4 ms·

I've traveled from Zürich to Los Angeles on Good Friday (April 14, 2017) for leisure - my first visit since February 2016 and thus my first trip to Trump's 'mur

by emeidi 9y ago

I've traveled from Zürich to Los Angeles on Good Friday (April 14, 2017) for leisure - my first visit since February 2016 and thus my first trip to Trump's 'murrica. I was joined with my dad who recently retired and never has left the continent - his first long haul flight and first time to the US. I feared and prepared for the worst and I even was debating about leaving my iPhone, iPad and MacBook Air at home to avoid any searches. It turned out to become the smoothest immigration ever: We stood at the curb waiting for the car rental bus within 45 minutes after we stepped out of the plane. Short lines, smoothly working self-service kiosks, a friendly immigration officer, not one single intimidating or aggressive question. Way to go!

hrrsn 9y ago
I went through LAX for the first time in December 2016. The immigration line was long and took about an hour to get through but other than that it was pretty painless.
pcurve 9y ago
" a friendly immigration officer" I've never seen this one in the U.S. or anywhere else. I think they are trained to be neutral or even aloof.
- staticelf 9y ago
  Upon arriving in Finland the passport control officer even welcomed me in my native tounge (Swedish). If come through passport control in the nordic countries I can guarantee they will be friendly.
- Markoff 9y ago
  i had pretty good experiences in Philippines or Malaysia, i would say at least third of immigration officers i met at various borders were friendly. from Europe recently we had very nice Polish woman officer who was very welcoming to our family with small child in EU passports queue despite my wife not being from EU worst experiences were probably Austrian Nazi guys investigating repeatedly my wife's passport, while at other border with Hungary they let freely roam across Europe thousands of illegal immigrants
- ajdlinux 9y ago
  I've usually found Australian customs to be fairly friendly whenever I've been returning home - though these days they make me use the automated passport gates so I don't talk to them at all...
- shifte 9y ago
  You should visit New Zealand one day, they have very strict rules about bringing anything in, but I've found their customs people to be the most friendly, even shared a few jokes and tips on snowboard gear with one of the officers while passing through the nothing to declare line last winter.
dx034 9y ago
The kiosks made immigration a lot easier. Also for the work of the officers who can now focus on details instead of always asking the same standard questions. Have noticed that they seem to be in a better mood, I guess it improved their job and therefore their mood.
differentView 9y ago
Your father probably doesn't have a "super common" name. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/04/29/american-composer-says-he-was-detained-for-hours-at-jfk-for-his-super-common-muslim-name/?utm_term=.da29ea29a4f9 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/04/2... https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/10/muhammad-ali-jr-detained-again-airport-after-testimony/99031590/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/10/mu...

by emeidi 9y ago

hrrsn 9y ago

I went through LAX for the first time in December 2016. The immigration line was long and took about an hour to get through but other than that it was pretty painless.

pcurve 9y ago

" a friendly immigration officer" I've never seen this one in the U.S. or anywhere else. I think they are trained to be neutral or even aloof.

staticelf 9y ago
Upon arriving in Finland the passport control officer even welcomed me in my native tounge (Swedish). If come through passport control in the nordic countries I can guarantee they will be friendly.
Markoff 9y ago
i had pretty good experiences in Philippines or Malaysia, i would say at least third of immigration officers i met at various borders were friendly. from Europe recently we had very nice Polish woman officer who was very welcoming to our family with small child in EU passports queue despite my wife not being from EU worst experiences were probably Austrian Nazi guys investigating repeatedly my wife's passport, while at other border with Hungary they let freely roam across Europe thousands of illegal immigrants
ajdlinux 9y ago
I've usually found Australian customs to be fairly friendly whenever I've been returning home - though these days they make me use the automated passport gates so I don't talk to them at all...
shifte 9y ago
You should visit New Zealand one day, they have very strict rules about bringing anything in, but I've found their customs people to be the most friendly, even shared a few jokes and tips on snowboard gear with one of the officers while passing through the nothing to declare line last winter.

dx034 9y ago

The kiosks made immigration a lot easier. Also for the work of the officers who can now focus on details instead of always asking the same standard questions. Have noticed that they seem to be in a better mood, I guess it improved their job and therefore their mood.

differentView 9y ago

Your father probably doesn't have a "super common" name. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/04/29/american-composer-says-he-was-detained-for-hours-at-jfk-for-his-super-common-muslim-name/?utm_term=.da29ea29a4f9 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/04/2... https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/10/muhammad-ali-jr-detained-again-airport-after-testimony/99031590/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/10/mu...