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Another awesome US immigration experience

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Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#221

Post by baltcode »

mbesto wrote: post #87
seldo wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're right: I'm here because the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. But this kind of stuff is what tips the balance the other way, not for me, but for other people like yourself. 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 th…

> But this kind of stuff is what tips the balance the other way, not for me, but for other people like yourself. Says who? How do you speak on others behalf? No offense, but your post (like many others) just sounds like someone who is upset that were inconvenienced for a day. If you have all of your papers sorted out (and nothing is fishy), what's so mentally anguishing about having to wait? The problem is, as you sa…

I think there are problems other than inconvenience. You might have a job or property or family within the US. Being denied entry without the protection of due process where you are innocent till proven guilty can be a BIG deal.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#222

Post by stickdick »

UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #160
stickdick wrote: post #147

There's somebody on the US no-fly list that has the exact same name as me. I can't check-in online with any airline, and checking in at the desk anywhere in the US results in some sort of warning on their computer, and a quick call to somebody to come out from the back and check it out. Unfortunately I have to fly at least once a month. A quick look over the passport shows it's obviously not me (though I don't have a…

Didn't they try to resolve this by issuing redress numbers or whatever? When I enter my passport on most airline's web-sites it gives me the option to add a redress number, which in theory should allow them to identify you as NOT the individual on the no-fly list. See this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Fly_List#DHS_Traveler_Redres...

Interesting. I've never really looked into it, I just get over the fact I have to check-in at the airport, and over time it's become less embarrassing since I just expect to see the assistants face drop in panic, and be pulled to the side.

It's never been mentioned to me either. I'm not actually a US citizen, so perhaps it doesn't apply. I'll look into it further, thanks for the advice.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#223

Post by yardie »

jwr wrote: post #211
yardie wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also get this as US Citizen and there is nothing stopping you from entering the US except your patience. You could refuse to answer and then be detained for further interrogation. but eventually they'll have to let you go. Most people, myself included, have an event to attend or plane to catch so we answer to get it over with, quickly. One time I was going to a wedding and I didn't know where it was because my fami…

If this is indeed the case (I heard otherwise, scary stories about the legal immigration gray area, but don't have the time to hunt down relevant URLs at the moment), then why do people put up with this sort of harrassment? I mean, the land of the free, and all that — and border guards tell you to go to a payphone to get the address of the place you're going to? This just doesn't make sense.

Like I said, timing. Most citizens clearing immigration know they have a legal right to return. They don't know how long CBP can detain them. I think the rules say a "reasonable amount of time" without actually assigning a hard value.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#224

Post by jzwinck »

patrickod wrote: post #194
jzwinck wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a US citizen, and recently visited my embassy abroad. I was denied entry and told to make an appointment. The first available was about 10 days away. This was for a simple document I needed signed by them. And I was leaving this country in less than 10 days. The guard who turned me away said they used to take walk-ins but not since mid-2012. So as far as embassies go, being a citizen doesn't help too much.

My experience with US embassies (both the one in Brussels and Dublin) has never seen them refuse entry to a US citizen and tell them to re-schedule. They usually have separate entrances as well with different procedures.

Well this was in London. It's a large embassy obviously. They do have separate entrances--we went to the US Citizens one. We were blocked from even entering the security lobby at all--the outermost door to the street was locked and the guard who cracked it open gave us a postcard with the embassy contact information to make an appointment. I called them immediately and explained I was in front of their building and could I make an "appointment" for right then, but they said I had to use the website. Which told me there was a 10-day wait.

As I said, apparently this practice was instituted just last year.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#225

Post by sliverstorm »

shiven wrote: post #177
sliverstorm wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, making it tortuously elegant doesn't somehow un-make it a put-down. Just because you have more formal education than someone, doesn't entitle you to look down on them.

Just as you having less formal education but more authority in a given situation does not entitle you to behave like a dictator. Easy to be righteous when you are not the one who was wronged.

I don't mock people's level of education, no matter how I have been wronged.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#226

Post by mahyarm »

khuey wrote: post #202
mahyarm wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of these programs require retina/iris photographs, which I feel extremely uncomfortable with.

Global Entry is just fingerprints.

As a Canadian, I have to go through NEXUS, which requires the iris photograph.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#227

Post by patrickod »

jzwinck wrote: post #224
patrickod wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My experience with US embassies (both the one in Brussels and Dublin) has never seen them refuse entry to a US citizen and tell them to re-schedule. They usually have separate entrances as well with different procedures.

Well this was in London. It's a large embassy obviously. They do have separate entrances--we went to the US Citizens one. We were blocked from even entering the security lobby at all--the outermost door to the street was locked and the guard who cracked it open gave us a postcard with the embassy contact information to make an appointment. I called them immediately and explained I was in front of their building and c…

From my (albeit limited) observations I thought they never turned away citizens but obviously I was wrong. Getting appointments with the US embassy can sometimes be a challenging ordeal. They do however make allowances for emergency appointments which can be very helpful at times.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#228

Post by jacquesm »

kmfrk wrote: post #137
SoftwareMaven wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a US citizen, I, on the other hand, am extremely bitter and angry about these kinds of offenses. It makes me sick to my stomach and I really do believe every day is one day closer to me becoming an expat.

Your government at work trying to make that as unpleasant as possible: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FATCA .

That is - for want of a better word - an astounding piece of legislation. What's next, a deal with the hereafter? I figure that the only thing this will effectively accomplish is that a lot of American expats will go all the way and will ditch the American nationality and that a lot of people in the United States will be denied access to services. Brilliant move, the world-stage equivalent of the schoolyard bully mentality.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#229

Post by rdl »

patrickod wrote: post #227
jzwinck wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well this was in London. It's a large embassy obviously. They do have separate entrances--we went to the US Citizens one. We were blocked from even entering the security lobby at all--the outermost door to the street was locked and the guard who cracked it open gave us a postcard with the embassy contact information to make an appointment. I called them immediately and explained I was in front of their building and c…

From my (albeit limited) observations I thought they never turned away citizens but obviously I was wrong. Getting appointments with the US embassy can sometimes be a challenging ordeal. They do however make allowances for emergency appointments which can be very helpful at times.

Yeah, in general they help citizens pretty well, and help citizens a lot more in dangerous places. Although to get US citizen services in Baghdad was really complex; despite it being inside a fairly secure area (the "Green Zone"), I wasn't allowed to carry inside, had to make an appointment a week in advance, etc. I ended up just making friends with people at a nearby heliport who had badges to escort me in. It turns out most of the extra security was because they had slightly better quality food than the nearby military bases, and were trying to keep military people and contractors from eating all of it.

The Embassies in Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, etc. were all excellent, however.

Re: Another awesome US immigration experience

#230

Post by jrockway »

tolmasky wrote: post #200
jrockway wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the whole DMV thing largely fixed? In Manhattan, they even have "express" DMVs. I have to assume the idea came about due to voter pressure rather than some altruistic bureaucrat.

I can't speak for New York but going to the DMV in California often means committing an entire work day.

Sounds like California.
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