Border crossing from Tijuana to San Diego after visiting Hongkong club: what to
Neech
California
I visited Hongkong club in April this year and reentering US from Tijuana was a bit scary. The officer asked me what did I do in Tijuana. I wasn't sure if I can tell him the real reason (Clearly a club like HK would be illegal in US). So I just said I came to Tijuana just to check it out since I've never been to Mexico (I know it's very lame :)) .the officer clearly didn't buy my argument and asked me to show my backpack. He asked with a smirk on his face I went to HongKong..I wasn't sure if I should say yes. I said No. He again didn't buy it. After a couple of more scary minutes, he let me into the US.
Clearly I wasn't prepared for this.
My question to everyone is, what reason do you give the officer when reentering US from Tijuana ?
Note that I am not a US citizen but am a GreenCard holder. Not sure if it makes any difference. Also I do not have any enhanced ID to enter sentri or fast lanes.
Clearly I wasn't prepared for this.
My question to everyone is, what reason do you give the officer when reentering US from Tijuana ?
Note that I am not a US citizen but am a GreenCard holder. Not sure if it makes any difference. Also I do not have any enhanced ID to enter sentri or fast lanes.
22 comments
And while it is really not any business of the USA what you do in another country, border officials rarely like to admit that fact. The old cliche question is whether you were there for business or pleasure. Not sure if they still ask that or not.
But bottom line you can always tell them you were visiting friends. They don't necessarily need to know they were new friends or strippers.
My sense from some LE guys is that they're just so fucking tired of hearing lame excuses that they might find it refreshing and respectful if you just level with them. The border guys know damn well that a large majority of single white guys heading to Mexico for the day are there for pussy. Or drugs I suppose. What they don't want is for you to bring illegal shit with you into the US. So if you don't have any illegal shit, I suppose there's nothing to worry about. Assuming the agent isn't on a mission to fuck with you.
But hell, I don't know. I think it's pretty irrelevant to them if you did illegal stuff in Mexico. And going to Hong Kong isn't illegal, even if it was in the US. Taking a chick to the hotel and fucking her for money is illegal if it was in the US, but so what? You were in Mexico, and US doesn't give a shit, nor do they have any control, over what you do in other countries. You're under Mexican laws there.
Maybe if you told him "Well, I visited Hong Kong and fucked the hottest stripper I've ever seen" he might high five you. Who the fuck knows. Just don't bring illegal stuff back into the US.
With that ask him if he wants to smell your finger.
There is usually no need to get too specific with your answers but any deception will flag you for a closer examination. Unless you have done something that would prevent you from crossing into the country, like gone on a child sex tour or have kiddie porn in your camera/computer (international crimes and I hope they take you out and shoot you if you do) or are trying to smuggle drugs or something, you generally have nothing to be concerned with regarding what you did in TJ. Be honest and tell him you went to TJ to drink and party but don’t make up a load of shite or be snarky or comedic no matter how funny you may be down at your local pub. Having a sense of humor is an automatic disqualification for most of these jobs. Lastly if you are in the US as a non-citizen guest, be it on a visa or a green card, then I would recommend you give some long and thorough thought to how far you want to press your luck.
Next time you go – look up a couple of regular bars in TJ and then you can say you went to clubs “xyz” to dance; drink, and talk to the chicas (since many on the US side visit TJ to party and not necessarily hit a brothel) – you may even want to visit a popular local bar or 2 (and just stay there a short time) just in case they ask you how the club/bar was and then you can tell them – you can also eat at a popular local place and you can say you were making a day of it @ TJ hitting bars and enjoying the local cuisine – i.e. have a cover story if you think you need one and might make you feel better.
When they ask me the purpose of my trip to Canada, I tell them something true but unobjectionable, like seeing the sights. I've never told them I was at a strip club, even if I was.
I'm an American citizen, and I don't know why I am always stopped. My theory is that they see a lot of instances of international travel, which could be an indication of drug smuggling or other illegal activity.
There was a road block about 20 miles up into Texas on I-35. They looked inside my rental, a mirror underneath and a dog sniffing. Officer asked why I went to Mexico and I told him to try a real Tecate. He chuckled and waved me onward.
Yep. Notorious questions on visa/citizenship question ask if you have ever gambled illegally or visited a prostitute: legally or not. Presumably if you have a green card that could your answer to those questions into question. Conceivable could affect a future citizenship application of the border guy wanted to be a total bitch. Pikey is right: why take a chance?
2 Months later we drove the Baja 1,000 then took the ferry to Mazatlan and then drove down to Acapulco and then home on the mainland side. We crossed the border at San Luis AZ. We declared 2 bottles of tequila and they waved us through even though we had been in Mexico for 2 weeks.
But like others have stated. Don't mess with the border agents. They can make your day/night a living hell if they want to. Those who are a US Citizen... They can do searches of vehicles, your person, cavity, etc. They can hold/detain you for awhile, etc. So don't mess with them or try to be too funny. Clubbers example of "try a real Tecate'" was about all the further I would take it. Because you better to be ready to say... I went to a bar/club to explain if the agent wasn't in a good mood.
Also if you say you went to HK isn't a big deal. I am sure not every person who goes to HK goes to get fucked. Some go to just get tit in the face and high contact dances and party. So saying if you went to HK doesn't mean you paid for sex. So telling a border agent that you went to the clubs isn't that big of a deal. Like others have stated many people go to Tj to just party or say they have been to TJ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVxH-U5M…