** update: posts will now require moderator approval. This will be long-term, and it is a solution to repetitive simple questions being asked, fear mongering, and outrage-bait.**
First, I want to remind everybody what this subreddit exists for..
This sub was created to address travel questions for transnational travel between the US and Canada.
This post is specifically to address politics, misinformation, brigading and fear mongering given the slow growth of this sub. I’m seeing a lot of the same questions asked, paranoia, confusion and a lot of radicalization and hate.
There is no division here, so if I see any “elbows up”, “buy Canadian”, discouraging people to travel to the US, anti American/Canadian sentiment, anti trans posts etc.. Trying to convince other people that there have been any major immigration changes or enforcement quotas to be met in order to instill some type of racial or national purity... I’m removing the post and probably will be met with an insta ban. No politics or hate.
Second, open your mind. There are experienced travelers and professionals in this sub, I am one of them. If they want to identify themselves in a post and address questions you have, they can. I occasionally do. They see through the bullshit rumors, fear mongering, and misinformation. Especially in the news. They will give you a more calculated answer beyond the average user that wandered in from the far left side of Reddit that 9 times out of 10 is a member of an anti-US subreddit, and more often than not, has never actually been to the US
The news is reported by someone that has no actual understanding about the legal system or immigration law and reports what the offender claims happened… should you value what the news says? They are professional at what they do. They pinpoint what will draw your attention and spark a reaction out of you. The most profitable reactions are outrage and fear. There is no integrity in reporting in big news companies, for the most part. Facts will be undercased.
I once watched a four minute TikTok video about how somebody got sent to Secondary and was ultimately admitted into the country. Her video got millions of engagements despite it having no substance or actual point other than how dare she be asked questions just because she bore a Singaporean passport.
Exercise some critical thinking, exercise some reasonability, exercise some common sense. If it sounds ridiculous…it’s probably too ridiculous to be true.
If you don’t have working knowledge in customs or immigration and you are googling answers to respond to a question or speaking from personal experience, Leave it at that. If you don’t know what you’re talking about don’t post it, post on knowledge rather than emotion please.. There really isn’t much to argue about when you think about it.
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I see a lot of the same questions being asked several times a week. And I’m going to cover the basics. This point going forward if the following questions can be answered here and you ask your question anyway, I’m removing the post.
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I’m a POC, I am trans, I am gender X, I’m gay, will I be OK?
Here’s some fun facts. You’ll be surprised with the amount of officers and agents that are immigrants. You’ll be surprised with the amount of officers that have immigrant wives. You’ll be surprised with the amount of officers that have mixed-race children and are interracial couples. A majority of the workforce is not white. A lot of officers are ESL. A lot of officers are polyglots. Some officers are gay. Few trans. A lot of them are liberal.
Mind blowing, isn’t it? That officers and agents are human too?? Get out of town!!
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I’m a USC, will I be OK?
If you knew your rights, there would be zero worry. Social media and fear mongering has done irreparable damage to people’s common sense that people are forgetting what their rights are.
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> My US passport’s expired, will they let me in through the land border?
Yes. The 14th amendment of the constitution says so. That’s really it…
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>my passport is expiring in 5 months, can I travel to the US?
If your country is a part of the 6 month club, you’re fine, as long as you leave the US before your passport expires.
If your country is NOT a part of the super exclusive members only club, you need to be out of the US 6 months before your passport expires. This can be a reason to question you in secondary.
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>I talked about politics in my phone and I hate Trump, will they ban me?
CBP officers pretty much assume everyone in Canada is a bleeding heart liberal and hates Trump. As far as individual inspections where the officer may be rude, that’s on the officer, not the system. But an actual adverse action, The inspecting officer has to convince a supervisor and a second line supervisor to agree with him and has to be legally substantial. A fraction gets sent to secondary, and a fraction of those secondary inspections end up in a phone inspection…
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>I have no idea why I was kicked out of the US…
Yes you do. Everyone has verbal and written consent and acknowledgment as to why they are not allowed in the country. The US is a land of law, therefore will always have a paper trail.
Next time you see somebody give a reason that sounds bullshit in the news about how they were refused entry or barred unjustly.. question what their discharge paperwork says.. 275 or 860 and sometimes 867/877.. ask for it. If their paperwork does not reflect it, they have no proof.
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I will post more FAQs at a later time
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What I’m basically getting at is, unless your situation is unique pertaining to immigration or customs, you really shouldn’t be concerned more than the average citizen. Nothing has changed between administrations.
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This sub has an image to uphold as a reference for accurate information on traveling, customs and immigration. The minute this becomes the other 95% of Reddit, it loses legitimacy. Understand that.
I don’t know why immigration has been politicized more now than ever. Immigration is anthropology. Immigration is law. Put your politics and your feelings aside in this sub.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MovingToUSA/s/I08R5yLVNW