DENIED AT THE CANADIAN BORDER 🚫 

They call that tourism...

youtubers usually get through pretty easy cuz it shows your work and intentions. They should have said they were tourist vloggers.

Don't forget the working remote part. There was definitely a concern about working in Canada.

@@user-gs6fq1jq8y No, tourism in coming for a time and leaving again

can you ask your friend what they see when they scan passports at the initial entry point

They saved up money and wanted to take a vacation they earned. The benefits in America are better than Canada anyway. The border patrol guy was just being a jealous hater they earned a vacation.

You both have no agenda was the reason for denial. I went to Europe, they ask the same thing. Van Life people are not well rec’d in canada..

Hey Cameron , what about if I am moving from Canada to US and I am bringing stuffs that I need like cookware (including forks, spoon , knives , plates , etc ) , It is ok if I am driving to cross the border with it ?

​@J S You need a US visa first.

@@barrykrebs8180 ok, thanks .

@@schoc13 don’t look like one

Is 3 months too long? How long can you stay in Canada?

@@jerrydixon 6 months. But then you have to make it clear with an itinerary

My experience travelling, you have to be prepared to say who you are visiting, where they live, how long you will stay, what sites you plan to see, reason for going to the country. State what you do for a living, if you own a home, have pets. Sometimes you have to show proof of funds. It is pretty normal. Boarder crossings are just this way. It is a privilege to enter another country, not a right.

3 months.....how long are you allowed to stay and spend money?

I don't think it's that. If they had significant ties in the US like property, etc. then it likely would have been different.

@@zeeshawnali4078 Yes, I think the van with no US apartment or house in addition to remote work gave them no reason to have to return to the United States. On top of it, they had a vague 2 month plan with no reservations showing start and end dates. Even better would be to have a campground (or multiple) reserved in Canada for the length of their stay plus a site or room reserved in the United States around their return date.

​@@zeeshawnali4078nah, you can't work in a country as a tourist, even if it's remote work for a foreign employer. On top of that, with vanlife, there's no reason to think they'd return when they say

That's not true. Of course I can work as a tourist if my employer is abroad and the payment is deposited abroad there is no problem at all. Obviously as a tourist means some days or weeks, not all year around as you become resident "de facto". @@markcornelius5291

You can work remotely from anywhere as long as your Employer is American and Canadian customs agents know that very well. Personally I believe their story but there must have been something else that got them rejected rather than working from home, having pepper spray on them or being vague on the 2 months. There is something else to the story like a DUI, other weapon or else.

That's the smart way to do it !!!

Went to Mexico when I landed I showed my Canadian passport and the guy was like what your business here I just said pleasure vacation he was like okay stamped my book and I was on my way it was so easy.

Are you sure they're working illegally in Canada? Don't most countries define working in their country as doing an activity for an organization or company based in that country for which you derive remuneration, monetary or otherwise? Under that definition that would include volunteering, which I know many countries do. In their case, their not volunteering or working for a Canadian based company or organization and so not taking a position away from a Canadian. Therefore, they're not earning Canadian money. The company is based in the US and they earn American dollars which they then bring into Canada to spend. I would understand it if they didn't have an independent source of income or were breaking the law. Maybe the guy misunderstood the term working remotely; he heard "working" and stopped listening. I can understand maybe understand the worry about them wandering indefinitely(although even there, they clearly stated that they planned to go home in a couple of months), but working illegally? By that broad and loose definition, if you were on vacation in a country and you wrote a letter, checked the email, or made a work-related phone call you would be technically working. If I am wrong, maybe the law needs to be updated.

@@darcyperkins7041 Working remotely is becoming more of a normal thing these days, as well as people living in cars, so me thinks the Canadian government as well as border guards don't like this kind of thing because it appears to be suspicious to them. There's some catching up to do with this kind of thing with border guards and governments but until then this kind of thing will not be stopping anytime soon !

@@darcyperkins7041 Bit late, but no, working is a country is being physically there and doing work.

i agree. sunglasses means youre hiding your eyes, which means you might want to deceive

what about on the way back? they can't refuse you reentry.

Or a hat.

You do not stop on the way out of a country - only going in. Obviously your knowledge in this area is not-so-good.

