Discussion
What is their problem?
Not been myself - pretty-much refuse to because of their national attitude towards foreigners trying to enter their coutry. But EVERYONE I've spoken to has had the third degree on entry...most getting the impression they were one wrong word away from the private room with the rubber gloves.
A good friend went their on business last year. He was detained for > 2 hours...because his (VERY common) name was the same as a criminal. WTF?!? No DoB match, photo/description, age, anything like that. Possibly not even the same nationality. Just his name (...... Jones!!!).
Really, truly and utterly OTT paranoid xenophobic motherf
kers! I know our bunch can be humourless (although we found a genuinely human one on the return from Japan), but by all accounts they don't even bear comparison...
Not been myself - pretty-much refuse to because of their national attitude towards foreigners trying to enter their coutry. But EVERYONE I've spoken to has had the third degree on entry...most getting the impression they were one wrong word away from the private room with the rubber gloves.
A good friend went their on business last year. He was detained for > 2 hours...because his (VERY common) name was the same as a criminal. WTF?!? No DoB match, photo/description, age, anything like that. Possibly not even the same nationality. Just his name (...... Jones!!!).
Really, truly and utterly OTT paranoid xenophobic motherf
kers! I know our bunch can be humourless (although we found a genuinely human one on the return from Japan), but by all accounts they don't even bear comparison...We travel 3 or 4 times a year to the US for holidays (off to Vegas again in a few weeks 
) and have done for the best part of 30 years and have never had any problems at immigration/entry. I've arrived and cleared immigration through JFK, Newark, Atlanta, Denver, LA, San Fransisco, Miami and Orlando that I can recall, and also driven into the US across the Canadian border. Sure, some of the immigration officers can be fairly sour/abrupt, but it isn't exactly a challenging job so I guess I'd get pretty bored too asking the same questions and stamping folks passports all day. Some are actually polite and very welcoming. Unlike the folks at Heathrow and Gatwick security who seem to all be blood-relatives of Stalin.
Like most things, just play by the rules and don't try to be smart; they've got a crappy job and have heard every quip in the book before. So that means filling in the proper forms properly and not moaning about the wait.
However, once past immigration and in to the country, I find Americans in America one of the nicest and most polite races out there...which is why I keep going back. It's always rather dangerous taking other folks word on things; worse if they're predudiced against in the first place. And even if you do strike out with a real surly officer, it's no more than 5 minutes out of a trip and something I can easily put up with.
) and have done for the best part of 30 years and have never had any problems at immigration/entry. I've arrived and cleared immigration through JFK, Newark, Atlanta, Denver, LA, San Fransisco, Miami and Orlando that I can recall, and also driven into the US across the Canadian border. Sure, some of the immigration officers can be fairly sour/abrupt, but it isn't exactly a challenging job so I guess I'd get pretty bored too asking the same questions and stamping folks passports all day. Some are actually polite and very welcoming. Unlike the folks at Heathrow and Gatwick security who seem to all be blood-relatives of Stalin.Like most things, just play by the rules and don't try to be smart; they've got a crappy job and have heard every quip in the book before. So that means filling in the proper forms properly and not moaning about the wait.
However, once past immigration and in to the country, I find Americans in America one of the nicest and most polite races out there...which is why I keep going back. It's always rather dangerous taking other folks word on things; worse if they're predudiced against in the first place. And even if you do strike out with a real surly officer, it's no more than 5 minutes out of a trip and something I can easily put up with.
tvrolet said:
It's always rather dangerous taking other folks word on things; worse if they're predudiced against in the first place. And even if you do strike out with a real surly officer, it's no more than 5 minutes out of a trip and something I can easily put up with.
Did you not read about the 2+ hour ordeal a close friend of mine had??? All because he had the same name as a criminal!?! Hardly 5 minutes, and he's not a prejudiced type of chap - he was looking forward to his trip to NY.I'm glad you've been lucky - your multiple stamps of entry probably do you no harm there. But I've heard NOTHING but bad press about these guys, so you're still in the minority...
I've visited the US twice now and not had a problem eitehr time. Worst I can say is that the customs chaps seem to have no idea how to smile.
In fact I'd say I found the Australian customs people were more intimidating.
I have no qualms about going back to the US and.
How many more people do you need to offset your negative opinion?
In fact I'd say I found the Australian customs people were more intimidating.
I have no qualms about going back to the US and.
How many more people do you need to offset your negative opinion?
Had a grumpy officer last time we arrived at Sanford. Towards the back of the queue thanks to my daughters slow walk. She was shattered and complaining of being poorly so was alternating between walking and carry (a buggy or 2 to borrow while waiting might be nice!). Got to the front, when he said you need to pick up the child (3.5) so that I can see her. Did so and she went into cling more predictably. He then had to have a go aggressively when taking my prints (partner I need you to work with me and put the child down). For fk sake I am only holding her because you told me to!
