As one of the fortunate who possess a valid US waiver (I-194) I have become complacent in travel to the US. I always ensure that I arrive at the airport for pre-screening with more than ample time prior to my departure. If I am connecting through a Canadian city which has US pre-screening I ensure that I have at least 2 hours between connections to allot for what has become a standard (at least in my travels) - the secondary screening.Having received my 5 year waiver almost 2 years ago this November in my initial travels it was always a gamble whether or not the screening officer would refer me to secondary but in the last year or so it seems that this practice has become mandatory. Here is how it is always played out:
- arrive at first screening with documents in hand (ticket, customs declaration, passport, waiver document)
- screening officer reviews documents, reads both pages of the waiver document and swipes passport
- officer places all documents into a yellow folder and directs me to proceed to secondary
Here is the thing - recently I was traveling with my wife back through the US from a vacation in the carribean. We connected in Atlanta and I was refered by the first screening officer to secondary. After sitting in secondary with my wife for about 30 minutes a supervisor called me up to the counter. He gave me my documentation and escorted my wife and I out. On the way he told me this:
"You have a waiver and therefore you should not be using secondary. You are clogging the system! Next time you are refered to secondary from the first screening officer, ask them to speak to a supervisor. Tell the supervisor that you possess a valid waiver and that you've been told that you should not be refered."
At the time, I felt that this was excellent advice. I completely agreed and thanked the supervisor for this information and my wife and I proceeded to catch our flight. A few weeks later I was traveling the US once more. At first screening the officer was familar to me (as most are out of Ottawa). Rather than ask for her supervisor I proceeded to tell her what I was told in Atlanta. Her response was that every border office does things differently and the guy in Atlanta shouldn't have told me that. From there I was then refered to secondary.
So here's the questions: has secondary become a standard for you? Have you ever asked to speak to the supervisor and if so has it been beneficial?
I cross via land crossings in New York & Michigan several times a month. Last summer, when the American with TB (who had been forbidden to leave the country) managed to get to Montreal for an overseas flight & then get back into the country through an upstate NY land crossing undetected, secondary screening of ALL holders of Entry Waivers became mandatory. I'm advised that the primary screener cannot overide the system once you are identified as holding a waiver. Many officers think the requirement is unnecessarily time consuming. At one entry point where I am often recognized by staff they either photocopy my passport & waiver (so they can input info later & not hold me up) or they just don't swipe my passport so there are no secondary issues.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, there are some reasonable people out there who don't see everyone as a terrorist.
I've been through land crossings at Massena and Ogdensburg NY and have never been referred to secondary. They look at my waiver, say "oh, you've got a waiver" and send me on my way. It seems to me there is nothing consistant about how they do these things.
ReplyDeleteI recieved my one year waiver in May, so am about to start the process all over again...maybe I'll luck into a five year this time...for my $65 offense that happened 27 years ago. What a joke...
The only common experience about crossing the border with a waiver is the confusion by the CBP officers. Those poor folks appear to have no guidance and simply make it up as they go. Shocking really, that these people have been given so much power with so little instuction.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know whether the secondary screening rules have recently changed?
ReplyDeleteOn my last 2 land crossings, one of which was in Sarnia by a trainee with a supervisor at his side, where everything appeared to be done by the book, I have not been referred for secondary.
It may have been laxed a little bit. In my last 4 recent trips (all through Pearson) I have not been referred to secondary. Read my most recent post about biometric data collection (they have the equipment to do this at first screening - unsure how it will impact through times).
ReplyDeletei went to NY last week with family afetr recieving my I 194. I used Raindbow Bridge. Border guard told me that you have to go inside. He asked mr to step out from car,shut down my car. Two officer accompanied me to office.While my wife parked the car in parking area. We waited 1 hour and border guard asked me why and where i'm going in US.i got 6 month multiple 1 94 but on my return to canada i retured it to canada border guard.
ReplyDeletePlease explain more on this, why would the Canadians ask you to surrender this us visa waiver ?.
DeleteYou should not have returned the "MULTIPLE" entry I-94 to the Canadian Border Services people when you re-entered Canada "DESPITE THE CONTRADICTORY STATEMENT ON THE BACK" that says you must surrender it when you leave the US!
ReplyDeleteWhy would it be issued for "MULTIPLE" entries when you have to surrender it every time you leave the US???
Typical US, Homeland Security logic, unfortunately.
I can understand why you would surrender it, given the dire warnings on the back, but you will have to pay another $6.00 & wait for another I-94 to be issued if you wish to enter the US within the 6 month timeline of your original I-94!
Then again, why is an I-94 even necessary after all Entry Waiver holders have already gone through significant screening?
Too bad they couldn't inject a little intelligence into their processes, isn't it. Maybe they don't give a damn!
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ReplyDeleteCanadian Pardon Services
How long does it generally take to get a us waiver renewal?
ReplyDelete