Border Security (TV show on Slice and BBC Canada)

[lleahdoll]

Does anyone watch it?
Thought I'd start a fun topic.

 

[rhcohen2014]

LOVE THAT SHOW! I have learned SO much about CBSA by watching it, and have gotten some good tips! I wish they would show new episodes. i think i've seen them all!

 

[scylla]

There was a thread about this show last year (or maybe the year before?) when the show first started airing. So I know we have lots of watchers here. My husband is obsessed.

 

[Gaymer]

Yes! I've watched it. It actually gives you good tips and lets you know what to expect at the border. I wish I had watched it prior to my first trip across the border. Would've saved me a headache! Now I'm permanently on the secondary search list whenever I cross, lol. Luckily, I've only been denied entry once. But anyway, it's a good show.

 

[lleahdoll]

I just started watching recently. I love it as well! My husband thinks I'm making myself more worried for border crossings by watching it. hahah But I feel it makes me knowledgeable about how the VOs are thinking.

What is a "secondary search list"??

I feel like the Australian version is better (BBC-C). The VOs (or whatever they call them there) are nicer than the Canadian ones. XD At least on the show.

 

[Gaymer]

I just started watching recently. I love it as well! My husband thinks I'm making myself more worried for border crossings by watching it. hahah But I feel it makes me knowledgeable about how the VOs are thinking.

What is a "secondary search list"??

I feel like the Australian version is better (BBC-C). The VOs (or whatever they call them there) are nicer than the Canadian ones. XD At least on the show.

I am instantly pulled into the immigration office every single time I cross the border for more interrogation, basically.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I just started watching recently. I love it as well! My husband thinks I'm making myself more worried for border crossings by watching it. hahah But I feel it makes me knowledgeable about how the VOs are thinking.

What is a "secondary search list"??

when you cross the border, there are 2 stops. primary and secondary. people who CBSA flag will always be pulled into secondary, until CBSA feels they are no longer a risk for overstay. Secondary is pretty much what you see in Border Security. When people on land have to go into the office and talk to the agents.

I feel like the Australian version is better (BBC-C). The VOs (or whatever they call them there) are nicer than the Canadian ones. XD At least on the show.

really? i find the australian one so boring! yes they are nicer, just not as exciting!

 

[lleahdoll]

I am instantly pulled into the immigration office every single time I cross the border for more interrogation, basically.

Ah ok! Is this because you overstayed a visit one time or something??? Or just randomly?

really? i find the australian one so boring! yes they are nicer, just not as exciting!

I have watched the Australian one more since it's on more. I have seen the Canadian one twice maybe? It's not on Slice often.
So maybe I just need to give it more of a chance ^_^ I have both on the PVR now!

 

[rhcohen2014]

I am instantly pulled into the immigration office every single time I cross the border for more interrogation, basically.

yes, same here. don't worry... at some point when they see you have been complying with their rules and you are applying for PR, they won't give you as much as a hassel. The last time i went through, i was told "they upped my status" in their system because i always leave when i'm suppose to. I hope it continues!!!!

 

[JHWife2011]

I watch it. I seen one the other day and my heart truly broke for the guy. He was on a bunch of meds for a fractured back, and a neck injury...all these pain staking injuries....the poor guy had at least 50 bottles of pills, he was married to a woman who just up and left him, she went back home to the Soviet I believe (can't truly remember) but he was American and wanted to come into Canada to see a doctor for all his injuries and see if he could get better care, but they had to turn him away due to being inadmission based on his health condition....I just felt so horribly for him. He was so kind, and didn't give them a hard time, he was honest and truthful with them.....not sure if anyone else saw that episode but it was just tugged my heart strings.

Love the show all around though, some of the people they come across are quite 'interesting' lol.

 

[Gaymer]

Ah ok! Is this because you overstayed a visit one time or something??? Or just randomly?
I have watched the Australian one more since it's on more. I have seen the Canadian one twice maybe? It's not on Slice often.
So maybe I just need to give it more of a chance ^_^ I have both on the PVR now!

In 2011, I ran into an immigration officer (in a bad mood) who questioned me to death. After searching through my luggage, practically throwing all of my clothes on the floor, he went to the waiting room and questioned my husband. (At the time we weren't married and were dating for 4 years.) The officer asked him if I attempted to find work in Canada. My husband told him that I volunteered at his job without getting paid. He thought being honest would help the case. Apparently not. The officer walked back into the office and harrassed me about my plans in the country. Asked me if I did any drugs. After that, he tried to make every excuse in the book as to how I shouldn't be in Canada. He questioned the validity of my relationship and then said I was inadmissable due to insufficient funds. He incorrectly entered a common Mexican man's name into the system when ordering my return flight back to the states. Made me feel pretty low, as I'm Puerto Rican. But yeah, that's how I got flagged.

yes, same here. don't worry... at some point when they see you have been complying with their rules and you are applying for PR, they won't give you as much as a hassel. The last time i went through, i was told "they upped my status" in their system because i always leave when i'm suppose to. I hope it continues!!!!

