Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that this sounds very fishy and untrue.

201 replies

ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 13/08/2022 13:10

My fil is an arse. No two ways about it.

We took him & mil to Florida for a holiday. Their first holiday abroad ever.

We gave them some brochures to read up on where we were going prior to going.

FIL read the small print on the back of the brochure and declared that he couldn’t go because he had a conviction that he had never disclosed to the family.
He was referring to the ESTA.

He revealed that he was arrested in 1968 for a minor theft from his job. (Think an off cut from the simple product). Also stole a tax disc and got caught.
He ended up travelling to London to the Embassy to be interviewed face to face to be assessed for suitability to holiday in America.This was a stipulation of the revelation of the arrest.
was granted this.
On arrival at the airport, going through passport control, fil was taken off into an interview room while we were ushered through the airport with all of the other traveler’s.
He was interviewed for nearly 2 hours before being released to continue his holiday.

I can’t help thinking that there is no way that this was because of a “minor theft”.
Anyone in the know could maybe shed Some light on this ?
It has bugged me for ages.

OP posts:
beecrazy · 13/08/2022 23:57

Our 17year old was joining us for a few days holiday in Denver, we were there for 3 weeks. We were collecting him from the airport and taking him to our hotel. He was held for nearly 3 hours as he couldn't remember the name of the hotel and we had the reservation papers. He was nearly sent back home.

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 14/08/2022 02:02

I smell bullshit.

My DH was arrested a couple of times when he was younger before I met him (assault and drunk and disorderly, never charged) and we’ve never had a problem getting an ESTA. The decision comes within minutes usually via email. I thought they were more looking for terrorism type charges

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 14/08/2022 02:38

I’ve just RTFT - it seems i’m wrong! I’m lucky as never been pulled in by immigration but they did seem like loud obnoxious arseholes who practically explode of you step a mm over the yellow line so doesn’t surprise me

Not sure how DH can continue to get an ESTA after his arrests!

fallfallfall · 14/08/2022 03:02

recently i was booked to go on a trip from montreal to new york city with my mom of 80+ HER SISTER 95 (birthday girl) and her daughter age 74 and i was the youngster of the group at past 60....
you go thought customs before you board the flight...and guess what the 74 year old had an OLD pot conviction. she was taken into an interview room questioned and finally NOT allowed to board the flight...she was suppose to be her mom's carer/assistant...
we had a lovely trip but all the family members (her other daughters, her grand daughters, grandsons her elderly sisters and brothers) all of whom are on FB and wanting birthday trip updates were questioning where is 74 year old daughter...why is she not there...well i certainly couldn't lie, i needed to have proper contact details of the other daughters in case of an emergency etc.
yes american boarder guards are heartless.

DoIDareSayAnything · 14/08/2022 03:05

I won't even transit through the US these days.

The US appear to be under the impression that everyone is desperate to move to their basketcase of a country, no matter where they are coming from.

badbaduncle · 14/08/2022 03:28

WiddlinDiddlin · 13/08/2022 15:24

What is it with the Woodcraft Folk, are they a front for something horrific?

My dad and his mate were passing through US on their way to Ecuador... both blokes in their mid 60's, a retired architect and a retired university prof. both with families back in the UK...

But, my Dad pinched a few items from the US army in 1976 during an expedition to look for alien gold in a cave with Neil Armstrong and that IS a true story .... and his mate... was a Woodcraft Folk leader...

Four hours. They didn't have any intention to remain in the US either, just get the next flight!

Woodcraft folk is like a forest school! Totally great and chilled, madness on US customs front, utterly mad. I mean it's a bit socialist but really very chilled 😂

badbaduncle · 14/08/2022 03:29

EmmaH2022 · 13/08/2022 15:29

why would that be grounds for questioning?

Show quote history

God knows?!?

user1471452428 · 14/08/2022 04:34

LifeExperience · 13/08/2022 17:34

As an American, I've been treated the same way entering Europe, and Africa, and Asia. I don't have so much as a misdemeanor on my record, but I carried a very high security clearance throughout my working life, so foreign security services had me flagged.

I just dealt with it. Every country has a right to control who enters. If you don't like it, stay home.

As for the US being particularly heavy handed--it's not. Trust me, there are plenty of worse countries. At least the US has a reason. So far in 2022 the border control has processed 1.5 million illegal entrants, with an estimated 500,000 having entered without encountering any US officials at all. That's just 7 months! Just because you don't want to live here doesn't mean that millions of others don't. According to a Gallup poll, 42 million south American want to migrate here.

Our border agents aren't on a power trip, although I'm sure many could use a lesson in common courtesy, but they are under enormous stress every day. Again, if it's so horrible, don't bother to come.

Sing it, sister!

But but I want to believe "boarder" control in Florida fingered their ninety-year old Swedish grandma on her way to Disney world...

