US immigration procedure still offends...

Cheers Slinky09 - Friends at last -lol


Keith

I travel to the States about once a month, mainly to DC. I have to say that i've had a very good experience every time! This might be because i work in the defence industry and always give the officals a bit of "war" chat when they ask me why i'm coming (most seem to have a service back ground, mainly marines).

No i'm off to Miami tomorrow, so it all may go wrong then!

In general i say these guys are doing a pretty boring job for not great money. You are always going to get the odd idiot but isn't that true for all walks of life?

I must have the best of both worlds. As I am a U.S. citizen, but resident in England for the past 30 years, and my wife is English (notice I don't say British), whenever we arrive in the U.S. I get to take her to the empty U.S. passport holders line. We go about 6 times a year, and never once have I had my bags looked in, just waive the good old black passport and away you go sir. Then on my return to the U.K. I have to fill in the little landing card, walk up to the desk,(or use IRIS if it's working) speak in my best English accent, asked how long I have lived here, and away we go again. I have even beaten my wife through passport control before. I even was allowed to enter the U.K. a couple of years ago without my passport, as I had lost it!!! Oh, and last year I was let in without showing my "leave to enter" stamp! I must say though, I wish the U.K. control was somewhere in the middle of the 2

[Scrooge]

I have it the same, but the other way around of course.....Doesn't it just make a good end to the flight seeing the length of the lines for non citizens and knowing you wont have to stand in them.

[Darren Wheeler]

I've flown into the US about a dozen times over the last 6 years and have never had any problems other than the queues. After all, when 2 fully loaded 747's arrive at the same time, you cannot expect a rapid entry. Even then, it usually takes no more that 40 minutes and my record is 20 minutes from plane to pavement.

Last year I was having a laugh and joke at LAX immigration and had no problems. I have however, seen those who show the 'incorrect attitude' go though the grinder. It usually involves too much in-flight booze and a lot of gobbing-off!