Canadian customs questioning a "frequent" visitor

[Flabert]

It's understandable to want to be prepared for questioning by customs agents and provide them with a reasonable explanation for your frequent visits to Canada. While it's not common to encounter hostile agents, it's helpful to have a well-thought-out reason for your visits.

Exploring different areas each time can be a valid explanation, as it shows your curiosity for Canadian culture and various attractions. This approach allows you to express your interest in experiencing different parts of the country, including Montreal and Toronto. You can mention specific places you have previously visited and express your desire to continue exploring Canada's diversity.

Becoming a member at a specific cultural venue, like Place des Arts, is also a good idea if you can find one that offers memberships. It provides legitimacy to your frequent visits and gives you something concrete to mention when questioned. If Place des Arts doesn't offer memberships, you can search for other cultural venues in Montreal or Toronto that do. Alternatively, you can mention attending events or exhibitions at various cultural venues during your visits.Maybe you could indicate that you are fans of Montréal canadian and that you are interested in attending a hockey game. However, ensure you are aware of the team's schedule and if they will be playing at their home arena. In case they ask important questions such as who your favorite player is or if you can name a couple of hockey players, make sure you know a few names. The same strategy applies if you are visiting Toronto; you can mention that you are a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. This would be an excellent choice.

While encountering a hostile customs agent is rare, it's always prudent to be prepared and have a well-thought-out explanation for your visits. By emphasizing your growing interest in Canadian culture, tourism, or specific attractions, and providing specific examples or mentioning memberships at cultural venues or you are a hockey fan, you can demonstrate a genuine reason for your frequent visits.

All this is useful but the most important thing is giving no whiff of coming to Canada for work.

If they ask you must say “absolutely not”, it must be true and seem true!

 

[Biggie Smalls]

When you stole the laptop did you scream “gimme the loot”!

Biggie Smalls song

Nope, but I went from negative to positive, and its all gooood!

 

[wiinston17]

Be honest with immigtation. Since hobbying in Canada is legal,, I wouldnt be afraid to mention it, but I wouldnt volunter it either.
they really want to make sure that you are Not working in Canada
youll be fine

This is NOT TRUE. DO NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT HOBBYING.

In Canada, you're allowed to sell sex but forbidden to pay for it. So as a customer, you are technically breaking the law. Don't talk about weed either even if it's legal here.

 

[nikotine24]

I don't know how much they check into things. But couldn't you even just say you are meeting a long distance gf you met online, who might be married even... who knows. I have heard of people going to the states just to go shopping, does it really matter why in the end? Aren't they more just happy your pouring your hard earned income into their economy?
Places like the botanical gardens do have memberships, and in summer there's la ronde, just say your there for these type of getaways. No? There is always something happening in montreal or toronto, some kind of festival, if your so worried just check up what is happening during that week your heading down. Theres even winter festivals that happen, to try and attract tourists, or to bring up spirits of the locals during the cold dark winter months.

Like i said i don't know how much they check into things. Personally i haven't really gone anywhere to know. And haven't crossed the border myself.

I don't think it's a really good idea to mention a long distance GF or a friend who doesn't exist. Besides being an outright lie, the agent could ask for the contact information of this GF or friend, which you would not be able to provide, or if you can provide then they would call they would call him or her and verify your story with them. Like how long they have known you, what is the nature of their relationship to you, etc. This opens a whole rabbit hole that you want to avoid. I have seen just such a scenario on one of those airport customs reality shows, and yes, the guy did get denied entry when his story just didn't hold up.

 

[neverbored]

Becoming a member at a specific cultural venue, like Place des Arts, is also a good idea if you can find one that offers memberships. It provides legitimacy to your frequent visits and gives you something concrete to mention when questioned.

This is a good one. A friend of mine comes up often, he looks for events in town, and actually creates fake e-tickets with QR codes to match.
Whatever you do, just don't go off on an too elaborate story. That's like when people feel the urge to explain excuses in full detail, you know its a lie.