@@joesinakandid528 who said anything about "going out"?

Yes, I crossed with a couple of friends shortly after the border reopened from COVID. We were questioned quite hard on our plans because they were more vague for enjoying the city we were headed to. What saved us was an AirBnB with a start/end date plus tickets to a concert for our last night there. Additionally, we all had jobs to return to and permanent homes in the United States.

Stupid I can’t go for fun

Agreed. We definitely should have had better answers prepared. Next time we will know what to expect!

100% was denied for no ties to the usa

@@the-wandering-wings that guy said it bang on, too many red flags there.

The pepper spray was a problem. Throw it away, Cross the border. Buy it in Canada.

Unless your from a country that is mainly refugees you're out of luck

If you from India and Pakistan you don’t need to show nothing they accept fake passport and documents :)

Pepper or Bear Spray is sold everywhere in Western Canada, so it is not illegal to purchase it posess it or carry it in wildland or natural areas. It is illegal to carry it openly in towns.

@@Qwijebo horsecrap

During my travels Ive never been asked to supply my bank account information but then again ive never had a trip abroad more than a month and ive always presented a return ticket, once they saw that, no problem

thats for damn sure ...

Wrong!

@@jakearsenta2144 my wife and I are seniors , we travel to Florida just about every winter. Last year we were held at the Buffalo border crossing for two hours with no reason given , our truck was searched and all our belongings were left scattered about on a table and I was questioned by two guards relentlessly about my prescription medications...we were finally allowed to continue Our trip south...so Jake you are wrong.

Payback is a bitch huh

@@northlander4370 That’s just bad luck. The majority of Canadians cross through smoothly. There are bad apples everywhere. You make it sound like Americans are full of garbage.

I've crossed into Canada plenty. They want to know one thing mainly; you are not coming to Canada to take a Canadian Job. Answer the questions truthfully, but don't portray yourself as working. I saw a guy get popped in line at the Ottawa airport. "I'm here to work", when they asked about his visa.... crickets. That was the start of a bad night for him.

It was definitely a let down, but we have some exciting things planned! 😀

We crossed into Canada earlier this month. The border guard asked us three times if we had a concealed weapon. Finally I caught on and said we had a carry permit in NC but didn't have our guns. He moved on and we got in. Guess conceal carry info is a database.

it wasn't the pepper spray, they declared it so it would just be confiscated. They admitted that they would be working remotely and had no defined return date, just a vague two months or so. Both of which worked against them.

Hahaha exactly! Definitely made us a feel better !

@@lynngreydanus-smith8816 Wow! You are a very kind & gracious Canadians!

Imagine someone trying to do and end run around rules and regulations put in place to best protect public health and safety, established from a base of hard scientific fact and evidence. How stupid are these little games ?

@@lynngreydanus-smith8816 heyyy

@@SheepOnDrugz What end run around which rules?

This is because you usually have a return ticket, and they know that. If you don't have a return ticket, you can expect extra scrutiny. Same for most countries, including the US.

Few years ago I did a one way flight to Calgary to drive back with my parents in their RV I was prepared for tons of questions but just told the agent and went through with no problems just depends

@@buyaj7693 You also had your story straight, you knew your stuff and you were able to tell it to the border agent without batting an eyelash. The people in this video, while well-intentioned and probably totally harmless, wavered on the details of their excursion, and could not make a convincing case that there would be a clear start and end date to their journey. That they did not have a house in the US with a physical address, and they did not have a clear date when they would be returning, set off red flags, and made the border agents question the purpose of their travels. The border agents were worried that these two people would want to stay in Canada past the timeframe that they gave

That's how I'll do it for now on. Our only land border choices are Canada and Mexico, and Mexico would be even scarier to cross. They can turn you away at the airport but it's a lot more obvious - all you have is your suitcase and you probably aren't staying very long. Plus from what I experienced personally and read about from other experiences, Canadian guards are assholes and way too strict. Yeah you're living above a meth lab, I get it, but still. Culturally we're about the same. It's not like you border Russia or Afghanistan or something. Get a grip.

