4 ms·

My own experiences of border security in USA is they are the rudest, most ignorant bunch of slobs I have ever had the displeasure to come across. It's almost li

My own experiences of border security in USA is they are the rudest, most ignorant bunch of slobs I have ever had the displeasure to come across. It's almost like they are specially selected to have the highest level of bad manners and obnoxiousness. I have travelled to over 40 countries but came to dread dealing with these people. It wasn't just me - most people I have spoken with have had bad experiences traveling to USA - I personally will never go there again. A friend (British) recently travelled there and had a hell of a time with them - his wife is Iranian although she now has a British Passport. The line of questioning around the wife's origins showed breathtaking ignorance of anything at all to do with the situation in the Middle East. To use an American turn of phrase: total bunch of asshats.

rahimnathwani 9y ago
That's interesting. I've travelled to the US about 20 times during the past 6 years, and each time has been reasonably smooth. I have found the CBP officers to be reasonably polite and efficient. I recall only two instances of being asked more than 2 questions: 1. Once when I had two trips to the US with a very short gap (a business trip to my employer's head office, followed a week later by a job interview for a non-US job at a US-owned company, at their HQ in a different US city). 2. Once (~10 years ago) when I travelled to the US on a whim to visit a friend, and didn't answer clearly a question about who I planned to see when I was in the US (because I hadn't yet called to arrange to meet all the friends I wanted to see). In both cases the CBP officers asked reasonable questions, and were polite enough. It's probably useful for them to act in a way that makes people a little nervous, though.
- zapperdapper 9y ago
  Sounds like your experience wasn't too bad. Just curious - were you flying into SFO by any chance?
  - rahimnathwani 9y ago
    2/3 SFO, 1/3 SEA
    - zapperdapper 9y ago
      Thought so. I had few issues at SFO and SEA. Chicago on the other hand... I guess it depends a lot on which airport you are coming in through?

rahimnathwani 9y ago

That's interesting. I've travelled to the US about 20 times during the past 6 years, and each time has been reasonably smooth. I have found the CBP officers to be reasonably polite and efficient. I recall only two instances of being asked more than 2 questions: 1. Once when I had two trips to the US with a very short gap (a business trip to my employer's head office, followed a week later by a job interview for a non-US job at a US-owned company, at their HQ in a different US city). 2. Once (~10 years ago) when I travelled to the US on a whim to visit a friend, and didn't answer clearly a question about who I planned to see when I was in the US (because I hadn't yet called to arrange to meet all the friends I wanted to see). In both cases the CBP officers asked reasonable questions, and were polite enough. It's probably useful for them to act in a way that makes people a little nervous, though.

zapperdapper 9y ago
Sounds like your experience wasn't too bad. Just curious - were you flying into SFO by any chance?
- rahimnathwani 9y ago
  2/3 SFO, 1/3 SEA
  - zapperdapper 9y ago
    Thought so. I had few issues at SFO and SEA. Chicago on the other hand... I guess it depends a lot on which airport you are coming in through?