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> Plenty of other countries have customs/border agents that quiz you without attacking or belittling you. I agree. I am Canadian, but I went to school in the U

> Plenty of other countries have customs/border agents that quiz you without attacking or belittling you. I agree. I am Canadian, but I went to school in the US. After school I returned to Canada. A couple years later I had a US work visa to train Americans on a particular technology that my company specialized in, and I was maybe the foremost expert in (outside of the manufacturer). I wasn't taking anyone's job, I was literally helping Americans keep their jobs instead of being replaced by me or someone like me. Anyway, on one particular trip I was called to secondary inspection and the CBP officer who received me there went on a long tirade about how I should work in my own country for a change. I mean, I did work in my country most of the time (I was still well within the 183 day/year tax treaty limit). He got so mad he actually walked away before he even asked me any questions. I was just standing there, confused, embarrassed and left feeling guilty even though I had done nothing illegal or immoral. But, there are good people in the CBP too... one saw what happened and came over and profusely apologized. He asked a few questions, apologized again, and sent me on my way. On the flip side, I've had my computers and phones searched by Canadian Customs and they've done so with tact and compassion, which seems to be much more effective -- it's amazing how much more cooperative people are when you treat them with compassion. But that's not just CBP, that's true for every industry that I've worked in... there are a few assholes everywhere and everyone else who is cool is a lot more effective because they approach people like they're working together rather than against each other.

dawnerd 8y ago
I’ve been to Canada numerous times and the agents on your side are so nice. Also never really had a problem with us agents other than they all seem over worked and under paid. At least that’s what their attitude comes off like to me. I do remember one case where a Canadian agent asked what my profession was and at the time I said “web developer” but they heard weapon developer. Pretty funny and awkward. And Gesh, I know of some people that cross the border a lot but don’t have nexus or global entry... it’s so worth getting.
- bonestamp2 8y ago
  > it’s so worth getting Agreed, I can't imagine not having it these days.
  - gdpgreg 8y ago
    That thing saved me 5 hours on its first day.
- metters 8y ago
  > don’t have nexus or global entry I am sorry, not a native speaker. What is "nexus or global entry"?
  - lukeqsee 8y ago
    It's a known traveler program you can pay to be a part of that includes fingerprinting, background checks, etc. After passing verification, they give you a card, and reentry to the country is much easier (go to a kiosk, get a receipt, show it to a border guard, get through in <5 minutes).
  - chipperyman573 8y ago
    Basically services where you can pay a few hundred dollars a year and get "pre-screened" so you have to do less when entering another country. You also get to go to the nexus/global entry only line so your time spent in line is often shorter as well.
    - sokoloff 8y ago
      > few hundred dollars a year Nexus is $50 for five years (and includes Global Entry and TSA pre-check. Global Entry is $100 for five years (and includes TSA Pre-check) TSA Pre-check alone is $85 for five years. If you’re near a Canadian border, Nexus is the best financial deal. None of them are “few hundred dollars per year”.
      - 8y ago
sokoloff 8y ago
On the flip side, I was traveling to/from Canada covering an IT director’s opening while we interviewed for a replacement. I was questioned at Canadian border and sent to the “penalty box” (secondary inspection) when asked why I was coming to Canada so much and responded that I was interviewing for a factory IT director position. I was interviewing as the hiring manager, but CBP was all fired up and yelled “Can’t your company find a Canadian to do that job?!” “Yeah [dumbass], that’s what I’m here trying to do.” Got over to secondary and they had a chuckle at the story and welcomed me into Canada. The US doesn’t have a monopoly on thinking foreigners are coming for “our” jobs.
Fnoord 8y ago
> But, there are good people in the CBP too... one saw what happened and came over and profusely apologized. He asked a few questions, apologized again, and sent me on my way. On the flip side, I've had my computers and phones searched by Canadian Customs and they've done so with tact and compassion, which seems to be much more effective -- it's amazing how much more cooperative people are when you treat them with compassion. It doesn't even have to be compassion. Just get some people who either have compassion or can act as if they have compassion. Both work. Judging by the stories I read here and elsewhere, the TSA seems to be some kind of organisation where losers end up, allowing them to vent their frustration about X or Y towards helpless, dependent people.
seattle_spring 8y ago
I go to Canada twice a year and get treated like absolute garbage by their border agents every time. Absolutely no problems coming back to the US.
- LeftTurnSignal 8y ago
  That's been my experience every single time I've went through the Canadian border too. First time they held me for 9 hours before forcing us to go back. They rejected my friend because of an "expunged" disorderly he got when he was 13. Ok fine, it's their country. Next time I was held for 5 hours, strip searched, had my car searched (they did a garbage job of it), threw all my stuff on the ground even after knowing there's a $2000+ piece of hardware, then once they were done they told me to "pick up your garbage." I've also had a gun pulled on me that time, but I could tell that the second CBP that was there saw no reason for any of searches, gun, or anything and he talked her down. Still not sure why the hell she wouldn't tell me why she wanted to search everything. She said I couldn't leave until she was 100% certain. Certain of what? she wouldn't say.

