6 ms·

Just hand over your papers. As a tourist people will be nice enough, but you should expect searches and to obey authority like if you were visiting China or Rus

Just hand over your papers. As a tourist people will be nice enough, but you should expect searches and to obey authority like if you were visiting China or Russia. This kind of thing happens to residents who are trying to push for change in their country and accepting personal risks.

GordonS 8y ago
I've been to the US plenty times on business, and once as a tourist - every time the border guards were deeply unpleasant and behaved like egomanical bullies. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but a lot of people seem to have a similar tale. I should also add, I've been to dozens of countries and never experienced anything like this.
- jdavis703 8y ago
  I can concur. As a U.S. citizen I find that foreign immigration agents treat me better when I'm entering their country, than American agents do when I'm returning home.
- mattlondon 8y ago
  Same experience here. Standing in a queue for 3 or 4 hours and occasionally getting shouted at by aggressive guards with their hand on their gun holster because you had the temerity to use your phone to let your colleagues/family/hotel etc to let them know why you're 3 hours delayed despite the plane landing on time. Then you finally reach the booth and are given Interrogation Lite (tm) about why you are there, if you have a return ticket paid for, where you are staying and generally eyed suspiciously before being finger-printed and having mugshots taken like you've just been arrested. But you know, welcome to the land of the free! FWIW, Global Entry for non-US citizens has made it so much better. You just whizz right through in about 30 seconds without having to deal with anyone apart from just give them a receipt from the machine.
  - GFischer 8y ago
    I didn't know Global Entry was available for non-US citizens... oh, my country is not on the list: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/eligibility https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-...
    - madeofpalk 8y ago
      Wow that's a relatively small list. I was surprised to see Australia not on it, especially considering we have our special E3 visa, and other countries like UK and Singapore are on it. The UK has a similar program, Registered Traveller [1], which has a more exhaustive country list. Having an Australian passport, I often get curious looks when I use the smart gates, but I'm always able to go through (though I am always nervous it won't work and ill look like a silly foreigner for going I the wrong queue). [1]: https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller/eligibility https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller/eligibility
      - Latteland 8y ago
        No Canada?
    - njarboe 8y ago
      Not sure what these countries have in common that gets them on this list: Citizens of Argentina, Citizens of India, Citizens of Colombia, Citizens of United Kingdom, Citizens of Germany, Citizens of Panama, Citizens of Singapore, Citizens of South Korea, Citizens of Switzerland, Citizens of Taiwan, Mexican nationals Learned today that in Mexico to be a citizen one must be Mexican National, 18 years of age, and have an "honest way of living".
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
madeofpalk 8y ago
Or, I just don't go. I understand the risks are incredibly minor (and the negatives probably overplayed), but there's just so many other places to go to that aren't as problematic as the US at the moment. Border guards with a bad reputation, government with a bad reputation, gun policy with a bad reputation, all things that I'm happy not entertaining as a tourist. When it comes to tourism, the US certainly has a PR problem at the moment. Among my (admittedly, incredibly privileged) group of friends, all have expressed reluctance to visit the US in the past couple of years.
SpecialistEMT 8y ago
Its much worse in the us than china/russia. Nobody will search you in russia at least.

GordonS 8y ago

I've been to the US plenty times on business, and once as a tourist - every time the border guards were deeply unpleasant and behaved like egomanical bullies. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but a lot of people seem to have a similar tale. I should also add, I've been to dozens of countries and never experienced anything like this.

jdavis703 8y ago
I can concur. As a U.S. citizen I find that foreign immigration agents treat me better when I'm entering their country, than American agents do when I'm returning home.
mattlondon 8y ago
Same experience here. Standing in a queue for 3 or 4 hours and occasionally getting shouted at by aggressive guards with their hand on their gun holster because you had the temerity to use your phone to let your colleagues/family/hotel etc to let them know why you're 3 hours delayed despite the plane landing on time. Then you finally reach the booth and are given Interrogation Lite (tm) about why you are there, if you have a return ticket paid for, where you are staying and generally eyed suspiciously before being finger-printed and having mugshots taken like you've just been arrested. But you know, welcome to the land of the free! FWIW, Global Entry for non-US citizens has made it so much better. You just whizz right through in about 30 seconds without having to deal with anyone apart from just give them a receipt from the machine.
- GFischer 8y ago
  I didn't know Global Entry was available for non-US citizens... oh, my country is not on the list: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/eligibility https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-...
  - madeofpalk 8y ago
    Wow that's a relatively small list. I was surprised to see Australia not on it, especially considering we have our special E3 visa, and other countries like UK and Singapore are on it. The UK has a similar program, Registered Traveller [1], which has a more exhaustive country list. Having an Australian passport, I often get curious looks when I use the smart gates, but I'm always able to go through (though I am always nervous it won't work and ill look like a silly foreigner for going I the wrong queue). [1]: https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller/eligibility https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller/eligibility
    - Latteland 8y ago
      No Canada?
  - njarboe 8y ago
    Not sure what these countries have in common that gets them on this list: Citizens of Argentina, Citizens of India, Citizens of Colombia, Citizens of United Kingdom, Citizens of Germany, Citizens of Panama, Citizens of Singapore, Citizens of South Korea, Citizens of Switzerland, Citizens of Taiwan, Mexican nationals Learned today that in Mexico to be a citizen one must be Mexican National, 18 years of age, and have an "honest way of living".

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

madeofpalk 8y ago

Or, I just don't go. I understand the risks are incredibly minor (and the negatives probably overplayed), but there's just so many other places to go to that aren't as problematic as the US at the moment. Border guards with a bad reputation, government with a bad reputation, gun policy with a bad reputation, all things that I'm happy not entertaining as a tourist. When it comes to tourism, the US certainly has a PR problem at the moment. Among my (admittedly, incredibly privileged) group of friends, all have expressed reluctance to visit the US in the past couple of years.

SpecialistEMT 8y ago

Its much worse in the us than china/russia. Nobody will search you in russia at least.