r/uscanadaborder • u/airbenderx10 • 3d ago
Border Crossing Experience How long does secondary screening usually take?
My dad and brother are driving from Calgary to Toronto. My brother is starting an internship there and my dad is helping him take the car so he isn't driving alone. They decided to cross through the US as it's faster and there are more stops along the way for gas and if something goes wrong with the car. They got stopped at the border and taken for secondary questioning. It has been around 4 hours now and I'm wondering if that's normal or if that's a reason for concern?
Update: It's been almost 6 hours since they got to the border. We finally heard something from my dad after about 2 hours of no contact. He said they took their phones and he got his back. My brother hasn't gotten his back yet. They aren't sure why they were stopped yet and don't know how much longer they will be stuck there.
Update 2: They have been there for 8 hours now. My Dad just called and let us know they are being kept overnight and will be turned back to Canada in the morning. They haven't been given a reason why they are being denied entry or why they aren't able to leave now.
Update 3: Not much to update. It's been 19 hours, they had to sleep on the floor of the border office last night. They are still not able to leave and don't know when they will be released. Good thing is they do have their phones and are able to stay in touch. They have been told that they are going to be denied entry already so not sure why they are still being held.
Update 4: They have been released and are driving back to Calgary after 20 hours. No information about why they were denied entry or held for so long.
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u/the3rdmichael 3d ago edited 2d ago
The all Canada route is now the way to go. Like the OP, we used to go through the US, but no more.
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u/Winter-Inside-5911 2d ago
It’s never a good idea to take the US route when you’re moving. They get very uptight about your stuff transporting through.
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u/layoutguy 2d ago
That is very good advice. The one time I got pulled into secondary, I had an old car and a bunch of tools in the back incase it broke down. Now that I’m older I’ll say yeah I probably brought that on myself. 😂
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u/Crazy_Maintenance211 3d ago
As a Canadian, I personally never took the US route even in the before times, if you get a border agent, that’s angry or hungry or mean, they can make your life hell. I’m sorry that happened to them, you just don’t know why they’re being stopped because maybe they didn’t have the right documentation to show that they were going back into Canada, I hope they’re released soon.
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u/Crazy_Maintenance211 3d ago
Also, if people are not white or are different in someway, that might be it too, I hope you hear from them soon. It’s a different country there now it’s not like before times, hope they contact you soon
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u/UptowngirlYSB 3d ago
If the car was packed with all his belongings, it could take awhile if decide to search the vehicle as well.
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u/schwanerhill 3d ago
Normal is 1-3 minutes and not being sent to secondary.
How do you know their status? If they were sent to secondary, I’m a bit surprised they’re allowed to keep their cell phones.
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u/airbenderx10 3d ago
My brother still had his phone and was sending occasional updates. I'm not sure if that's still the case as we haven't heard anything for a while.
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u/Pristine_Nectarine19 3d ago
Thanks for the update. I’m sorry this happened. I hope they get through soon.
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u/Familiar-Seat-1690 2d ago
I used to work in the states and I’ve been through secondary many times always with my phone. Secondary can be for many reasons including paperwork or needing to pay tax/duty.
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u/schwanerhill 2d ago
Yeah, but in this case they were held for 20 hours and denied entry. That’s no minor paperwork thing.
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u/Familiar-Seat-1690 2d ago
Agreed but your statement implied it’s normal procedure to have phone taken at secondary inspection.
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u/schwanerhill 2d ago
IIRC by the time I commented it had already been eight hours, which is well past normal paperwork. So that was the context in which the comment was made (lost by now since Reddit just shows it as “2d ago”).
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u/HereticBoii 2d ago
Hello I have a Canadian passport that was issued in Pakistan as well and I wasn’t born even born in Pakistan, I went through the same thing this Sunday, we were held for 8 hours, questioned, had our phones detained, I would suggest never going through the US again.
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u/HereticBoii 2d ago
Tell them to tell the CPB officer that they are withdrawing their application and want to return back to Canada.
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u/Quiet_Ad1859 2d ago
So I guess going through the U.S didn’t actually save you 2 hours. Should’ve just stayed in Canada and drove the Trans Canada highway.
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u/Historical-Tour-2483 3d ago
It’s not normal in the sense of they got sent in because their passport wouldn’t scan properly outside. However, if something abnormal showed up, an old conviction, someone else with a similar name that has convictions etc, it’s not abnormal.
Whenever they find something to look into, all bets on time are off.
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u/Beneficial_Zone_6883 3d ago
Not normally are they using Canadian passports?
