Beware of crossing the border! Humiliating experience
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During the long weekend many of desis may be planning to cross the border. Just wanted to give the heads up that it will not be a bad idea to carry your proof of residency such as pay stub, house ownership, employment letter, etc.
I was planning a short vacation to Erie PA but it turned into a humiliating experience. I recently became Canadian citizen and thought crossing border will not be an issue on Canadian passport. I had worked in US till 2006 on h1 and have been leaving and working in Canada since then. But the officers at the immigration kept insisting that I am still working and own a property there which I don't (really glad that I did not own one). Since it was a holiday they could not contact my HR. After grueling 4 hours of wait with family, the officer said that they will not allow me to enter as they were not able to verify where I am working. And sent back with a document just written 7A1.
Not sure what happened there. I had crossed the border several times on visitor visa in Indian passport several times without any issues.
But it hits you the most when you are least expecting it. It will not harm to carry a copy of above documents in dashboard everytime you cross the border no matter how smooth it was in the past. 7A1 is a very bad charge and no one should get it especially when you are very well settled in Canada.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Sorry to know about your experience and thanks for posting this .
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Fido.
Hi CoolVip,
sorry to hear about your bad experience. Crossing into US border seems like a big challenge. Once can never be sure until the crossing is over.
you can consult Dimple(CD local expert on border crossings). He does it on daily basis.
Thanks for posting your experience.
seenappa
Thx for sharing ur experience... i just became a citizen and also worked in usa till 2004...
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 22-04-11 17:02:52
Quote:
Originally posted by coolvip
During the long weekend many of desis may be planning to cross the border. Just wanted to give the heads up that it will not be a bad idea to carry your proof of residency such as pay stub, house ownership, employment letter, etc.
I was planning a short vacation to Erie PA but it turned into a humiliating experience. I recently became Canadian citizen and thought crossing border will not be an issue on Canadian passport. I had worked in US till 2006 on h1 and have been leaving and working in Canada since then. But the officers at the immigration kept insisting that I am still working and own a property there which I don't (really glad that I did not own one). Since it was a holiday they could not contact my HR. After grueling 4 hours of wait with family, the officer said that they will not allow me to enter as they were not able to verify where I am working. And sent back with a document just written 7A1.
Not sure what happened there. I had crossed the border several times on visitor visa in Indian passport several times without any issues.
But it hits you the most when you are least expecting it. It will not harm to carry a copy of above documents in dashboard everytime you cross the border no matter how smooth it was in the past. 7A1 is a very bad charge and no one should get it especially when you are very well settled in Canada.
Enjoy the long weekend!
If you are able/willing to share more, I'd like to ask few questions:
1. What did they ask in the primary inspection (at the booth when you pull in)?
Usually, the questions at the primary is what triggers their need to send you to the secondary.
2. Did you ask why they felt you were still working in the US?
3. What is 7A1?
As much as it is distressing to go through the experience, something triggered the event. If you are able to share, maybe I can shed some light. Take care.
I don't cross daily as a commuter anymore; however, I do cross the border often and have seen varying levels of inspection. In any case, I have always found myself being able to have a conversation and ask if things don't seem clear.
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Dimple2001
As per the link
http://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/what-does-7a1-mean-on-my-passport-if-i-was-denied--216180.html
Rebecca Cook Black
This attorney is licensed in Florida.
7a1 is the catch-all phrase CBP uses when it determines that you are an intending immigrant. There is a presumption that all people entering the US are intending immigrants, and it is up to you to demonstrate to the CBP inspector or Consular Officer that you are intending to make a trip that is in line with the visa you have in your passport.
For instance, if you have a B1/2 visa in your passport but told the CPB person that you were coming to visit your fiance . . . then he could have asssumed that you were coming to actually marry your fiance to avoid the wait of a fiance visa- and so denied the tourist visa.
Quote:
Originally posted by dimple2001
If you are able/willing to share more, I'd like to ask few questions:
1. What did they ask in the primary inspection (at the booth when you pull in)?
Usually, the questions at the primary is what triggers their need to send you to the secondary.
2. Did you ask why they felt you were still working in the US?
3. What is 7A1?
As much as it is distressing to go through the experience, something triggered the event. If you are able to share, maybe I can shed some light. Take care.
I don't cross daily as a commuter anymore; however, I do cross the border often and have seen varying levels of inspection. In any case, I have always found myself being able to have a conversation and ask if things don't seem clear.
You guessed it right..It is painful to give all the details because it was humiliating...anyhow if it helps future travellers:
1) When approached the booth, something was triggerred into their system. The officer first asked me if I had ever been questioned before for carrying agricultural product which I was not. Then she told me that I was selected for random check. I am suspecting the earlier travel to US on Indian passport on different visas (like H1 and then B1/B2) and then trying to enter US on entirely different passport may have triggered something in system. Just my theory.
2) Their records were just showing the addresses where I had previously stayed and not dates..So not sure on that as well. The officer said that he will call my employer next day and after verification of my employment he will call me on the very same day. I had asked what if he does not call, how can I clarify this, he Promised he will call me next day. He never called either to my employer or myself.
3) following user answered the question on 7A1. But it is so ironic that I did not want to stay in US because of these hassles even though I had opportunities to extend visas and go thru the GC process. But they charged me for the very same reason which I never had intentions of.
Basically very first travel on Canadian passport turned into nightmare.
Bottom line: Working with US attorney. Will post an update if and when I make next attempt. But do carry couple of papers when you cross the border.