I am sure that it is made worse by the length of time getting there, but it does put a slightly sour note on the start of the holiday.
Having said that the first time we were over, the guy was happy and joking with the kids.
Just like everywhere I guess you get good and bad - luck of the draw!
k sake I am only holding her because you told me to! I am sure that it is made worse by the length of time getting there, but it does put a slightly sour note on the start of the holiday.
Having said that the first time we were over, the guy was happy and joking with the kids.
Just like everywhere I guess you get good and bad - luck of the draw!
I've always been quite lucky too, i travel with work to Washington every quarter and always get through fairly quickly. same with when i have holidayed there too.
Yes sometimes you get the guys who have had a bad day, but you can get that anywhere. Just deal with them as you would like to be yourself, if they are chatty have a chat if not just go through the motions and carry on.
Been taken to one side a couple of times for the random searches and it goes alot easier if you just make it esy for them, be polite and upfront etc.
Yes sometimes you get the guys who have had a bad day, but you can get that anywhere. Just deal with them as you would like to be yourself, if they are chatty have a chat if not just go through the motions and carry on.
Been taken to one side a couple of times for the random searches and it goes alot easier if you just make it esy for them, be polite and upfront etc.
I've been going 3 or 4 time a year on business and 1 or 2 times on holiday a year over the past 4 years or so. Now I am a Muslim, and my name meant I was being delayed and questioned regularly each time I went by upto 2 hours. I was being put into the 'M' queue with a whole load of other people - while waiting, we chatted and found that we all had one thing in common, we were all Muslim. No, getting fed up with this, as I was also holding up my colleagues traveling with me, as I was the one that rented and drove the hire car - I got myself a new biometric chip passport. I went through the process once more, had all the my answers typed up again, then, the next time nothing. I went pretty much straight through, and have not been held back since. That was about 2 years ago or so.
Just like tvrolet I travel to the US quite a lot, and have travelled the last 3 times on my I Visa (which allows me to work within the media sector out there) and I've never had an issue anywhere.
Sure they ask a lot of questions, and I'm not sure what they want my finger prints for, but the rules are universal to all coming in, so I'm happy to play by the book.
In fact the last customs official I had to deal with was very polite, very chatty and noticed the amount of stamps I had from the US ended the process with "It's lovely to have you back sir." Granted this is just a saying, but it's a nice thought...
I'd say go and make your mind up for yourself, you tend to only here stories of when bad things happen anyway. When was the last time somebody told you about the day they got up, nothing happened and they went to bed at the end of the night?
Sure they ask a lot of questions, and I'm not sure what they want my finger prints for, but the rules are universal to all coming in, so I'm happy to play by the book.
In fact the last customs official I had to deal with was very polite, very chatty and noticed the amount of stamps I had from the US ended the process with "It's lovely to have you back sir." Granted this is just a saying, but it's a nice thought...
I'd say go and make your mind up for yourself, you tend to only here stories of when bad things happen anyway. When was the last time somebody told you about the day they got up, nothing happened and they went to bed at the end of the night?
theboyfold said:
When was the last time somebody told you about the day they got up, nothing happened and they went to bed at the end of the night?
Fair point. And most customs officials globally seem to have an attitude...except for in NZ, it would seem!The delays seem to be the main thing:
- either the huge queues (guy I worked with and his newly-wed-wife missed a connection at Miami Airport to Peru back in 2003 due to being forced to go through immigration even though only being transit passengers - 6 hours in queues a day after their wedding - missed the Lake Titicaca bit of their honeymoon completely, colleague of Becs' just returned from a long-weekend in NY which started 3 hours late).
- or the deliberate hold-ups (even if you're not Muslim) when they don't like your name/face.
I posted this because we travel a lot (at least two hols a year), and the only place we've been held up in a queue for more than ~10mins was Dubai airport in 2004, and I can't think of anywhere we've been where the 'attitude' has been anything worse than gruff and surly. I also can't think of another country where the customs gets as much regular bad press as the US (well, Russia maybe...).
havoc said:
theboyfold said:
When was the last time somebody told you about the day they got up, nothing happened and they went to bed at the end of the night?
Fair point. And most customs officials globally seem to have an attitude...except for in NZ, it would seem!The delays seem to be the main thing:
- either the huge queues (guy I worked with and his newly-wed-wife missed a connection at Miami Airport to Peru back in 2003 due to being forced to go through immigration even though only being transit passengers - 6 hours in queues a day after their wedding - missed the Lake Titicaca bit of their honeymoon completely, colleague of Becs' just returned from a long-weekend in NY which started 3 hours late).
