Traveling to the US

[Scrooge]

Rather than continuing the thread here, a point was made in the thread on A'Net about the drop in tourism from the UK to Florida due to the customs and immigration three ring circus you have to go through.

Carrying a green card I just go through the US line at immigration so I have no clue what you go through, has it become such a problem now that you think twice before coming to the states for a holiday ?

[Decker]

Immigration doesn't seem any worse to me to be honest. Perhaps the number of transatlantic flights on my record mean that they worry less?

[mitchja]

I certainly would think twice about a holiday in the US now after my two recent experiences with US immigration. Things are only going to get worse as far as I can see.

Regards

[Bazz]

I have to agree with Decker, it doesn't seem any better or worse than it has always been. As I said in my TR we actually had an Immigration Officer who still had a sense of humour (must have slipped through the net) on arrival at LAX and the TSA guy I had at LAS was quite a laugh.

There never seems to be enough booths open during busy periods but that has always been my experience. I don't notice the finger print or retina scan slows things much either.

Immigration hasn't deterred us, although luckily I have never been subjected to any major waits for a few years now. Having said that, I can see myself being stuck there for a few hours on my next trip;)[:I]

VS.

SSSS can obviously be a hassle, but I would agree that it seems much the same as it has always been and better than some countries. Cape Town can be a nightmare, and China during SARS.......

[mitchja]

It's not really SSSS that's the problem.

I feel now that every time I enter the US I have to prove my innocence. I dont have anything to hide and have a clean record so know there should be no resaon to not let me visit the US.

My problems have only started since APIS was introduced.

Regards

I love florida and immigration doesnt bother me (granted the attitude of some of the officers is awful but hey give someone a gun and they think they are someone!). My only complaint is I cant got to florida as often as I like!

The officers do have a rather "guilty until proven innocent" attitude, which isn't necessarily a bad thing and I know courtesy shouldn't come before safety, but surely there must be a more friendly way to do it[:0][ii]

VS.

[HighFlyer]

I'm with James, it wont stop me going to the US, but t does annoy me. When you travel to Asia its an absolute breeze, on he last few times (bar the last) that i have been through US Immigration i have had the riot act. I have been interrogated over my Middle Eastern visas (read: Egyptian) many a time .

I think if you go over for Business a lot its probably ok, but as i travel mainly for vacation i seem to get the third degree. They cant understand it when i was last there a month ago. I guess as most US citizens only get 10 days or so annual leave it may look suspect that i'll spend the equivalent of a month or two over in the USA each year.

To be honest though, its not just US customs that bothers me, its the UK now too, and the whole security gone mad debacle of check-in and TSA searches that gets to me. Especially if you have to make connections, its become a long, laborious process that wears me down. I did it last week with the knowledge that i'll be doing it again in 3 weeks. The end goal of a fun holiday or trip away seems somehow lost when i am shouted at by two-bit jobsworths that wouldn't know security if it bit them on the bottom. I hate the whole 'cattle herding' feel and look forward to the day we finally roll out some decent alternatives.

[/rant]

Thanks,
Sarah

Soon we'll have to provide all ten fingerprints to gain entry, and the details can then be passed around any agency they feel like, so it does make you wonder about where they could end up, and possible false positives any time in the future.

The attitude upon arrival to question you repeatedly with the same questions to see if you slip up is very annoying, and the passing of so much personal data with API does seem a bit too much.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by HighFlyer


I hate the whole 'cattle herding' feel and look forward to the day we finally roll out some decent alternatives.

[/rant]

Thanks,
Sarah

I could not agree with you more, though at least for us getting into the UK was a lot easier than the US.

With no planned trips to the UK right now (meaning 3 or 4 will pop up) I was scratching my head trying to think of the best way to plan out a trip.

I may well end up being a total throw back and take a flight to LHR/LGW then hop on a ship and do a trans Atlantic cruise back, a few days of R & R on the high seas [y]

I haven't yet had a situation arise where it has made me think twice about going back to the States. MrG and I sometimes get asked about our marital status, and it's the only time when we don't come up with some wise crack answer to that question [:p]

When leaving BDA to go to the States, you have to clear US immigration before you go through security. It's great, because you know you've potentially got the most difficult part of your trip to the States out of the way and you can enjoy the flight.

The only problem I have had is that I never seem to be able to press my fingers hard enough on the pad. Also it bugs me that I can't see the photo they've just taken of me (vanity I guess[8D])

BTW, the most friendly agents I have come across would have to be at SFO.

