Best way to avoid getting harassed by immigration?
- Thread starter figuroxxx
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Well, when you are dealing with incompetent jerks, should you be surprised by their incompetent actions? On at least one other occasion, though, they did ask me to show the receipt and were satisfied with it -- to the point that I did not even get a secondary inspection.
When I go to Montreal for non-business I say it is for Pleasure. Period. If they ask where I am going to stay I give them the name of the hotel and the street it is on. If they ask what I am going to do I say "Hit the casino, go to dinner at my favorite restaurants, and hit a few clubs at night." I was culled out of line one time and talked to three people. I stuck to the story and I was allowed to pass. Now, I ask you the following: What is wrong with saying "I am going to call a few escort agencies." Why not? Escorting isn't illegal. Having sex for money is. I hire the escort for her elegance, companionship, and colorful anecdotes in that cute Quebecois accent. This is not illegal. If it were, all the agencies would all be shut down. Is there a morality law/reason that they can use to reject you like the USA doesn't allow active escorts in our country?
Good question! But believe me no US visitor here including you will burn themselves forever trying their luck to find out
This is why you should never use the fingerprint or facial recognition options on smart phones. You can be forced to unlock a phone, but if you “forget your password” well then, you forgot your passcode and the phone cannot be opened.
I think the border patrol agent would “fly” you back home. All kidding aside, it’s either business or vacation. No need to go into details unless you have to. And if you have to, keep it simple. If you find yourself having a conversation with a border agent your talking to much.
Is there a way to foil facial recognition? I recently bought the iPhone XS Max which operates on facial recognition. It’s a pretty cool technology because I just hold it up to my face like a mirror and it automatically unlocks. If I hand the phone to anyone else it stays locked because they don’t have the same face as me. And it unlocks even if I am wearing my eyeglasses! So what can I do to thwart it? Would any lotions or creams work?
EB,
What sucks is the facial recognition feature is such an easy way to open your phone and access many of your apps. The downside is you cant tell a cop or border agent that you've forgotten your face or fingerprint. But you can forget your pass code.
I remember in my bar tending days we were paid a visit by the local police. They were looking to bust balls and asked for my ss#. Not wanting to debate whether I needed to provide the info or not. I simply replied that I'm a just a dumb bar tender and don't remember the number. Point being that if I don't remember then I don't remember. I'm sure you get that.
Anyway, to answer your question, If you go into the settings and click on the Face ID & Passcode tab it will allow you to disable this feature.
What sucks is the facial recognition feature is such an easy way to open your phone and access many of your apps. The downside is you cant tell a cop or border agent that you've forgotten your face or fingerprint. But you can forget your pass code.
I remember in my bar tending days we were paid a visit by the local police. They were looking to bust balls and asked for my ss#. Not wanting to debate whether I needed to provide the info or not. I simply replied that I'm a just a dumb bar tender and don't remember the number. Point being that if I don't remember then I don't remember. I'm sure you get that.
Anyway, to answer your question, If you go into the settings and click on the Face ID & Passcode tab it will allow you to disable this feature.
Always tell the truth - never say anything that can be contradicted. If you say you are going to visit a friend, you must be prepared for them to ask for a name and a phone number.
You have to remember that Montreal is an international tourist destination. It is not unusual for people to visit and to visit on multiple occasions. Saying that you are love the city and the restaurants and museums is impossible to contradict. That is a totally normal story and if someone doubts you, its ok to react like they are the ones being weird. The more complicated you make your story, the easier it is for them to find a detail to trip you up. If you actually have some non-escort activities planned, then mention them specifically, but only if they are real. Dont say you are going to hockey game unless you actually have tickets.
Read up on what is going on in the city the weekend you are visiting and make reference to that. Visiting Montreal is a normal thing. Act like you are a normal tourist because you are in fact a normal tourist. They are looking for people who are nervous or who lie for no apparant reason - so dont do that. KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid
As for the idea of saying you are thinking if buying real estate, sure you can say that but I would only say it if it is really true. If it isn't then why bother? You love the food, the nightlife, the casino etc.
You have to remember that Montreal is an international tourist destination. It is not unusual for people to visit and to visit on multiple occasions. Saying that you are love the city and the restaurants and museums is impossible to contradict. That is a totally normal story and if someone doubts you, its ok to react like they are the ones being weird. The more complicated you make your story, the easier it is for them to find a detail to trip you up. If you actually have some non-escort activities planned, then mention them specifically, but only if they are real. Dont say you are going to hockey game unless you actually have tickets.
Read up on what is going on in the city the weekend you are visiting and make reference to that. Visiting Montreal is a normal thing. Act like you are a normal tourist because you are in fact a normal tourist. They are looking for people who are nervous or who lie for no apparant reason - so dont do that. KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid
As for the idea of saying you are thinking if buying real estate, sure you can say that but I would only say it if it is really true. If it isn't then why bother? You love the food, the nightlife, the casino etc.