@@Awakeningspirit20 Mexico doesn't even check everyone if you cross over from the US. You can just drive over

Exactly how we are looking at things! Definitely have some exciting plans in the mix 🙂

I agree! Someone else commented that it could have been because we have a lack of ties to the US as well (no house/apartment and no physical job we need to get back to). So I think if we had better answers to these questions we wouldn't have a better chance of getting into Canada.

Bear spray is not illegal ( which is pepper spray_

Appreciate the kind words! :)

YES I Agree!

Sure they are "nice". Don't think we don't have lots of "nice" people in Canada........... I was almost denied entry to your State of Alaska at the Yukon border in 2007 by an arrogant 35 year old female US border guard while I was on a public bus............ even though I had been in SOUTHEAST Alaska (Juneau area) just ONE WEEK earlier !!! I have NO criminal record, had NO contraband, was going for 3 weeks, had lots of money in my bank account, was Canadian born (white Christian male) and was "clean, neat and polite"..............I was even a lifetime nature enthusiast, a lifetime historian of WWII in the Pacific and a lifetime supporter of NASA............ all of which I could PROVE with my knowledge of those things. After searching all my stuff and even my photos she tried to get me on something even wondering why I was still "un-married" at age 45 and whether it was "by choice" (direct quote) ............... but she couldn't find anything so eventually a senior male officer let me enter (after the female guard was holding up everyone else on the bus). I was age 45, travelling alone and had wanted to see Alaska since childhood, have NEVER 'done drugs" or anything else, and when I got to Alaska it seemed most people HATED ME for being CANADIAN................. as if I was some "dangerous and undesirable ALIEN from Russia, the Middle East or Iran". That is how CANADIANS can get treated in YOUR country............... and a lot of you AMERICANS are VERY HAUGHTY, SNOTTY, ARROGANT AND BELITTLING to us in Canada when you come here.............. I know, I have worked in tourism in Western Canada for decades, including many years in "Banff".

@@aboveitall1653 Totally agree - Arrogant Americans think they can just walk into Canada like this family (in the video). Because they are so UNEDUCATED and IGNORANT!!!! They could not even be bothered to do any research. And yes I live in Canada.

Yes they all have the same strict rules..... No difference.

Shouldn't even matter, we are allowed to spend 6 months in either country but apparently that's a taboo subject unless you're retired and traveling in a $400,000 RV.

@@Cutlass_Rudd no but I suspect the answers given to the border service were incomplete and evasive oh and two months in Banff, very unlikely

@@alpearson9158 Not unlikely at all, its a top vacation destination. Meanwhile the southern border is wide open among drug cartels and gang wars. But the civilized ones up here need exact itineraries and every other thing for a visit. Give me a F***ING break. Do they really think Americans would STAY up here during a winter??? Or vice versa and give up free health care??

Canada has been known for this for decades. They will deny entry for a 10 year old DUI, bar fight etc. Hopefully CBP returns the favor.

Yeah most times I've returned to Canada they've interrogated me (single male) and asked exactly everywhere I've been/what I've bought/who I've met. And they CHECK to make sure!

Hi, I’m planning to go to Canada as well. Did you need a visa? Or just a USA passport? Thank you

Another reason why especially when entering Canada is vagrancy laws , you must be able to demonstrate that you can fund your trip to and from your destination and duration of your stay

If you're denied entry (depending on what the reason is)you can usually re apply to enter in a year if you have addressed your issues

You were going to a wedding and had invites to prove it. For most Americans and Canadians crossing our shared border it is simply that simple.

I swear this was worse than when we have traveled to other international destinations 😅Happy to share, hopefully this will help prepare you if you have plans to cross anytime soon !

@@the-wandering-wings We are leaning towards next year for Canada & Alaska. We just keep hearing horror stories about crossing into Canada still so we’re avoiding it for now.😕 Mexico was a breeze in the van though if you ever plan on going to Baja!😌

Fire arms are a no go! Pepper spray is classed as a firearm, thus a no go! Have a person you are going to visit. Know where they live (address) phone etc. The departure thing is very important.

try entering the US sometimes it's just a shit show until an intelligent supervisor gets involved.

