Canadian Customs Use Wikipedia For “Background Check”
So today I had full intention of walking into the airport and flying back to Seattle, and if US Customs gave me a hard time returning to my own country, I would record the conversation, much lolz would ensue. So I was shocked when my trip took a turn for the scary before I had even checked in for my flight.
When I was flying into Vancouver (YVR) to visit Jake Daynes leader of the Pirate Party of Canada, but I was checking my bags (all my stuff for when I move) to Seattle. I got a phone call yesterday from my mom telling me that my bags were not in Seattle, I called around and found out that they accidentally sent my bags all the way through to Vancouver (whoops, sent your bag to the wrong country :P ). This was no problem, I didn’t pay for my checked bags and I appreciate what Alaska Air does for me, so meh not a huge problem.
I go up to the counter and ask for my bags so I can ship them back and they tell me where to go, and when I get there I am greeted by this huge Canadian official (did not know what department he was at the time), and I was thinking to myself “they sent the most intimidating guy in Canada to get me… uh oh” and he tells me in a stern voice “We have some questions for you before we give you your bags” — Ack the thought of ‘some questions’ was enough to make my butt pucker up. I was confused by assured myself this was all normal, considering I didn’t do anything wrong, the airline just shipped my bag to the wrong country — obviously they told them that and all would be fine.
After passing through 3 different security clearance doors, we got to this back room area (thats actually a lie to make it sound more scary, I did pass through 3 security doors but in the end I wound up right next to the exit of customs), however, there was like 5 customs agents standing around my stupidly coloured bags (Quick Note: Everytime I move, I decorate my two tubs in different ways… so there are faces drawn on it, the names of the places I have moved to, etc). After I got to them, another (slightly smaller but still intimidating) officer (who identified himself as Customs and Immigration) asked me to show “BOTH” of my passports.
“Sorry officer, I only have one passport.” I admit to him.
“You are a dual citizen, no? United States and Canada?” Clearly not accepting that I only have one.
I laughed (whoops?) and said, “I am a citizen of Canada by birth, but I don’t have documentation of it — Just wondering, how do you know that I claim dual citizenship, I have never declared it officially?”
“I looked up your Wikipedia page, you claim to be a citizen of both the United States AND Canada” he admits to me. (later on I tell him that I was flattered that he looked up my wikipedia page, and that I was happy someone reads it). To which he responded that was his job. lol.
I was finally released to go, yet they had taken my passport from me! So I asked for it back and they were telling me to check my pockets. Finally an officer who seemed genuinely interested in the pirate party when I started taking about that (hell they were already questioning my digital rights activist stuff… might as well bring a legitimate political party into the mix), had exclaimed that he saw one of the guys take it to the back room.
He told me I can go, butg next time have more documentation. Seriously? I had none because I fly standby I told him that. Do I need to carry a memiour of my life that is certified daily?? I showed him everything I had.
I had to wait another 10 minutes while they checked out my passport (which is sadly beat up looking). I felt very out f place not knowing my rights… I was going to film it for my protection… but I decided against it. I now have an even greater appreciation for those in the United States who are detained… and do not understand the situation they are in.
