U.S. Immigration. WTF?

[KennDodd]

Why are they so rude?

I've been through US immigration as a child, as a young adult, with my partner and with my own child. Do I like saying "yes sir/ma'am" and being deferential? No. Is it a big deal? No,

Do I like saying "yes sir/ma'am" and being deferential? No. Is it a big deal? No

JFC bellinisurge is that what you think people are bitching about the requirement to say "yes sir"

I did that. I was polite with a smile, didn't joke about or make unnecessary chat beyond 'hello' we still got shouted at to the point my child started crying because he was scared. From reading this thread it seems my experience is not unusual.

I've been though US immigration many, many, many times with my children. Never had a problem with the officials once. Yes, they are stern but they are doing an important job. Last time, I happened to arrive at JFK on my birthday - the immigration official noticed and wished me happy returns of the day!

Russian immigration is terrifying

From reading this thread it seems my experience is not unusual.

Conveniently ignoring the many poster who've entered the States many times with no issues.

Don't come back. Simple. No big loss for us really.

Russian immigration is terrifying
Why! Why are they like that! It's so unnecessary. I know they're not there to be your best friends but they can do the job without the aggression surely?

@DramaRamaLlama , people on this thread appear to think that US immigration should conduct themselves in a way that suits the traveller and not US immigration. Who knows what edict they are responding to or what situation they are dealing with if they are horrible to naice Mumsnetters.

Russian immigration is terrifying

I can't disagree because I actually thought I was being kidnapped but that was not the intention

I was traveling for business and we had some sort of business fast track : we were literally bundled down the stairs next to the air bridge attachment and into a blacked out Mercedes mini van.

No one said anything and we were driven at speed across the runways. At this point I seriously contemplated diving out of the door

We pulled up outside a small building and out passports were demanded. We sat questioningly fir 5 mins are were then ushered into a small room with black leather sofas and a bar. Drinking the proffered vodka shots did not seem optional.

The men were hugged and patted on the back. The women ignored. We were then free to leave. Utterly bewildering!

But why is it necessary to be rude and aggressive to harmless tourists/ business travellers who will no doubt be spending money in the US economy and then returning home? There is no need, of course.

Maybe they are abrupt because they know it makes people uneasy and less able to formulate convincing lies. It certainly makes me less able to formulate convincing truths.

Who's to say they are harmless @Pemba . That's kinda how it works.

If I was coming in to do something nefarious I would probably pretend to be a harmless tourist, rather than ticking the box indicating I'm a terrorist or criminal on the ESTA application. They are concerned about business travellers because they have rules about working here without a visa. You can come in to the USA for meetings but not to work on an ESTA.

People travelling with kids, with tickets for Disney theme parks etc. are likely to be a threat? Really?

Anyway, surely they can be vigilant without being aggressive/rude? Not very professional of them.

Pemba, people traveling with children overstay their visas too. That is exactly who the much discussed “dreamers” are. Adults who were taken in to the US illegally as minors by their parents and grew up in the US.

You said you did nothing wrong but you literally went over to the immigration officer 's desk uninvited and asked him if he was going to do his job????! OF COURSE he's going to be pissy with you!
It was very entitled.
Wait. In. Line. With. The. Rest. Of. Them.

I'm SO sorry op , that was a different poster. Please ignore me

'wait in line'

Even when I'm America I wait in a queue.

Was told was not from UK because my passport said was born n Glasgow. That was not fun because did not have a clue how to reply in a way which did not seem rude.

Yep OP I agree. They look at you with such distain and suspicion and eye you up and down as if you're a criminal. I travel a lot to the States and it's like this every time without fail. My last trip out, the man doing the fingerprints was especially rude. I can't remember the last time I've felt eyes burn straight through me like that.

But you know, I love the States, so it's a small thing to put up with I guess.

Being of middle eastern descent I get treated like a potential terrorist everywhere I go. Especially in middle eastern countries,

I had a non electronic passport a couple of years ago in nyc and got carted off into a room and interrogated. They didn't send me home though. I think there are countries that are far worse. Vietnam for example. Terrifying but this was 20 years ago..

DH is Middle Eastern and only has had shit in the UK (thanks BA, won’t be flying with you every again).

I don't have a story to tell, but I'm reassured by all these stories. The border police sound like they are doing their job properly in addressing illegal immigration.

DH is Middle Eastern and only has had shit in the UK (thanks BA, won’t be flying with you every again).

Definitely not using them again after a day flight from London to New York and they turned ALL the lights out for all but an hour of the flight, turned on the fasten seatbelts signs when too many folks congregated by the toilets, and then said, 'Hope you had a nice rest' when we were near to landing. NEVER seen the like, in decades of such flying, designed to shut people up because they didn't want to work so the fuck they'll be getting any more of my money, on top of putting up with T5.