The Trump administration’s focus on immigration compliance means that Canadians travelling to the U.S. on business are finding themselves in what’s turning into no-man’s land.
“Management consultants have been subject to particular scrutiny because they’re not eligible if they are managing staff in the U.S.,” Aubin says. A further difficulty is that what constitutes the “letter of the law” is open to interpretation. And in some important instances, Siddiquee maintains, U.S. immigration has got it wrong.
For over 20 years, Canadians seeking Blanket L work permits or work permit extensions have been able to apply for extensions at ports of entry along the border or at pre-clearance locations at Canadian airports. But now, Siddiquee says, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is insisting that applications for extensions must be filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices within the U.S. or at a U.S. consulate.