Are Canadian Border Guards This Nosy These Days?

[+ Gar1eth]

This was a comedy routine for Zoltan, but it actually hits home for us.  i know they have a job to do. But are they really trying to 'out' gay men?

One experience I remember back about 12 years ago when I had a career and was living in Tacoma.  I had hired an escort for a weekend.  I decided we'd go over to Victoria, BC to tour and spend the night. We went on a Clipper Ferry from Seattle to Victoria  I remember after arriving Canadian Customs took me into a separate room and asked me questions  I don't remember exactly what they asked.  Also I did this twice -2 different escorts.  I don't remember if they 'interrogated' me both times or only the one time.  Now neither of the escorts I went with were Canadian. Both were Americans.  

 

 

[DMonDude]

 

4 hours ago, Gar1eth said:

This was a comedy routine for Zoltan, but it actually hits home for us.  i know they have a job to do. But are they really trying to 'out' gay men?

 

No, he's just making a joke out of it. Border patrol always asks too many questions if they get the slightest hint of suspicion because they're trying to catch you in a lie they think you're telling them, they're not looking for "is this guy gay?". They're looking for how many layers deep does your possible lie go and for a string to pull where the tale they assume you're telling them unravels. Giving them further probable cause to detain you.

Edited yesterday at 12:28 AM by DMonDude

[Rudynate]

Back in the 80's when I was staying with my father in Rochester, I went to Toronto often to get a big city feel without going to New York.  The AIDS epidemic was raging here in the US, so bars and bathhouses were pretty quiet.  However, just across Lake Ontario, in Toronto, Canadians were still partying down as if it was the 70s.  It was just great to drive for two hours and be in Toronto where the bars and baths were jumping as though nobody had heard of HIV.  One time, on Boxing Day, I drove to Toronto to go to the baths.  Silly me, I didn't know that the entire country shut down and pulled in the welcome mat on Boxing Day. So, even the baths were closed. I didn't see any alternative but to turn around and drive home.  Coming back into the US, the Border Patrol guys were extremely suspicious that somebody would travel to Canada on Boxing day and even more suspicious that I would be coming from Canada on Boxing day. They searched the car, had me come into the office to answer questions.  I finally just told them I wanted to visit the gay bathhouse in Toronto, found it closed and turned and came back to the US because there wasn't a thing to do in Toronto. 

[+ Gar1eth]

I forgot to mention they questioned the escort privately too. I wish I could remember #1 if I was particularly worried about whether they would find out about us having a paid weekend together and #2 whether it happened both times or just once.
 

In case anyone is interested one of the escorts I took was Brock Hart. The other guy was an escort from San Francisco.  I can't remember his age. He was a tall younger thin  guy probably mid to late 20's. In my recollection from back then he might have resembled a more handsome PeeWee Herman. He wasn't normally my type. But he had just had a recent photo shoot, and he looked darn good. I think he said he had dieted for several weeks before the shoot. He was either working on an advanced degree in something like psychology/social work/human sexuality-or was planning to. 
 

The time that I went to Victoria with the guy from SF,  we went on a winery tour. And I ended up buying some type of berry wine. When we were going back to Seattle, whatever computers they use to check with the United States-possibly this was US Customs-but it was in Victoria-were down. They rushed us on the Clipper Ferry. I don't think I had to pay any customs duties on the wine. 

Edited yesterday at 07:19 AM by Gar1eth

[56harrisond]

The Canadian government is warning citizens visiting the United States that US border officials have the authority to search travelers’ electronic devices – including phones, laptops, and tablets – without providing a reason.

Under US law, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents may demand passwords to unlock devices during inspections. Travelers who refuse the demand risk having their electronics confiscated and may face long delays.

The advisory recommends placing devices in airplane mode before crossing to prevent unintended downloads of remote files, which could complicate screenings.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/05/world/canada-travel-advisory-us-electronic-devices-intl-latam

[56harrisond]

Related discussion

 

[+ Gar1eth]

1 hour ago, 56harrisond said:

The Canadian government is warning citizens visiting the United States that US border officials have the authority to search travelers’ electronic devices – including phones, laptops, and tablets – without providing a reason.

Under US law, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents may demand passwords to unlock devices during inspections. Travelers who refuse the demand risk having their electronics confiscated and may face long delays.

The advisory recommends placing devices in airplane mode before crossing to prevent unintended downloads of remote files, which could complicate screenings.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/05/world/canada-travel-advisory-us-electronic-devices-intl-latam

I thought Canadian Customs Officials could make similar demands. Hasn't it been talked about before here on the MC that it may cause trouble to have texts or emails to Canadian escorts on your phone when trying to get across the border into Canada?

[Luv2play]

It’s not an issue for most escorts I know in Canada as they are avoiding travel to the States. This is especially the case for the Latino's who are here legally but don’t want to risk trouble at the border. 
I am also avoiding travel to the US for the same reason although I am a white AngloSaxon 6th generation Canadian. It’s a shame because I used to enjoy travel to the States.

[marylander1940]

11 hours ago, Rudynate said:

Back in the 80's when I was staying with my father in Rochester, I went to Toronto often to get a big city feel without going to New York.  The AIDS epidemic was raging here in the US, so bars and bathhouses were pretty quiet.  However, just across Lake Ontario, in Toronto, Canadians were still partying down as if it was the 70s.  It was just great to drive for two hours and be in Toronto where the bars and baths were jumping as though nobody had heard of HIV.  One time, on Boxing Day, I drove to Toronto to go to the baths.  Silly me, I didn't know that the entire country shut down and pulled in the welcome mat on Boxing Day. So, even the baths were closed. I didn't see any alternative but to turn around and drive home.  Coming back into the US, the Border Patrol guys were extremely suspicious that somebody would travel to Canada on Boxing day and even more suspicious that I would be coming from Canada on Boxing day. They searched the car, had me come into the office to answer questions.  I finally just told them I wanted to visit the gay bathhouse in Toronto, found it closed and turned and came back to the US because there wasn't a thing to do in Toronto. 

Sometimes telling the truth is the best choice!

[EZEtoGRU]

Since COVID, I haven’t been going to Canada nearly as much as I used to.  Previously, I was going mostly to Montreal anywhere from 5 to 12 times per year (mostly flying but a few times by car). I personally never had problems with the immigration officers in Canada. I tell them exactly why I am going (male strip clubs ).  I think they appreciate the honesty. 
 

I am, however, aware of several situations where non-Canadian dancers or escorts were detained by Canada immigration and had their texts reviewed. In some cases they were allowed  in after a few hours. In other cases, they were not granted entry and had to return to their country of origin.   One instance was the famous case of one of our former posters, Mocha(he goes by a different name now). He’s an American that, by his own admission, announced to the Canadian border official that he was entering Canada to work as an escort. Obviously he was denied entry. 
 

In any case, I have not been back to Canada since the change in the US administration so I don’t know what things are like when entering Canada now. 

[+ Lucky]

My experiences with Canadian border guards is that they are rude. I always had the expectation that they would be nice.

[+ Act25]

Several years ago I had a Grindr hookup in southern BC.   I was smart enough to know you don't lie to border guards.  

Our conversation:

Where are you going?  to see a friend

How long have you known this person?  5 days

How did you meet?  Grindr

What's Grindr?  a social app for gay men.

They wanted to question me further so I had to go inside and repeat the story (which I've always suspected was to provide some amusement for the office). 

After the two rounds of questioning, they let me in.  

I was thankful they didn't ask the age of the hookup as he was 18 (which is above the age of consent, but still...) and I am "older".  

We had a lovely night in a hotel and then I had to explain to US border guards why I had spent 16 hours in Canada.