Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Eunoia]

About two years ago, my (Korean) girlfriend came to visit me in Canada while I was there taking some time off. When she arrived in Vancouver, she had problems with Immigration; they basically hauled her into the interrogation office and questioned her for about 90 minutes before allowing her into the country. She was travelling alone, didn't have an address of where she was staying (a hotel in Vancouver for a few days, then she would come to my hometown and stay with me - but she didn't tell them that she was visiting her bf for some reason...) Her English skills weren't so hot at the time, and it was very traumatic for her. They really made her feel dirty, like some kind of criminal. All she wanted was a holiday!

Now, we are planning a trip back to Canada for Christmas together with my family this year, and she is extremely worried about getting through Immigration again. This time, of course, I will be with her. The question is, what are the odds that her passport is "flagged", that they will try to interrogate her again? If so, what recourse do I/we have? Will they separate us to get her alone again? She really can't handle that kind of (fascist) treatment again, and I would be *extremely* pi$$ed off about it as well.

Any thoughts?

[Gord]

Have her tell the truth. "I'm going to this destination for this reason."

The only reason they would care otherwise is because Korean's can enter Canada without a visa, and then there has been a problem with some of them literally walking across the border into the U.S. in places. They are probably just wanting to make sure that wasn't her plan.

[mack the knife]

Just one experience (positive):

My wife and I went through Canadian customs last February and had no problems whatsoever. I was with her. Perhaps that makes all the difference.

[hellofaniceguy]

She'll have no problem. Why? Because she left the country without any problems; no overstay. When she enters Canada again, immigration will know this is another visit. Even if you are with her it won't help much; when clearing immigration citizens and foreigners use different areas to clear immigration. Once you clear immigration, you can't hang around waiting for her. The man will tell you to move it on out to customs and wait for her outside.

[JackSarang]

Canada Customs Officials are trained to be a-holes it seems. They treat me like a criminal every single time I return from abroad, regardless of where I'm coming back from and I'm a friggin citizen. I get grilled as if I was smuggling missiles or something.

No-where in the world have I been treated worse or more rudely than by Canada Customs.

[kimcheeking]

[Manner of Speaking]

I haven't been back to Canada since before 911. Are they a lot more anal at Customs these days? Before that I've even flashed just my birth certificate coming back from Korea and it was no problem.

[TECO]

Funny you mention this.

I went home back in 2001 - a month after 9/11, I think.

I too was grilled at the Customs gate in Vancouver airport - "why were you in Japan?"; "Why are you coming back to Canada?"; "Where are you staying?"; "How long are you staying for?"

I was like, "Man, I'm a citizen and I don't know when I'll be leaving the country again and for now I'll be visiting family and freinds!!"

I was tired and had been on a plane all night coming home from Japan.

So, I finally asked the guy why he was taking so long and if there was some kind of problem. He said, "That's what I'm trying to find out." That freaked me a bit but I have never had any trouble with Police, etc or done anything to worry about, so I just stood there waiting for the guy to let me pass. After what seemed like a good 3 or 4 minutes of him playing with his computer he let me through.

I remember being quite pissed off, actually.

The only thing I can think of is that I'm delinquent on my Federal Student Loan and because Customs Canada is a branch of Revenue Canada, I'm guessing my name was flagged as owing Rev. Canada money.

[Seoultrader]

[Mr. Pink]