to anyone in the know about these things, what is the procedure when sending someone for a seconadary check AND what information does the Office have, that the Border Agents outside don't..?

Is this guys picture on the screen and if he's American, wouldn't they realize this when I hand over my Canadian Passport...??!

Mike B[/color][/color]

[yycflyguy]

First thing you need to realize is that CBP are drones that do what their screen says in front of them. There are many examples of people having similar names to those on the "no fly list" so they just send them to secondary to have a closer look at the situation. The next time you go through ask to speak to the supervisor after you have been cleared and ask for the mailing address for Homeland Security (CBP can't do anything about it as word must come from Washington) and write a letter stating that the mix-up is preventing you from making a living and kindly resolve the situation. I had a similar situation and the letter actually cleared it up.

Good luck.

[Nark]

Do what yyc said. Talk to a supervisor and write a letter.



What is shown on the screen really isn't something that should be discussed on an open forum. I preach and enforce "OpSec" to my guys and I can only hope the CBP -> DHS does too (I know they do, but I'm beyond anal when it comes to this).








PS. Operational Security.

[Mike B]

[quote="yycflyguy"]First thing you need to realize is that CBP are drones that do what their screen says in front of them....

Exactly... I'm not on a "NO FLY LIST" as I have no problems when flying, I've been to St Maarten in February9 out of BUF) & had no problems getting my boarding passes. Last time I was down to USA, it was a 5 minute delay, only long enough to park the car and go into the office. I was cleared right away....

Was just wondering how this is determined..?

I failed to say that I did write to the DHS RE-DRESS program and recieved an offical letter stating the problem was investigated & entered into the system, I traavel with this letter every time I go to USA. Maybe this is the reason I was cleared right away..??

[E-Flyer]

The officers sitting at the CBP booths normally have no idea what they're doing. They'll send people in for Special Investigations and give you a Special Registrant Visa which requires a departure stamp when you are not even subject to such parameters.

Try writing to the Headquarters, but from what I see, it is the same people in the higher leagues that train and influence regulations on these booth agents; thus, don't be surprised if you don't see much action. I also believe that most of the agents at the CBP are lazy individuals and as soon as they see one small indicator, they send you in for investigation without reading into it and understanding that you may not be subject to such unnecessary actions.

Hopefully with Obama, the whole issue with Homeland Security and relations will change and the CBP will improve back to the standards at which it performed 8+yrs ago.


Good Luck

[Mike B]

Everyone is under big brother's watchful eye...!!!!

[C-GPFG]

Hey Mike B..

Perhaps like you I, unfortunately, have one of the most popular first names and the second most popular last Anglo-Saxon name in Canada. There's a ton of guys with my name on the US no-fly list, including one with the same birthday. Even though he is a different ethnicity than I, I use to get frequent secondary checks.

US customs told me to apply for a Nexus card to avoid the secondary checks, which often last up to 30 minutes. The second thing you can do is ask them if they can do a 'pour' of your name. This takes all the bad guys off your list, until a new one pops up causing you to be tossed back into secondary until they do another pour.

Hope they don't give you the glove.

[Bajan Pilot]

First of all this guy is not having a problem with CBP, the problem is with the US DHS.

I suffered the same fate a few years back. After crossing the border for 17 years, sometimes twice a day, I was told that I would have this problem everytime. True to their word it happened that way. There is nothing you can do to change it. For me, I renewed my passport and voila...the problem disappeared. About once a year the situation arises and all you can do is have a seat and wait it out.

Trust me, I know all about it.

[PunkStarStudios]

Same here. Even had a nexus card pulled driving across Niagara. Went back to YYZ and they said it was a mistake and I should have a Nexus card.

Flying across (myself or as corporate capt) gives me the least grief - actually - it's usually uneventful.
But driving or flying commercial - good lord what a pain.

[Sulako]

Get this - I share my name with a Czech citizen who is on the CBP wanted-list.

A Czech woman.

It's kinda funny, and also kind of strange as my name is pretty non-Russian. I usually get by with a simple double-take from the customs officer - it has yet to lead to a full body cavity search, for which I'm grateful.

A customs officer showed me a pic once, at least she's hot.

[Liquid Charlie]

get a NEXUS card

[Expat]

As you probably all know, if you cross into the USA often, you are a suspect, and your e-mails and phone calls will be recorded. Always be carefull about what you say or write... My advice from a CIA guy...

[Bae146]

I had the same problem.

Go on the homeland security website and you can file a complain...

Second screening stopped for me about 3 weeks after I filed the report.

Good luck