U.S. Immigration. WTF?

[KennDodd]

Why are they so rude?

One issue we came across in April that was new to us. We had self certification entry via screens at Philadelphia. One question was “are you travelling with another family member?” I replied “yes”. I was then asked to enter the details of my family member. My DH was at another screen doing exactly the same thing and being asked the same question. In all the times we have been to the USA we have been told to step forward as individuals. No one said we had to input data together as a family. As we both answered “yes” but had no further data to enter we received a ticket with a big X on it and had to see the rude immigration official. We explained about not being told to enter the data as a family and he was obviously fed up with everyone saying the same thing.

It’s madness! No signs, no information so everyone gets it wrong! Welcome to Trumpland!

We have only found this to be an issue in New York. If going there we fly via Dublin and clear US immigration there.

I've never really had a terribly rude US immigration official - but they are more po faced then the rest of the world, and seem more intimidating and ask a lot more questions. And not even sensible questions! I've been quizzed on British History after a 9 hour flight - and I didn't get the impression he didn't believe I was really British and so was checking - he just wanted to know what I knew ... and then told me I should know more (I mean, did he really want me to get into 1000 years of history since the Norman conquest at 3 in the morning? Probably not).

The worst thing though is that - unlike every other country in the world - if you are transiting through America to go somewhere else (no intention of actually entering America) you still need to go through immigration and have an esta! and answer the questions. I was quizzed on why I was going to Brazil - what's it to you? (The Brazilians didn't ask!) We got off the plane by a large group of teenagers in high viz jackets clearly on a school trip, waiting in the lounge. We proceeded to immigration - queued up - stupid questions ('what's in Brazil?' being the one that sticks out) - walked the entire length of Dullus airport on the other side, following the signs to our gate - to find the teenagers in high viz jackets. We had gone in a big three hour circle - and then got back on the same plane! We stopped in San Paolo on the way to Rio - they just kicked us into the lounge whilst they refuelled, even though as our first point of entry into Brazil they could have made us go through immigration there. So much more chill.

For perspective - CHINA is happy to let you transit through without going through immigration. (actually the Chinese officials are some of the loveliest and most helpful I have ever come across - but Southern China airlines is awful).

I have never experienced a problem with US immigration, but am a dual national and have in the past also allowed my husband (non US ) to queue with me, although have not been to the US for years so my experience is not up to date. Australian immigration - I have found them to be pretty rude to the Chinese when they don't understand what they are being asked. Ironically we all expect Chinese immigration officials to be able to speak English so a smattering of knowledge of other languages would seem reasonable for Australian immigration.
I don't really think there is any need to be rude - firm in applying rules, yes, shouting at people who don't understand English - uncalled for. The best experience I have had was in Japan. I was travelling alone with my two children who were not that young - (9 and 14 ish) and we were fast tracked through the queue as I was on my own with them. Queue was enormous and we were resigned to waiting and this was very thoughtful and considerate as my children were of an age when they were perfectly able to wait.

I wonder if we'll all get this US style integration going to Europe post Brexit?

Why are of the belief that there even is 'US style integration' when you had one encounter you consider rude but others on this thread have not?

The ones in Orlando have always been pleasant but official. However the queues. Dear god the queues.

Imagine 5 yr old after 9 hr flight, little sleep and taking almost 2 hrs to get through queue. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

I snapped at two women from Liverpool behind me loudly cats bum facing at my exhausted DS.

Incredibly rude and aggressive, in my experience. I’ve been to the USA dozens of times and they’re always like this. Miami airport and JFK particularly bad.

"The bullshit fear mongering about the US-Mexico border, you mean?"
Yes, obviously it is bullshit fear mongering. But it is their bullshit fearmongering and is clearly the tone that that department is running under. Which we have no control over. And being sniffy about it is a pointless waste of energy.

UK Border force often " unfriendly " too. Just doing their job.

This has been my experience at Heathrow and Glasgow. Not actually rude, but not friendly either. And lots of questions about where we are going and how long we are staying.

To those commenting that border officials should be nice because you are spending money in their country, the other side of that is that people who overstay often become a financial burden on the country of entry.

By the way, as to the financial impact, we Floridians do appreciate your willingness to spend money in our state. Tourism, and the sales tax revenue it generates, is the reason that we don't have a state income tax. So for all of you who wait in those long lines at Orlando, thanks for that.

The anti-American sentiment on here is bloody tiring

I agree,

We have always had a great experience.

I'm not asking them to be nice, just some basic manners will do. They have a job to do, but there are many ways of behaving on a job.

If someone want to overstay they will do so, regardless how they are treated an the border. If someone who comes as a tourist is treated badly then they might not visit again.

I've been in and out of JFK for 30 years, always so rude.Traveled through Washington with the kids and they were lovely.

@ChardonnaysPrettySister , you could always go somewhere else if the experience puts you off for the whole of your trip.

Immigration in many countries/cities are capable of being pleasant, so when official are explicitly aggressive it grates.

I've travelled to 70+ countries: broadly speaking the US is most problematic in my experience My (then) 7 yr old DS was made to cry by an official at Bangkok who took exception to him approaching the desk with me. Apparently he should have done so alone.

I've been detained in Qatar (much fun ) and asked if I'd ever killed someone by a Jordanian official (think he was joking )

The friendliest are the Irish and UAE.

And I will.

I honestly don't understand why you are so against guards being more courteous.

I think boarder security and immigration services are two different things...
The boarder security are a tough bunch once when crossing from Canada to USA they pulled over everyone travelling with kids. Took our passports and made everyone wait 6hrs. Wanted to go back and cross another day but they refused to return our passports....3 toddlers no joy.
Actual immigration services were good to us, but that was in the 80’s.

bellinisurge why would you not want to be treated with a little courtesy?! It's hardly unreasonable!

The anti-American sentiment on here is bloody tiring

I'm absolutely fucking sick of it.

I want to be treated with courtesy in most places. However, border police etc have a duty which is more important than being nice to me. It's nice to be nice but that is not their main priority. I respect their main priority. And I have been on the sticky end of US immigration grumpiness on more than one occasion. In fact, I have been through immigration points in many different countries. They are much of a muchness.

"I honestly don't understand why you are so against guards being more courteous"

I'm not against it. I'm just not so self centred as to think everything in the entire world is about me.

It's not self centred to want to be treated with courtesy, it's self esteem.

I'm polite, and I I expect people to treat me the same. Because I have self esteem.

Immigration is an encounter with law enforcement ffs. They don't give a shit about your self esteem.

If you turn up at a foreign border being all Hyacinth Bucket (google it if you are too young to get that reference) and expect them to pander to your needs when they have thousands of people to process and , no doubt, some behind the scenes shit to deal with, you are likely to be giving them a bad day. And you expect them to be deferential to your service needs. Hilarious.

I think it must be something to do with guns and uniforms, and working in a dungeon. And god forbid if you have any weird/foreign looking stamps from previous travel. I had one in Arabic. That really set the cat amongst the pigeons.

They don't give a shit about your self esteem.

Yes, but I do. Some people don't care, and that's ok.