Upon obtaining citizenship, immigrants to Canada also become eligible for certain U.S. immigration benefits. Canadian citizens enjoy visa-free travel to the U.S. in most categories, additional opportunities for U.S. employment, and streamlined procedures for seeking U.S. immigration benefits. Visa free visitor travel to the U.S. (B-1/B-2) Canadian citizens do not need a visa, or a… Read More
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Nexus and FAST interviews in Osoyoos on September 12th and 13th 2023
Walk-in Nexus interviews available in 2 weeks! Read More
Don’t drop the Canadian trailer off in the U.S. and then have the Canadian driver pick it up for delivery in the U.S.
Canadian truck drivers can take a load from Canada and drop it off in the U.S. Canadian truck drivers can also pick up a load in the U.S. and bring it back to Canada. Currently, they are exempt from many of the restrictions on crossing the border in both countries. Canadian drivers cannot, however, is… Read More
Firm Update – COVID-19
Pacific Northwest Cross Border Law remains fully operational. I have access to files, and the continued capacity to correspond by e-mail, telephone, fax, and traditional mail. Most of my firm’s operations have shifted to a temporary home office, a five-minute commute from the firm’s commercial space. Many US immigration agencies have closed their offices, however,… Read More
New procedures for Canadians filing applications for non-immigrant waivers of inadmissibility
Many Canadians who have been found inadmissible, and wish to continue traveling to the United States must apply for a non-immigrant waiver of inadmissibility. Common reasons for inadmissibility include past conviction for a “crime involving moral turpitude,” drug-related convictions, and misrepresentation when applying for admission to the US. Anyone who has made a material misrepresentation… Read More
Failure to declare imported items may lead to USD $5,000 fine
Before October 2018 I had not yet seen a customs penalty case. Since then, inquiries about customs penalty cases have increased to approximately one every two months. At ports of entry, Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) is asking visitors and U.S. citizens about goods that they are importing or have imported to the United States.… Read More
Put this in your pipe and smoke it – U.S. Customs and Border Protection answers questions about Canadian cannabis users and investors seeking entry
U.S. Customs and Border Protection held a press conference today to explain its position on the admissibility of Canadians who use cannabis after it becomes legal for recreational use in Canada. According to CBP, its enforcement policies will not change in response to this change in Canadian law. As to investments in Canadian marijuana enterprises,… Read More
Border Security America’s Front Line – Season 1, Episode 2
If a CBP officer determines that a Canadian applying for admission to the U.S. is not “clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to be admitted” then she may be returned to Canada pending a removal proceeding. Alternatively, CBP officers have discretion to allow withdrawal of an application for admission to the U.S. Read More
What can CBP see? Brief Notes and Comments on DHS Border Crossing Information (BCI) System of Records – 81 FR 89957
On December 13, 2016 the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published notice in the Federal Register regarding updates to its Border Crossing Information (“BCI”) System of Records, as required by the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a). Comments may be submitted until January 12, 2017. Brief note on what Customs and Border Protection can… Read More
A brief history of fee increases for Canadians seeking I-192 waivers
The fee increases for Canadians filing Form I-192 seeking a non-immigrant waiver are summarized in the chart below. Note that the “Comments” column refers to the total comments submitted in response to the proposed rule, not comments specifically targeted to Form I-192. For anyone interested in researching the regulatory history of INS/USCIS fee increases (as… Read More