Should I be worried about crossing the Canadian border?
March 6, 2023 10:43 AM Subscribe
About 17 years ago I was having severe toothaches, and just wanted the pain to go away. Aspirin did nothing. I searched the internet and found a source for aspirin with codeine. I ordered 36 tablets. Two weeks later I received a letter from the border people (govt) saying they have confiscated my pills and if I do it again I will be subject to a fine and or jail time.
So that put me off ever doing that again. BTW, I live 20 minutes from the Canadian border...In the 60's we would often go to Canada for a weekend or even just a day...and bring back aspirin w/codeine. It was/is available in without a prescription. Border agents were pretty lenient back in the day. Not so much now. My question is I want to take a friend into Canada to view the, as it is much more beautiful from the Canadian side. Do you think I will run into difficulty trying to re-enter the Country?..Maybe I'm on a watch list or something...Or am I being overly nervous. Thanks.
So that put me off ever doing that again. BTW, I live 20 minutes from the Canadian border...In the 60's we would often go to Canada for a weekend or even just a day...and bring back aspirin w/codeine. It was/is available in without a prescription. Border agents were pretty lenient back in the day. Not so much now. My question is I want to take a friend into Canada to view the, as it is much more beautiful from the Canadian side. Do you think I will run into difficulty trying to re-enter the Country?..Maybe I'm on a watch list or something...Or am I being overly nervous. Thanks.
It sounds like even 17 years ago they never told you that you couldn't cross the border, just that you couldn't take that medication with you? If this is correct and you won't have any with you, I can't imagine there would be a problem.
posted by Eyelash at 10:53 AM on March 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Eyelash at 10:53 AM on March 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
They basically told you they couldn't fine you 17 years ago, so that still applies.
posted by toucan at 10:55 AM on March 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by toucan at 10:55 AM on March 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
The border agents are highly unlikely to know or care about anything that happened 17 years ago.
When answering questions at the border, always remember: the shortest possible honest answer is the correct one.
If they ask you something like "Have you ever been denied entry to Canada?" the correct answer is NO, end of sentence.
(Assuming that's true, of course. If you have, the correct answer is YES, end of sentence, and wait for them to ask another question.)
Definitely do not go on a ramble about how you once tried to buy aspirin with codeine online many years ago -- that will definitely get you pulled in for extra questioning. Never bring up anything they don't specifically ask you about.
posted by mekily at 10:58 AM on March 6, 2023 [37 favorites]
When answering questions at the border, always remember: the shortest possible honest answer is the correct one.
If they ask you something like "Have you ever been denied entry to Canada?" the correct answer is NO, end of sentence.
(Assuming that's true, of course. If you have, the correct answer is YES, end of sentence, and wait for them to ask another question.)
Definitely do not go on a ramble about how you once tried to buy aspirin with codeine online many years ago -- that will definitely get you pulled in for extra questioning. Never bring up anything they don't specifically ask you about.
posted by mekily at 10:58 AM on March 6, 2023 [37 favorites]
I think you'll be fine. If by some strange reason they have a record of you ordering meds 17 years ago, just plead ignorance. "I didn't know I couldn't order them."
Say nothing about it unless they bring it up. They will not bring it up.
Usually they just ask where you're going, for how long, where you live, and if you're leaving anything in Canada. They'll ask if you have any firearms, alcohol, or cannabis. "No, sir/maam."
Sometimes, if they're bored or something, the guards will ask further questions. When they do this, it always feels that they're not interested in the answer so much as how I answer. "What is in the trunk? What do you mean by 'clothes and stuff?'"
Just answer truthfully and calmly. Don't offer any more information than what they ask.
I have crossed a couple times every year for over 25 years and I think I've been asked more than those initial four questions maybe twice.
Have your passports ready. Make sure your friend doesn't have a DUI or any other felony on their record. Even with that all they'll do is turn you around.
posted by bondcliff at 11:00 AM on March 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
Say nothing about it unless they bring it up. They will not bring it up.
Usually they just ask where you're going, for how long, where you live, and if you're leaving anything in Canada. They'll ask if you have any firearms, alcohol, or cannabis. "No, sir/maam."
Sometimes, if they're bored or something, the guards will ask further questions. When they do this, it always feels that they're not interested in the answer so much as how I answer. "What is in the trunk? What do you mean by 'clothes and stuff?'"
Just answer truthfully and calmly. Don't offer any more information than what they ask.
I have crossed a couple times every year for over 25 years and I think I've been asked more than those initial four questions maybe twice.
