Does anyone know of cases where “US persons” at risk from the IRS have run into trouble entering the US? Have any of you had a bad experience?
The last time I entered the US was nearly three years ago and I was seriously hassled at the border crossing (we were driving) because I did not have a US passport. I have not dared try to enter the US since then. I do know a few people who seem to have come and gone without any questions asked.
Thank you.
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“and there is no guarantee that what is recorded actually happened”
No kidding. Though the IRS isn’t CBP, I now have enough IRS administrative transcripts to prove there were several corrupt alterations between one instance and another, including fabricating records of things that didn’t happen and erasing records of things that did happen.
I wonder if the IRS’s accusation of fraud will come up in a CBP search sometimes — now I understand the reason for the accusation was that IRS administrative records didn’t show withholding that had been embezzled by probably Monica Hernandez and I declared that withholding. Maybe they can prevent me from entering the US to testify in court if they see that the accusation was made.
British travellers could face US passport chaos
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36228844
British people hoping to travel to the United States this summer could see their travel plans ruined – unless they check their passport is suitable.
From 1 April 2016, US immigration changed its rules, and won’t let anyone into the country without a valid biometric passport.
This could affect up to 1.3m Britons, who still possess valid non-biometric passports. The UK only stopped issuing non-biometric passports in November 2006.
I hope all 1.3m decide to spend their holiday money in a more civilized country.
Hi – I renounced in April 2016 and am taking my first trip since next week. I have to stop over for one night in the States to get a connecting flight. I was dual at birth; born in Canada and always travel on my Canadian passport. Does anyone know if this will be brought up or will in be in their computers? Anyone have any experience as I will be pre clearing in Canada? Just not looking forward to an awkward or unpleasant conversation. Thanks in advance
Hi Phoenix22,
Travelling, or in your case – continuing to travel – on your Canadian passport shouldn’t be a problem. Your Canadian passport shows a Canadian birthplace. I don’t know if they’ll have gotten around to putting your renunciation into their databases, but even so.
I relinquished shortly before a (rare) trip to the US, and though I had had a US passport – which tightening controls after 9/11 forced me to obtain in order to visit a family member before they died, and attend their funeral (I had never had or used a US passport to cross before they started demanding it even for crossings by car) and though the US passport was taken, and kept (subsequently cancelled and returned to me with holes in it months later with my CLN) by the US consulate at my relinquishing appointment, I was able to cross into and out of the US with no problem, as an ex-UScitizen, using my Canadian passport.
I suspected that the US border official consulted information that showed I was no longer a USPerson, since my Canadian passport clearly shows my US birthplace. There was no comment or delay. I had my CLN with me just in case, but did not need to show it, and they never asked.
@Phoenix22,
If you got a receipt from the consulate/embassy that shows your renunciation fee, you could bring that with you in aid of explaining why you haven’t got a CLN yet, in case you’re asked.
Just wondering if any renounciants have entered the US under the new ESTA waiver, in which they ask for ‘previous citizenships’, and if so, what kind of reception they received.?
A look at what may be coming in the future:
US Customs and Border Patrol wants to collect social media account names at the border:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/24/12026364/us-customs-border-patrol-online-account-twitter-facebook-instagram
https://boingboing.net/2016/06/25/us-customs-and-border-patrol-w.html
Federal Register proposed rulemaking (https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/06/23/2016-14848/agency-information-collection-activities-arrival-and-departure-record-forms-i-94-and-i-94w-and#p-7) – comments to Customs and Border Patrol by 22 August.
@heidi – I’m interested in hearing any experiences with the expanded ESTA questions as well. I’m waiting to receive my CLN before completing the ESTA application. I’ve promised my mother a visit around the end of the year – but am a bit nervous about all those new questions. If anyone has had experience with this, reassurance would be appreciated. 🙂
“US Customs and Border Patrol wants to collect social media account names at the border”
Huh. Well, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit compelled me to report my wife’s social security number when she doesn’t have one (application submitted in 1994, never granted nor rejected) and the IRS had rejected all her ITIN applications up to that point (they granted one later). The only way for me to report her social security number was for me to fabricate one.
So, CBP wants something similar, eh? I don’t have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, 2channel, Weibo, etc. so I’ll have to fabricate some?
By the way, CBP does want our social media in our countries of residence right, not just in that foreign country where we plan to make a visit? 2channel was invented in Japan before some Americans copied it and changed the number.