 

[Montrealdude83]

as someone from the USA who currently living in Montreal who has crossed the border a lot in the past and who had friends in customs. i can tell you coming in as frequent as you are for tourism will trigger red flags. most likely they wont think escorts but will think its drug related but if you don't have any evidence on you electric or physical worse they can do is deny you entry but if they do fine evidence then they can deport you and inform law enforcement on the US side. it comes down if you get a agent super strict or one that's more relaxed with the rules. keep in mind if you say you have a gf in Canada or kid or own property and that's why your comings so much they will ask you for the persons number name and address to follow up if needed. best not lie they are trained to pick out when a person is being not honest and you wont be able to keep using tourism. if you say you are coming for a event sometimes they make ask to see your tickets for the event or travel plans for the event or emails you sent to the promoter as proof to the event. Canada side is very strict i fine compared to the US side. another thing i can say is if you come during a time when its not tourism season and say your here for tourism to the customs official that will trigger a red flag and might pull you aside. best you can due is come up with legitimate reason for coming here that you can prove if they were to question you more. i had times where i didn't need show anything they just let me though the gate and other times i had shows papers emails etc on why i'm coming in canada. all i can suggest is plan thoughly and hope for the best

 

[EagerBeaver]

Looking for a little advice please - I’m a US citizen and in 2023 I started flying to Canada for the escort scene. My trips have been 5-10 days each in mar, may, aug, sep and oct. So that’s a total of 5 trips this year (3 times to MTL and 2 to TOR), and the frequency has increased to once per month over the last 3 months.

I’m itching to fly up to Montreal again this week. But the more I go the more i get concerned about Canadian customs questioning upon arrival. To be clear I haven’t actually had problems thus far. I’ve always answered “general tourism” for the reason of visit. Other than being asked where I’ll stay I really haven’t gotten questioned much at all. But now that my trips are getting more frequent and this would be the 4th visit in 4 months... I’m concerned that an agent will basically not buy the “general tourism” and demand to know why I’m flying up so often.

I have US global entry (which makes clearing US customs a breeze when flying back) but I unfortunately don’t have Nexus, so I have to go through the general line with everyone else at Canadian customs.

Questions:

• Generally speaking, does visiting every month for a week at a time enough raise red flags for Canadian customs?
• If I do get grilled by an agent on the reason for the repeated visits, what can I say that’s more effective than “I enjoy being a tourist here”?
• I stay at nice 4-5 star hotels each time and bring a print out of my reservation just in case. I also get a ticket to some venue/show that week and print that out as well. Have never had to show these, but figure it can’t hurt to have. Any other little tips along those lines that may help if I draw a predatory agent?

Cheers

Taway,

I am a U.S. resident who travelled to Montreal with the same frequency or more for many years in the past. I was detained multiple times and asked the same questions. I would in fact provide the same answers "I enjoy being a tourist, I like the Montreal dining scene, etc." The Customs agents are trained to give disbelieving responses to your answers and intimidate you into not sticking to your guns. I am here to tell you if you stick to your guns you will not be denied entry, by providing such lawful and true reasons. It was 100% true I enjoyed Montreal as a tourist and 100% true that I enjoyed the dining scene in Montreal and the bar and club scene. These answers have to be and will be accepted.

Back in around 2005, at a time when I had relatives who lived near the border and was visiting them, I went from their place to Montreal for one night. I was grilled particularly hard and went to the secondary detainment. First they asked me about DUIs then asked me why I was only going in for one night. I said I planned to have a nice dinner and enjoy myself for a night. I recall a young female customs agent with a particular disbelieving tone who questioned my answer. STICK TO YOUR GUNS. Don't be nervous and you basically have to tell yourself as long as you do not lie they cannot deny you entry. Everything I said was true and was never denied entry. That I may have had a secondary, undisclosed purpose for my visit is not relevant. There is no legal duty to provide every single reason you may have for traveling. In fact if everyone did, traffic at the border would never move. Just man up and stick to your guns and you will be fine.

