this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2025
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Canada just updated its U.S. travel advisory and it includes phone searches at the border (www.mtlblog.com)
submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/canada
39 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

This pisses me off. It also makes me want to get a burner phone for that very purpose.

But I am worried that if I go over the border with a burner phone I might get suspected of something and arrested. How likely is that?

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yes officer, I got a brand new phone with nothing on it to take with me. I did this because I want to comply with the laws of the USA and am afraid that if my phone got hacked I may accidentally carry something illegal across the border. I left my phone with all my lifetime photos and other history behind and I look forward to being reunited with it when my trip is over and I return home.

Don't say this. They will use that as justification to search you and your vehicle for suspicious behavior.

I hate that it's come to the point where innocent visitors have to worry about being searched or detained, but the best thing to do is simply not travel. If you get the wrong border guard, you're screwed either way. If you have to cross the border for whatever reason, keep your head down and don't give them a reason to waste their time on you. Keep it short and simple by saying you're just following travel advisories.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I may accidentally carry something illegal across the border.
Don’t say this. They will use that as justification to search you and your vehicle for suspicious behavior.

Ah, you're probably right under the current regime. Open to suggestions for better phrasing like "I did this because I want to comply with the laws of the USA and also because it was suggested by the recent travel advisory issued by Canada" , except

the best thing to do is simply not travel.

100%. My advice was more for these folks,

If you have to cross the border for whatever reason

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

If I were in your shoes and they asked about the travel phone, I would keep it short, simple, and truthful: "I'm following Canada's travel guidelines and using a separate phone."

I don't want to antagonize border agents or imply their (my) country is authoritarian, nor should I voluntarily overshare minor details (which is something liars often do). If they have an issue with me following guidelines like any other ordinary citizen, they more than likely already wanted to search me and are looking for an excuse to do it. At that point, there's nothing you can do other than know your rights.