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

I have been heavily questioned as a very young woman entering the USA but it was years ago and have also been pulled aside coming back to the UK, funnily enough I’m mixed race.

Can’t you go via Dublin and have your visit pre cleared? It’s what I’d be doing!

If you're white you'll be fine. But if brown or with a Muslim name, prepare to be held back by immigration. That's been my experience

This was what we found years ago when we went to Miami. New York two years ago was quick and polite, serious but not unpleasant. We were questioned just as much going to Germany last year which was a shock to me as I used to live on Germany and did a lot of trips UK to Germany and was used to being pretty much waved through. Blasted Brexit 😔

If you are worried, fly through Dublin. You can do US immigration in Dublin airport where its quieter and then you arrive straight into the US domestic terminals.

It's great. New York/JFK had a 3 hour queue last time I was there. It was very hard going.

It's OK, just be prepared and have all your hotel info written down and contact details if you are visiting someone. Do not say anything that could be in any way construed that you will be working or looking to work.

I've been quite a few times. I always get questioned a fair bit, as I travel by myself. They ask where I will be staying, where I will be visiting (as in tourist spots), who I will be meeting, how long I have known them, where I met them.

It's always been fine.

We went through New York recently. Landed at 10pm. There were three agents on. Took two hours to get the top of the queue. My son who has learning difficulties was very stressed.

Once we got to the agent they were fine though. And patient with my son who needed help with the handprint and getting his picture taken. I didn't even have our estas printed. Or insurance info. I can't remember if they asked where we were staying!!

Miami is horrendous. 3 hours to queue and the rudest most ignorant people I have ever encountered. Called us forward and said you will have to wait I’m on my break now. Next booth saw this and said to just wait there and then they would see if we could move across to her next. Supervisor said no we had to wait until our person had finished their break. Never ever will we go to USA again

TSA agents are in charge of security and are very well trained on how to handle passengers. They can see my kids are autistic and do great helping them through.

Immigration are all border agents who are homeland security. They have very tough jobs and are firm but fair. Don’t joke. Don’t speak unless spoken to. If you go to the back room don’t panic. It’s better they do this than hold the line up. Don’t wear a hat going through. Even a baseball hat. Take it off and put it back on when you are through. Do not bring any food with you beyond a granola bar. No fresh fruit, vegetables or dried meat.

Take a morning flight going to the U.S. because then you land early afternoon. It’s easier to get a ride and immigration is normally shorter.

For nyc I prefer Newark to jfk. Every goes to jfk because of the public transit. I take a car from Newark because its so much faster.

I’ve been to the US many times in the last 35 years, before and after 9/11, on my own and as a family. I have in my hand the passports, in birth order and details of where we are staying first address only (if on a multi stay trip) and how many days we are staying for. If you are going for a fortnight say 14 days, as they don’t use fortnight. Purpose of the visit is a vacation.
When I have answered the simple questions they will want my fingerprints and photo, you will need to remove hat and glasses.
There is usually some aggressive stamping, in your passport, then they will read the name of the next person in your group, just for the photo and fingerprints. It is a while since my D.C. were small but I don’t think they were fingerprinted until late teens/18. It does help if you D.C. knows there name especially when it is different in the passport, think Nicola and Nicky.

i wouldn’t worry, my eldest is ND and has entered the US independently (they are an adult).

It is a bit intimidating but when I went to San Francisco last year they just mostly had a chat with me about wine tasting!
Write down your plans and hotel details if you're anxious about getting things wrong.

Wear your sunflower lanyard and have a letter with your diagnosis to hand. The us has superb disability access and rights. Be clear and polite and listen and ask politely to repeat anything slowly as they do bark at you a bit.

Oh dear. We are flying to Belize via Houston next year.

I agree with @hopeishere I flew into JFK on my own in April. Horrendous 2 hour queue standing at immigration in the unseasonable heat, 1 or 2 people on duty. The queue checker which said the wait times was lying! But this was the first time I was ever NOT asked about my itinerary.
But be warned, going back via JFK, the queues were worse going through security! There were people missing their international flights (US citizens) because they hadn't allowed 3 hours to get through!