serious problem : please help : NEED ANSWERS

[marjorieocceus]

On Wednesday July the 31st I arrived in Montreal Canada. I was then going to immigration to get my visa. Instead of getting a stamp I was asked to go to immigration, there I was asked all types of degrading question, when I didn't tell them what they wanted to hear, I was then escorted to the back, by two immigration officers. There I was not only interrogated but my luggage had been searched, there I was once again asked the same questions like, Why are you here? "To visit and see what's Canada is like." Do you know anybody in Canada? "Yes I have people here." How long are you will be staying? "About 2 weeks." Where do you work? " For a company called Homelife." How much do they pay? "365." How much money do you have? "$200 USD." (I knew that it wasn't enough so I told them that I will be receiving money on the first of August.) Then they asked, while searching my bag "where's the money?" I then replied " In my card." That's when the female officer told my "oh so how do I know that your not lying and have 2 USD or 2000 USD? I told her if I had 2000 you really think I wouldn't tell you? She then said " You see that's our problem you have NO MONEY to be here your probably coming her to try to benefit on our food stamps, jobs, school, apartment help, and free Medicare. And why would I let you come and steal from those like our college students?" I then told her that I had spent 829 USD not only to come but to go back, so why would I come here and steal from you, I then said I didn't come here to be insulted and treated like nothing!!!! If your going to treat me this way send me home!!!!! At that moment I was very frustrated and flabbergasted that they treated me this way especially in front of my daughter and others and I told them exactly how I felt. When they were still displeased with my answers they once again escorted me back to the lobby and told me and my 14 year old daughter that they will decide if I can go. After, they then got a few of there colleges to put there in-put in my case . After they was done they had confiscated my phone, my luggage, and my passport. And told me that I was not allowed to use my phone, or have my luggage, or passport til I was released back into America. I then waited in the lobby for an hour or two (felt like more but wouldn't have know because I didn't have my cell phone)!!!! Later on that day I was deported and was told that I will never be able to come back to Canada. And the last thing I said was I hope you don't get treated the same in America. She then said I go to America every year, so trust me they won't treat me that way!

My experience in Canada was horrible and I felt it was more of hatred towards Americans maybe I'm wrong but they just made me feel awful by using there uniform.

 

[dotmatrix]

I'm sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. They probably should've treated you better. But your post said you need answers. Don't see any questions. Could you explain what your question is/are?

 

[scylla]

I'm not entirely sure what your question is.

The short answer is that visiting Canada is a priviledge and not a right. And when visiting Canda, you must convince immigration officials that you are a genuine tourist, that you have strong ties to your home country and that you have no plans on remaining in Canada long term. (The same applies to Canadians visiting the US - so Canada is certainly not unique in having these requirements).

If I can be frank, I think there were a few mistakes you made when you arrived in Canada. First of all, $200 is completely insufficient to pay for a two week trip to Canada. If asked, you must be able to show immigration that you are in possession of the funds required to pay for your trip when you arrive. Saying you'll get the funds later doesn't really work - you need to show you have the funds now. It also sounds like you weren't able to provide much evidence to demonstrate strong ties to the US (it would have been a good idea to have proof of employment, proof of property ownership or property rental, proof of school enrollment for your daughter, etc.).

In addition, it sounds like you got into a big of an argument with the Canadian immigration officials. Regardless of what they say to you, one of the golden rules is never argue. Arguing is one of the fastest ways of getting yourself in bigger trouble than you already are. Unfortunately this was a big mistake on your part.

If you want to find out what your chances are of returning to Canada, you'll have to provide us with more information about what happened at the end. You should have been provided with some kind of paperwork or forms. What do they say? Do they have a number? Any additional information you can provide will help us to tell you what you should do if you want to try to return.