How bad really are US airport customs/security staff?

[BorderPatrol]

I want to visit the U.S but I’m autistic and have other disabilities including neurological problems and the stories I’ve heard about the staff terrify me. I have visions of getting the hotel name or dates wrong and not being allowed in or in some other form of trouble.

Just how bad is it really?

TIA

It can be intimidating and ques can be long. I have anxiety and struggle but really it is OK if you are prepared with your hotel name written down and your paperwork in order. I've only ever flown in to Boston or New York Internationally althouh ive flown domestically all over the US and the immigration staff are either stoic or really friendly, but have never been Awful!

Lots of water, paperwork in order and its really isn't so bad.

From my experience always been fine, I just take all my info printed out so it's very clear where we are staying. The one time my husband got pulled into questioning at New York airport, was because we'd flagged up due to travelling to Amsterdam, Mexico, Ibiza and then new year in 10 month period. He said it was still fine and all very polite and let go within 15 minutes. :)

I’ve only been to the states once - New York- and was also dreading the immigration staff. However, when we got to the booth the guy was really friendly and chatty and recommended a pizza place near where we were staying.

I find it varies between airports. I've always found LAX rude and unpleasant. Quite a few others a lot nicer. Where are you planning to go?

In the main they are abrupt if not rude. For example they want you to step forward only when they gesture to you and can keep you waiting for seemingly for no reason then beckon you forward with urgency.

The usual sequence of events is that you hand over your passport, perhaps confirm that you are travelling on an ESTA or Visa and then how long are you staying and purpose of your visit (ie holiday or work) Then they will take your fingerprints and ask you to look at the camera. Then usually you are dismissed as abruptly as you were called.

I know it’s easier said than done but try not to worry about it - they deal with 1000s of people a day. You can ask them to repeat questions if you don’t hear them well and ultimately you both want the same thing: to get you on your way as quickly as possible 🙂

We flew into Sanford, Orlando and the bloke was great. He was really patient with DD who was 12 at the time.

I've been to US several times and never had any problems. Yes, the queues are long, but there are usually lots of staff and they're pretty efficient. Just get the paperwork prepared in advance, have your documents etc ready, and you'll be fine. Most are pleasant enough and aren't particularly stroppy or snappy. They're just doing their job and they're not out to "catch you out" - if you're an "innocent" holidaymaker going in solely for a holiday with all the right paperwork, they want you through passport/immigration control as quickly as you want to go through!

They're really no worse (in fact they're a lot nicer) than the stroppy security staff at Manchester airport who clearly hate passengers and seem to take great delight in making your day miserable with their sneery arrogance and downright rudeness.

They (typically) have zero sense of humour and they take their jobs seriously. Don't crack jokes or take their questions lightly, but if you've done your paperwork they'll be fine with you.

Some are more intimidating than others. Mostly they are just serious and somewhat abrupt but as PP have said, if you're bona fide then it's fine. I did once fly into Miami from Peru, and that was a whole different ball game because of the drugs risk. But arriving from the UK is fine.

Agree with a lot of the above, i.e. they vary but generally are fine but formal.

I’m American (though haven’t lived there most of my adult life) and I would say the main difference is simply that the queues are long and the staff are just quite direct and rude.

I wouldn’t let it put me off travelling though. It’s 1.5-2 hours and you don’t have to do it on exit. Bring a book, listen to a podcast, tune it out and just have all your details written down in advance. They aren’t looking to prevent you from entry necessarily, it’s just Americans are culturally very direct and abrupt. Just focus on getting through and zoning out on the noise.

Usually we find this at Manchester but, when we travelled in July, there were a few security staff who were actually great, really helpful and I had a bit of a laugh with two of them! It was a refreshing change!

One you join the queue make sure you have everything printed, such as your hotel confirmation, insurance in a clear folder, keep it in your handluggage so you can access it easily 😊
Have your passport ready in your hand.

You will be called to one of the booths once you reach to the front of the queue and hand over your passport.

please don’t worry, they may not be friendly and smiley but this is because they are taking a lot of care in their work. Be polite, remember your please and thank yous.
Ive always found them to be very courteous and professional ☺️

have you applied for your ESTA?

The staff are usually fine if you're white remember that everyone else on your plane has to go through as well, so if you're last off the plane there will be a long queue. Go to the loo before join it!

I have never had a problem.
The biggest issue I have had is the queue.
I have mostly found immigration to be aloof and professional. A few have been really friendly.
You will have your fingerprints and photo taken.
I don't remember being asked where we were staying. A few times I have been asked how much money we have, why we were there etc.

Snarky, intimidating, unsmiling.

But they are there to do a job and although you might get a telling off for not knowing the zipcode of your hotel, they won't refuse admission because of it. Last time I flew to the US I cleared immigration in Dublin and it was a total revelation - through in 5 minutes flat and the staff were SO NICE. Huge contrast to Florida where we got a grilling.

We transited through Miami once, it was complete chaos and the worst airport experience I've ever had. I would never go through there again but I've flown into several other US airports and it's been fine.

When I went they asked me one question and waved me through. This was more than 20 yrs ago but the year after 911.
If you're worried about details just have a print out with hotel/itinerary you can hand them if you get flustered. They are no worse than anywhere else I don't think. But as I said it's been years.
If anything they were way more polite than British ones and I've a British passport!

Someone mentioned 1.5-2 hours queue but that hasn't been my recent experience. I haven't been to New York recently though:

Seattle in August - about 45 minutes queuing
Tampa in September - about an hour waiting. The 'nasty' immigration officers let everyone with children go first and I was alone.

Yes don't crack jokes though. They want to try and look tough and serious.

Sometimes they are really nice, sometimes less so (I have a green card, though, which helps.) In the south, they are generally a bit friendlier - Charlotte and Atlanta are generally OK; I will do my very best not to go through Houston again, though.

They aren't as scary as is made out. All they are wanting to do is make sure those coming in have no intent to overstay their esta/visa and either become undocumented or try to adjust status.

As long as you are on an Esta, have your incoming/outgoing flight confirmation/dates and know where you are going/staying, you will be fine.

If you are going with family etc then you'll find it even easier.

Prior to starting the I-130 process, I travelled over to see my DP regularly and had no issues.

I’m autistic. I get flustered and everything starts to fall apart when I can’t find something. My advice is to make sure your paperwork and bags are hyper-organized.

Read the rules and have things in your bags prepped to pull out at security. Packing pouches are your friend. Anything you need on your flight that might require inspection should still be grouped with other items and you can take a few minutes after security to rearrange. Things like a moisturizer or medication. I make myself a checklist of what I will need to rearrange post security.

have all your documents in some sort of folder. I like clear plastic envelopes because they are lightweight. If I’m taking a long trip, I instead make a spiral bound notebook of multiple plastic envelopes to hold the documents for each segment. So separate, but held together.

this is overkill for most people, but it is what works for my brain.

Our first child was born in the US because we weee working there. As a result he has a US passport and whenever we went back we could all troop through the US side with him …

I've been 3 times and each time they've been very polite and not at all intimidating. Did have to wait in line for 3 hours on one trip though... 😭