US immigration procedure still offends...

[Bazz]

Telegraph readers.

From The Daily Telegraph website:

Telegraph Travel readers this week rejected claims made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that the airport experience in the United States has improved.

As reported here last week, British visitors to the US have become increasingly irritated by the stringent security and lengthy delays that have become common since September 11, 2001. This has contributed to a decrease in the number of British visitors to the US, despite a n extremely favourable exchange rate.

The full piece can be read here.

What makes me laugh is the sign at NY saying that our staff deserve respect, and in turn will give respect back. I have had nothing but very rude, and out right belligerent staff. I have always found it such hard work, when you get off the plane explaining every part of your holiday! [:(!]

Are they still planning on making all visitors to have a biometric passport this year? That will affect them even more if they do.

We only fly in to MCO, but we've never had a bad experience. They often joke with us and they hand the kids sweets while we're doing the boring stuff.

We have been 'chosen' for a search the last 3 trips and been treated well. I was a little shocked when they told me to choose which bag they searched though! I chose the one that had nothing but the kids booster seats in. Last time they spotted something round in my case and asked me if i'd brought burgers?! I wanted to collapse in fits of laughter, they obviously haven't tried British burgers.

DM a simular sign at Atlanta reads "we do not want your germs, do not cough or sneeze over us"- fair enough I thought but did have to have a wee giggle to myself when the lady who processed me did nothing but cough, without covering her mouth, all over me! I thought better of passing comment.

MCO staff on the whole are very good- I guess though they do have an easy life compared to their counterparts at LAX, MIA or JFK- after all international traffic into MCO is limited to services from the UK and Mexico.

I know it doesn't excuse the behaviour of US immigration agents, but I wonder that it is like coming into the UK if you're not wielding an EEC passport.

Paul

Originally posted by pjh
I know it doesn't excuse the behaviour of US immigration agents, but I wonder that it is like coming into the UK if you're not wielding an EEC passport.

Paul

Not at all pleasant either, especially as the Home Office is the whipping boy for all complaints these days. (Rightfully as well, shower of T***S)

Iain

[mitchja]

Originally posted by pjh
I know it doesn't excuse the behaviour of US immigration agents, but I wonder that it is like coming into the UK if you're not wielding an EEC passport.

Paul

I bet you full name & date of birth isn't checked against central criminal record databases administered by the FBI like it is when entering the US [:?]

My recent experience has shown that they are checking far more than just immigration status these days.

I now hold a signed and sealed Affidavit stating that I do not have a criminal record in several US states as my name and DOB match someone on an FBI watch list.

It will be interesting to see what happens next time I enter the US. Secondary again I wonder [:?]

Regards

Originally posted by pjh
I know it doesn't excuse the behaviour of US immigration agents, but I wonder that it is like coming into the UK if you're not wielding an EEC passport.

Paul

Friends from NZ and Australia have informed me that its in no way as strict as in the US. Plus the agents finally look a bit more official in their US style uniform.

[Scrooge]

MMMM..very interesting reading..seems in stark contrast to the feed back here

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by pjh
I know it doesn't excuse the behaviour of US immigration agents, but I wonder that it is like coming into the UK if you're not wielding an EEC passport.

Paul

Ding Ding. Many times I think some do not look at the other side of the coin. Granted no fingerprints but they have my IRIS scan (and I assume picture from 'security' cameras).

Australia can be a bitch too.

As to the UK 'officals' at passport control. One, they look unoffical and a joke. A uniform is needed.

Honestly I am sick of 'Lets bash the TSA and US Immigration' threads. Don't come to the US and show us. I want to come the UK so I put up with the silly questions and document checks. To each there own.

The Mail on SUnday ran a similar piece to the Telegraph about this, the article claimed that immigration staff in the US are being told to smile.... yeah, right....[:(]

Oh, get a life. Sure, there are problems but I don't think I've ever been held up by more than about 30 mins entering the US and I do it 2 or 3 times a year. When travelling with my family, the immigration officials have always joked with the children; when on my own, they have always been courteous.

I only wish that UK immigration procedures were as strict sometimes.

Chris

Originally posted by cshore
Oh, get a life. Sure, there are problems but I don't think I've ever been held up by more than about 30 mins entering the US and I do it 2 or 3 times a year. When travelling with my family, the immigration officials have always joked with the children; when on my own, they have always been courteous.

I only wish that UK immigration procedures were as strict sometimes.

Chris

What airports have u been traveling too with only 30mins in line?!?

UK Immigration is just as strict its just that we get countless more people seeking political asslyum due to our geographic location IMHO. During the last 20 years, whenever UK and US forces have gone to war (Gulf, Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan) the number of people seeking political asslyum has gone up due to our geographic location and empire ties with some of those countries.

Originally posted by willd

Originally posted by cshore
What airports have u been traveling too with only 30mins in line?!?

UK Immigration is just as strict its just that we get countless more people seeking political asslyum due to our geographic location IMHO. During the last 20 years, whenever UK and US forces have gone to war (Gulf, Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan) the number of people seeking political asslyum has gone up due to our geographic location and empire ties with some of those countries.