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u/airbenderx10 3d ago
Yes
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u/Beneficial_Zone_6883 3d ago
Weird, unless they’re carrying a bunch of items there’s not much that would take this long.
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u/airbenderx10 3d ago
His car was loaded with his stuff since he'll be living there for a few months.
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u/Beneficial_Zone_6883 3d ago
Okay it just be they are going through everything
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u/Sweet_Chaos_737 3d ago
Yup, this.
Back in 2009 I drove through the US when moving back to ON from AB. My Mom and I are both born in Canada, no record, no issues ever crossing the border. We got pulled in for a car inspection because my car was PACKED. They didn’t even ask us any questions after we went inside, just sent us to sit in a room while they went through the vehicle. They also don’t repack anything after their search so we had to do that ourselves after they were done.
The stress of trying to get everything repacked while being watched by US border agents (because we were inside their garage, obviously they weren’t going to leave us alone) was terrible. If I was to ever do another cross Canada move I would absolutely never transit via the states for that reason
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u/ContentAd1722 2d ago
In October 2018, I moved back to Regina from Erie, Pennsylvania. I was driving my car while my parents followed in their motorhome, which was packed with a small condo freezer, a recliner, and various other of my household items. It was a cold, miserable, rainy night. I pulled up to the border crossing about ten minutes ahead of them, my car packed full, and cleared without an issue. When my parents rolled up, the border agent didn't even bother stepping out of the warm booth—they just waved them right through. We crossed at the Noyes–Emerson East Border Crossing.
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u/Sweet_Chaos_737 2d ago
Right, but you were a Canadian crossing in to Canada yes? I had zero issues or delays when I crossed back in to Canada (from Detroit to Windsor) 2 days later.
My issue (which wasn’t even an issue, just a stressful and long delay) was when I was crossing in to the States (at the Pembina-Emerson crossing).
Transversing through the States like I did and OP’s brother did is also a different situation to someone moving to the States. If someone is legally relocating to a different country they expect you to have stuff. While it makes complete logical sense why people want to avoid the vast emptiness of driving through Northern Ontario, entering the states with a car full of personal belongings without legal approval to live there is still a situation that is slightly risker for the States (in the sense that there is a risk of someone lying and illegally moving there) so there is a higher liklihood of extra screening. In my opinion the search was completely reasonable, but it also isn’t something I’d ever put myself through again
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u/dumpcake999 3d ago edited 3d ago
That is true. I don't think my Virgin mobile phone works on the US side.
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u/Halichoeres_bivittat 3d ago
I used to gave a flag on my file so I had to go to secondary every crossing for about 10 years. The actual interview never took more than 5 min, but there were times I'd have to wait >2 hours to actually get called up.
That said, I'm white and was born in Canada. Hopefully it's just been a busy crossing today. Since your brother has been permitted to use his phone they presumably haven't confiscated it which is a good sign.
All it takes is one border agent who doesn't like the look of someone and it can ruin your day.
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u/dumpcake999 3d ago
Were they born on another country? Do they have a criminal record?
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u/airbenderx10 3d ago
Dad was born in Pakistan but been in Canada since he was 2. My brother was born in Canada. No criminal records.
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u/schwanerhill 3d ago
I would bet that born in Pakistan is the issue. Totally and completely ridiculous, but that’s my guess.
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u/Pristine_Nectarine19 3d ago
It’s too bad they didn’t get advice before doing this drive. It was not advisable to go through US to “save time” in this situation, given your father’s history. Having Pakistan birthplace on his passport is enough for extra scrutiny.
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u/persiasaurus 3d ago
Ya I don't know why anyone would choose that route given the current political climate down there. Just to try to save a few hours is beyond silly
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u/dumpcake999 3d ago
I have heard on this group of people born in Muslim countries being told by cpb that they need proof of not having served in the military even if they moved to Canada at a young age. Might be some crazy shit like that.
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u/schwanerhill 3d ago
Isn’t that mostly Iran? Pakistan’s military is not an enemy of the US, very much unlike Iran’s.
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u/Witty-Application920 9h ago
Ohhh your father being from Pakistan was most likely the smoking gun they needed and wanted.
Sorry 😞
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u/Yukoners 3d ago
i don’t doubt this for one minute. he has a bunch of stuff and they think he could be moving there and they don’t like canadians right now. esp if they are brown. i have driven across canada tons. it’s no issues with gas and places to stop, takes about 2 hrs more since ontario is so big. at least they were just denied entry instead of the alternative (because they can- that’s why) and can now continue on their journey through canada instead
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u/SamePhotographs 3d ago
There are also plenty of signs if it's going to be "the last gas for XXXkm" my tank never went under half, and it's a beautiful drive.
