When you take a trip across the border from the United States into Canada you must have a conversation with the border officer. There is no way around this exchange. The border officer has two primary questions:
1. Where are you going?
Simply saying I’m going to Canada isn’t enough. The more detailed you are about your destination the better. The officer wants to be certain that you know where you’re going and that you have purpose for being there. An answer of “I’m not sure” will most likely end up in you being searched and questioned. Why? Quite possibly because a person unsure of where they are going is a dangerous individual. They could end up absolutely anywhere.
2. Where are you coming from?
How did you end up here? There are several ways to cross the border into Canada and the officer wants to know why you picked this particular route. They are looking for you to review your process of getting to this point. Where you come from has a strong impact on where you’re going. The officer is there to check if your origin coincides with your destination.
Don’t know where you’re going? Don’t know where you’re coming from? No problem, just don’t expect to get very far. Even if you know the answers to these questions but cannot adequately communicate with the border officer you will be challenged. Ever ask a person who has had difficulties is making progress what their plans were? With frustration they say they have everything figured out but either cannot or refuse to communicate what their plans are. You’re thinking to yourself, “If you have a plan it must not be a very good one.” Knowing what you’re doing is one thing, being able to explain it to others is another. The ability to do this could make the difference between success and failure.
At this stage of your life do you know where you’re going and where you’ve come from?
