U.S. Immigration. WTF?

[KennDodd]

Why are they so rude?

I don’t think they are rude, they just don’t use any conversational niceties, the whole exchange is purely functional. If you think it’s bad entering on an ESTA try having a visa. I have now perfected a helpful and pleasant persona for dealing with immigration, consciously not taking offence to anything they say and offering answers that are as concise and complete as possible. I also keep track of how often my cheery parting “have a good day” is reciprocated (it usually is). If possible enter through Ireland, they aren’t necessarily more friendly but the whole setup is less stressful.

Very nice @ChardonnaysPrettySister , catsbum face really helps in that situation 😂😂😂😂

I agree the immigration officials are horrendous, I think Newark ones are the worst. We had an audit at work years ago, by the State dept, I have never in my life met such rude people, the women had crew cuts. We were fined $19 million dollars for dumping.

I honestly don't understand what's with you, Bellini, but I will leave it at this.

Best tip I ever got about six years ago was to transition through Ireland. Dublin or, even better, Shannon. We’ve done it several times. No queuing at all there and better yet no queues after you land in the US.
Also to echo PPs... stick to yes sir, no sir answers. Speak when spoken to.

In fact, I have been through immigration points in many different countries. They are much of a muchness

They're really not. Per pp there are many countries where they manage to be perfectly pleasant and a number where they don't.

Outside possibility here @DramaRamaLlama , that the grumpier ones are the countries that have the biggest issue with illegal immigration or, as I experienced in the Soviet Union (as was) people trying to sneak out.
They are there to serve their government, not to be smiley to you. Smiley helps, as it does in every situation when you are dealing with masses of people. But understandable if it's not there. Suck it up. Get through it. Enjoy your holiday.

DramaRamaLlama I've found that in the UAE they just don't want to speak to women, they just stamp your passport and nod you through.

I once cause a very long queue in Singapore as the passport official noticed my birthplace and asked where i lived. He followed the football teams of both cities and wanted to talk all about them even though i know very little about football!

bellinisurge I'm not sure many countries have a significant issue with illegal immigration via airports - but might be wrong.

I lost a passport when traveling recently. It had my US visa in it and I had to present to the embassy for interview to get a replacement. The official was an absolute dick because I didn't have a crime reference number for a lost passport in London

I've found that in the UAE they just don't want to speak to women, they just stamp your passport and nod you through

When I had a resident visa they always said "welcome home" which I thought, as an expat, was a nice touch. You're right they don't speak much when I'm traveling alone although a few have expressed pleasant surprise at my Arabic. As a blonde haired blue eyed European it's unexpected.

They're always very charming with DC and of course they always take you to front of queue when they're young.

@dramaramallama

Of course loads of illegal immigrants and in the US suspected terrorists come in through airports.

inniu terrorists are a different issue.

I assumed given the requirement for providing API when entering the US it was pretty difficult to enter illegally via an airport 🤷‍♀️

Neither API nor Esta grants you access across the border into the US. It says that on the forms.

I have never found them rude.

We go virtually every year and Dp goes 3 or 4 times per year.

Last time we had a nice chat with the guy behind the desk as we told him how disastrous our holiday had been so far and we had only just arrived

I've been through immigration in 40 odd countries, and the US were by far the worst. Rude and thoroughly unpleasant.

However, last time we got a lovely, charming man so they aren't all like that.

The issue is that people enter saying they intend to stay for 90 days or less and don’t leave

www.npr.org/2019/01/10/683662691/where-does-illegal-immigration-mostly-occur-heres-what-the-data-tell-us?t=1561044973557

Most illegal immigrants enter legally. This is what border police are checking for

And honestly, heaven help you if you are Canadian with dual national children landing in Canada. You have to have a letter signed by your foreign spouse, in the presence of a Canadian notary or solicitor authorised to practise in Canada or a death certificate for the non-Canadian parent or they go mental.

Yes, I found them rude but I actually preferred it to all the OTT ‘have a great day’ positivity in the US service industry.

I've been to the USA 4 times. They were very polite each time. I got quizzed a little bit once about the purpose of my trip, but they weren't rude over it.
I've found the rudest American I met on my travels more polite than the average British person to be honest.

'Why are you here in Canada?' 'Visiting family. They're outside waiting for us.' 'Where are you going while you are here?' 'Um, on vacation to Calgary.' 'For how long? How are you getting there?' And then just all manner of loads of questions. We've been hauled into rooms, rang my spouse at work despite the official letters, rang my family outside, even with the proper documents and return tickets. And that's with being Canadian! Yet crossed into the US with just cursory looks at the passports and on you go.

A friend of mine said they were even racist (don't know what else you'd call it) to her at JFK once. She's black, husband white, both British. Black immigration officer questioning why she was married to a white man. This was about 20 years ago.

Much Ado Aboot Nothing.

Sorry.

bellinisurge not sure if you're being stupid or disingenuous now

Obviously they don't grant you access - they do however give immigration the advance information they require to make a decision.

Do you have stats on illegal immigration via airports? I googled but only found articles dating this was trump rhetoric. Genuinely interested

Being stuck in a queue behind whining people who think that they are entitled to a positive customer service experience at everyone else's expense is not a particularly joyful experience either.