Immediately called CBSA to complain. They indicated that it didn’t sound appropriate, and it didn’t sound Canadian. Canadian Border Security number as of June 15, 2015 is 800-461-9999, within Canada. Outside Canada 1-204-983-3500
or 1-506-636-5064. Link is http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html.
CBSA indicated to call Immigration – 613-944-4000. This was a complete waste of time. Their entire system is a phone tree that just tells you to go to different websites.
Call back CBSA. They’re actually very friendly when not consumed with power and moral disgust that is exhibited by the problem officers. They tell me to call the Canadian consulate in America.
The Canadian consulate in Detroit is 313-567-2340. Their immigration office closed three years ago. 🙂
Called New York Canadian consulate. 212-596-1628. No luck.
Call back CBSA, woman recognizes my voice from before, it’s because it’s hoarse from being up for 40 straight hours. She indicates you have to email the consulate, and they will email you back.
After five days, I don’t think the Canadian consulate is going to email me back. No governments are built to give a shit. I’ll have to go there.
Calling the Chicago Consulate. The immigration portion closed 20 years ago, out of luck. If you are calling the Chicago consulate, do not hit any buttons. You’ll be transferred to an operator. I started by hitting some buttons for english, the phone tree is useless, it only directs you to web pages.
The only Canadian consulates that handle immigration issues are in Los Angeles and New York. I’ve emailed New York, with no response. I’ll try Los Angeles.
Calling Los Angeles, just as new york, gives you an email – los-angeles-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca
Note that it’s “enquiry” not “inquiry” that took an hour to figure out.
I sent it today, June 15th, let’s see if I get a response.
Immediate difference already – got an autoreply from LA:
We have received your email to the Consulate General of Canada’s Immigration Section in Los Angeles and will review it shortly. Please note: if the information requested is available on our websites (www.losangeles.gc.ca or www.cic.gc.ca), or your application is still within standard processing times (www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp“http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp), we will not provide a response to your message.
Nous confirmons la réception de votre courriel à la Section des visas du Consulat général du Canada à Los Angeles et répondrons dans les plus brefs délais. Veuillez noter que si l’information demandée est disponible sur nos sites internet www.losangeles.gc.ca et www.cic.gc.ca, ou que l’étude de votre demande se déroule dans les temps de traitement indiqués (www.cic.gc.ca/francais/information/delais/index.asp“http://www.cic.gc.ca/francais/information/delais/index.asp), nous ne répondrons pas à votre courriel.
—–
Disclaimer: http://www.international.gc.ca/international/disclaimer-degagement.aspx?lang=eng
Dégagement de responsabilité: http://www.international.gc.ca/international/disclaimer-degagement.aspx?lang=fra
Ok, June 16th – next day, got a response. A really dumb one, but at least it appears human.
“Should we just send the CBSA email address for complaints and the ATIP info?”
Looks like he/she thought they were talking to someone else, not me. As I included the ATIP request which is already submitted, not sure why she would be asking that, she must not have read my email. Looks like typical government bureaucracy at the point – no one really is empowered to do anything.
June 17th – received “official response”. Note that the official response tells me to go to the organization that referred me to them:
Dear Sir,
Please contact Canada Border Services Agency direct. Information can be found at the following:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/menu-eng.html
Immigration Section / Département d’immigration
550 S. Hope Street, 9th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071 • FAX: 213-346-2797
Email: los-angeles-inquiry@international.gc.ca • Website: www.losangeles.gc.ca
Called CBSA immediately, they indicated the consulate needs to deal with it, since it is a CIC issue, even though the CBSA’s officer ignored CIC documents and chose not to let me into Canada. Wrote back the consulate, June 17th, 2:30pm CST.
Response came back at 4:30pm, very nice time on the response Canadian consulate of Los Angeles!
We have examined the documents you submitted as well as the electronic record.
It is not in dispute that you were in possession of a visitor record (extension) valid to 30 June 2015. However, the decision whether to admit any foreign national rests with the border official. In this case, the official seems to have determined that you appeared to be moving to Canada as a permanent resident rather than a temporary one, and for that reason denied you entry and issued the exclusion order.
Such an order remains in effect for one year. It is within your rights to apply for an Authorization to Return to Canada at this or another Canadian visa office which, if approved could allow you to return earlier, but there is no guarantee an ARC would be issued, and you should be aware that processing times are currently about 6 months.
I wrote back the following:
Thank you for taking the time to review my documents and the electronic record. I really do appreciate your time.
The ultimate problem I have is that a Canadian 13 year is depending on me. Before I came there, he was getting terrible grades, engaging in self abuse, and experimenting with chemical substances. My presence has stabilized him.
The officer in question was having a bad night, she was even berating the gentleman before me. I believe she abused her power, but I am more interested in correcting her wrong than punishing her.
I see the following options:
1. ARC filed with visa office (as you stated) – the problem with this is the following link, which contradicts your information – VACs do not accept ARCs. This is very confusing. Please let me know why this website contradicts what you are saying, or what I do not understand.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/vac.asp
2. Is there an option for compassionate approval? The principal of the school is willing to write a letter indicating this 13 year old is at a critical time, and has changed immensely since I have been working with him.
I still do not understand the reason for her decision, I would appreciate some insight:
1. Can I get the reason or evidence why the officer thought I was relocating as a permanent resident?
2. The previous officer (Nov 2014) indicated I had two years to file for PR. I had no idea this could happen. What is the rule for consecutive number of visits to Canada?
3. As a personal note, I fully believe if I didn’t have this officer (who berated the gentleman before me) I would be in Canada helping the 13 year old with his math. Is there a possibility of ‘quick review’ that could look at the actions of the CBSA officer that night, and recognize she violated the CBSA service agreement in several ways, because she was personally agitated?
Let’s look at this as humans if we can. She was having a bad day, and hurt me and my family because she was having a personal issue. Is there a way we can try and correct this wrong by this officer through a different method that I am not aware of?
CBSA Club! How We Were Screwed By Canada Border Services Agency 