 

[Giselle Montreal]

i can tell you coming in as frequent as you are for tourism will trigger red flags. most likely they wont think escorts but will think its drug related

Indeed, if you start questioning your own frequent trips legitimacy, customs just might too.

Who does travel every month for a week for tourism, in the same country? I can only think of a few reasons: a vacation residence or a girlfriend (but they'll ask for phone numbers, addresses and other personal details), illegal (drugs, human trafficking, guns, sexual tourism), an illegal job, school or seeking immigration. Or you are a terribly rich bored retiree and don't like to travel too far. I am sure there are other legitimate reasons. I know that our travelling patterns are noticed and personally, that's why I don't want to cross the border more than twice a year—because my pretexts and situation can't justify a sustained travel habit, tourism multiple times a year is not good enough for me. Nonetheless, having strong motives with proof will be your best friend!

 

[IamNY]

Yeah thanks, Nexus would be the permanent solution to this problem, but I've been wary about the interview during application. Their website says to expect a half hour interview. Is that not a way to ensure getting grilled by these agents? Nexus is specifically for frequent US-Canada crossings right, realistically for businesspeople or those with relatives. I wouldn't think that "I enjoy being a tourist in Montreal" would go over well in a probing interview.

Maybe I'm wrong though? Can anyone who has gone through Nexus interviews shed some light?

The "interview" process is basically just to tell you how the NEXUS program works. When you apply for the program often times you'll get an approval right away subject to an interview. I think your concerned about issues that are not your concern. Border agents are concerned with drugs, frequent travelers, people working illegaly, etc. that's not your problem. If your a person just traveling across the border then act like it. I'm a NEXUS card holder, I'm not a frequent business traveler, I have no relatives in Canada, and yes, I enjoy being a tourist in Montreal. Prior to getting my NEXUS card I was definitely given the business by border agents, but I was never denied entry. With my NEXUS card it's smooth traveling in both directions but I'm always prepared with my general or vague one word replies to questions. Get the card and all of this goes away.

 

[envelopes]

. STICK TO YOUR GUNS. Don't be nervous and you basically have to tell yourself as long as you do not lie they cannot deny you entry.

This is true.

When I was still a newbie, I got nervous with the "general tourism" excuse. I started making up more interesting excuses, like shows, or festivals, or museum exhibits. That just invites more questions. Several times, I got grilled. One guy actually pulled up the website for a talk I said I was attending and started asking me about the speaker, the industry, what time, location, etc. Luckily, I was actually going to that talk, so I really did know. But the other time I mentioned a festival and I knew nothing, the woman that time kept grilling me and I said "I don't know" then she detained me further.

These days, I just say "I'm here to eat at the many great restaurants and maybe catch a show if I find one". I have gotten grilled "you come a lot for restaurants. where do you go?"

"I like to get Poutine or go to Old Montreal for a steak"

"you come all the way here for that?"

"Yes, I like food"

"You drive 5 hours to eat?"

"Yes, I like food"


Just stick to your guns, don't get creative. Stay as mundane as possible.

 

[Fradi]

The same strategy applies if you are visiting Toronto; you can mention that you are a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. This would be an excellent choice.

If I was a customs agent I would ban you for life if you said you were a fan of the Maple Leafs.

 

[Like_It_Hot]

Looking for a little advice please - I’m a US citizen and in 2023 I started flying to Canada for the escort scene. My trips have been 5-10 days each in mar, may, aug, sep and oct. So that’s a total of 5 trips this year (3 times to MTL and 2 to TOR), and the frequency has increased to once per month over the last 3 months.