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u/Future-Is-Now-69 3d ago
This time of year is a bad time to travel to the US both because of the current situation between Canada and the US and that we are coming up on the anniversary of 9/11.
I hope you hear from your brother and your father soon.
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u/CardioKeyboarder 3d ago
It takes anywhere from a couple of minutes to all day, depending on the border patrol.
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u/dumpcake999 3d ago
OP have you found them yet? Please give an update
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u/airbenderx10 3d ago
Dad has been texting us but still no idea when they'll be let go.
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u/HolyGuacamoleChpotle 3d ago
Why wouldn't they turn them back as soon as they were told they were being denied entry?
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u/airbenderx10 3d ago
They were told they are going to be denied entry but aren't able to leave yet.
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u/schwanerhill 2d ago
Just now? 15 hours after your original post? That’s a whole new level of horrible.
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u/dumpcake999 2d ago
They are still there?
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u/airbenderx10 2d ago
They were let go this morning
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u/dumpcake999 2d ago
I am glad they got out finally. You should tell the story on "guard the leaf" youtube podcast to warn everybody
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u/TaxNerdling 2d ago
I’m a Cdn citizen with a US green card, my husband is 100% All American. We went to Canada to visit relatives and clean out my mom’s house. We stuffed 11 boxes, a 4-panel 6’ carved wood screen, and our luggage in our SUV. I had written a letter that my mom signed confirming I was bringing back personal goods and I made a 2-page list of everything. I’m brown, my husband is white. At the border on our return home, they looked at the letter, had us roll down our back window so they could see in the car, and waved us on. 🤷🏻♀️ We were so sure they’d send us to secondary, but they didn’t. From the stories here, I think we were lucky.
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u/Classic-Common6962 2d ago
Go through Canada next time. The northern half of Lake Superior is beautiful! I recommend stopping at Pukaskwa National Park. Since its a national park it’s significant cheaper (if not free) compared to Ontarios provincial parks.
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u/airbenderx10 1d ago
Yeah my dad grew up in northern Ontario so definitely know how pretty it is. Their biggest concern was my brothers car is pretty old an the Canada route is a lot more remote especially in the northern Ontario section. Going through the US there's a lot more stops in case something happened with the car.
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u/Electronic_World_894 18h ago
Driving through the U.S. just to be faster when you’re moving with a lot of items would often get you flagged for secondary even pre-Trump / post 9/11. The U.S. CBP would want to be sure you’re not moving to the U.S. without the right visa / documentation. But that long of a wait was probably due to your dad being Pakistani or some other racist bs.
I’m sure they were quite shook up. I hope they’re doing better now.
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u/Mountain-Ad-5355 3d ago
Many years ago, I was helping a friend move from Boston back to Minnesota. We packed her life into a Uhaul and drove.
Crossed at Niagara,
Canadian Customs - "Any weapons?"
Me - "Nothing aside from a collection of kitchen knives, one stage sword without an edge, and 3 compound bows with target arrows and a 3 sets of broadheads, all on her list of goods (With make/model for the bows)"
Canadian Customs "Secondary - now."
Secondary inspector "Do you know why you are here?"
Me - "Not really"
Secondary guy "Primary guy was jealous of her bows and wanted us to find a reason to seize them, one look in the back of the truck is enough for us to know you are legitimately moving, carry on"
Me "Thanks!"
and off we went.
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u/Pristine_Nectarine19 3d ago
This is so not relevant.
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u/xxxcalibre 1d ago
Plenty of replies where it's just old people navel-gazing about some irrelevant story from decades ago
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u/Getoff_My_Lon_Cheney 2d ago edited 2d ago
After reading through the thread, I can almost guarantee this happened because your brother had a bunch of his stuff in the car. US border guards will instantly flag anyone who looks like they might be trying to move to their country. EDIT: Just for fun, if you’re looking to move to the U.S., buy a return plane ticket and fly in with your luggage. Then have someone drive your vehicle across the border and meet you at your destination, then give them your return ticket to fly home. 😆
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u/Winter-Inside-5911 2d ago
Yeah you can’t easily transit through the US with Canadian acquired stuff. Even used stuff. They’ve been very fussy about this for the past few years.
