First off, Vancouver is an excellent city and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to visit - It's clean, looks great, near the water, as well as a ton of places to visit and just look at.

On to the good stuff,

The flight there was mostly as it would be expected. I didn't have to show anything other than my passport until the last flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. My name was being announced on the PA system asking me to come to the gate desk for "document verification." I went over and showed my passport to the gate attendant and she asked:

"Do you live in Mexico?"
"No."

"Do you live in Canada?"
"No."

"Do you live in the US?"
"Yes."

After which, she flipped to the page with the Canadian visa in my passport and scanned it and gave me an updated copy of my boarding pass for that flight.

After the flight to Vancouver, I was instructed by one of the airport attendants that I will have to go into a different line since I did not have a US passport or an LPR card. After filling out a customs form, I proceeded to the line (there were many students from an Asian country that had arrived also). I get called up and the conversation goes like this:

"Do you have ebola or have come into contact with someone that has ebola?"
"No."

"Have you been the West Nile region in the past 30 or so days?"
"No."

"What country do you live in?"
"United States."

"What is your legal status there?"
"It's a form of TPS called DACA."

"I don't know what that is..." As he gave me a stern look to keep explaining.
"It's deferred action for childhood arrivals; you may have heard about it as President Obama's executive action," I explained.
"I see... What is your reason for visiting Canada and how long are you staying here?"
"I'll be here for 5 days, attending an academic technology symposium," as I wondered why I'm being grilled so hard because I said everything I needed to say in my Canadian Visa application.
"Where will you be staying?"
"Here in Vancouver."
"Where though, a hotel, a friend's house?"
"Oh yeah... a hostel the first 2 nights, and a hotel the next 3....," I nervously clamored.

At this point, I couldn't read him and I felt a sense of dread because I hadn't thought the possibility of just flat out being denied entry to Canada. Although, a few moments later, he stamps my passport, writes something on my customs sheet and simply says "enjoy your stay." Yeesh!

So the days go by, taking in the appreciation for international travel and the opportunity to see different sights, sounds and meet a bunch of different people. Vancouver seems to be a hot spot for international travel.

Finally, we get to the final day. The check in attendant was quick to ask for a US visa or an LPR card when she saw my passport. I quickly said I have a travel document to show her - She took it and read it for a few seconds and started typing something into her computer. I had asked if it was a common document, to which she said it's something that comes by every now and then. She quickly printed out my boarding passes and wished me a good trip.

The airport in Vancouver has something called preclearance - Pretty much, there's an area where USCBP sets up so they can check you out before you board the plane rather than at the point of entry.

Security check was typical, I had thought maybe they were closed because I didn't see any sign of USCBP, until I turned the corner after passing the checkpoint. It was hard to miss, especially with the big American Flag draping off to the side. Of course, I was flagged over to the desk and handed the officer, USCBP at this point, my passport and documents. He typed something into the computer and loudly said "parole!" Another officer showed up and asked that I follow him for secondary inspection.

I was led over to an office-like area with some waiting benches. There were 4 officers and counters and a few others doing miscellaneous things. I waited about 20 minutes before I got called up to a counter:

"Can I see your passport please?"
I handed him my passport
He continued to spend a few minutes typing some stuff into the computer
I was growing increasingly nervous, although the regular office chatter between the officers seemed to help.

"How tall are you? How much do you weigh?"
I responded
"What's your address?"
I responded
"How long have you lived here?"
Again, responded
"What was your purpose of visit?, How long were you in Canada?, What school do you attend?"
Responded to all
"What is your address?"
(Wait.. didn't you ask that already?) I responded again anyways
"Are you adjusting status?"
(Killer question!) "Uhh... I hope to do so if the avenue presents itself. I do have an approved I130, but the whole thing is in a limbo for me"

There were many period of silence throughout the questioning, but only because he was typing or looking something up on the computer.

"Alright, it looks like you're all set, just waiting on the computer"

He took a set of fingerprints, which at this point, I could not control my shaking out of sheer nervousness....
"Smile for DACA!"
And snapped a photo of me

He went ahead and stamped one of my AP papers, as well as my passport.

"Hey, we don't keep these anymore right?" He asked another officer

He gave both papers back to me, only 1 being stamped.

"Okay you're all set. Meet me at the end of the counter so I can open the door for you."

I quickly found myself back in the hallway towards the airport gates and quickly found a bar and bought a beer.

The officer wasn't bad at all, relatively mellow about the whole thing which helped. Although the girl that was getting questioned next to me seemed to be getting downright grilled:

"Do you have any fruits?"
"Like... with me?"
"On you, around you, in our purse, in your pockets - Do you have any fruits that you are trying to take with you?"

Yeah... I'm glad I didn't get that guy...



Before I knew it, I was home. No more EWI. I suppose it's a step forward.