It's odd that we still "stamp" passports, allowing border guards to see what countries you have visited in the past. This information should not be available to any authorities by any means, but especially not appended to your identity documents. Afaik, only Israel has a correct policy on this.
Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
71–80 of 127 posts
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
Usually people of interest get whisked aside to a secondary screening area. They don't tend to hold up the queue that much, except for the fact the border agent has to temporarily close their desk for a few minutes while they escort that person to another room. In total you might face an extra 60-120 seconds in the line.
I think he was more worried about being vented on. It's hard to do much to a returning US citizen, so the guy in front would eventually be waved through (possibly without the friendly "welcome home" that they're supposed to say). Next guy in line, from anywhere else at all, would get the wrath of justice unleashed on him. Sorry, dude. My bad.
Yes, that is what I was thinking but someone else just reminded me that your line would be only US citizens. I'd be in the other one with all the other non-US people.
Therefore, if any wrath is unleashed on me it won't be because of you. Carry on!
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#73For all the mean things that border control agents get away with every day, I personally enjoy "Returning From Thailand" as my little opportunity to even the score a bit. "How long have you been gone?" "I don't know. A year, give or take? Who keeps track?" "Which countries did you visit while you were away? Your landing card just says 'most of them'" "Well probably not most of them really, but definitely enough not t…
I imagine it's hard for you to see how arrogant and insensitive it is to rub your success and privilege in the face of the middle class. Think about that twice next time. You have a great life. Appreciate it but also appreciate others. Being successful doesn't have to mean being a jerk.
For what it's worth, during the years I actually had these conversations, I doubt I ever made as much as a Customs clerk. I'd bring in maybe $20k in consulting and product income over the course of a year, which was enough to travel on but likely not enough to pay for, say, the apartment that the clerk lived in.
There's no requirement for privilege, or even "living wage" to lead such a lifestyle. As such, I appreciate that you thought I was somehow successful, but by most objective standards, I was just a homeless guy.
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#74I wonder how many people have the US on their personal no-fly lists because of such stories?
I certainly avoid the US for any connecting flights to Central and South America (I live in Europe). I've also been avoiding vacationing in the US since I experienced some rather rude TSA agents at Miami International a few years ago, although to be fair I have seen some of the US and wanted to expand my horizons.
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#75Borders have three uses: 1) to keep people out 2) to keep people in 3) to be able to search/detain people without cause I've yet to see a border that I liked. In plenty of countries this now extends to a certain distance away from the border (sometimes surprisingly large), even when you are not actively crossing or have not crossed.
I walked across the border from Vietnam to Laos, and accidentally walked the wrong way. Ended up walking straight into Laos, so we had to go all the way back and find the correct way.
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
Slightly tounge-in-cheek but I really hope that I'm not the guy behind you in line when I next visit the US.
Usually people of interest get whisked aside to a secondary screening area. They don't tend to hold up the queue that much, except for the fact the border agent has to temporarily close their desk for a few minutes while they escort that person to another room. In total you might face an extra 60-120 seconds in the line.
This isnt true in my experience, I was on a watchlist type thing for a few years (dont lose your passport ever if you plan to visit the states :) and every time I got taken to secondary screening but only after a rather lengthy set of questions at the first screen, I think even once I interrupted them to ask just to send me to the secondary one.
It was pretty fustrating to have to wait sometimes up to hours (Dallas airport sucks) to know that I was going to get sent to another screen and wait anywhere between 15 minutes and 3 hours to get out, the people were also almost always overly aggressive.
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#77This is another good case of having a second passport as an American (or any place for that matter) for travel and (shtf) insurance purposes. "Distributed Nationality" if you will.
The State Department will sometimes grant a second passport if you can prove you need it - like if one of your visa stamps is known to get people killed in your new destination country.
I mean second passport as in one issued by another nation state.
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#78For all the mean things that border control agents get away with every day, I personally enjoy "Returning From Thailand" as my little opportunity to even the score a bit. "How long have you been gone?" "I don't know. A year, give or take? Who keeps track?" "Which countries did you visit while you were away? Your landing card just says 'most of them'" "Well probably not most of them really, but definitely enough not t…
I'm Australian and come in and out of the US quite often. I've spent many years of my life traveling around doing what I want, including 2 years driving from Alaska to Argentina.
> Basically, it's your opportunity to remind them that their job is to sit in a little cube talking to people who are actually out there leading exciting lives
As a foreigner, this is exactly what you don't want to do. Pissing them off is a very, very bad idea. I've had many things said and done to me at the entrance to the US that I'd rather avoid in the future.
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#79Borders have three uses: 1) to keep people out 2) to keep people in 3) to be able to search/detain people without cause I've yet to see a border that I liked. In plenty of countries this now extends to a certain distance away from the border (sometimes surprisingly large), even when you are not actively crossing or have not crossed.
Bizarrely enough at the Chinese border they only cared that the paperwork is in order. The last few times I went, everyone passed by the giant customs X-ray without even filling out a nothing-to-declare form. China's border crossing inspection for foreigners is far less invasive than the US's for citizens.
True, Chinese border control is way less intrusive. It has to be said though that China handles foreign policy differently, so the number of groups attempting terrorist attacks is comparatively low.
I'm not sure about the US, but they do have scanners in the subway and in train stations, but the scanning they do is lackluster at best. They did however once find a 6 inch knife in my bag (i forgot it in there) on my return trip from Wangfujing. If I truly wanted to get it across, I could have just hidden it in a pocket, as there are no metal detectors in the subway. I assume the xrays are simply there to detect larger, bag based bombs or to convince foreigners that there is actually security.
Re: Detained in the US for “Visiting Thailand Too Much”
#80As a dual-citizen I still find it mind-boggling that a US border guard asks me questions about my private life. It still isn't clear to me what can happen if I answer "wrong" (e.g. the answers do not meet his expectations).
For comparison, in many (if not most) countries (I don't want to name my specific case because this could derail the discussino) a border guard presented with a passport issued by his own country has exactly two options: 1) arrest the person on the spot (arrest meaning what it should, e.g. call the police and follow the law) or 2) let the person in. There are no questions, because the border guard has zero discretion in letting the person in. In general, a citizen of any country should always be able to enter that country, no questions asked (with the possibility of being arrested right afterwards, of course).
I find it both strange and disturbing that this gray area seems to be universally accepted and that outrage (like in the article above) is rare.