​@@alpearson9158 Having no borders like Szcengen Zone in Europe is a lot better

Exactly - So WHY the F**K were these Americans whining?? Remember this happened in 2022, not this year!!

Bear spray is fine. Pepper spray is prohibited

just be aware when you try re-entry they most likely will have a record of your denial. We traveled with 2 chihuahuas crossing the border often and they had a record of that. We traveled to U.S. left our 2 dogs with our closest senior friend while we returned to Niagara Falls Canada for a relative's wedding for the Day and the border official asked where our dogs were. We told the truth...with a friend dog sitting for the day. A denial would be recorded with your passport # & license plate I would guess so keep that in mind if you are questioned about it.

@@pargolf3158 what are you talking about you can buy pepper spray at Canadian Tire

Canadian Border Agents are tough because there are so many guns and extremists, be they right wing or left wing, in the USA. Many Americans dis-respect Canada as being a "semi-autonomous" region of their own country which they can enter at a whim, so Canadian Sovereignty starts at the border.

@@aboveitall1653 makes sense

Nice. haha

Cheaper to fly from Calgary to Shanghai than it is from Calgary to Halifax.

I think we could try again, but its not in the cards for us right now! We would definitely get rid of the pepper spray next time. The way he worded his question made it seem like he wanted a specific reason that we couldn't miss! Like an appointment or something. We did share with him that we were planning to be back that last week of August, but unfortunately he still didn't like that answer. Thank you for tuning in tho! 🙂

@@the-wandering-wings It sounds like you guys needed to be more firm and confident with your answers and your ties and commitments in your home country the USA. Things like “the USA is our country and our home so we have to return by August 27. We are here just for vacation and we don’t want to stay in Canada past August 27.” You want to read up on all the possibilities when you go on a trip, especially an international trip so that you are fully prepared.

are you now a US citizen?

Agree but if they happen to have their number come up for a search they would have been turned back and maybe banned from re entry later. That’s how things work once you cross Berlin, I mean the boarder

What ??? try lying to a U S border guard see what you get !

Nonsense M L

Kind of. Those of us who are neither from Canada nor the US (which has even tougher border for visitors) are trained to tell a version of truth that fits the immigration's need. For example, since "two months" is the truth, than make a date up--- say, exactly 60 days. You guys are too too honest.

No bear spray. Even if they found it, sorry I forgot about bear spray in my RV.

I don't. I think the Canada and USA boarder should go back to how it was in the 80s. More like the Schengen zone in area.

@@DrVVVinK NO THANK YOU. We do not want Americans who are too lazy to do their research and not have a firm date to LEAVE Canada so they are not trying to leech off Canadian taxpayers.

@@DrVVVinK NO way. Do you know how many American guns would flood into Canada?

​@francescathomas3502 dont take this the wrong way when i say this but who the hell would want to live in Canada? High ass taxes shit goverment dont get me started on the pay wages i knoe amercia aint the greatest atm but ill take my chances there then whatever we got here atm

@@QualityBuddy your comment is amusing because many people feel the same way about the USA.

I am a dual citizen so those rules don't apply to me.

Look at how many school shootings they have compared to us.

"almost identical culture and history"... wrong... One has mass shootings, the other maple syrup! :D

The border officers are only doing their jobs these laws are set by the government.

@@Panzerbeast One has freedom the other has tyranny and mass stabbings

9/11 changed everything, I used to cross the border easily, and half the time I was drunk. 😮

We never want to lie especially to someone in a position of power, but unfortunately I think you are right and an answer like that would have helped us in this situation. Or having a better answer for why we needed to come back to the United States.

​@@the-wandering-wings Don't listen to him, if you're gonna lie that you will stay in Canada for a week or two weeks and then you'll be returning back to U.S the Canadian border patrol will pull you over on their territory and will arrest you for lying

Good luck getting back in after they find out last time you told them you would be a week and actually took 2 months. This kind of lie can get you denied entry permanently.

@@HMan2828 visitors can legally stay up to 6 months. Anything can happen while your up there. Maybe your vehicle broke down. Aslong as they don’t give you a stamp date you will be good.

It is called doing your homework.

Good for you this isn’t about what you do…

We were definitely down in the dumps for a bit, but it just wasn't meant to be! Yellowstone is so beautiful! We loved it there.

