Geocaching & Canada Immigration

[+Go JayBee]

Last weekend, the wife and myself, along with a fellow GeoCacher from Portland, Oregon were questioned at the Canadian border.

 

Started out with "How do you know each other?" then, "What are you going to be doing in Canada?", "Where are you staying?".

 

When we mentioned GeoCaching, the questions started again. Soon we were on our way into the immigration office, where again, we tried to explain GeoCaching. Is this a sport?, Is geocaching a club?, Where will you be doing this?, etc.

 

We were told to sit and wait. After awhile (10 minutes) we were called by the immigration officer, and asked "What do you get out of this geocaching, besides the satisfaction of actually finding the cache?" When we showed her some McToys and Signature Items, she finally gave us back our Passports and said "Enjoy your stay in Canada".

 

I guess we are not going to mention GeoCaching again at the border.

 

It is humorous now, but after waiting 2 hours to get to the border, then being detained even longer, was a stressful experience. Maybe we have paved the way for future Geo visits to Canada. I hope so.

 

Go JayBee

[+junglehair]

I always just tell them I'm going hiking. Good thing they've never asked to search my trunk. Might have a difficult time explaining the spare ammo cans I usually carry around with me.

[+Team Giblert]

....were questioned at the Canadian border.....

....were questioned at the Canadian border.....

 

We got stopped at the US border and after a brief explanation of geocaching we had to produce our GPSs... So it happens both ways

[+New England n00b]

Also, never joke that you are carrying illegal drugs. Border guards have ZERO sense of humor (US or Canada). They will strip your car to pieces and tell you to put it back together if they don't find anything.

[+Hard Oiler]

Living close to the border with Michigan I'm a fairly frequent geocaching visitor and have never had a problem. I did get some tips from a local cacher who works at the border and one of them was honesty always pays. Answer the questions but no need to volunteer more than a direct answer to the question asked. I do carry a brochure, put out by the Michigan Metroparks on geocaching (they have their own geoaching series) and if I get asked what geocaching is I pass it over. That works well as it makes it more "official". Have had comments like "that sounds like fun, I'll have to try it".

 

Regularly bring back ammo boxes (who can resist ammo boxes for <$3 ) and have never been questioned about them on the Canadian side.

 

There was a case of a Michigan cacher getting the 10th degree at Canadian Immigration when they mentioned geocaching. I passed the information on to the local director of tourism suggesting some training on being friendly might be good for the local tourist business. He subsequently gave some lessons to the new recruits at the border - hope it helped....

[+Olar]

Thanks for the great tips Hard Oiler. I agree 100% with the "honesty always pays" method. However I don't think geocachers would be considered dishonest by simply saying the purpose of visit is to go hiking. I haven't cross-border cached as yet but whenever I get around to it I know I'll be loaded down with hiking gear, maps, trailhead locations etc. to show a custom's official if necessary.

 

Cheers, Olar

[+Go JayBee]

Hey Folks,

Some very good suggestions and comments.

 

Ya, we were just trying to answer questions as they were asked. Even had the GPSr stuck to the windshield and hooked up to the LapTop Computer. How obvious could we be?

 

I think the question that really snared us into all this was: "How do you all know each other...." Our cacher freind replied: "We met at a breakfast meeting for geocaching". And, the fact that my wife of 28+ years, has kept her maiden name (that has caused second looks in the past....but does not bother me). I could see that this totally confused the gal at the booth. I think she just did not what else to do.

 

I guess I was just surprised that the subject of geocaching would cause all the doubt in their minds about our intentions. When they finally did decide to cut us loose, I tried to show them some cache printouts....but they were not interested in seeing them.

 

Just wanted to share my experience with you all.

 

Again, very good comments,

 

JayBee

[+Shawn&Holly]

My border crossing experience is usually a good-bad-good-bad cycle going to the states, returning seems hit and miss but usually not much of a problem. Think we finally broke that cycle with the last crossing on Friday, had no problems either way. I did get my passport after my BC crossing to the US and flying out of the US back to BC in 2002, there was only 2 of us (did now know each other) without passports boarding and we both were hauled aside, frisked with the wand, they get kinda personal with those things. I am also cheap and had a few bottles of water, pop and sports drinks that were opened in my carry on, lucky I was thirsty as they made me take a drink from all of them. Honesty is the best policy, when I did have trouble they look up my record (found a warrant for someone with the same name, think that might have been to see how I would react), check my arms for tracks, ask me a series of questions in quick succession, repeating some questions posed differently to try to catch me in a lie. These are also both ways, often wondered what would happen if they did not let me back into Canada Never had my vehicle searched, the time they checked my arms I was on my bike wearing a black leather jacket, thats the same time they brought up the other guy with the same name and record. After he cleared me I asked "So, what did the other guy do?" his response was, "if it is not you, I cannot tell you, if it is you, I can, do you want to know?" I said, no, quite alright none of my business and went on my way.

