U.S. Immigration. WTF?

[KennDodd]

Why are they so rude?

Cos they don't need to be polite? At least they don't shoot you, like the police do.

Do you have direct experience or have you been watching TV?

Guess because it’s a really boring low paid job. I don’t find any immigration people particularly pleasant.

Trust me, British ones aren't always nice when you don't have UK passport.

Or probably even when you do have UK passport.

They don't need to be polite? What kind of answer is that?

They can be so vile, there really is no need.
They're rudest group of people I've ever come across, wonder if it's part of the job description.

They're notoriously unpleasant.

It's because everyone wants to stay illegally dontcha know

wonder if it's part of the job description.

I suspect it might be. It can't be a coincidence that they're all angry power tripping dicks.

They're rudest group of people I've ever come across
I agree.

They've made my children cry before shouting at us. All our paperwork in order and ready. No need for such rudeness.

In contrast, New Zealand immigration officials have always been lovely.

I've been through US immigration 4 times in last 6 mths and many times previously.

My first trip (without parents) to US 15 yrs ago I was pulled aside and grilled about why I didn't have my husbands name. They asked DH if he felt "emasculated" by that

They're always abrupt at best, more often rude and the queues in JFK and SFO are absurd recently.

Going on holiday to the US next year, getting anxious about the shouty people in boxes when we get there. Are the women as rude as the man?

The irony is that, in a room full of rude immigration officers, there's usually a video called "Welcome to America" playing on a loop. Our best experience was last time when we went through JFK and they'd put in the self-service booths which read your passport, take your photo and your fingerprints. The officers were so much more pleasant not having to do that with you.

I get nice ones all the time, even in NYC? I don't think any are especially rude. Perhaps you've been unlucky

Yeah it's so bad it's comedy rude

I have been to the US loads of times and the officers have always been polite and friendly.

Fly via Dublin and do US Pre-clearance (where passengers undertake all US immigration, customs inspections prior to departure) so when you arrive in US you are treated as a domestic arrival. Staff are firm but not too shouty.

The time we went with the kids the officer was firm but pleasant.

The Russian immigration officers are the rudest in the world!

I’ve only had nice ones
Heard lots of stories and then they turn out to be lovely.

Particularly big shout out to the Vegas ones who told me I didn’t look 40 after a very long flight

We had the rudest man ever last year, he was unbelievable! Basically he called over anyone who was a US citizen from a long queue of airline passengers. He paid no attention to the fact that about 10 passengers were all called through, by him, and we were still patiently watching them all pass us by. Once there was no-one (American) left to call I very calmly walked over to ask if he would allow us to present our documents next. He barked at me like I was a dog!! My dc is autistic and she was panic stricken by his disgusting behaviour. I explained to him that there was no need to be rude and that I had only made a simple enquiry. Big mistake!! Major rudeness from him, it was as though he was desperate to find something, anything to pull us up on. Thankfully there was nothing but, at the end of the process, he simply threw back our documents and said nothing. That was my DCs first experience of the U.S and it was both terrifying and appalling. There is no reason whatsoever for such behaviour.

I fly to the US several times a year and have global entry now THANK FUCK
But before that, my worst was a SFO immigration man who threatened to send me to the back of the very long queue for not keeping my eyes to the front and looking round in shock at the massive queue that had sprung up behind me.

Pissy little man in his dead end job in a windowless room. No wonder he's a bitter asshole. I put in a complaint.

I've never had a rude UK immigration officer, we're all British though so I bet that makes a difference. Thinking about it I don't think I've ever had rude immigration officers anywhere except America.

I put in a complaint
What happened with that?

The anti-American sentiment on here is bloody tiring. Imagine if you said all Black immigration officers were awful? I've had rude immigration officers all over the world. Our worst was the Maldives. Does that mean they're ALL like that? Nope. In the US last summer they couldn't have been nicer to me travelling with 4 kids alone none of whom have my last name and two being step kids. Checked documents and waved us through with an enjoy your vacation.

Well lucky you. They made one of my children cry.