I have to admit that, if I were less enthusiastic about the US, it could easily be enough to put me off. The 1st time I was over, back in 87 (Orlando), yes, the queues for immigration were long, but the officials were ok - it was just the sheer volume of people that caused delays.

My most recent experience at Vegas airport was probably the worst ever - and that was coming home - when security and officials were swarming. Not only did we have an endless queue to clear security, there were stern notices everywhere warning you not to joke with the officials, and the number of times I was asked if I was carrying any gels, liquids (by bored looking people) - well, I just lost count.

As someone else said here, I also resent being treated as a criminal and being under suspicion - I really do hope the drop in toursim will make someone in a position of authority wake up and smell the tourist dollar, and yes, I did hear about the taking of all 10 digit print in the summer - what next, will we need to don one of those tasteful prision uniforms as well?

So we have strikes, uncertainly about whether our bags will in fact follow us and meet us at our destination, surly immigration and rabid suspicion. I just wish they'd bring back visas.....

As I said, I love going to the US, but if I feel this way about it, then people who are ambivalent about going anyway could easily be put off.

The only time I've ever had any problems (and minor ones at that) was the one time I managed to leave my proof of return ticket at Heathrow. [:I] It didn't help that I was staying for 87 days and entering under the VWP.

Maybe I've been lucky but I haven't found any immigration officials other than those who just look bored/are having a bad day at work. Some have even been rather nice! Asked how my flight was, welcoming me to the country etc etc

Having said that when I come back in again next week I'll be stuck in a holding cell for a few hours and I'll have to edit my post [:p]

No real issues for us.
I've nearly always had a friendly officer and had a laugh and a joke but my occupation often invokes a lot of conversation with them . Only once was I growled at (JFK) and only once did I get someone obviously not enjoying their job (ORD but I too was unhappy after having to queue for 70 mins in line before being seen and therefore missing my connection) but on numerous other visits to JFK/LAS/MCO I can honestly say it's been fine.
The 10 fingerprints thing is a concern though, I dread to think how much extra time that may add an dif that does come in I'll have to see how it goes.

Originally posted by Scrooge
[has it become such a problem now that you think twice before coming to the states for a holiday ?

Frankly yes. I still go on business, sometimes for a week, atimes for a couple of days.

But, I used to drop into Chicago, New York or Boston for a weekend to see friends regularly. The pantomime at all ends of the journey has made this less palatable and therefore I find Rome, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and others for a short break are more alluring and less stressful, especially if done by train!

My only experience of US immigration (at Newark and then at Toronto) was last year and I did not find it a hassle at all. True, the officers were not the friendliest people I have ever met but the whole process was quick and efficient. The only problem I had was at Newark where my fingerprints could not be read by the scanner - to which the officer remarked that I was not sweating enough!

So no, I have not been put off the US and if all goes to plan I might have an excuse to visit this summer.

Jonathan

[RichardMannion]

To be honest, no it doesn't deter me. In honesty, US customs and immigration is better than the UK.

I have become used to the interrogation when travelling to the US but haven't quite managed to become used to the downright stupidity of UK security.

Thanks,
Richard

To be honest our December trip to Orlando must have been about the quickest for getting through Immigration/Customs we have ever had and there wasn't even a secondary security check upon arrival [y] Coming home though was the longest queue for EU passport holders I have ever seen, why can't UK passport holders have their own line??

Claire

[preiffer]

Originally posted by Claire L
why can't UK passport holders have their own line??

They do - it's called the IRIS system [y]

[mitchja]

Originally posted by preiffer

Originally posted by Claire L
why can't UK passport holders have their own line??

They do - it's called the IRIS system [y]

....and it's never even a line either [y] [y], although looking at the IRIS web site they are not at the South LGW terminal yet though.

Regards

Originally posted by preiffer

Originally posted by Claire L
why can't UK passport holders have their own line??

They do - it's called the IRIS system [y]

But not everyone can use it the required minimum of 4 times per year to prevent being removed from the system so it aint all that great for your infrequent traveller.

Additional security measures don't seem to have made the whole process any more or less painful. It was still as much of a drag to wait 2 hours in line at LAX in 2006 as it was in 1998. It doesn't put me off wanting to return.

Paul

Originally posted by preiffer

Originally posted by Claire L
why can't UK passport holders have their own line??

They do - it's called the IRIS system [y]

Though don't try it at LGW North, machine's always out of action when I travel ...