Entering the US - what can I expect these days?

Hi fellow v-flyers,

My trip to BOS is coming up in a few days and it's been a few years (5 or 6) since I was last there in the US, so for those more seasoned US visitors, what can I expect at immigration these days?

Here's what I remember from my last visit when I flew into Seattle: a nasty piece of work tooled up with numerous weapons, drunk on power, shouting at everyone in the line (not queue) as though they were all insignificant insects, really not in any way welcoming for tourists. :0 :0

On presentation at the desk I got a mildly better mannered chap, but really got the impression he didn't want any foreigner in his country, who didn't smile or make eye contact, and slammed, rather than placed, documents down on the desk in front of me. v( v(

On collecting my luggage it was then snatched out of my hand forcefully without explanation (I thought I was being robbed by the ground crew) and thrown onto a conveyor belt, where it was waiting for me after I went up an escalator (I think I might have had to pass through another checkpoint) to the arrivals where I was met by our ground transport, collected my case, and all went well from then on!

Is my experience (and it's not exaggerated) unusual, normal? What's the process generally like these days?

Thanks

[buns]

Bretty

Our arrival into JFK last week could not have been nicer - and quick

Thee were machines and after taking fingerprints and a photo a small slip was printed and this was given to the Immigration Officer and subsequently the customs officer.

The only thing I will say is the US has become paranoid about Ebola since the death in the States last week so I would urge caution about appearing flippant at any time

buns

Thanks Mr B, that sounds like a good experience. I can only imagine the paranoia over there!

Bretty, luck of the draw and which airport I suppose, although your last experience is the one I usually experience, and as for Miami don't bothers. I can't understand why they are so hostile to us Brits, as we about the only friends they have got left in the world.

Personally I have always had a good experience of the US CBP.

Sure there is the odd one that's having a bad day but then again so to cabin crew and checkin staff etc etc etc

Always be polite and answer the questions asked and show no irritation. it always helps to know the places you want to visit in BOS to show you know what you are doing.

The 'worst' I ever had was during the UK foot and mouth situation but even that was trivial.

Generally speaking, I have found MCO to be OK. Sure, you can be unlucky and arrive at the "wrong" time [i.e. 3 or 4 other aircraft ahead of you] but the Immigration staff are generally fairly friendly.

There are, of course, exceptions on both sides of the scale. Best MCO experience was a very friendly officer who clocked my O2 / England Rugby shirt and mistook it for a soccer top. The GF just piped up to him as quick as a shot "no, balls the wrong shape for that". He laughed out loud. Worst MCO experience is an officer who claimed me having a fleece coat over my arm was stopping the fingerprint scanner working. Hmm.

As has already been said, be polite, reasonably sober and answer their questions and you'll probably be fine.

John, can't comment on Boston, we always use JFK or EWR. Always long, long queues in a snake, with a grim-faced individual at the end of the snake directing you to another, thankfully shorter, queue leading to one of the desks. We always run like mad from the plane to try to get as near as possible to the head of the snake. The unsmiling unwelcoming person at the desk will want to know why you are trying to enter the US and how long you are daring to hope to stay. They will then scrutinise your passport long enough to make even you think it's a forgery. Then, if you're lucky, like my OH, your passport will be stamped and you're on your way. If however, like me, you resemble a known, much-wanted felon, you'll be stared at for some time, then "fingers" barks the dragon and you put your fingers on the pad on the (high for littlies like me) shelf over the desk. "Thumb" barks the voice, then "Other hand". After that, "Camera" and your mugshot is taken. By this time, visions of Alcatraz are going through your mind but eventually, after many more hard stares, they reluctantly stamp your passport and your customs form and let you in.

After that ordeal, it's a breeze, you collect your baggage and go past the customs desk and hand the guy your stamped customs form.

Piece of cake really! Have a great time, we're still over here in New Jersey so I could maybe get to Boston jail and bail you out if they reckon you're an undesirable alien :w

I am always scared of the ones who are friendly. Lots of chat about your holiday and England then you get integrated about your criminal record. (Which I don't have!). The last check is by the USDA I believe but not sure, its where you hand in the white document which this time I will have to let them know about bring cereal into the country. To be fair to the US, I have found Barbados, Dubai, India and even the Maldives equally surly and rude. The UK are normally the politest.

We must be lucky as never had a bad experience entering US. Went through LAX 2 months ago & agent was fine. They always ask a few questions but we try to answer with a smile. Worst experience ever was a few years ago in Terminal 1 at Heathrow when we asked agent a question &she just pointed to a notice on the wall which stated the penalty for 'abusing staff,.

Hope all goes well & enjoy trip

Generally we travel to MCO a couple of times a year and have found that , apart from delays sometimes, the officers have been polite and quite keen to welcome you to the U.S. always find it best to listen very carefully and comply with all instructions. You can usually tell the ones who want to chat and be more friendly but we never assume anything. Miami and Boston were pretty unpleasant so just stay calm and endure the grilling. Our last MCO trip was before the Ebola problem got worse but did notice an increase in the intensity of the questions. If you can use the APC machines this helps because it reduces the contact time with officers.

Some mixed experiences there, and some funny ones (Whiterose, I have your email so if I need bailing out I'll let you know!!), so I'll see what it's like.

I'm quite prepared for the usual questions and for a grilling, but you know, a few people skills wouldn't go amiss!