I’m itching to fly up to Montreal again this week. But the more I go the more i get concerned about Canadian customs questioning upon arrival. To be clear I haven’t actually had problems thus far. I’ve always answered “general tourism” for the reason of visit. Other than being asked where I’ll stay I really haven’t gotten questioned much at all. But now that my trips are getting more frequent and this would be the 4th visit in 4 months... I’m concerned that an agent will basically not buy the “general tourism” and demand to know why I’m flying up so often.

I have US global entry (which makes clearing US customs a breeze when flying back) but I unfortunately don’t have Nexus, so I have to go through the general line with everyone else at Canadian customs.

Questions:

• Generally speaking, does visiting every month for a week at a time enough raise red flags for Canadian customs?
• If I do get grilled by an agent on the reason for the repeated visits, what can I say that’s more effective than “I enjoy being a tourist here”?
• I stay at nice 4-5 star hotels each time and bring a print out of my reservation just in case. I also get a ticket to some venue/show that week and print that out as well. Have never had to show these, but figure it can’t hurt to have. Any other little tips along those lines that may help if I draw a predatory agent?

Cheers

You are handling it all right.
Don't be surprised or unsettled if you are sent to a more wide questioning or even a bagage control. As a frequent traveler, it is normal. I'm Canadian and a frequent flyer. In the last 10 years it happen twice that I was randomly chosen for an extended control coming back to Canada. I have no criminal records and was never caught with a false custom declaration. Everything always went smooth. An agent, last time, told me that it is not anormal considering my situation.
Glad you enjoy the many cultural events presented here during your visits.
I wish you all the best. And forget about claiming you are a Toronto Leafs supporter. It is the worst suggestion I read here. Supporting a known choker Hockey team not being a Toronto resident??? The agent should really be a moron to believe you. In the best situation he will burst out laughing.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I started making up more interesting excuses, like shows, or festivals, or museum exhibits. That just invites more questions.

It does invite more questions and more significantly it increases the chances that you will be caught in a lie and denied entry. Stick to the simple and general platitudes like "I enjoy being a tourist in Montreal", ""I like the dining scene", etc. There is no duty to provide one's entire detailed trip agenda to customs. It's also permissible to have multiple reasons for traveling to Montreal. You are only required to disclose one of them.

Indeed, if you start questioning your own frequent trips legitimacy, customs just might too.

Giselle is on target here and by the same token, the more you start babbling, the more you sound like someone trying to justify your trip to Montreal. You are speaking to trained professionals, who are trained to sniff out your bullshit. So don't bullshit them. They know and are trained if someone looks nervous, babbles a lot, and tries really hard to develop interesting reasons (or what likely sounds like concocted reasons) for being in Montreal. Then they know they have to go harder and deeper with their questions. I do the same thing in depositions when I hear a story or concocted and contrived answers. Babblers have to answer many more questions then those who have pointed, direct and pithy responses to the questions posed.

 

[Obvio-0bvio]

If I was a customs agent I would ban you for life if you said you were a fan of the Maple Leafs.

I would rather be a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs than a fan of the Montreal Canadiens.

 

[Fradi]

I would rather be a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs than a fan of the Montreal Canadiens.

Nope not even the current crop of Canadiens who even I will admit have zero chance of being a contender.
You will never convince a die hard Canadiens fan to support the Leafs it is against Montreal religion and we are just not capable of that, hope you don’t get a border agent who is a Canadiens fan and mention anything favorable about the Leafs. Safer to stick to politics lol.

 

[Ducon]

The customs agents like to randomly ask questions about the details of your trip and pretend that your answers are sus, just to intimidate you, to see if you panic.
After a long flight, I'm usually too sleepy to panic anyway so they quickly give up.
I think they are mostly trying to catch illegal workers and smugglers. I don't know whether they are actively trying to catch Johns.

