Hope someone can help me!

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

niagaramom

New member
Hope this is the right forum to get some information. My divorce is now final but I have run into problems when cross-border shopping. 3 weeks ago when crossing int the U.S. with friends our car was searched and I was singled out to proceed to immigration where I was questioned at length about my travel plans and was allowed to proceed on I thought nothing of it and assumed it was a random check. However, last week again the same thing occurred and this time I was questioned about my marital status, the whereabouts of my 4 yr. old son who I have residential custody for. I concluded that somehow my ex has had me added to a U.S. border watch list. The immigration agent who questioned me, advised me that this practise would continue. I do not have a passport for my son and have never applied for one or tried to take him across the border. My question is: How could my ex have put me on a watch list? From everything I have read on-line, it appears that only law enforcement or family agency can add you to a list. None of these have ever been involved in our proceedings. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Regardless of who or how you go on the list, it won't be easy or cheap to get off the list, if you can at all. Governments are not fast to correct mistakes.

Don't spend a lot of energy worrying about how it happened, do what you need to do to ensure you can cross the border with the right paperwork for your son.
 
'The list', being American.

you should ask the Americans why. No one here can (probably) answer why I foreign governrment has decided o 'look' at you.
 
Did you have a notarized letter from your ex providing their consent to the border crossing or does your court order to separation agreement specifically dispense with the need? If not, that is likely one reason they stopped you. Border guards are not supposed let you cross without the consent or seeing a copy of your court order specifying that you can cross without it.

Your ex can list you on the border watch list, from what I've read here it is a pretty simple thing to do. Generally the ex should only do it if you haven't been advising them of your out of country trips like you should be.
 
From my interpretation, it seems like she was crossing the border with friends, and her son was not present. So a notarized letter or copy of the court order will not be helpful. The US agent indicates she will be questioned every time she crosses. Even though she has never crossed the border with their child, maybe her ex has found a way to cause trouble and hassles for her.

Maybe the solution would be to get a Nexus card. From what I know of them, this would trigger a bit of an investigation into your trustworthiness as a traveller, and could possibly settle US customs down.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the input!

Thanks for the input!

Appreciate you all trying to help. HammerDad: you say it is an easy matter in my ex getting me on a watch list. Can you be more specific and advise me how he went about it?? Thank you!!!
 
niagaramom said:
Appreciate you all trying to help. HammerDad: you say it is an easy matter in my ex getting me on a watch list. Can you be more specific and advise me how he went about it?? Thank you!!!
Click to expand...

It isn't really you so much, but your child. If you are crossing the border with the kid, without travel consent, the ex can put the child on the watch list....which may default down to you...I don't know.

I've only read it was simple, but never had to deal with it. My ex and I always inform each other when we plan on crossing the border with our daughter and get the others consent.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top