Afternoon y’all.
My company is trying to get me to go to the US to train some folks in our department, the problem is I don’t trust the US border agency whatsoever especially when it comes to my digital devices.
My boss crosses weekly so it makes me think there won’t be an issue however, I really don’t want to take the chance of being searched.
What’s been your recent experience crossing the border?
Edit: I should note that I haven’t left my province in about 15 years so this is all new to me.
Edit 2: Thank you all for the responses, I spoke with a majority of my co-workers and HR and for the most part everyone agrees that the Americans should come up to Canada or we train someone who is comfortable entering the US.
My HR department is going to speak with my boss hopefully sorts out a plan that works with everyone.
I would personally refuse to go. But that’s not always feasible depending on your job and relationship with your company.
I would at minimum not bring any personal electronics. The border agent may demand your device, unlocked, so they can disappear into a back room for a few minutes before returning it to you. Assume all your credentials stored on the device will have copied and that the US Federal government now has access to your everything. You can refuse but you’ll be turned away from crossing, possibly detained, and probably barred from future entries for life.
I hate to say it, but if you’re white you’ll probably have an uneventful crossing. But there’s absolutely no guarantee of that.
Border agents also get especially cagey if you’re travelling to work. They seem to interpret the word “business” as meaning you’re going to overstay your visa and try to work illegally. I had an incredibly complicated conversation at a crossing a decade ago because the agent didn’t seem to know what a TRADE SHOW was and gave me the third degree.
I have some family that’s been travelling as tourists or with green cards and they reported zero issues with them or people travelling around them.