FlipFlopBattle · 14/08/2022 05:33

I used to regularly travel alone to one US city for business, and their preferred question was what my boss's name was and could I name some colleagues based in that city.

Given this was the massive headquarters of a global business, I assume they were watching for signs that I was lying, rather than hoping I would mention their auntie Pat or something...

I was always half-tempted to tick the boxes declaring that I was a communist AND had visited a farm in the previous few days, just to see how that changed the line of questioning, but common sense prevailed 😀

RampantIvy · 14/08/2022 05:43

One of DD's teachers got hauled away for interrogation for several hours while accompanying several 6th formers on a school trip to New York. His crime was having a Spanish name. He was a pasty faced Mancunian with a broad Manchester accent.

mycatisannoying · 14/08/2022 05:50

This isn't a very nice post. Did you hope it would be something more juicy, OP?

CraftyClara · 14/08/2022 06:04

I used to be “flagged for special security” every time I flew to the US (they put SSSS on your boarding pass). I was working at an international organisation at the time, and asked my American colleague, who was a State department employee, if he could do anything about getting me off the list. He did so, and told me I had probably only been put on the list randomly so that they didn’t get accused of nationality/ethnic profiling.

CraftyClara · 14/08/2022 06:05

And my ESTA now comes through immediately rather than having to wait 72 hours!

Smorgasbordbaby · 14/08/2022 12:23

I once spent hours being interrogated by US border officials. I was there to attend a conference and give a paper but arrived a day after it started on a recently booked ticket (both high on their suspicious list to be fair). I explained that one of my children had broken their leg a few days before so I'd had to postpone by a day to sort them out. I showed them that I was listed as a speaker but they still didn't believe me. They rang my employer and the conference organisers and eventually let me in but I was quite worried for a while. All that to say they are overly zealous at the US border so I wouldn't read anything into your FiL's experience.

Bard6817 · 14/08/2022 18:04

It’s likely true.

I know someone who booked a trip on the QE2 with their life savings, had to do similar due to a possession of cannabis conviction in the 80’s…. Despite the face to face at the embassy, when he arrived at the port, he was declined boarding due to it. Suspect he may have forgot to do something to cross T’s or dot i’s, but nevertheless, the Americans are OTT with this sort of thing.

TrixieMixie · 14/08/2022 18:13

My husband was taken away and interviewed for hours at Israeli/Jordanian border, no criminal record, no idea why. Awful. Sometimes this random stuff happens. Your fil sounds a bit of a wide boy back in the day but probably not a criminal mastermind.

maddiemookins16mum · 14/08/2022 18:24

It’s because he declared it. It flagged him up when he got there.

ZandathePanda · 14/08/2022 18:37

I got stopped for being 18 and travelling alone. Asked loads of questions and suitcase was red stickered.

My mums friend gets stopped every time (not just US) because he’s a catholic priest and wears clerical clothes.

whiskersonkittenss · 14/08/2022 18:49

Hi op. The exact same thing happened with my dad. Same destination too but we visited back in 2008. I've still never found out what he was arrested for, and he wouldn't tell me even if I asked. Thankfully though, my dad was only held and questioned for around 30 mins after we landed. I am very nosy but I know he will never tell me!!

Meadowbreeze · 14/08/2022 20:05

US customs are known for this. Worst experiences travelling have always been with them. It's so hit and miss too. Once in Orlando I was interrogated for so long, questioned on my very secure job in education and was forced to show my payslips to prove my holiday money wasn't from drugs or whatever other. Another time I landed in NYC and went through in 5 seconds even though I had a kid with me who's name didn't match mine and wasn't my kid. They work on no logic.

Meadowbreeze · 14/08/2022 20:06

Oh yes and my suitcase lock was broken and my suitcase was ransacked by US customs when travelling from Orlando to Boston.

whynotwhatknot · 14/08/2022 20:08

been reading about ESTA it says it does not grant you the right to enter if they decide they dont want to let you so it will be their decision

althogh i know someone whose been in prison dosnt declare it and gets through without question they dont seem to have the means to check things if you dont admit to them

know someon else who cant get as esta because theyve flow to iran for work as a pilot

MuddlingThrough1724 · 14/08/2022 20:31

Redlocks28 · 13/08/2022 14:02

If you have a spent conviction (eg police caution) does that mean you can’t go to the US, or just that you must declare it on the forms and may be interviewed when you arrive?

You need to apply for a visa to be able to travel and fill in landing card on arrival.

nzborn · 14/08/2022 20:51

My Son who is half Maori gets pulled aside every time he goes to Australia from New Zealand. When asking what their profile is he is told it's a random stop his reply is that statistically, that's impossible 100% of the time so he must be the profile they are looking for.

anglesee · 14/08/2022 21:07

What ethnicity is he? That could have a bearing in 'Merica