get Widget!2006 saw a resurgence in the number of I-94 admissions to the US at almost 34 million - a level not seen since 2000. There was an obvious dip after 2000 associated to the economy and 9/11. Some say that 2007 is poised to break the records with an increase of I-94 admissions by CBP because of tighter scrutiny and a more streamlined process.Certainly the scrutiny is much tighter than ever before but I would question that the process has been streamlined very much (if at all). Welcome to the bureaucracy of secondary screening: you'll sit idle in a room for on average 60 minutes with other I-194 waiver holders; immigration seekers; refugee claimants; and the odd other visa applicant. Sometimes you'll sit until radically close to your departure time. Other times you'll actually miss your flight. For what? For a CBP officer to take a 30 second secondary look at your waiver. A stamp. Sometimes a smile and you're free to go.
I recognize that travel to the US is not a right but a privilege, and I can understand that I-194 waiver holders make up a small (tiny) minority of the claimants who pass through secondary screening. All that I'm asking is why, if my waiver was already granted, approved by DHS, and reviewed by the CBP officer, do I need to be re-processed in secondary screening?
I'm curious and don't see any other way to contact you. So I was wondering, if the dated criminal record is the problem, have you ever applied for a pardon? Although I'm sure you must have looked into that by now.
ReplyDeleteAnd how often do people even get asked at the border if they have a criminal record? I use to travel to the US a lot, less so now but still some, and don't recall ever being asked that question.
MMC: Seeking a pardon for me is now out of the question. Why? Because even though in Canada, my record would be expunged or wiped clean, the US now has a copy of my record in their databases. Actually, I've been told that it would be worse for me now to seek a pardon because once the records are cleaned I would no longer have access to them and I need these records each time I submit for a new I-194 waiver.
ReplyDeleteIf you have never been asked about your criminal record yet when crossing to the US can I guarantee you will be. They've now got easier access to our criminal database and it is now part of their routine check after they swipe your passport. They'll swipe, see the record and then ask you. Most people will respond with the knee jerk reaction and say 'No' even if they have one. Bad thing to do because you never, ever lie to a border officer.
You're one of the lucky ones right now because you're ahead of the game. I suggest you seek a pardon now prior to your next trip to the US. You can get your record expunged so it won't show when CPB does their check. It's not always a perfect scenario though:
I've heard of horrible stories where individuals received a pardon but their record wasn't expunged from all departments (for example, it was removed from the RCMP database but not OPP) and it showed up when CPB did their check. Either way, good luck!
Given that these are large-scale statistics, it seems to me that--roughly speaking--non-I-94 admissions refer to Canadians and I-94 admissions refer to everyone else. Generally speaking Canadians do not require I-94's whereas everyone else does. Yes, there are many specific cases where Canadians require I-94's--not only those with I-194 waivers but also those with student or work permission, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhen they say they've streamlined things, I'm sure they mean they've streamlined primary inspections. Secondary inspections are not really supposed to be streamlined. It is not clear why you have needed to go to secondary inspection after the first entry on the I-194. But I think what they mean is that, while there was initially great confusion after 9/11, at this point the new technologies/procedures now in place have been perfected to the point that the vast majority of people processed at primary inspection can be admitted in a streamline manner. Whether that claim is true I do not know, nor do I know why you needed to go to secondary inspection after the first I-194 entry. But when they talk about streamlining I really don't think they are talking about secondary inspection.
What intrigues me most about these numbers is that I-94 admissions have now wholly returned to pre-9/11 levels and perhaps are a bit higher. On the other hand, non-I-94 admissions--remember that group is basically Canadians--are still down about 25% from pre-9/11 levels. This is especially curious since by 2006 the Canadian dollar was far stronger than it was in the pre-9/11 era, and US travel should be quite economically attractive to Canadians now. Yet these statistics would seem to show that Canadians are staying away from the US. I have the sense that the generally cooling in Canada-US relations in the post-9/11 era has had an effect on cross-border travel.