All Questions
Tagged with borders customs-and-immigration
170
questions
93
votes
6
answers
18k
views
What happens if you are refused entry between two countries?
Last month, I was travelling on a backpacking trip across Russia and the Baltic states (Schengen zone). I'm an Indian by nationality. So I had to get the respective single entry visa for Russia and ...
- 1,555
62
votes
8
answers
90k
views
Can growing a beard cause problems in crossing borders?
I just recently renewed my passport with a picture taken just after I shaved. I haven't shaved since (>3 weeks) and I kind of like it. I am even looking into how to maintain a beard, but that is a ...
user141
59
votes
5
answers
15k
views
Is it possible to enter Russia by train 1-1.5 hours before the visa validity period starts?
A friend of mine is taking the Train from Finland to Russia. She has now paid and sent the Tourist visa application, with the requested validity being from 3 to 16 August.
Now she's considering ...
- 77.5k
48
votes
3
answers
17k
views
Refuse to answer questions at border control
When returning from a long holiday, rather than the usual cursory glance at the passport and wave through, the person behind the passport control desk started asking a whole load of rather intrusive ...
- 631
42
votes
1
answer
17k
views
How can I ensure my exit from the US by land is recorded?
Seeing as the US does not perform border control on exit (save for occasional spot checks, usually when traffic is moving slowly at the border), how do I make sure my exit by land is recorded so that ...
- 77.5k
36
votes
4
answers
15k
views
How seriously should I take a CBP interview where I was told I have a red flag and could only stay for 30 days?
I’m 20 year old girl traveling on a ESTA for the second time over a longer period. The first time I used it for a longer 2 months period in June. Then I went home for one month and now I am back.
The ...
- 361
33
votes
1
answer
4k
views
How to clean drug misdemeanor in US so I don't get stopped at border every time?
I'm an American living in Canada.
11 years ago, when I was 19, I was stupid and had some pot in my car while driving through a border patrol checkpoint. (Note: A border patrol checkpoint is not the ...
- 331
31
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Declaring illegal substances at customs - what would happen?
I've always wondered this. Occasionally I declare medicines, or wood carvings or whatever when going through customs. The point of asking you to declare these things is so that they can inspect and ...
- 160k
30
votes
2
answers
9k
views
What happens if you declare an item and it is confiscated?
A few years back I was on a trip with a family member who brought back a meat product to Canada. I told them to declare it, so they did. It got confiscated entering at the Canadian border as a ...
29
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Can a non-EU citizen with residency visa traveling with me come with me through the EU passport line, when entering Schengen area?
I’m doing some travelling with my mate in a few weeks and I was wondering if, to save time, he could come through the Schengen border through the EU Line with me even though he is not a citizen?
I’m a ...
- 730
29
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Can we use the "EU citizen only" lane when travelling by car with one non-EU passenger inside?
I am a non-EU citizen with permanent residence in EU. My wife and my kid are EU citizens. When travelling togehter by car, are we allowed to use the "EU citizen only lane" when crossing ...
- 757
26
votes
6
answers
14k
views
Why was this border agent rude to me?
My passport has a protective thin transparent case. There's a place to put cards and money on the inner side of the last page. A tiny space. I keep a US$100 bill there. A passport isn't attractive to ...
- 303
25
votes
4
answers
23k
views
Will one be refused entry on a full passport?
My question was triggered by How do I decide whether to be worried about having enough blank pages in my passport? The question is pretty simple.
What happens at a border when you need an additional ...
- 4,021
25
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to enter East Jerusalem and who controls the separation with the western part
Can non-Muslim people from non-Muslim countries (EU) enter the part of Jerusalem where the famous mosque with yellow top is located?
Are the police (or guards) at the entrance Israeli or Palestinian?
...
- 422
24
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Crossing US border with music files I'm legally allowed to possess
Apart from directly buying digital music files, there are a few ways in which you could possess such files legally (at least in my country):
Creating them from CDs you legally own, to make listening ...
- 383
24
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Crossing a border several times to increase duty free allowance
I'm not planning on doing this myself (I'm not in a geographical position to either), but I just thought about the idea, and I wonder what type of rules are in place to prevent it.
This question ...
- 15.3k
21
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What do the intra-Schengen border controls - reinstated in September 2015 - change?
In September 2015, some countries of the Schengen area decided to put border controls back in place. It might not last, it might happen again in the future, but I am curious about the changes this ...
- 21k
20
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Can I, a British Green Card holder residing in western NY, go to pick up my British mother flying into Toronto airport and bring her back home?
I am a British green card holder. My mother lives in the UK and visits us as a tourist periodically so she can see the grandkids. It has recently started becoming a more economical proposition to fly ...
- 303
19
votes
5
answers
12k
views
US citizen previously refused entry into the UK and been refused for visa. What to do now?
I'm so highly confused but maybe you guys can help me.
My girlfriend lives in Bristol, United Kingdom, shes a British Citizen while I'm American. I'm not very good at explaining myself so beware but ...
- 207
19
votes
3
answers
34k
views
How long does it take for a Global Entry application to be approved?
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection runs a program called Global Entry, allowing low-risk travelers to complete an application, submit to a background check and interview, and eventually be ...
- 7,915
18
votes
4
answers
12k
views
What happens if RFID system in my "biometric" travel passport malfunctions when I cross the border?
My travel passport contains the "biometric" RFID chip. While I can at any moment check that my passport itself is intact (not torn or anything) I can't check whether the chip inside is functioning as ...
- 1,807
16
votes
3
answers
4k
views
At *some* border crossings, why do bus passengers have to get off, but not those in cars?
At the Singapore-Malaysia border crossing, if you are on a bus, everyone needs to take their stuff, get off, and have their stuff checked, somewhat similar to what is done at airports. In contrast, if ...
user8803
15
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Can a dual citizen disregard border controls?
There are many places in the US-CA border which are unguarded or "honor system". In one on a recent documentary, vehicles stopped at an unmanned inspection station and picked up a "white courtesy ...
15
votes
2
answers
11k
views
When traveling to the USA what are the consequences of having been arrested but not charged with a crime?
When entering the USA I am often asked "Have you ever been arrested?" to which, fortunately, I can honestly answer "No."
Question 'B' on form I-94 also begins "Have you ever been arrested...?"
At ...
- 3,737
15
votes
1
answer
722
views
Will a USA no-fly blacklist prevent Canada passengers from flying domestically?
Related to this question, apparently someone who is on a USA no-fly list will not be allowed on international flights between other countries, if they have a chance of overflying or diverting to the ...
13
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Double nationality - leaving/entering Europe with ID card
I have a booked flight (cannot cancel it), my passport is expired and I cannot renew it in time. Also I have a double nationality, in fact I am a Greek, born in Russia and living/working/studying in ...
- 131
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Crossing the Lao/Thai border at Ban Than - no border office?
My brother and I are biking from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai just realized our bike route takes us through a border crossing with no immigration office. Is this a problem? I know we can do 15 days ...
- 131
13
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Crossing from US to Canada at the Peace Arch on foot
I would like to drive my friend (US citizen) in Washington State US to the Peace Arch coastal border crossing between Blaine US and Surrey CA, to visit Vancouver BC for a few days.
Can I drop the ...
- 638