Anyway, I've warned OH not to be in any way flippant or try to make a joke. If he gets a surly individual he's likely to try and diffuse it with a little humour, but I've cautioned against that as it'll likely make things more awkward. He's never been to US and he's a bit worried, but that's mainly because it's somewhere new.

Thanks all. I'll post the obligatory 'hello from the Clubhouse' on Friday. Thanks to the VS CS agent who booked our CDC for DTCI (don't you just love talking in acronyms?) she 'accidentally' booked our pick up from the T3 Radisson at 11am so we'll have close to 6 hours in the Clubhouse! I'm not complaining...:w

I had a 9 year hiatus between trips because of the (in my view) OTT behaviour at LAX - very rude and like you Bretty, almost as if they didn't want tourists. I had to look at myself and check in case I looked like a criminal (what that would be Lord knows) or something. Had family there and decided they would come visit me, as I wasn't keen to go through that again. Fastforward to last Christmas and the experience was far better - long queues (or lines) but far nicer Immigration Officers, standard questions etc but far nicer tone and approach. Does make a difference in my IMO, and gets your time there off to a positive start. Have a great time in BOS.

I have flown into Boston, Atlanta and Orlando a few times.
Immigration officers are people and you get some good and some bad. Even the good get out of the wrong side of bed sometimes.
Having said that, most of the time I have been dealt with by efficient and helpful friendly staff.
The only time I got a real Mr Grumpy was at Heathrow customs once. He gave Mrs D the third degree on a painting she had bought.
I'd put your Seattle experience down as a one off.
Enjoy Boston.
Dick D

It will be interesting to hear of your experience john ,my jaunts to NYC over the past couple of years have produced a mixed bag but I did feel on the last couple of occasions it seemed to be better in terms of politeness ,as we all know it's mostly down to luck on which desk you go to and who you get processing you but I'm sure you'll be fine

As others have said, it varies. Mostly I have had courteous but very businesslike exchanges. Quite often they are interested in my work and ask me questions -- I eventually realised this was more curiosity than suspicion. It must be quite a gruelling job.

The only bad experience was at Toronto in pre-clearance, which was absolutely awful.

[honey lamb]

My experiences have for the most part been fine. I've had some great experiences with the staff wishing me a good vacation or telling me to enjoy a wedding I was attending.

I was impressed with the guy who processed me in SFO some years back. A friend had invited us to join her at a party in her time-share in Lake Tahoe. I flew in on VS (natch!) but another couple flew in on BA which flight arrived just before ours. I spotted my friends and joined their queue for Immigration. There were at least ten people between us but he recognised the address and queried it (in the nicest possible way). I was able to confirm that I knew them and they were long-standing friends and demonstrated that by knowing that one was from HK and the other from South Africa. He was delightful and really interested in our trip and wished us a lovely stay.

The worst experience was in IAD. Because we were bussed out to a remote stand we departed an hour late from LHR. This cut seriously into my connecting time to an onward flight to North Carolina. Two others were in the same boat and we requested assistance in getting through Immigration. This was particularly important to me as my last experience at that airport had been that we took over an hour to get through. VS turned up trumps having a ground staff to meet us and escort us through (and to make sure we were the first off those awful mobile lounges ). When we arrived at the desks, the staff member explained our situation to the waiting crowd who were more than happy to allow us through. Not so the jobsworth in Immigration. He requested I step back and quizzed the staff member as to the reasons for it before refusing to allow us to proceed. Fortunately the VS staffer pleaded with another member who agreed to process us. One of the passengers missed his connection because of this and it was the last flight of the day. I was re-protected on to a later flight but managed to get mine by the skin of my teeth thanks to a delay with my original flight. My luggage, however arrived seven hours later )

Unfortunately it's their job to scrutinize and they don't have to be nice about it. They aren't tourist guides and while they may be the first impression visitors get, I find CBP no more indifferent and also inconsistent than any other country I've entered on a Visa waiver program for me as a citizen or my OH as not.

Luck of the draw as some have said, just have your stuff in order and you won't have a problem.

In the 15 years of regular (minimum of 4 or 5 per year) entries to the USA (before my permanent stay nearly 3 years ago), via various airports depending on the cheapest flight deal or where my ex was working I encountered only 2 'unpleasant' agents and looking back they weren't nasty - just more throughout in their questioning...

Not casting any aspersions but a lot of people including me respond in the same manner/with the same attitude that I am subjected to. Turn up expecting a grumpy 'power crazed' official that you think doesn't want you visiting his or her country you might just find one.

PW

Our last trip had us facing an immigration officer with a sense of humour. Who even knew such an animal existed? SUCH a change from the usual terse, don't-mess-with-me type. We were through in no time. Waited much longer for our bags than to get through immigration....

Just been through the New (to me) international terminal at Vegas. Immigration was not too bad, still massive lines especially as behind a BA and AF? Was through in under 30 minutes. Line supervisor was friendly and chatty, suggested getting registered for 100 dollars if you are a regular to use the automatic machines. Told us that we don't ever want to be behind a plane from Mexico. Actual agent was chatty as well. Girl on the BA flight did faint as it was quiet warm. Was actually through before some of the crew. Customs line was a lot slower with only 2 lines. Guy wearing a surgical mask who simply said " here" and then when he was finished with me said "go", must love his job!

Thank guys