> It was also the only country ever that grilled me on the border regarding the purpose of my trip. I've been grilled several times when entering the US on jou

> It was also the only country ever that grilled me on the border regarding the purpose of my trip. I've been grilled several times when entering the US on journalist (I) visas in several decades of UK passports. This is in spite of making dozens of short visits with an impeccable record, on scheduled flights, with hotels pre-booked, and more than sufficient funds. (Not to mention a UK family, job, house, pension fund and many other ties.) I've seen enough journalists harassed on US entry to be extremely careful about doing everything correctly, and I'm always extremely polite. This usually works, but not every time. I appreciate that ultimately I have no rights and no way to defend myself. Welcome to America records the experience of a journalist who neglected to get an I-visa. She was fingerprinted, body-searched, jailed and then deported. But, she says, "I had travelled to the US on many occasions, both for work and pleasure, that I had, in fact, lived there as a permanent resident and that my husband was a US citizen, as was my New York-born daughter, all fell on deaf ears." She notes that "As documented by Reporters Without Borders and by the American Society of Newspaper Editors (Asne) in letters to Colin Powell and Tom Ridge, cases such as mine are part of a systemic policy of harassing media representatives from 27 friendly countries whose citizens - not journalists! - can travel to the US without a visa, for 90 days." http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/05/usa.weekend7 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/05/usa.weekend7