A Canadian's first trip to the US - what to expect?

[5cents]

@gbrohman

One dumb-ass I know said yes, after being heckled by the agent, and said he had been arrested for a misdemeanor assault. Well he got to jump out of the car catch a ride back home, as Canada refused his entry. What also is asked is for D W I"s, and there is no way you will cross the boarder then. I don’t think US customs cares if anyone has a DWI or other such misdemeanor.

Can the Canadian customs search US court records?
Will lying get you through if you have a past?

The US has Classes of Aliens Ineligible to Receive Visas, Canada has Rules for Inadmissibility. Boils down to the same thing - if you have done some things, you can’t come in, although if you tell us in advance we might give you a waiver.

The reason dumb-ass was refused entry probably is:

having been convicted outside Canada of an offence that, if committed
in Canada, would constitute an indictable offence under an Act of
Parliament, or of two offences not arising out of a single occurrence
that, if committed in Canada, would constitute offences under an Act of
Parliament
A36(2)(b)

or, more likely (since you didn’t mention conviction)

committing an act outside Canada that is an offence in the place where
it was committed and that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an
indictable offence under an Act of Parliament
A36(2)(c)

Note that “Act of Parliament” generally means in this case “a criminal law”. In Canada, only the federal government can pass criminal laws. And there is no such thing as a misdemeanor in Canada, so in Canadian terms, dumb-ass was picked up for criminal assault.

As for your other questions:
[ul]
[li]Yes, the US does care (check the cite). If you want to make sure you’ll never get in, smoke a doobie.[/li][li]Yes, court records are public record. However, I doubt Canada Customs has US court records handy when they are talking to you.[/li][li]Yes, you can lie, and you’ll probably get in. However, if you get caught doing this, you’ll be blacklisted and never get back in.[/li][/ul]

Maybe Dubya hasn’t visited Canada because of his DUI arrest?