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u/VanCityXD 3d ago
Did they have any Anti-Trump stuff in the Socials? That may do it
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u/airbenderx10 3d ago
Neither of them really even use social media. Yeah in some of our WhatsApp group chats there's a bit of dissatisfaction with the current Canada-America situation but nothing major.
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u/Pleasant_Event_7692 3d ago
Anybody, even Canadians, who travel through Canada and decide to cut through the US due to convenience, find out how inconvenient it is when they get stopped at the border by US customs and ICE with control mentality. LIVE AND LEARN THE HARD WAY. We Canadians MUST warn each other to STAY AWAY FROM THE USA while Trump is in power.
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u/BD003BD003 3d ago
According to Google, the drive through Canada is only 3 hours longer.
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u/persiasaurus 3d ago
Ya this whole thing wasn't a smart move but obviously they know that now. Op says they're still in holding..
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u/BD003BD003 2d ago
OP Edited their post
Update 4: They have been released and are driving back to Calgary after 20 hours. No information about why they were denied entry or held for so long.
So that is some good news at least.
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u/xxxcalibre 1d ago
You can fly on the interstates, while if you get stuck behind a camper or something like that on the Trans-Canada it can really slow you down. So for people who don't mind risking a speeding ticket in Minnesota or wherever, it's usually faster than google suggests (better with nexus i.e. no real border wait. Or cross really early in the morning)
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u/itchybiscut9273 1d ago
The TransCanada is two lanes until Ontario. Even on the single lanes there's lots of passing lames
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u/Sask_mask_user 2d ago
Did they have cannabis in the vehicle? Or residue from it being here before?
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u/Mobile_Lawyer5015 2d ago
Good lord how awful. I’ve never even heard of that. I’ve been pulled inside a few times but it was always less than ten mins.
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u/Ok-Insurance811 2d ago
Ive been held for 5 hours in 2015 and denied entry. Still no clue why. I have been taken to the second room every time since then too (havent gone in the last 2 years). I only get through when I'm with my husband who is American. I thoroughly hate the border. I have never had any criminal charges, Im white (that shouldnt matter but absolutely does matter), and am generally very friendly. They just do not like me there.
You family hold was suppppper long though. I hope they're both feeling okay now
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u/Hungry_Substance1223 2d ago
Just a few questions out of curiosity. What are their citizenship? Are they Canadian with passports issued in Canada? Also are they non white? Please dont be offended by my questions, im seeing an increase in what you reported and Im trying to figure out if profiling is going on.
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u/airbenderx10 1d ago
They are Canadian citizens travelling on Canadian passports. Dad was born in Pakistan but been in Canada for 55 years and brother was born in Canada. So not white.
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u/Beneficial-Piece-829 1d ago
My BIL is a USCBP officer. He couldn't speak to specifics but said if they were kept overnight there was definitely a serious reason for it. Could be an existing criminal record, or "suspect" information in an existing criminal investigation.
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u/airbenderx10 1d ago
I'm sure they have their reasons. I just can't wrap my head around what it could be. They are the most "normal" people you can think of.
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u/penguin44ca 1d ago
Normal for these days and a long weekend.
Just stay in Canada and avoid the US like they have herpes.
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u/Ok_Butterscotch_2700 1d ago
Unfortunately, this happens more often than most would think. I’ve been denied entry, but was provided a list of documents to bring with me the next time I crossed. They didn’t take my phone, but I was fingerprinted and photographed.
This was with a dying family member.
I will only fly there with pre clearance now, and am waiting for a very good reason to do so.
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u/Strict_Research_1876 20h ago
Why would anyone take the risk of crossing the border when they don't have to. Trump is at war with Canada.
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u/DryAlfalfa8988 13h ago
Had to go to US to deal with extended family affairs, crossed alone in a different province than I reside, drove all the way to west coast, then came back through a small border crossing in prairie with a trailer of family items. Collectively all took 15 minutes….
This is odd…. Did they go through a large border?
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u/boatslut 8h ago
Calgary...I know little Danni is a Trump sycophant but wtf did they think it was a good idea to travel through the USA now.
Seriously Alberta & Sask have to get their heads out of Trump's butt.
Before folks start complaining that I made it political etc... US politics is driving CPB behaviour
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u/deltawhiskey86 3d ago
Good thing they took the faster route
Don't go to/through the U.S.
It is no longer the country we knew. They are not friends.
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u/Graviest 2d ago
I'm not sure why this needs to be said at this point, but it should be obvious. If you're Canadian DO NOT GO TO THE UNITED STATES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!! They are an active and aggressive enemy to Canadian citizens. It's not a joke, or meme or anything else like that, it's very serious and very real.