- or the deliberate hold-ups (even if you're not Muslim) when they don't like your name/face.
I posted this because we travel a lot (at least two hols a year), and the only place we've been held up in a queue for more than ~10mins was Dubai airport in 2004, and I can't think of anywhere we've been where the 'attitude' has been anything worse than gruff and surly. I also can't think of another country where the customs gets as much regular bad press as the US (well, Russia maybe...).
If you have only ever been held up by 10 minutes, may I suggest you never travel to China!!
theboyfold said:
If you have only ever been held up by 10 minutes, may I suggest you never travel to China!!
Why doesn't that surprise me?No - honestly - we've typically been in queues for 5-15 minutes everywhere we've been (famous last words...off to Tanzania later this year!). Worst was probably returning to Birmingham late at night - another wide-body had got in just before us and we bimbled through the queue for 15, maybe 20mins...seemed longer as we just wanted to get home to bed! Luggage still wasn't out when we cleared immigration though!
I posted this up to gauge everyone else's experiences...and it DOES sound like a lot of people don't have problems.
I've been twice - once into Sanford and once into Orlando International
Both times the Customs officers were polite, friendly and helpful. The first time we went, he asked some questions about my OH's trip to India a few years ago but nothing untoward.
The only bugbear was the huge queue at Sanford and the number of people in both places filling in their forms either incorrectly or not at all. FFS, it's not hard.
They are very careful over there and they take immigration very seriously. We don't over here and, if one chose to, one could point to the mess we're in because of it....
I generally find that those detained are either
a) Very unlucky
b) A smart arse
c) Have actually done something wrong, either on purpose or through stupidity.
Both times the Customs officers were polite, friendly and helpful. The first time we went, he asked some questions about my OH's trip to India a few years ago but nothing untoward.
The only bugbear was the huge queue at Sanford and the number of people in both places filling in their forms either incorrectly or not at all. FFS, it's not hard.
They are very careful over there and they take immigration very seriously. We don't over here and, if one chose to, one could point to the mess we're in because of it....
I generally find that those detained are either
a) Very unlucky
b) A smart arse
c) Have actually done something wrong, either on purpose or through stupidity.
havoc said:
theboyfold said:
If you have only ever been held up by 10 minutes, may I suggest you never travel to China!!
Why doesn't that surprise me?No - honestly - we've typically been in queues for 5-15 minutes everywhere we've been (famous last words...off to Tanzania later this year!). Worst was probably returning to Birmingham late at night - another wide-body had got in just before us and we bimbled through the queue for 15, maybe 20mins...seemed longer as we just wanted to get home to bed! Luggage still wasn't out when we cleared immigration though!
I posted this up to gauge everyone else's experiences...and it DOES sound like a lot of people don't have problems.
China was horrid though, after a long flight (15 hours if I remember correctly) to be hemmed into a dark, hot, humid room with what seemed like 1000's of people who have no respect for personal space the time we were there felt like about 3 weeks! We had to do this a few times as we crossed over to Hong Kong midway through the trip, and had to go through the process each time.
Didn't ruin the trip though, it just isn't what you need when you're tired.
I've only been to America twice, the first time I went straight through customs & immigration, second time I was held at JFK for about an hour.
I foolishly said I'd got about 80-ish dollars in cash on me. It was Saturday afternoon, I'd already booked and paid for the Hotel, bike hire etc, so only needed enough cash for a few beers/burgers etc until monday. I got the nth degree until I said I usually used my credit card to get cash from banks as I went along, bingo, straight back out and onto the plane to St Louis.
I foolishly said I'd got about 80-ish dollars in cash on me. It was Saturday afternoon, I'd already booked and paid for the Hotel, bike hire etc, so only needed enough cash for a few beers/burgers etc until monday. I got the nth degree until I said I usually used my credit card to get cash from banks as I went along, bingo, straight back out and onto the plane to St Louis.
My wife is a US citizen so I travel over there 2-3 times a year minimum. Being married to a US citizen is actually detrimental rather than beneficial as you tend to be suspected of not wanting to leave...
Despite this I've got through reasonably quickly most of the time. But then again I've always filled in all the necessary forms, had the answers for their regular questions and only ever had them check my suitcase once during all that time.
Going back to the UK (with me being an EU citizen), getting through UK immigrations somehow seems to be more of a hassle than going through US immigrations...
Despite this I've got through reasonably quickly most of the time. But then again I've always filled in all the necessary forms, had the answers for their regular questions and only ever had them check my suitcase once during all that time.
Going back to the UK (with me being an EU citizen), getting through UK immigrations somehow seems to be more of a hassle than going through US immigrations...
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