 

[masterP]

I don't know how much they check into things. But couldn't you even just say you are meeting a long distance gf you met online, who might be married even... who knows. I have heard of people going to the states just to go shopping, does it really matter why in the end? Aren't they more just happy your pouring your hard earned income into their economy?
Places like the botanical gardens do have memberships, and in summer there's la ronde, just say your there for these type of getaways. No? There is always something happening in montreal or toronto, some kind of festival, if your so worried just check up what is happening during that week your heading down. Theres even winter festivals that happen, to try and attract tourists, or to bring up spirits of the locals during the cold dark winter months.

Like i said i don't know how much they check into things. Personally i haven't really gone anywhere to know. And haven't crossed the border myself.

Making up a story about a fake long-distance girlfriend is a bad idea. It opens the possibility of the agents asking all sorts of questions about her - where she lives, how you met, what she does for a living, etc. Then you are in the position of making up a whole bunch of lies on the spot and trying to keep them all straight. Stick to the truth and just omit the part about seeing escorts.

I just went up for a whisky tasting a few days ago and that's really all I talked about when crossing the border in both directions. Montreal has a great restaurant scene. Eat well while you are there and tell the border agents all about the amazing meals you will enjoy during your stay. My favorite is in the spring, when I can tell them that I'm visiting Montreal for the phoque fest.

 

[Rebaynia]

Making up a story about a fake long-distance girlfriend is a bad idea. It opens the possibility of the agents asking all sorts of questions about her - where she lives, how you met, what she does for a living, etc. Then you are in the position of making up a whole bunch of lies on the spot and trying to keep them all straight. Stick to the truth and just omit the part about seeing escorts.

That part has already been made clear. I know it is a bad idea. Like i said i don't pass the border. Besides was more about giving suggestions for events or places for memberships...

I just went up for a whisky tasting a few days ago and that's really all I talked about when crossing the border in both directions. Montreal has a great restaurant scene. Eat well while you are there and tell the border agents all about the amazing meals you will enjoy during your stay. My favorite is in the spring, when I can tell them that I'm visiting Montreal for the phoquefes

Either way there is much more to montreal or toronto than girls. There is any number of other things he can get interested in other then just being held up in a hotel room calling girls. There is always something going on in the cities to entertain the residents that he can learn about and become part of in those moments he doesn't have a lady to entertain him.
The best suggestion is actually be part of something and omit the carnal pleasure reason for crossing the border. Be honest about another reason he is drawn here and leave out other people from the equasion.

 

[masterP]

That part has already been made clear. I know it is a bad idea. Like i said i don't pass the border. Besides was more about giving suggestions for events or places for memberships...

I didn't mean to pile on. I didn't notice that there was a second page of responses when I posted.

 

[angus12]

Looking for a little advice please - I’m a US citizen and in 2023 I started flying to Canada for the escort scene. My trips have been 5-10 days each in mar, may, aug, sep and oct. So that’s a total of 5 trips this year (3 times to MTL and 2 to TOR), and the frequency has increased to once per month over the last 3 months.

I’m itching to fly up to Montreal again this week. But the more I go the more i get concerned about Canadian customs questioning upon arrival. To be clear I haven’t actually had problems thus far. I’ve always answered “general tourism” for the reason of visit. Other than being asked where I’ll stay I really haven’t gotten questioned much at all. But now that my trips are getting more frequent and this would be the 4th visit in 4 months... I’m concerned that an agent will basically not buy the “general tourism” and demand to know why I’m flying up so often.

I have US global entry (which makes clearing US customs a breeze when flying back) but I unfortunately don’t have Nexus, so I have to go through the general line with everyone else at Canadian customs.

Questions:

• Generally speaking, does visiting every month for a week at a time enough raise red flags for Canadian customs?
• If I do get grilled by an agent on the reason for the repeated visits, what can I say that’s more effective than “I enjoy being a tourist here”?
• I stay at nice 4-5 star hotels each time and bring a print out of my reservation just in case. I also get a ticket to some venue/show that week and print that out as well. Have never had to show these, but figure it can’t hurt to have. Any other little tips along those lines that may help if I draw a predatory agent?

Cheers

They don't care. You'll be fine.