US Immigration

Ok. I don't want to vent to my family and friends about this because I know they won't understand the stresses that come with being an expat. So...

I went home for a wedding and it was just for the week. I didn't have but one carry on duffle bag as I am not fashion conscience and don't take many clothes. Lol. Anyway, the immigration officer was horrible and when I got to customs, I got 'randomly searched' (my a**). They went through my bags and asked me loads of questions as to where I was going, what I was doing, why I didn't have much luggage, who I worked for. I was flying to Texas. My passport indicates I was born in Texas....why the hell do I need to give information as if I'm a non citizen. It's easier for me to get into Europe than it is in the US.

Anyway, I'm sure I will get people saying "that's their job". But that's why I put this in a rant section.

I just think it should be a bit more like a UK citizen entering the UK. No stupid landing cards and mandatory customs desks.

Thanks for reading! :-P

You got hassled as an american coming into the US? That sucks! I have another friend who's living in the UK permanently that happened to when she came home to the US for a visit. The IO was asking dumb questions like "why would you want to live outside of America?"

Yeah, I did. It does suck. I have less trouble entering the UK on my visa than entering the US as a CITIZEN! Lol. Oh well. I'm all for security, but this is getting a bit ridiculous.

And yes, I've also relieved similar questions. Lol. So weird.

I'd be tempted to say something about "so I don't have to deal with people like you on a daily basis" but would probably keep my mouth shut.

Lol. I refrain....but it is difficult.

I've found I still get asked more questions coming to the UK.  

But my bag is ALWAYS searched by TSA going into/around the US (they leave me those letters after destroying the organization of my neatly packed items).

But you're right, when they ask how long I've been away, I just say I've been living in the UK for X years and come back to visit every so often.  When/If I'm prodded further, I just say "I decided to follow my heart," or something similar and they normally let me be on my way

I had an almost identical experience the first time visiting the US after moving to the UK. The IO kept harping about why I would move to the UK and kept trying to trip me up about my job. I eventually got fed up and, not my finest moment, said "I am a US citizen and I know you have to let me in." I believe there was a bratty eye roll to accompany my statement.

Like others I am always getting searched between the uS and UK. I can't remember a trip where I wasn't. One time they even opened by plastic bags with curry jars inside and opened the curry. All over my clothes. I was livid.

US Immigration in Boston always give me a hard time! Always. I've flown into other places and been able to get through no problems, but Boston guys always question me lots and lots-  usually with the whole 'Why would you leave the US???'

The ones in Dublin airport are lovely, they live outside the US so they understand  

The only time I have had anything more than a glance at my passport was when I flew into Dallas a couple of months after we had gone on holiday to Morocco.  I got a frown from the IO when he saw the stamp with Arabic letters and he asked me where I got the stamp and then asked why I would go there.  "For a sunny holiday," I told him.  He then asked me if I liked it there.  I figured it would not be in my best interest to say yes, so I shrugged and said "ehhhh, it was okay."  He then smiled and gave me my passport back.  You would think since their job is to deal with people who travel they wouldn't be limited in their perspective.

Last time I flew into the US, via customs in Canada, the guy decided that my passport, my 7 year old passport FULL of US stamps, at least 25, was fake.

I spent 20-30 minutes being interrogated by him at the desk with him going through my wallet, looking at all my credit cards, my business cards (why do you have so many business cards? - I'm on my way to a conference - but why do you have so many? - I'M GOING TO A CONFERENCE FULL OF PEOPLE WHERE I AM SPEAKING - Seems weird that you'd bring so many) until his supervisor came over and let me through.

Was terrifyingly hilarious, as the rest of my colleagues stood nervously on the other side, watching and wondering if I was in fact, a terrorist.

The only time I have had anything more than a glance at my passport was when I flew into Dallas a couple of months after we had gone on holiday to Morocco.  I got a frown from the IO when he saw the stamp with Arabic letters and he asked me where I got the stamp and then asked why I would go there.  "For a sunny holiday," I told him.  He then asked me if I liked it there.  I figured it would not be in my best interest to say yes, so I shrugged and said "ehhhh, it was okay."  He then smiled and gave me my passport back.  You would think since their job is to deal with people who travel they wouldn't be limited in their perspective.

I always wonder what they expect you to say, like you'd ever go "Yes, I had so much fun eating Tagines and listening to Chaabi bands that I've been radicalised, this may look like a block of velveeta, actually semtex." 

I am curious to see what happens when I fly into Boston for a visit. When I've flown into Logan, I've always been asked a few questions, but nothing too intrusive. My worst experience was flying into Newark after a 5 week trip to visit DH (when he was BF). The weird thing is the IO seemed more concerned about how much DH loved me and less concerned about my traveling. He was suggesting because I go to the UK more, DH wasn't as serious about me as I was about him.  

My friend has spent two years studying in Lebanon and frequently flew back and forth. She's never had any issues when going through US immigration. I wonder why they give some people a hard time and aren't concerned about others.

I've never come for a visit to the US (yet), but I've never had any weird questions upon coming into the US. I usually come in through Atlanta. One of the last times I came back, the IO didn't even look up at me or even say a word (not even hello!)

Well, I only visit the UK for short periods of time, so my experiences are probably different than that of someone who is living in the UK. The first time I came back into the US in Detroit, the immigration officer just asked me about how much I had spent in the UK (money wise), and what I did for a living.

The second time, the I.O. at Philly airport asked me why I was in the UK, what my relationship was with the individual I was visiting (at that time, he was just a friend), did i ever see myself falling in love with him, how frequently he comes to see me (at that point, "he hasn't yet"), why he doesn't come to the US as much as I go to the UK ("It's easier for me to get vacation time, and I have an easier time affording the trips"), if either of us planned on moving to the others country ("Not at the current time..." was my answer at that time), why I had been taken into secondary inspection in the UK, what I did for a living, etc.... basically, so many questions, all because of a two week trip!

After he stamped my passport, I asked him if there was a reason that I was asked so many questions, when I saw so many people walking right through. His response? "It's my job to ask questions. You didn't do anything wrong, I just have to ask." He also stamped my passport with an entry stamp -- which wasn't done the first time. I asked him about that, too, and he told me that I should always get a stamp when I return home.

I kinda got the idea that he might've been new on the job, and trying to be very very diligent. He was fairly sweet for an immigration officer... he just asked more questions than I was even asked during secondary inspection in the UK!

He also stamped my passport with an entry stamp -- which wasn't done the first time. I asked him about that, too, and he told me that I should always get a stamp when I return home.

Interesting. I've been stamped twice (out of four entries).