Yet another reason to never again enter the USSA. LOL
I just got back from visiting relatives in the USA. I had just gotten my CLN from Calgary where I went last summer to relinquish my US citizenship. Great timing! The US customs agent asked why I wasn’t using my US passport so fortunately I took a copy of my CLN and showed him that. So no more questions! I had not been asked that question before but looks like they are starting to ask now. Many thanks for all the people on this website who helped me in this process!
@ Topdog
Was this at a land crossing or an airport?
@Canadian Ginny
It was at the Calgary airport.
I completed my ESTA application a few days ago. This is the second time I’ve done one since my renunciation, and the first time under the new system with the questions about previous citizenships. It was processed as normal and I received my ESTA clearance within a few minutes.
Of course, I haven’t tried to enter the US with my shiny new ESTA yet. The ESTA is, after all, merely clearance to attempt to enter and it’s up to the folks at the airport to decide if you get in.
Hopefully you’re not a former US citizen with German or French citizenship or residency. Come November you may be subject to “extreme vetting” because those two countries have “totally” been compromised by terrorism.
“Donald Trump has suggested terrorist attacks in France and Germany were their “own fault” and citizens of those “compromised” countries could be subject to “extreme vetting” before entering the United States.”
…
“He said France and Germany had “totally” been compromised by terrorism.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/24/donald-trump-says-french-and-germans-to-face-extreme-vetting-ent/
Trump has a poor grasp of history. The UK, unfortunately, has also experienced terrorist attacks.
As has the US.
“Trump has a poor grasp of history.”
History ends and starts over every time you have a bankruptcy. Trump’s latest two were after 2001, so he doesn’t know about terrorist attacks in the US which were its “own fault”.
Hi all. My husband (Canadian only citizen) and I (American-born dual) crossed over the border at Aldergrove, BC two weeks ago to have dinner with a friend in Bellingham. He used his passport, and I used my EDL for the first time (so hopefully no pesky citizenship questions). We were ‘selected randomly by the computer for a secondary search’, so had to go in for further questioning. I suspect we were ‘randomly selected’ because we were only planning to stay for about 4 hours. The car was searched, we answered all the same questions for a second time with a second officer, and we’re cleared to go about 20 minutes later. Nothing was ever asked about citizenship or birthplace. In fact, they were far more interested in the friend we were going to meet… one of my longest known friends, an American, who now lives in Eastern Europe… chased out of the US due to the inordinate cost of health care for he and his wife. But that’s another story!
Last week I flew from Pearson International to one of the western states, and, for the first time ever, I was asked why I wasn’t traveling on an American passport. I explained that I was a Canadian citizen, he asked if I was a dual citizen, I said that I had performed a relinquishing act, he said that was really too bad and what would I do if I got fed up with living in Canada (after 45 years I doubt that is going to happen!), warned me that I couldnt stay more than 6 months in the US (as if!), said that he didn’t see why any one would give up US citizenship unless it was that they didn’t want to pay taxes, I told him that I pay plenty of taxes in Canada, thanked him for his concern and advice and proceeded to the gate lounge. Sounds fairly low key and casual as I write about it now, but it made me extremely nervous.
@No name
I can imagine it must have felt that way but it sounds like you convinced him. Interesting he did not ask for a CLN or try to look it up in the system (we’ve been told any recent CLNs get reported to other agencies and that even if you’ve applied for a CLN, you will show up in their system-no idea if this is true).
Regardless, proof positive that these guys can be handled……..Bravo!!!
@No Name
Your nervousness is understandable. These people are gatekeepers and have the power to ruin your travel plans. I always view any appearance of friendliness or personal curiosity as potentially dangerous. As it’s smart not to engage them in debate over anything, they are always allowed to have the last word – no matter how ignorant it is.
His comment about renunciation and taxes should be especially concerning when one is aware of the Reed Amendment. Was it bait?
@ All.
I am contemplating a family visit to the US.
Has anyone entered under the new esta visa waiver (which contains a question on ‘past’ citizenships) If so, what kind of reception did they receive?
@all
Arrived in the US yesterday to spend Thanksgiving with the Americans in my family. ESTA was obtained online and approved in about 30 seconds.
Cleared immigration smoothly through an electronic booth which photographed and fingerprinted me and asked the ususl innane questions, then I met with the usual customs officer who was surprisingly pleasant, so no clues if my ex US citizenship was know to the man or the machine, but then I do not have a US birthplace
Just wanted to say how very thankful I am to all you Brockers who have guided so many of us through this nightmare. You have been a constant source of invaluable information and
at the same time kept us all calm and sane.
So thanks guys, you are the best, I will drink a toast to you all.
@Heidi
Happy Thanksgiving Heidi! I had venison with Rotkraut at a fine swiss restaurant to celebrate.
Which airport did you fly into?