Have your passports ready. Make sure your friend doesn't have a DUI or any other felony on their record. Even with that all they'll do is turn you around.
posted by bondcliff at 11:00 AM on March 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
Which government confiscated your pills? It seems likely that your US-bound package was inspected and confiscated by US Customs & Border Protection, rather than Canada Border Services Agency (who would be the ones controlling your entry into Canada).
posted by mbrubeck at 11:02 AM on March 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by mbrubeck at 11:02 AM on March 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
It's possible the record (if indeed it is for Canada, not the U.S.) may lead to your being pulled in for secondary screening. So make sure everything is squeaky clean. No old bongs with residue rolling around on the floor in the back seat of the car. No criminal convictions on your friend. No random handguns in the trunk.
I'm assuming you've traveled internationally elsewhere in the past 17 years so already have some idea of what the DHS attitude towards you is.
FTR, it is my understanding that the 2-2-2s are still legal to purchase OTC in Canada and to bring over the U.S. border personally in a small quantity (less than 50?) for personal use. Definitely not mail-order. But in your situation I'm not sure I'd risk it.
posted by praemunire at 11:10 AM on March 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
I'm assuming you've traveled internationally elsewhere in the past 17 years so already have some idea of what the DHS attitude towards you is.
FTR, it is my understanding that the 2-2-2s are still legal to purchase OTC in Canada and to bring over the U.S. border personally in a small quantity (less than 50?) for personal use. Definitely not mail-order. But in your situation I'm not sure I'd risk it.
posted by praemunire at 11:10 AM on March 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
By the way, in case your concern is re-entering the US rather than entering Canada, you're even less likely to have a problem in that direction. US citizens cannot be denied entry to the US once they've established your identity and citizenship.
posted by mekily at 11:15 AM on March 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mekily at 11:15 AM on March 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
I had relatives in Buffalo/Niagra Falls area. I have crossed over the border at least 20 times. I would say 15 of those times I got a wave and keep going. I did make two mistakes that cost me an hour each time of further questioning and searching. I went to a Grateful Dead show in Hamilton. When the US border patrol asked me why I was in Canada, instead of saying something vague like vacation or for pleasure, I said I was at a Grateful Dead concert. That got my car searched. The only real hassle was they left all of our stuff on the ground outside the car and we had to put it back.
The other time, a border agent asked me what I did for a living. In my NY accent, I said "Trader". He heard "Traitor". I had to explain to him that if I was really a traitor to my country, I would not be telling him that. Speak clearly and keep your answers short and innocuous.
If you were going across the border in the 60s to get codeine pills (and likely high alcohol content beer), you should be older than 60 now. They will not hassle you. Enjoy.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:20 AM on March 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
The other time, a border agent asked me what I did for a living. In my NY accent, I said "Trader". He heard "Traitor". I had to explain to him that if I was really a traitor to my country, I would not be telling him that. Speak clearly and keep your answers short and innocuous.
If you were going across the border in the 60s to get codeine pills (and likely high alcohol content beer), you should be older than 60 now. They will not hassle you. Enjoy.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:20 AM on March 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
US citizens cannot be denied entry to the US once they've established your identity and citizenship.
Yep, but secondary screening is nobody's idea of a good time.
posted by praemunire at 11:34 AM on March 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yep, but secondary screening is nobody's idea of a good time.
posted by praemunire at 11:34 AM on March 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
> In my NY accent, I said "Trader". He heard "Traitor".
I have no idea how that could possibly be a thing someone even thought they heard in that scenario. Not that I don't believe you--just mind-boggling the agent could think that.
Anyway, I agree that it sounds like you were contacted by the US (re-reading, maybe that's what you meant as you say "re-entering" so thinking you're asking about coming back), and there is like a 0.000001% chance that the US would have a record of that letter accessible to border agents 17 years later, let alone the Canadian side. I wouldn't worry about it at all, though definitely do not volunteer that information.
posted by tubedogg at 12:03 PM on March 6, 2023
I have no idea how that could possibly be a thing someone even thought they heard in that scenario. Not that I don't believe you--just mind-boggling the agent could think that.
Anyway, I agree that it sounds like you were contacted by the US (re-reading, maybe that's what you meant as you say "re-entering" so thinking you're asking about coming back), and there is like a 0.000001% chance that the US would have a record of that letter accessible to border agents 17 years later, let alone the Canadian side. I wouldn't worry about it at all, though definitely do not volunteer that information.
posted by tubedogg at 12:03 PM on March 6, 2023
Response by poster: Thank you all. I feel more confident of my visit to Canada. And I did mean the bureau or department which checks packages coming into the USA. I'm bad with remembering organization names, especially after that amount of time.
posted by Czjewel at 12:42 PM on March 6, 2023
posted by Czjewel at 12:42 PM on March 6, 2023
If you can't cross you'd have received paperwork telling you that. That's just a warning from customs that you're doing something illegal.
posted by kschang at 3:03 PM on March 6, 2023
posted by kschang at 3:03 PM on March 6, 2023
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