I most often enter the US via IAD or SFO. At neither place have I had to wait more than 30 mins for as long as I can remember.

When I talk about our immigration procedures, I am expressing the wish that we tracked people in and out of our country with similar diligence to the US. We would have a lot fewer problems if we did methinks.

Chris

Originally posted by cshore
Oh, get a life. Sure, there are problems but I don't think I've ever been held up by more than about 30 mins entering the US and I do it 2 or 3 times a year. When travelling with my family, the immigration officials have always joked with the children; when on my own, they have always been courteous.

I only wish that UK immigration procedures were as strict sometimes.

Chris

Maybe you've just been lucky then. Most of the officials we get are sullen at best. After a long flight, it's not remotely welcoming to be met with that...

I must admit, I've flown in and out of MCO, SFO and Honolulu, into LA, out of Vegas amd I've never been really offended by any officials. I think the worst place in all honestly was MCO when they had that extra security in the hub.I've even not filled in the green form properly and I've been given a pen to complete it quickly at the desk. Probably tempting fate now, but yes they may not all smile, but they've never been rude. Even when my husband asked to have 12 rolls of film hand checked LOL!!!

As for the UK, well, the way we've been treated by UK officials leaves a lot to be desired, and the queues when you land at Gatwick are silly.

[Neil]

UK immigration was very strict this morning, first time I have ever had to queue and had questions asked of me when returning home and this was from a charter flight, took us nrly 15mins and this was at 6:30am this morning with no other flights landed!

When I went through IAD in december, the immigration bod's first words included taking the pith out of my surname. Not very professional at all. Things haven't improved. Perhaps if UK immigration treated every single US citizen like a criminal, they might get the message.

The biggest problem I have with US immigration is the inconsistency; I'm in the RAF and often travel to the US on NATO travel orders. I have done this many times and have been told in the past to use the 'US citizens' line as my orders accord a status different to that of most visitors. Last time into LAX the immigration official gave me a really hard time for using the US lane and demanded to know exactly what programmes and material I was in the US to discuss. Telling him he didn't have any right to ask for that information didn't help to lighten his mood though....[ii] Give a small man the impression he has a lot of power, and this is what you get....jumped up little nazis, the lot of 'em.

Tony

My experiences with US Immigration arent bad. I cant say the same for Customs. When I worked on cruise ships it wasnt uncommon to pull into the Virgin Islands or San Juan and be woken up at 6am with three or four customs officers in your cabin plus a couple of drug sniffing dogs. As we worked in the casino department then we were always targeted when these Neanderthals were searching for cocaine.

I didn't mind the disturbance or question the need for the searches but they were incredibly rude and would not allow the girls (some of whom chose to sleep naked) to put on a tee-shirt or bathrobe out of view of the male officers. So they made sure they all got a good eyefull.

They came into my cabin once and the young lady I was dating, being Irish and not at all demure, gave them a right telling off as she jumped out of bed without a stitch on questioning if this was the only way they got to see naked women for free. Man she was something else. It was people like that having so much sway over your day to day life that prompted me to get off cruise ships, that and my impending liver failure.

[Scrooge]

SBG, I understand where you are coming from, but just a little advice, they are not little men with the impression of a lot of power, a US immigration officer can make or break your trip, I have friends who work at LAS both in customs and immigration, get on the bad side of either one and you will not have a very warm welcome but you may get a free room and all the laxative you can eat for up to 48 hrs [:$]

I have been to the USA 6 times in the past 10 years, I have only had once rude official. None of them have been friendly though. I was pleased that on my last trip to JFK the official let proceed when my documents werenÕt completed correctly. For some reason I hadn't written on the correct line and as soon as he said this I thought he was going to send me to the back of the queue as this has happened once before! God I hate those forms, I always worry that I'm gonna do something wrong.

Scrooge - I hear exactly what you're saying, but there really is no need for the attitude they almost always take. I accept the actual power they might have to ruin my day, but it would be hard to deny that - in general - many of them have an over-inflated sense of self-importance.
I am always polite (British officer abroad and all that) and say good morning/good afternoon. I have a US NATO visa and always carry my military orders when travelling; everywhere else in the US the fact that I am in the UK military is greeted with respect and a sense of brotherhood.
I lived in Las Vegas for two years and had two major issues with my visa during the first three months - both were simple mistakes made by the immigration officials on entry to the US (one in IAD, one in LAS) which ultimately cost the RAF a return trip to the UK for me to sort out the mess. In the end the US State Department had to roll in on the LAS immigration supervisor as the words 'diplomatic incident' were being uttered at the British Embassy! And then, even with a letter from the State Department in my hand, I was still accused of trying to 'gain a benefit' and circumvent the system! I might be biased now, but I'd suggest with good reason....

Nevertheless, I'd be happy to be proved wrong next time!

Cheers

Tony

There is noting all all we can really do about it due to the current climate - we just have to shut up and put up with it all.

Originally posted by porsche911
There is noting all all we can really do about it due to the current climate - we just have to shut up and put up with it all.

And for once Keith, I agree with you.

Unfriendly and frustrating as it is, we do have a choice ... sometimes constrained but we do