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| Subject: Customs officers unaware of CIC re-entry policy? |
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I´m on a study permit and went to the US for a 10-day stay. I came back via YVR. My study permit is up to date. I don´t have a temporary resident visa (TRV) because CIC´s rule is that, if you´re on a study permit, you can re-enter Canada with only a valid study permit (no TRV) as long as you only went to the US/St-Pierre/Miquelon. I confirmed this by calling the CIC call centre and also printed the info from the CIC´s webpage, just to be sure.
Good thing I did because when I got to YVR, I had to explain to the Customs officer why I didn´t have a TRV. I showed him my CIC printout and he had to read it line by line which gave me the impression that he didn´t know anything about it.
Next, I had to go to a room where people´s luggage contents were being inspected (piece by piece). I thought I shouldn´t have to go through that so when it was my turn to face Customs officer #2 (CO2), I promptly said that I was sent there because I don´t have a TRV. I went through my previous explanation - i.e., the call to CIC and the info from the webpage. CO2 asked, "when did you talk to CIC?" I said, just a few days before I left for the US. I showed CO2 the CIC webpage printout and, just like CO1, she had to read it line by line and word for word which gave me the impression that CO2 also didn´t know anything about the CIC rule she is reading. CO2 went inside one of the offices and came back after a few minutes. I presume (since she didn´t have anything else with her other than the stuff I gave her) that all she did was verify that there is indeed a CIC rule like what she just read.
I´m wondering, should I have lined up under "New immigrants, new students, etc." instead of under "Residents"? I wonder if the people manning the "new immigrants, students,..." lines are more knowledgeable about CIC rules.
Why is it that Customs officers at YVR seem to be unaware about re-entry rules for people on study permit returning from the USA? Are Customs officers unaware of CIC rules because Customs is a separate organization from CIC? Then, why wouldn´t there be CIC personnel at the airport when it is immigration rules that are frequently applied to people arriving at the airport? Or, if Customs really must be at the forefront, shouldn´t they be educated on CIC rules since Customs is the one enforcing the rules at the ports of entry?
I´m thinking that I should probably just get a TRV so that I don´t have to go through the same cycle of explaining re-entry rules each time I come back to Canada from the USA.
[14-10-2008,21:18]
[***.207.42.158]
Maru |
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(in reply to: Customs officers unaware of CIC re-entry policy?)
You say it again and again in your posting.
Customs Officers,
Customs Officers,
Customs Officers,
Customs Officers,
CBSA officers are now Customs Officers and Immigration Officers. You got two former Customs Officers.
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[15-10-2008,04:47]
[**.52.218.62]
Roy |
(in reply to: Customs officers unaware of CIC re-entry policy?)
I assumed they´re CBSA officers because that´s the organization that´s supposed to be in charge of customs/immigration at YVR. I only used "Customs officer" because it said "Customs" on their ID.
Those two individuals were not dinosaurs. They were employees in their 20´s who ought to have been more up to date in their knowledge of CIC rules. Even if those individuals were "old," the CIC rules on re-entry are not exactly "new" rules. Both senior and junior employees would have to be up to date on rules if CBSA regularly educates its employees.
[16-10-2008,14:17]
[**.77.7.53]
Maru |
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