I hope so. It's always nerve wrecking to cross. I always stress weeks before my flight, lol.

 

[sariss]

Hahaha that show gives me anxiety! Only because we stupidly lied to the officers when my husband moved here. We were married, and he was coming in for 6 months (to extend later). For some STUPID REASON (don't do this!), we decided to lie to them because our PR had just been put in and didn't know what to say if he got interrogated. He got pulled in and said he was visiting his gf as he had before (he had visitied three times before). The officer called me to confirm my story and asked me a bunch of questions that my husband and I had discussed how to answer. Everything was fine, but I was so stressed after - after watching this show I realized just how close (and how stupid) we were!

 

[little_apple]

I love Border Security. I learned a lot watching this show.
There was a 24-hour marathon on last week

 

[SenoritaBella]

I saw this episode... really sad. The poor guy did not even know if the was still a Slovak citizen. I don't think I could do their job... I would not have been able to deny him entry.

It's interesting they no longer have new episodes. There was a situation in Vancouver last year I believe, where CBSA came with cameras and arrested some South American citizens who were working illegally at contruction sites. The lawyers for these workers accused CBSA and the public safety minister(who authorized the filming) of violating their rights, coercing them to sign waivers and that they signed it under duress. The waivers were to allow CBSA to broadcast them on the show. So after the outrage, it appears the footage was not broadcasted. May be they had a re-think of the whole show.

You can watch the UK one and Australia's on youtube.

I watch it. I seen one the other day and my heart truly broke for the guy. He was on a bunch of meds for a fractured back, and a neck injury...all these pain staking injuries....the poor guy had at least 50 bottles of pills, he was married to a woman who just up and left him, she went back home to the Soviet I believe (can't truly remember) but he was American and wanted to come into Canada to see a doctor for all his injuries and see if he could get better care, but they had to turn him away due to being inadmission based on his health condition....I just felt so horribly for him. He was so kind, and didn't give them a hard time, he was honest and truthful with them.....not sure if anyone else saw that episode but it was just tugged my heart strings.

Love the show all around though, some of the people they come across are quite 'interesting' lol.

 

[lleahdoll]

In 2011, I ran into an immigration officer (in a bad mood) who questioned me to death. After searching through my luggage, practically throwing all of my clothes on the floor, he went to the waiting room and questioned my husband. (At the time we weren't married and were dating for 4 years.) The officer asked him if I attempted to find work in Canada. My husband told him that I volunteered at his job without getting paid. He thought being honest would help the case. Apparently not. The officer walked back into the office and harrassed me about my plans in the country. Asked me if I did any drugs. After that, he tried to make every excuse in the book as to how I shouldn't be in Canada. He questioned the validity of my relationship and then said I was inadmissable due to insufficient funds. He incorrectly entered a common Mexican man's name into the system when ordering my return flight back to the states. Made me feel pretty low, as I'm Puerto Rican. But yeah, that's how I got flagged.
I hope so. It's always nerve wrecking to cross. I always stress weeks before my flight, lol.

Wow.... that sounds horrible!! If I ever happen to run into a VO like that.. I will break down. I can't handle people like that. People with authority and who try to scare you or interrogate you.

Hahaha that show gives me anxiety! Only because we stupidly lied to the officers when my husband moved here. We were married, and he was coming in for 6 months (to extend later). For some STUPID REASON (don't do this!), we decided to lie to them because our PR had just been put in and didn't know what to say if he got interrogated. He got pulled in and said he was visiting his gf as he had before (he had visitied three times before). The officer called me to confirm my story and asked me a bunch of questions that my husband and I had discussed how to answer. Everything was fine, but I was so stressed after - after watching this show I realized just how close (and how stupid) we were!

Yeah, I have read over and over on these forums to be completely honest. Doesn't mean you have to elaborate on every question. If the answer is a yes/no questions, answer yes or no and leave it at that. Otherwise you look nervous.
I wouldn't lie because I'm too afraid it would jeopardize our application.

I love Border Security. I learned a lot watching this show.
There was a 24-hour marathon on last week

I think that may be when I caught a bunch of episodes and decided to PVR it!