dawnerd 8y ago

I’ve been to Canada numerous times and the agents on your side are so nice. Also never really had a problem with us agents other than they all seem over worked and under paid. At least that’s what their attitude comes off like to me. I do remember one case where a Canadian agent asked what my profession was and at the time I said “web developer” but they heard weapon developer. Pretty funny and awkward. And Gesh, I know of some people that cross the border a lot but don’t have nexus or global entry... it’s so worth getting.

bonestamp2 8y ago
> it’s so worth getting Agreed, I can't imagine not having it these days.
- gdpgreg 8y ago
  That thing saved me 5 hours on its first day.
metters 8y ago
> don’t have nexus or global entry I am sorry, not a native speaker. What is "nexus or global entry"?
- lukeqsee 8y ago
  It's a known traveler program you can pay to be a part of that includes fingerprinting, background checks, etc. After passing verification, they give you a card, and reentry to the country is much easier (go to a kiosk, get a receipt, show it to a border guard, get through in <5 minutes).
- chipperyman573 8y ago
  Basically services where you can pay a few hundred dollars a year and get "pre-screened" so you have to do less when entering another country. You also get to go to the nexus/global entry only line so your time spent in line is often shorter as well.
  - sokoloff 8y ago
    > few hundred dollars a year Nexus is $50 for five years (and includes Global Entry and TSA pre-check. Global Entry is $100 for five years (and includes TSA Pre-check) TSA Pre-check alone is $85 for five years. If you’re near a Canadian border, Nexus is the best financial deal. None of them are “few hundred dollars per year”.
    - 8y ago

sokoloff 8y ago

On the flip side, I was traveling to/from Canada covering an IT director’s opening while we interviewed for a replacement. I was questioned at Canadian border and sent to the “penalty box” (secondary inspection) when asked why I was coming to Canada so much and responded that I was interviewing for a factory IT director position. I was interviewing as the hiring manager, but CBP was all fired up and yelled “Can’t your company find a Canadian to do that job?!” “Yeah [dumbass], that’s what I’m here trying to do.” Got over to secondary and they had a chuckle at the story and welcomed me into Canada. The US doesn’t have a monopoly on thinking foreigners are coming for “our” jobs.

Fnoord 8y ago

> But, there are good people in the CBP too... one saw what happened and came over and profusely apologized. He asked a few questions, apologized again, and sent me on my way. On the flip side, I've had my computers and phones searched by Canadian Customs and they've done so with tact and compassion, which seems to be much more effective -- it's amazing how much more cooperative people are when you treat them with compassion. It doesn't even have to be compassion. Just get some people who either have compassion or can act as if they have compassion. Both work. Judging by the stories I read here and elsewhere, the TSA seems to be some kind of organisation where losers end up, allowing them to vent their frustration about X or Y towards helpless, dependent people.

seattle_spring 8y ago

I go to Canada twice a year and get treated like absolute garbage by their border agents every time. Absolutely no problems coming back to the US.

LeftTurnSignal 8y ago
That's been my experience every single time I've went through the Canadian border too. First time they held me for 9 hours before forcing us to go back. They rejected my friend because of an "expunged" disorderly he got when he was 13. Ok fine, it's their country. Next time I was held for 5 hours, strip searched, had my car searched (they did a garbage job of it), threw all my stuff on the ground even after knowing there's a $2000+ piece of hardware, then once they were done they told me to "pick up your garbage." I've also had a gun pulled on me that time, but I could tell that the second CBP that was there saw no reason for any of searches, gun, or anything and he talked her down. Still not sure why the hell she wouldn't tell me why she wanted to search everything. She said I couldn't leave until she was 100% certain. Certain of what? she wouldn't say.