Thanks, man. I honestly just like walking around the city, taking in the atmosphere, getting away from the English-speaking world but I've gotten odd looks before. You're right, they can ding me for lying, but not for being a bit of a weirdo, I suppose.
I figured out how to disable it by accident although I didn’t realize it until you posted this. These very same instructions are how to screenshot on your iPhone XS, which no longer has a home button. What I didn’t realize until you posted this is that a quick simultaneous press and release of the aforesaid buttons does a screenshot; however a press and hold of the same two
buttons disables facial recognition.
I just bought the phone and still am figuring it out.
They don’t interrogate Americans at the border in French. They use English. French skills are not necessary to navigate your way through a border interrogation. And jmioffe is well advised to keep his English answers relatively simple and straightforward because most of the Canadian Customs agents at the New York and Vermont crossings are young bilingual French Canadians whose English is fluent, but not necessarily sophisticated and erudite. I have had a customs agent or two who tripped over my vocabulary, asked me about a word and I had to sort of dumb it down into simpler words. Example, when I have used the word “litigation” in response to occupational questions, I have gotten blank looks. I even recall a blank look on “attorney”, whereas substituting “lawyer” sometimes rings a bell, and “avocat” always gets the job done, even though it’s an imperfect French translation. It’s the only French I use on a regular basis and it’s because the other words are sometimes a problem.
Instead of jmioffe speaking French, simple English is the way to go. I would go a step further and say it’s dangerous to use French by a native Anglophone American, because the chances of being misunderstood are high.
I still think hockey season is your best cover. I've been to Montreal for hockey weekends. No matter what you tell them, you are still a lone male traveling to a city with liberal views on sexuality. That's always going to raise an eyebrow, but don't get yourself caught in a lie (i.e. unidentifiable friends, etc.).
Only recommended if it's (1) the truth or (2) you actually know a lot about hockey. I went up one weekend with friends with intentions to see Flyers v. Habs, on one other occasion to see the Rangers get shut out. We did not have tickets (admitted that- we ultimately bought them from a scalper for $180 each) and the guards on those occasions proceeded to ask a lot of hockey questions. Most of the border guards know more about hockey than the average American tourist. Me and my friends are sports fans who can hold our own. The conversation could easily go down like this:
Customs Agent: Where are you going?
Tourist: Montreal.
Customs Agent: The purpose of your visit?
Tourist: Going to the hockey game.
Customs Agent: Are you a fan of the Montreal Canadiens?
Tourist: Oh Yeah!!!!!!!! Go Habs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Customs Agent: That Nikita Scherbak, he is really something, isn't he?
Tourist: You bet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Customs Agent. Sir, Montreal waived Nikita Scherbak yesterday. Please park your car up ahead next to the one with license plate "Bred Sob" for your secondary inspection with Customs.
Here is how that same conversation went down with me:
Customs Agent: Where are you going?
Me: Montreal.
Customs Agent: The purpose of your visit?
Me: Going to the hockey game.
Customs Agent: Are you a fan of the Montreal Canadiens?
Me: I like the Habs, but to tell you the truth they are playing the Flyers and I want to see the Broad Street Bullies get beat. We are Rangers fans.
Customs Agent: Henrik Lundqvist is having a pretty good season, huh?
Me: The King! Yeah, his save % and GAA are both down from last year, although he does not have as many shutouts, percentage wise, as he did in his younger days.
Customs Agent: Enjoy the game. Hope you have tickets?
Me: We do not, but we anticipate we will be able to purchase some, hopefully.
Customs Agent: Have a nice trip.
i have never really had a problem driving up the northway (87) and crossing into canada. for very short stays, i have told them that i am going to the casino. however, i get the fewest questions when i have a bike or skis since quebec is a well known skiing and cycling destination. i would usually tell customs that i am staying in montreal and skiing or cycling in the laurentians. this is reasonable since the laurentians are an easy day trip by car. actually, i would recommend mixing in a little skiing or cycling between visits with the ladies. of course, montreal has some nice cycling routes but also i highly recommend a little x country skiing at mont royal park. it is a surprisingly winter wonderland in the heart of the city- very festive with some nicely groomed trails. from downtown, you can drive there in 15 min, park next to the trails and work in an hour of skiing before returning to more serious pursuits.
The reason I asked jmioffe if he speaks french is that if she speaks even a tiny bit, that can be a great excuse to travel to Montreal "I am trying to learn French and visiting Montreal gives me a chance to practice" I am not suggesting that he answer questions in French, but if he can speak just a little it is a legit reason to visit.
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