DENIED AT THE CANADIAN BORDER 🚫

It wasn't the pepper spray, it was your non definitive answers to when you were returning. Friend of mine works at MT / Canada border and he regularly turns away RV owners who just wanna drive around and come back whenever. Live and learn.

Mistakes: 1. Pepper and Bear Spray = weapons coming across border 2. Saying you were coming for 2 months (vague) and only itinerary item is the super famous Banff anyone can name. Not credible 3. You seem unemployed without obvious reason to go back to the US. Could become a burden to the Canadian taxpayer 4. Pretty limited ties to the US. 5. The woman failed to come into the office initially. That’s not the right way to do it. When they say come in everyone in the vehicle needs to come in.

As someone with lots of immigration experience and border crossings here are the issues 1. No ties to the US.. usually a house or rental to show you have ties to the US and not going to stay. Never tell a border patrol you work remote. Provide your physical office location 2. No accommodation in Canada.. you have no plans on place to stay and activities to do. 3. Bringing in contraband.. when she asked you bear spray you hesitated so the border patrol agent was under the impression you might have more you’re hiding or forgot 4. No clear itinerary .. the 2 months you planned seemed too vague. They’re afraid it can turn into 3 months

As a Canadian it wasn't the pepper spray, it was that you where working remotely in Canada.

I cross the border all the time, I learned to just answer their questions and not volunteer any extra info. dont correct their assumptions either .. try and give one word answers. You need to give them a concrete firm plan and dates that fits the rules of not illegally moving there or working there. working remotely from Canada and not having a firm return date means you are living and working illegally in Canada...

Never wear your sunglasses at a border crossing. This means everyone.

Go with the flow…red flag …work remotely…red flag…no home in the states…red flag…the pepper spray was a minor thing ..

Regardless of whether you are entering Canada or the United States, you have to convince the border agents that you have sufficient motivation to return to your home country…things such as real estate, close family ties, jobs, bank accounts, etc. will do that. The pepper spray very likely had little to nothing to do with your denied entry. My take is that it had everything to do with your stated length of stay, along with no itinerary and no stated return date. I suspect you haven’t been permanently banned , try again in the future and enjoy spending time in Canada whenever you make it in. Cheers.

I’ve been crossing border multiple times a week for the past 21 years. Very important - NEVER LIE, and always have a purpose or definitive answer as to what you plan to do. Not having a job, or a house to go back to… is a big red flag. Having the pepper spray isn’t an issue, you’d only be required to just leaving it behind. Visitors are always welcome… just have a plan so you have answers for your itinerary.

Most nations on earth require visitors to show their departure date, itinerary or at least first address, have a cap on the amount of time you can stay on a visitors visa, if working then you must have a working visa, etc. When entering the USA years ago a group of us had to provide our address where we were staying, and answer the question about why we were visiting. Border Force have to know these things, they have a broad range of trouble-makers to detect and turn away for all kinds of issues. In Italy I had to hand over my passport at each accommodation so they could let the local police know a tourist was there, they would hand it back some hours later. But I was prepared because I had read travel guides, etc and am also keen to check government websites including my own, to be prepared. All travellers have a responsibility to acquaint themselves with requirements of travel.

When I went to Canada's with a friend last September it took less than five minutes. My guess it was the "two months". Of course you're on an RV so no hotel bookings. And: you admitted you want to work in Canada ("my company allows us to work from everywhere"). So the Canadian border officer presumably assumed you'll stay there to work. Didn't you show a lease for a house or apartment in the US? Hint: CBP would have asked the same questions if you were Canadian trying to do 2 months in the US with the same story ..

the american side has been doing this to Canadians for at least 50 years

It really helps to have strong ties to your home country: A job, permanent home address, bank account, etc. I remember when I drove from my home to Niagara Falls, ON Canada, when I got to the border check point the agent asked me what I do for work, a long with a few other questions and I figured it was to help him determine whether or not I was gonna try to overstay. Thankfully he was pretty cool throughout the whole process (just doing his job), and my answers satisfied him and he let me through

People get turned away all the time. You need to have a set itinerary and a return date, funds to sustain yourself during your stay. I doubt pepper spray had anything to do with it, they give people the option to abandon things such as pepper spray. The reason you got denied, is working remotely, essentially you are working from Canada... you could be seeking to work and stay without authorization. The oness is on you to prove your return.

As a Canadian so sorry to hear about your experience. I just googled vs using Youtube re the Pepper spray situation and it is in bold print at the top of the page that it is considered a Prohibited Weapon. I believe that the rejection is not permanent so please do not despair and just come better prepared next time. There are plenty of Videos on line where people crossing give you some excellent advice on how to be ready ahead of arrival at the border. Good luck with your travels.

Land border with Canada is always harder than flying in. I flew up to Montreal the other day to see some friends, the customs took 2 seconds, the guy at the door just looked at my passport for about 2 seconds, and handed it back without saying a word.

Bummer, you are the kind of people we gladly and would quickly become fast friends with. Hope you will give. 🇨🇦visit another try, maybe different crossing with answers to their questions that will appease them. Canada well worth the effort. 🇨🇦🙏💖🙏🇺🇸

Border crossings get extra tricky in an RV. They want you to have a reason to go back, campground bookings, a good answer about work or income and an address is important too, should have just said your parents address was your apartment or something. If you didnt bring pepper spray you probably would have got over.

Crossing border is always a sensitive issue. Sometimes people may be denied. But I am so impressed with your patience and understanding. I’m sure you will make it next time

I had the same problem, denied access to the US as it looked like I was homeless.