# My new cousin can't get back from Canada **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997 "2003-01-21T16:41:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/1 "2003-01-21T16:41:33Z")
At a family ceremony last weekend, my cousin’s new husband was missing. He is a Canadian citizen residing in the US. He was born in Pakistan, but his family moved to Canada when he was a year old. He has a Pakistani name. On his recent visits to Canada he has had more and more difficulty being re-admitted to the US. Finally, he decided not to try to return until he had a visa. He was advised that the visa was probably necessary, and that trying to return without one could hurt his record. Here’s the kicker: **Getting a visa will take between three months and three years!** My cousin now is in the process of filing another form that will move him up in the queue, since he’s the spouse of an American citizen. But, there’s still no guarantee of when they will let him back in. I can understand and agree with the need for security in a post-9/11 world. But, this amount of delay is unconscionable. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/2 "2003-01-21T16:46:30Z")
It’s beginning to look like the inmates are in charge of the asylum. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/3 "2003-01-21T16:55:00Z")
News flash: It isn’t just persons from Arabic countries. If I were to leave the US, I wouldn’t be able to return without my husband petitioning for me to re-enter. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/4 "2003-01-21T17:12:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GingerOfTheNorth \* > \*\*News flash: It isn’t just persons from Arabic countries. If I were to leave the US, I wouldn’t be able to return without my husband petitioning for me to re-enter. \*\* News Flash: if my memory serves me correctly, Pakistan is not an “Arabic country.” ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/5 "2003-01-21T17:24:28Z")
According to my very good Pakistani friend, who is also Muslim, it is. Pakistan is up to 97% Islam. He is also from one of the 15? 21? countries whose citizens must be on a national registry while residing in the United States. His immigration process has taken longer than necessary, and he feels that it is because of his skin colour and religion. I don’t know that I believe that, but he can think whatever he likes. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/6 "2003-01-21T17:27:16Z")
Ginger, I think mhendo was pointing out the difference between Arabic and Islamic. The two are not synonyms. Arabic just refers to Arabic-speaking countries. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/7 "2003-01-21T17:31:22Z")
I meant to say Islamic. I put in Arabic, erroneously. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/8 "2003-01-21T17:38:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\*At a family ceremony last weekend, my cousin’s new husband was missing. He is a Canadian citizen residing in the US. He was born in Pakistan, but his family moved to Canada when he was a year old. He has a Pakistani name. > > On his recent visits to Canada he has had more and more difficulty being re-admitted to the US. Finally, he decided not to try to return until he had a visa. He was advised that the visa was probably necessary, and that trying to return without one could hurt his record. Here’s the kicker: **Getting a visa will take between three months and three years!** > > My cousin now is in the process of filing another form that will move him up in the queue, since he’s the spouse of an American citizen. But, there’s still no guarantee of when they will let him back in. > > I can understand and agree with the need for security in a post-9/11 world. But, this amount of delay is unconscionable. \*\* So, what’s the deal **december** , do you now want sympathy and understanding from all the [“civil libertarians”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=155157) and [“peace demonstrators”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=157388) that you have been ridiculing on these boards? And do you expect people to support you in your outrage against the practices of the same [administration](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=156673) that you’ve been brown-nosing lo these many months? And what does your cousin’s husband think of your support for [racial profiling](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=117641)? Or your assertion that it’s not so bad if John Ashcroft and the justice department exceed their authority and [illegally detain someone](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=112679) just because they feel like it? While i feel for the person you discuss in the OP, your own position smacks somewhat of crocodile tears. Or is it just the case that the rules you support should not apply to your family? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/9 "2003-01-21T17:46:23Z")
**december** , I’m really sorry to hear that. To me this underlines the ridiculous nature of racial profiling. The Pakistani government is [none too happy](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2667969.stm) about how its citizens (as opposed to Pakistan-born Canadians) are being treated, either. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/10 "2003-01-21T17:51:26Z")
Best of luck getting him back into the country december. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/11 "2003-01-21T17:54:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\*I can understand and agree with the need for security in a post-9/11 world. But, this amount of delay is unconscionable. \*\* It’s your boy’s laws. Maybe this will finally get through your head. granted, this sucks, and is a major reason i am opposed to a lot of the new immigration crap running around. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/12 "2003-01-21T17:55:20Z")
Yet another newsflash: If you’re not a US citizen, you need some kind of visa to reside here. Essentially, december’s cousin (based on what december said in the OP) was residing here illegally. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/13 "2003-01-21T18:00:22Z")
I don’t understand. If he is married to a US Citizen, and is presumably in the process of applying for permanent residency, shouldn’t he have a stamp in his passport stating that he is being processed for 1-551 (Temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence)? I didn’t think you were even allowed to leave the country until you received that stamp in your passport. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/14 "2003-01-21T18:04:07Z")
Sheer poetry, **mhendo**. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/15 "2003-01-21T18:08:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Yet another newsflash: If you’re not a US citizen, you need some kind of visa to reside here. Essentially, december’s cousin (based on what december said in the OP) was residing here illegally. \*\* I don’t understand the law. I know he was a resident and working here, so he must have had work visa of some sort. I think the problem is obtaining a re-entry visa. **LolaCocaCola** – thanks for your point about the passport stamp. I don’t know why that didn’t apply to him. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/16 "2003-01-21T18:08:21Z")
Poetry? The appearance is that you find satisfaction in the suffering of December’s family because it will serve to teach him a lesson that you believe is valuable. That reeks. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/17 "2003-01-21T18:13:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\ ***LolaCocaCola** – thanks for your point about the passport stamp. I don’t know why that didn’t apply to him. \*\* **December** , it’s been a while since I’ve gone through this process, so the laws may very well have changed. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/18 "2003-01-21T18:13:50Z")
your new cousin could have been working there on a TN visa but that still doesnt explain why he wasnt allowed to reenter. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/19 "2003-01-21T18:16:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Poetry? The appearance is that you find satisfaction in the suffering of December’s family because it will serve to teach him a lesson that you believe is valuable. That reeks. \*\* Read my post. I said: > [@](#): > > While i feel for the person you discuss in the OP, your own position smacks somewhat of crocodile tears. Or is it just the case that the rules you support should not apply to your family? I’ll even extend those sentiments and say that i feel for everyone in **december** ’s family who is affected by this. I was more intrigued at the way in which **december** was so quick to criticize the same sort of policies that he has been supporting for so long just because someone he knows happens to be the victim now. Empathy cuts both ways, you know, and **december** has shown decidedly little, particularly in the threads that i linked to in my post. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997/20 "2003-01-21T18:31:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > **I don’t understand the law. I know he was a resident and working here, so he must have had work visa of some sort. I think the problem is obtaining a re-entry visa.** As a new immigrant myself, I am unable to leave and re-enter the US until such time as my status has changed to either citizen or resident alien. He should have known this before he left. If I chose to disobey the laws and slip through - and being that I still hold a Canadian drivers license, and have my birth certificate, both in my maiden name, I could - I probably could do so. However, due to your cousin’s skin colour, he would probably be more closely scrutinized. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-cousin-cant-get-back-from-canada/149997.md?page=2)