Coming to the U.S. from Canada can be a stressful experience for some. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - a law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations, tasked with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade.
But certainly, to travellers, it can and often does feel like the focus is more on the former part of that mission than the latter. Although 9/11 happened more than 20 years ago, some officers responsible for adjudicating requests for admission to the U.S. were employed with the CBP at the time of the attack, and still remember how the terrorists who perpetrated the atrocity were able to slip through the cracks at the border. It's a fair bet that the caution stimulated by 9/11 has been a prime agency mandate ever since.
When requesting entry to the U.S., it is primarily important to remember that the officers adjudicating your request take their job - and the consequences of failing at it, even inadvertently - seriously. It is also important to remember that they are human beings, and as such, can have a bad day or a subpar attitude just like the rest of us, from time to time. Keeping these two things in mind can make entries to the U.S. quicker, less complicated and less of a general headache for travellers.
To facilitate a smooth entry, there are a few specific tips to keep top of mind:
Most immigration lawyers will be happy to answer questions about admissibility ahead of time as well, if you have concerns that your activities might be crossing a line into those that require work authorization. You're always better off asking questions ahead of time, so you're not unpleasantly surprised on your way into the U.S. for an important meeting or event.
This article was originally published by Law360 Canada, part of LexisNexis Canada Inc.