 

When crossing the border, have your ID ready when asked for, don't have any unnecessary crap in your vehicle, remain calm and be honest with your answers.

[+Couparangus]

My advice is to never ask the customs officer for razor blades or rolling papers. :-)

[+Team Tigger International]

"I'm going to the casino/bingo." Works everytime coming into Canada.

 

When I go into Detroit, I generally say I'm going to the flea market or the zoo (membership has it's privlege) if asked. I also invested in a NEXUS pass, which lets me use the 'express' lane where they don't generally talk to you at all.

 

I can't stress the importance of answering the question asked. Keep your answer simple, if they want more detail, they will ask.

Citzenship?

Where are you going?

Why?

 

Wulf

[Prairie Jeepin]

My experience is that I got more hassle and mistrust on the Canadian side coming home, than I did going south -- figure that one out Nice way to say welcome home eh?

 

Of course this is all pre-911. I don't know what it's like now though it is sounding very much the same.

 

I solved the problem of ignorant, rude, uninformed, lack of humour, non-thinking, and otherwise very sad people acting as government peons by not crossing the border anymore. There is no real need so I don't bother.

 

However, that said, there is some close caches in ND that may just be enough incentive to get me to cross the line again. I just hope it is not a bad experience or I won't be continuing it. I can cache at home with the same results as caching south and w/o the stress of border crossing hassles.

 

PJ

[+Binrat]

Use these if you are ever asked, helps to break the ice and explain a few things.

 

This Brochure Is A Great Item

 

Binrat

[+yorelken]

I am beginning to think grey hair is a great device to allay the suspicions of the border people on either side. Of course most of you will have to wait a while...

My best story, I guess, is the day they asked if we had anything to declare, and I answered, "No", and my wife answered "Yes". I thought we were in for it, but the guard just laughed, and said, "Get your stories straight next time," and waved us on. Having a good day or something.

[farleywilbur]

Never offer too much info unless asked. Take off your sunglasses so they can see your eyes. Smile.

 

Three tips that have helped me make dozens of crossings with zero problems.

[[MTB]_Intrepid]

Best thing to say no matter whether you are American visiting Canada or Canadian visiting US is "I'm going shopping at ____" if you are driving across. You'll almost never get hassled as you're helping the economy and the border guards hear that line a thousand times a day. If you say "I'm going Geocaching" expect the 3rd degree...border guards are usually rather unimaginative types and would probably have never heard of the sport....and wouldn't believe people actually do such a thing for "fun"!

[+Camo-crazed]

great brochure binrat, I'm going to explain it to a sunday shcool group and I really wanted a printout. of course I'm also going south tomorrow and these tips should be handy.

[+Hard Oiler]

Here's a recent log from a cross-border cacher describing their experience with Canadian immigration. Good example of why it pays to be honest. Maybe the immigration officer will become a convert. We could use a few more geocachers around here

[+DocMagoo]

Good example of why it pays to be honest.  Maybe the immigration officer will become a convert.  We could use a few more geocachers around here 

I agree with what several others have mentioned, it does pay to be honest. Suggesting that you are going hiking and geocaching might result in a few more questions being asked...but I'd rather deal with the questions than a cavity search.

 

Just this last Monday a two other geocachers and I crossed into Washington State. We told the officer our purpose and we received a bunch of other questions like: "where do y'all live?", "what do you do for a living?", "what kind of GPS do you have?", "where will be your general area you're going to?".

 

To our surprise, the only thing that held him up from admitting us to the US was the fact that two of us are grade 2 teachers and a grade two teacher in Wash. St. had beat him to log FTF on a cache. I asked him if he was familiar with geocaching and he said he was, but now he is more interested in benchmarking. So, you never know....

[+GroundClutter]

As someone who has worked for Customs, I can reassure you that there are good reasons for the questions asked - even though they may not make sense to you at the time. I would suggest that if you are coming up to do Geocaching, say so. Take 2 minutes to explain to the Customs Inspector what it is. You might just make it easier for the next cacher, as well as helping Customs learn about it (and recruit a few more people!). I've heard and reads comments about "border guards" being uninformed. Well, if you don't explain what it is, how do you expect them to know about it?

 

Perhaps a reason why someone would get referred to immigration is the 'caching' part. Sounds like "cashing", and if you are coming up for business or money making reasons, you may get referred. It's not a a big deal.

 

Anyway, advice from a Customs Inspector is to tell the truth. That's all we are looking for. If we catch you in a lie, it's only going to mean more questions, a possible search, and ultimately, just a big delay for you.

[+Bzzliteyr]

Not really geocaching related, but this past summer, when travelling across Canada (from NB to BC and back) we took the US route back. After waiting forever in line to cross into Washington state, the customs agent there asked us what we were doing crossing into the US, our reply was "driving back to New Brunswick". He then asked "why aren't you going through YOUR country?!?!" I thought that was funny until five days later, I realized just what he meant... that was long...and flat.. and boooring!! Next time, I am coming back through Canada!!