Hey all,
I'm flying from NJ to Toronto, ON tomorrow to meet some customers at their site. I've never flown into Canada, and never been without my wife before. Should I be nervous about packing Kristy's clothes? Should I just basically choose to be resigned to travel without any of my things for the evenings? Who has had experience with Customs? I've only been a few times, twice while on a cruise, and once we crossed at Niagara Falls. So this is a new experience for me.
Thanks for any advice...
Kristy
Comments
I should have mentioned, that
I should have mentioned, that I'm flying tomorrow night, so feel free to answer till around 3pm on 3/19, which is when I'll be leaving for the airport.
Thanks again,
Hugs
Kristy
I wouldn't worry about it.
I wouldn't worry about it. It's extremely unlikely they'd want to open your suitcase.
I've flown New Jersey - Toronto a few times. A luggage inspection is very unusual, you'd have to give them some reason (NEVER carry fresh fruit or meat across the border, for example. Or, you know, explosives.)
In general, it's pretty
In general, it's pretty pro-forma.
1) Carry your passport.
2) Carry your state identification card.
3) if you have a copy of your birth certificate, take that too. I've never been asked for it, but it's a safe thing to have. Don't take an original.
4) The airlines get shirty about food and drink anyway, so don't worry too much about that. If you buy an apple, banana, orange, etc at an airport vendor, they're not going to go after you for it - it's pretty obvious that's for immediate consumption. I've never had a problem. If you take a _bag_ of them, that's another story.
5) Customs Canada isn't that search-happy. Coming back is a bit more of a hassle, but still not the biggest deal.
6) Visit the bathroom before getting in any lines, if there are a reasonable number of people.
7) Don't visit any farms today or tomorrow :)
Oh - if you're going to rent a car, take a copy of your insurance, just to be on the safe side - even if you're getting insurance from the rental agency. Often, your insurance will cover the rental car as well.
And last, but not least.
They're primarily metric up there. Just because the speed limit says 120, that doesn't mean you have a license to fly.
BW
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Major highway speed limits
Major highway speed limits are 100 kph. Most traffic flow is between 110 and 120.
As my family is around
As my family is around Ottawa, I have driven around there, yes. But it's not quite as amusing the other way.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
I would not worry
I've been through customs in Japan, & Thailand once with my Holly clothes in my bags, and a second time fully dressed as Holly using my non-Holly passport, and my bags were not inspected in Japan or Thailand
Coming back, dressed as him, the first trip they were not inspected.
The second time, dressed as Holly, I hit the jackpot. It seems that a random selection of 'unattached males' returning from Thailand were being inspected for signs they might have sneaked down to a known terrorist training camp in Indonesia.
The inspector made no comment on my apparel, or the fact that ALL of the clothes in my bags were Holly's.
Mainly, he wanted to see ALL of the images on my cameras and laptop. it took almost 90 minutes. We did talk about it, after I brought it up, and I think i was able to educate him a bit.
But as far as having opposite gender clothes in my bags AND on my person, it was not a problem.
Holly
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Holly
I am ashamed to say that
I am ashamed to say that Canada has become a place where you are unable to fly if you are presenting as other than your actual gender. Our Ministry of Transport changed flight screening rules back in July and it's just recently started being talked about. I feel that the Conservative government has pushed these rules on the bureaucracy because they didn't want to stand up in the House of Commons and try to justify them in public so they slipped them in through the back door. I'm sure these rules would not stand up to a charter challenge, but it's a big, messy, public fight when it happens.
This article has a good overview of the situation. transgender no fly
Thanks for the update.... I
Thanks for the update.... I wasn't planning on being dressed as Kristy during this trip, only want to bring some things for the evening.
But it is definitely disappointing to see a step backward in Canada's treatment.
Hugs,
Kristy
Post op TG
A couple years ago, I rode the train to Vancouver BC and back and had no problem.
Nowdays, I don't know. Are you saying that if I am post op, have a passport that lists me as female, and a Driver's lic and VETs card that says the same they will still give me a hard time?
Gwendolyn
No.
No. If your sex is listed as "male" and you're presenting as female then you need a doctor's note explaining why you are presenting different if you wish to fly but only if they request it. No one has actually been denied a flight because of this rule change.
How do you flap your wings?
and carry your bags at the same time?
Just joking!
Clothes and cosmetics are no problem, if they ask which very rarely happens just tell them you are meeting your spouse/partner with some spare clothes for him/her.
LoL
Rita
Ps have a great time, I love Canada!
Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!
(Mark Twain)
LoL
Rita
I would neither take nor give advice
Thst causes me to lie to a customs officer. If such a lie is found out it may result in prosecution or black banning. I do not know Canada's regulations specifically but I believe that this is universally true. I could be wrong but is it worth the risk?
We're not North Korea.
Canada does not ban people nor care if people are gay or transgender. If you say "these are my clothes and I like wearing girly stuff" at most you'll get a weird look. They won't care. You're not heading into North Korea. Canada is a lot more respectful of the LGBT than the U.S. although it certainly does have a long way to go.
In terms of searches, it's far less concerned than the U.S. We don't have a TSA that strips searches you if something is suspicious. You'll only encounter that going back into the States and coming out the first time.
I don't know why Kristine is so worried about heading across the border with female clothes. The clothes won't be confiscated because they're the opposite genders and it in no way would cause a ban. The only time you risk getting turned away from Canada is if you actually have a criminal record like a DUI or something.
Have a great trip. Don't be nervous. Everything will go okay.
Just asking, because for me
Just asking, because for me it is a foreign country, and I don't know, having done very little travel outside the country, and none without my wife. Since I'm pretty much in the closet, other then my immediate family, I prefer to not have something become an "incident."
Just assessing risk. As I said, not planning on going as Kristy, but I defintely prefer to have at least a night gown for the evenings, and my sleep forms as well. And I usually bring some clothes for the evening if I get to the room early enough to not want to get ready for bed. I frequently work quite late, so that can mean real "Kristy" time.
As I said, just assessing the risk vs. the annoyance of not being comfortable in my room at night.
Thanks everyone for the comments. I'm probably going to pack a few things... And see.
Hugs,
Kristy
You misunderstood me.
I see Canada as a fairly liberal country. I wouldn't expect that the transgendered have much trouble entering and exiting given all was in order. I would however, expect any country to have trouble with anyone, transgendered or otherwise to have trouble if they lie or misinform a customs/immigration official. I would never attempt to misinform such a person. It is far too risky.
No argument. I am not
No argument.
I am not planning on lying, was just looking for guidance on whether there was any real risk of an incident if they decided to search my luggage and found women's clothing and a set of foam forms.
Hugs,
Kristy
Like every border, it all
Like every border, it all really depends on the guard you deal with. I've never had any trouble crossing the border, but my wife has been hassled and verbally assaulted crossing at the Detroit Tunnel.
If your luggage is searched, I don't "think" there would be a huge issue.
Well, I made it to Toronto
Well, I made it to Toronto witth no problems other then being delayed... apparently, AirForce 2 was in Newark, NJ tonight.
Hugs,
Kristy