51–60 of 240 posts
As someone who went though lengthy (10+ years) immigration process, from student visa to work visa to Green Card to Citizenship, with extensive travel in between - there is nothing particularly unreasonable about the experience described. OK, so he was delayed for a few hours, due to some error or inconsistency in the USCIS database... There's no reason to freak out. And the condescending remarks about the officer no…
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Earlier quoted context omitted.
...he took exception to something I wrote about him 2 days later? As I've mentioned in another reply, I was scrupulously polite at the time.
Well it's a relief to know you only belittle people behind their backs.
Sure, insulting people behind their back is unethical. So is the treatment OP was subjected to.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have no idea why you got downvoted.
I don't either especially since I am not even bitter about the experience. I am just confused. The irony is that since then I've crossed the border 12+ times a year and the experience is always pleasant (now I enter as a Canadian citizen for either vacation or a short business trip). One would think they'd have preferred me when I paid taxes there (and by the virtue of being on visa, they knew a lot more about me).
I'm confused as well: which path in the system should be credited as most wrong? The intersection of you being Canadian, brown, and in a better profession than customs agents seems rife with opportunities for them to F you over.
Hell, I'm a white guy and despite this privilege I ass-kiss too much whenever I travel because they can decide to do the same to me. Not nearly as likely, but since we gave up our rights to opaque government security services, who knows. Not to be US-bashing, I do the same when I have gone international.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Which airport? IMHO, SFO is probably the best airport to arrive at immigration wise. LAX is a little bit worse, but that's more of a 50/50 on whether someone's having a good day or not. JFK, on the other hand... Ouch.
This was MIA. And yes, SFO is by far the friendliest airport I've ever arrived at (the others being Dallas/Fort Worth and JFK).
If you have a green card you can avoid this by signing up for Global Entry[1]. Then you can avoid customs lines and just swipe your card at the kiosk - enter the country without ever talking to anyone. As an extra benefit the kiosk is always empty so you are through in minutes... hmm maybe I shouldn't be spreading the word about this :) [1] http://www.globalentry.gov/
Serious question: can you be non-white and get one of these?
Mexicans and Koreans tend not to be caucasian, so at least some non-whites can get one of these.
Not sure whether you would want one, though. It sounds pretty intrusive.
"Travelers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and interview before enrollment." [2]
Also, the system relies on a fingerprint scanner. Since I have no fingerprints (due to medication), I would receive a big ole 'X' on my receipt every time.
"If the kiosk receipt has an “X” printed on it, then you must report to a CBP officer. Please report to the nearest staffed CBP passport control station. You do not have to get back in line. The CBP officer at the passport control booth will review your documents, determine the reason the “X” was printed on the receipt and either release you from there or refer you to “secondary” for additional processing.
The “X” can mean many different things: random inspection; you have items to declare; you have duty to pay; you have agriculture products that need to be examined; your membership may need review; your fingerprints may not have matched, the system may have trouble completing the transaction; you may have timed out on one of the screens, or other issues. "
If you have a green card you can avoid this by signing up for Global Entry[1]. Then you can avoid customs lines and just swipe your card at the kiosk - enter the country without ever talking to anyone. As an extra benefit the kiosk is always empty so you are through in minutes... hmm maybe I shouldn't be spreading the word about this :) [1] http://www.globalentry.gov/
Serious question: can you be non-white and get one of these?
As long as you feel the benefits outweigh the downsides the only person you can complain to is yourself. You're still going there aren't you? I've had an episode quite comparable to this one and it was the last time I visited the US. I don't bitch about it, I don't begrudge the border guards their jobs or attitude (I assume they get a lot of shit heaped on them every day, not an excuse for a non-professional attitude…
The problem with the US immigration system is that none of the people suffering in it can vote to change it. The purpose of my story is to raise awareness amongst US citizens who understand the importance of immigration to the economy that the system is broken, at nearly every level. I can't fix the system by complaining, but they can.
As long as you feel the benefits outweigh the downsides the only person you can complain to is yourself. You're still going there aren't you? I've had an episode quite comparable to this one and it was the last time I visited the US. I don't bitch about it, I don't begrudge the border guards their jobs or attitude (I assume they get a lot of shit heaped on them every day, not an excuse for a non-professional attitude…
Less immigrants would negatively affect the GDP? I've heard the opposite many times, but I'm not an economist. Why is that so?