Why they are Americans. what's the big deal ? They can come back another time. So easy.

someone suggested saying bear spray vs. saying pepper spray.

@@veryhappy6003 Let's say for example I want to know how to barbeque a steak, and someone suggested that I google "how to barbeque chicken", do you think I would google "how to barbeque chicken?" No, the first thing I would do is give the person who suggested that a wedgie. The second thing I would do is give them a quick slap upside the head (nothing painful, just a quick love tap to smarten them up and make sure they never ever provide advice to anyone ever again) THEN - I would google "how to barbeque a steak". If for some reason I followed their advice and googled "how to barbeque chicken", I would give myself a wedgie and a slap upside the head.

It was the no ties to the U.S and vague return plans that clinched it. Going with the flow is one thing but playing by "The rules" is a necessary step in any country ( Whether you like it or not).

@@mikeb3539 Back in our day when we travelled around the USA and Canada , we had packed in our jobs , some money in a bank account in Canada but otherwise cash in or pockets . No fixed address and our possessions were in our VW except for some left with a friend . And we only had a UK passport . So , in todays terms we would probably have gone nowhere . But it was a far safer and friendlier place back then .

@@grosvenorclub You can blame 9-11 and the USA for all the extra security these days!! The Pandemic and trumps stupidity did not help!!

Why 🤔 can you not say you are tourist and traveling?

@@JS-jh4cy traveling into any country they like to see plans.. where you are staying.. how long are you staying seems to require a definitive answer going into the US as well.

Guns are legal with paperwork

Hey, that’s the law. Hundreds of thousands of Americans cross the border every year to visit us. If you don’t think there's something these two,aren’t talking about, you’re extremely naive

nothing to do with the bear spray in any way

You’re “embarrassed to be a Canadian”??? I am embarrassed that you are a Canadian.

I am very glad that Canada border did its due diligence and refused entry to these ignorant americans who did not do their research!!

Communists

​@@mikec5422 Even communist Cuba is much easier to get in to. Their customs procedures are a breeze compared to Canada.

picky no but like the US Canada frequently has a problem with those flaunting laws and considering their plans beyond the norm. Try the other way it can be far far worse

@@bsenkawe don't want violent time breaking Americans in Canada. Stay home. 🇨🇦

Do they ask about your finances?

Us bear spray is not allowed in Canada. We must have health Canada approved spray

@@cyoungso true not as concentrated and less eye damaging but it is supposed to be effective

"that we as Canadians treasure and love sharing it with the whole world" - what a lovely sentiment. That brought a tear to the eye of this Canadian-American

a border officer doing his job is not harassment.

That’s fucked up

@@richlisola1 NO That the BULLY country we all know the USA to be!!!!

Its brutal our government is so corrupt. We have a spoiled brat running things.

Yeah I would have just said no we don’t . Chances are the next guy searching your vehicle might not give a shit if you even would have gotten searched

@@matgood6231 Take it from frequent border crossers' it is essential to ALWAYS tell the truth!!! We lived in Canada & had parents & sister who lived in NY state.

@@djtaste8610 This has nothing to do,with the government. This is the law.

@@SheepOnDrugz who makes the law?? Yes thats right the government

I think we could always try again another time! It looked like they turned a number of people away that we noticed while waiting in the waiting room. Right now it's not in the cards for us to try again, so fingers crossed next time we try we have better luck!

They weren’t denied entry not because of the spray but because nothing was tying them back to the states. When you said we can work from anywhere and that you don’t own a home or rent. That when you got red flagged.

@@vadik7 Yes I agree! The pepper spray was the reason we were questioned further, and our answers and lack of ties to the US were what caused us to be denied.

@@the-wandering-wingsthat's a major ?? for them, "when you going back?"! You were too iffy answering that, and of course you now know, your spray is illegal there., and whoa...the agent wasn't interested in seeing his own new niece/nephew, whatever? Very telling, not everyone is family oriented. Shouldn't be judging anyone else by his own shortcomings. Beautiful scenery where you're at 😍

We definitely should have been more prepared to answer these questions! Just wanted to share our experience so others know what to expect