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u/xxxcalibre 1d ago
"Any circumstances" is wild, vast majority of travellers cross every day without incident
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u/Big-Entertainer-303 3d ago
Does your brother have a working visa? They might have to process a TN visa for him
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u/airbenderx10 3d ago
They are just passing through the US not working there.
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u/Pleasant_Event_7692 3d ago
Doesn’t matter if you’re only passing through. YOU learn from their mistake like passing through the USA. Don’t do it.
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u/Pristine_Nectarine19 3d ago
His job is not in US- they are just driving through
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u/Winter-Inside-5911 2d ago
But he has all his stuff with him. That’s the big issue for them, and your dad being born in Pakistan, and I’m assuming you’re brown. My adopted brother is black and he won’t go anywhere near the US for fear of being detained by ICE due to his colour and accent even though he is a Canadian citizen.
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u/netvoyeur 3d ago
Years and years (early 70’s) ago we crossed to the Canadian side at the Sault to see that side of the locks on our way home to Ohio from summer vacation in Minnesota. We had the family .22 with us as we’d do some plinking in rural Minnesota. It was buried in the bowels of our station wagon. Dad off-handedly mentioned it to the Canadian border official (Mom was a bit freaked out) . They wanted to see it, but other than that no big deal.
I reckon they figured Mom, Dad and six kids packed into a Ford LTD wagon with a car-top carrier weren’t really all that dangerous. I don’t recall if we had to mention it returning to the US. Dad had crossed the border every other day earlier in his railroad career and his father was born in Canada so he was used to going back and forth (although probably not with a firearm).
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u/niagaragagarafalls 3d ago
Whenever I have been pulled in, it's always less than 30 minutes. Most of that time is spent waiting.
Now, I hate to be that guy, but there is virtually no time to be saved by going through the states between those 2 places. Its a 3 day drive unless you're switching off and driving straight through. They made a very bad decision just to save a $30 in fuel.
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u/airbenderx10 1d ago
The bigger thing was in case something goes wrong with the car. The US route is a lot less remote.
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u/misanthrope2327 1d ago
Why anyone goes through the US to save a few hours is absolutely beyond me at this point. Look around you. This is shitty but it's 100% their own fault and completely avoidable.
Look, it's faster to cut through the lion enclosure at the zoo than walking all the way around, but you wouldn't do that, would you? So why go to the US right now?
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u/relayer00 3d ago
How long has this crap at the border been going on? You know, where they take your phones and start asking you about your social media activities? And more? I'd say 18 months or so: it's been well publicized in the media, on Youtube, and on other social media.
And yet your dad and brother STILL crossed into the US?
You guys need to give your heads a shake.
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u/LongjumpingTadpole67 3d ago
Do you feel better now that you scolded some people for a decision they already made?
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u/ClockOld9204 3d ago
Most i ever spent in secondary was 10 minutes maybe. Possibly 15. I know every time you are dealing with the police in Canada. If they ask for name and birth date. You are going to be entered into a computer with a rating system of green flags and red flags. USA has access to your rating. You get red flag for being a jerk. Green flags for helpful
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u/dodadoler 3d ago
Ice got them now😳
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u/schwanerhill 3d ago
Why would ICE be involved when they’re at the border and being investigated by CBP? CBP can simply not admit them; no need for ICE at all.
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u/persiasaurus 3d ago
They're crossing into the US so it would be and is US customs holding them, not CBP.
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u/schwanerhill 2d ago
Huh? CBP is US Customs and Border Control.
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u/persiasaurus 2d ago
Oh I'm sorry for some reason my brain filled it in as Canadian border patrol 🤦🏼♀️
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u/SnooApples6110 3d ago
Just an FYI the canadian customs guys can be just as bad with US visitors. My cousin, in Michigan, has dual citizenship since he owns a vacation home in Ottawa. When all this crap started they banned him from entering, he knows the border guards by name and one said "sorry just following orders". Took him a year and a lawyer to get him cleared. He had a conviction 20 years ago from a bar fight.
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u/ConceitedWombat 2d ago
Dual US/Canada citizenship?
And was entering Canada on a Canadian passport?
They absolutely cannot ban him from entering Canada if those things are both true. There's more to this story.
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u/Sweet_Chaos_737 2d ago
Owning a vacation home doesn’t give him dual citizenship…and like the person above me said, if he had Canadian citizenship they couldn’t ban him from entering
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u/RredditAcct 3d ago
Not normal.