Anyway it was nice of TK to have posted the experience.
Hi. TK
I was missing your posts since some time.
This was really a horrible yet funny experience (cheap too, in just $ 3.50).
...I left Fort Erie vowing never to return again...
But you mentioned having seen a new route. Once you overcome the horror of this experience, you might want to explore that new route to have a 'dekho' to USA. Just keep some change for the Tim Hortons and tolls. May be this time 'people' and 'those individuals' won't accompany you, unless you explain all the disclaimers to 'them'.
Keep posting.
Ben
Location: Canada-Glorious and Free
Posted on: 09-08-06 08:03:26
They steal money from TK Saab!
BV
This happened to my colleague from Pakistan the last saturday. He had been living in US of A for 12 years and since last 4 years he has been in Canada. He is awaiting his GC under family class and he expects the interview sometime early next year.
He is a Canadian Citizen and he had driven to the US immigration point, where the people in the car before were waved in, while when the immigration agent saw his passport with the name \"Mohammed\" waved his car aside. He and his family were subjected to one hour \" Rude - Interrogation\", with questions like when did you visit Pakistan last, have you visited Afghanistan, what do you do in Canada, explain the nature of your job and this was at about 6.30 AM in the morning.
After one hour and checking & re-checking of the Citizenship card, Canadian Passport and other documents he was waved to proceed. He is now in a dilemma, he loves and misses his US job, the money - but he loves the life, the Desi environment in Canada. He has to choose between the money and the quality of his life !.
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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....
"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 11-08-06 11:01:49
Unfortunately, as long as there are "Mohammed"s in the world willing to blow themselves and others up, everybody else with that name and several other names will be subject to profiling and different treatment. Citizenship does not bring any protection. Neither does the amount of time one has lived in US or Canada. Such is life.
Border agents on both sides of the border do sometimes check the stamps in the passport to understand your travel pattern. And yes, unfortunately, travel to Pak could raise red flags.
The bottom line is we all can complain of "discrimination" and "harassment" and "prejudice" and so on and on and on and on. However, the border agents in any country have absolute authority to do a complete search if they deem it as necessary, even if it means it's just because of your muslim name.
My previous company's owner (a 70 year old white guy) ran his mouth at the US border and got detained for 4 hours in a lockup. So, anything is possible. Today morning, my whole car was searched - don't know why. They were intrigued at all the grass debris in my car which was due to me carrying lawn mower in my car in the past. When I told them why, we all had a "professional" chuckle over the grass.
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Dimple2001
Sometimes I dont blame the border agents for being so introgative..
When I crossed the border the first time, after I had come to Canada [I was travelling alone since my wife was already in USA and I was going to pick her up] I too was asked so many questions...some of whihc I thought were so plain stupid.. and the same question over and over again in different words.. after about 20 minutes question asking when I was in my car only, my passport, drivers licence, health card was all taken away and I was told to park my car and go into the office..and wait till I get my clearance..
It was almost about 90 minutes before I got my documents back and I was told to go ahead with my trip..
BUt, the fact that blew up my mind was, I saw so many people in that office who didnot have proper documents for travel.. many didnot even have a passport.. or even an document saying who they r and from what country they are...
Also, while I was waiting.. they brought in one guy.. and I saw the officers strip him and they did recover 2 guns from him.. also when they tore apart his car.. they found more guns..
They have to b vigilant ... I do agree that sometimes they piss us off... but then they r doing their job..
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Amit Shah
Financial Advisor
Cell : 647-296-2609
One of the weirdest posts I have seen in a while. Going to Ft.Erie to take a peak at how the US looks? Doesn't look that different does it?
