hi, as it turns out i had to visit my service center in US to fix an unexpected outage. and here how it went. i hope some will benefit with the first hand information.
I work with one of the top health care providers as an IT administrator. I am working now out of Toronto, Canada due to Covid19. I used to travel every week until then. I have teams that support and maintain multiple centers in eastern US. We had an issue in our Pittsburgh center and we tried to fix over online but unfortunately it quickly escalated and officials at the center wanted me for the day. so, i left this morning driving there.
left toronto, as usual Gardener and QEW are busy, i dont know what all these people doing on the road. i came out driving after like 2months (except for grocery visits). anyways took about 2hrs to reach rainbow bridge.
once you take left into rainbow bridge, there are no signs as to say only essential travel or any advisory boards. btw clear day so falls looked beautiful from the bridge
passed the bridge, reached US border. there is only booth opened for Autos. all others are closed. border is deserted. approached the officer and gave him my passport. here is the conversation:
Officer: take off your mask,
Me: I did
Officer: do you have valid TN visa
Me: yes
he checked it and
Officer: where are you going
Me: Pittsburgh
Officer: why
Me: there is an issue which needs immediate fixing, otherwise center has to be closed.
Officer: asked why i have to go from Toronto, can no one from US do that?
Me: we tried that yesterday, me being specialist, they want me to take a look
Officer: whats their plan B
Me: another expert is in Austin, he will drive in.
Officer: and why wouldnt they do it now
Me: the center is closed now and has to remain closed for more than a week until his arrival.
Officer: why not fly him over
Me: I dont know that. those decisions are above my pay grade
Officer: can you show me your identity and the work you do
Me: I showed him, showed him email, conversations on phone
after that he spent sometime on his phone talking to someone
Officer: can you pull up towards that officer there
Me: okay
he handed me the passport and i drove there and parked. there are like 4 officers there. this is the same space where you go when you visiting US on B1/B2 first time to get your slip to enter.
Officer2: please stay in car, keep your mask on
Me: Okay
Officer3: i understand from my colleague over there that you are going for << insert all the story above>>
i reiterated all over again. he checked emails again.
Officer3: I need a printout of the letter from your employer stating that your visit is essential and needed
Me: let me pull that out for you
Officer3 took and read it through, reviewed it. took some time and said this doesnt have the client am visiting.
I had to explain him that TN is with an agency and the client is 'the healthcare provider'. he went inside with the letter, passport and came out after 15min.
i am guessing he checked my TN, employer. he came out
Officer3: we have strict guidelines about visits. are you US citizen?
Me: No
Officer3: we only allow US citizens and healthcare professionals with proper letters from employers. this letter you have if not from healthcare provider. though you are in TN, it has to be from the healthcare provider. we verified everything and for this time we are allowing to cross. but if you need to visit again, we need the letter to be on the healthcare provider's letter head. we wont accept any other letter heads. let your agency know that. otherwise we will flagpole you and send you back to Canada. do you understand
Me: yes, sorry about that.
Officer3: you can go now
Me: Thank you
and i left
Finished my work, quick and smooth i guess. i am coming back home. came to the same bridge.
again there is only booth available to pass through, pay the bridge toll, enter Canada.
Canada Officer: where are you coming from
Me: Pittsburgh
Canada Officer: reason for visit
i explained the whole thing
Canada Officer: anything to declare
Me: nothing
He let me go.
that's how it went
somethings observed:
- All US officials wearing masks, gloves. Canadian officer - gloves, yes. mask, no
- i didnt see any highway rest centers being open. so, consider drinking less water
- US highways are deserted comparing to our QEW
- QEW has more police cars patrolling than usual (at least thats what i think)
Thanks for reading!!!
Submitted May 24, 2020 at 09:23PM by balakilaparti https://ift.tt/2TCKSLw
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