One of the best Limit Hold’em players on the planet might never again step foot in the United States. Canadian poker pro Terrence “Unassigned” Chan, winner of two PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) Limit Hold’em events on the same day in 2009, was turned away from entering the States by U.S. Customs and Immigration officials late last week – twice. He detailed the incidents in his blog, saying, “And so, it came to pass, that before my 30th birthday, I am declaring myself done with the United States of America.”
Chan wrote that he was planning to attend the no-gi World Championships (jujutsu) in Long Beach, California. He first attempted to cross the border on Thursday, October 28 and, like any other time, was interrogated about the purpose of his visit. This time, however, he was denied entry and informed that he had to demonstrate that he had “ties to (his) home country” of Canada. An officer told him to try again with documentation that proved he wouldn’t stay in the States indefinitely.
Chan went through all of the necessary steps, even having his father send properties documents, bank statements, and bills from Hong Kong as proof that Chan intended to leave the States after two months. But when he tried again on November 1, the result was the same. Officers went through all of Chan’s paperwork and decided that it wasn’t enough. Since he didn’t have a visa, he wouldn’t be allowed in.
“Quite simply, they never had any intent of letting me in the country, no matter what I showed, said, or did,” said Chan. “There is no conceivable way that I could have convinced them otherwise. I was fingerprinted again and once again shown the door.”
Chan, who has cashed in a World Series of Poker (WSOP) event in Las Vegas each of the past six years, said he will never play in the summer classic again. He fell just short of his first WSOP bracelet in 2007, taking second place in a $2,500 No Limit Hold’em event, and now may have to resort to winning his first piece of hardware at the WSOP Europe in London.
“I’ve got no anger now, just disappointment and sadness,” Chan wrote. “This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction of anger. This is me saying that I cannot in good conscience support this country with my tourism dollars. As I was driving back, I wonder how this decision and this day will ultimately affect my life. I do know people – including American citizens – who have sworn not to go to the United States for various but similar reasons. I know two who even relinquished their passport. They’ve gone decades without going to the U.S. and they seem to do just fine.”
Chan says he will no longer take part in poker or jujutsu tournaments in the United States. He will also book future flights so that he doesn’t have to connect through U.S. cities.
“Goodbye, America. It’s been fun, and I’m sad it had to come to this, but we’re through. It’s not me – it’s you.”
How hard is it to emigrate to Canada?
It’s a pain in the ass to emigrate to Canada. HOWEVER, Terrence was not trying to emigrate to the US. He was going on a two month trip.
I personally think this whole thing is ludicrous. US Immigrations has gone off the deep end.
If these new rules had been in place when Gov. Schwarzenneger came to the U.S. to participate in the “Mr. World” contest, he wouldn’t have acquired citizenship thru his first marriage, become famous thru his movie ‘Pumping Iron’ or become Gov. of Calif. Perhaps that’s what USCIS is trying to save us from!!
News Flash…
The US doesnt care about your tourist dollars Chan. Its trying to stop people from entering the country who are at risk of staying here, indefinitely. You were treated no differently from anyone else.
Chalk this one up to yet another Canadian who thinks its his or her God given right to enter the US just because they feel like it.
Jack- Duh….the guy is supposedly one of the best poker players on the PLANET with property, assets and $$ outside of the states. What makes you think he needs to stay in this country to make a buck?