5 ms·

wrong. photo taken at sfo inbound customs. go ahead and decline while the cop is holding your passport.

dessimus 2y ago
> holding your passport. When my spouse and I crossed through US customs this past spring, they called us by our names and waved us on before even getting our passports out to hand to the customs officer. This was at BWI, fwiw.
- jamiek88 2y ago
  Customs or immigration?
  - dessimus 2y ago
    CBP. We are citizens, and were returning from a trip.
- dawnerd 2y ago
  They do that with kiosks and the app. It can be a bit hectic with global entry.
jamiek88 2y ago
Customs or immigration?
- CalRobert 2y ago
  For whatever reason most Americans use the word "customs" when they are, in fact, referring to immigration, when traveling internationally.
  - Cyph0n 2y ago
    Because entry is handled by CBP - Customs and Border Protection. Immigration - which is the process of becoming a US permanent resident and/or citizen - is handled (mostly) by USCIS. Other visas are handled by the State Department (foreign ministry). Not an expert, but this is my understanding.
    - CalRobert 2y ago
      My understanding is that immigration gets you in the country, even as a tourist, and customs gets your stuff in.
      - shiroiushi 2y ago
        That's how other countries normally do things, but America is a little weird.
      - Cyph0n 2y ago
        I was simply trying to explain why the US refers to entry as “customs”.
  - ghaff 2y ago
    Customs as it existed a few decades ago barely exists in many/most countries today except pro-forma. You used to routinely get your bag searched. Now, with very few exceptions, you just walk through the green door. Part of it (of course, this may change) is that there used to be a lot of financial incentive to buying items abroad and importing in your luggage. I have Global Entry but I don't think the US even has a customs form any longer.
    - popcalc 2y ago
      >a lot of financial incentive to buying items abroad and importing in your luggage >very few exceptions You've got it backwards. If you're an American you're probably traveling through freeports or low tax regimes like Singapore, UK, etc. and don't realise how regressive most regimes are. In places like Hungary, Angola, SEA -- where tax can be in the range of 30-50% you will be lucky not to be shaken down by a customs agent before leaving the luggage carousel.
      - ghaff 2y ago
        As an American, I've traveled through a lot of countries and don't have much experience over the past couple of decades with being shaken down by customs agents. But perhaps if I looked differently and/or had several large pieces of luggage which I don't travel with.
CalRobert 2y ago
I fly back to the US pretty often (I am a US citizen living abroad) and have declined every time. This is in SFO. They are generally fine with it. But most people won't risk it. It's much, much more annoying in Ireland, where US immigration happens in Dublin (an affront to Irish sovereignty, but that's another matter) - so being delayed can mean missing your flight.
- onetokeoverthe 2y ago
  some airports laid back. others like sfo must have an ongoing bust quota contest.
- kortilla 2y ago
  > (an affront to Irish sovereignty, but that's another matter I’ll bite. Why do you think it’s an affront to their sovereignty? It’s entirely voluntary and it’s something the Dublin airport (and the dozens of other airports in Canada) actively seek out to get direct access to the domestic side in the US. The US does not force any airports into these arrangements.
  - lmm 2y ago
    The programme is there for the convenience of the US. Would they allow Ireland to operate a corresponding facility on US soil? (The popularity of that airport for CIA torture flights also doesn't help the case, even if not directly linked)
    - rssoconnor 2y ago
      > The programme is there for the convenience of the US. Would they allow Ireland to operate a corresponding facility on US soil? FWIW, I recall reading that the program in Canada is reciprocal, and it is simply the case that Canada hasn't decided to operate any corresponding facility in the US.
      - goodcanadian 2y ago
        That is correct. IIRC, Bermuda is also part of the agreement, and I would be very much surprised if Ireland doesn't operate on the same rules.

> holding your passport. When my spouse and I crossed through US customs this past spring, they called us by our names and waved us on before even getting our passports out to hand to the customs officer. This was at BWI, fwiw.

jamiek88 2y ago
Customs or immigration?
- dessimus 2y ago
  CBP. We are citizens, and were returning from a trip.
dawnerd 2y ago
They do that with kiosks and the app. It can be a bit hectic with global entry.

jamiek88 2y ago

Customs or immigration?

CalRobert 2y ago
For whatever reason most Americans use the word "customs" when they are, in fact, referring to immigration, when traveling internationally.
- Cyph0n 2y ago
  Because entry is handled by CBP - Customs and Border Protection. Immigration - which is the process of becoming a US permanent resident and/or citizen - is handled (mostly) by USCIS. Other visas are handled by the State Department (foreign ministry). Not an expert, but this is my understanding.
  - CalRobert 2y ago
    My understanding is that immigration gets you in the country, even as a tourist, and customs gets your stuff in.
    - shiroiushi 2y ago
      That's how other countries normally do things, but America is a little weird.
    - Cyph0n 2y ago
      I was simply trying to explain why the US refers to entry as “customs”.
- ghaff 2y ago
  Customs as it existed a few decades ago barely exists in many/most countries today except pro-forma. You used to routinely get your bag searched. Now, with very few exceptions, you just walk through the green door. Part of it (of course, this may change) is that there used to be a lot of financial incentive to buying items abroad and importing in your luggage. I have Global Entry but I don't think the US even has a customs form any longer.
  - popcalc 2y ago
    >a lot of financial incentive to buying items abroad and importing in your luggage >very few exceptions You've got it backwards. If you're an American you're probably traveling through freeports or low tax regimes like Singapore, UK, etc. and don't realise how regressive most regimes are. In places like Hungary, Angola, SEA -- where tax can be in the range of 30-50% you will be lucky not to be shaken down by a customs agent before leaving the luggage carousel.
    - ghaff 2y ago
      As an American, I've traveled through a lot of countries and don't have much experience over the past couple of decades with being shaken down by customs agents. But perhaps if I looked differently and/or had several large pieces of luggage which I don't travel with.

CalRobert 2y ago

I fly back to the US pretty often (I am a US citizen living abroad) and have declined every time. This is in SFO. They are generally fine with it. But most people won't risk it. It's much, much more annoying in Ireland, where US immigration happens in Dublin (an affront to Irish sovereignty, but that's another matter) - so being delayed can mean missing your flight.

onetokeoverthe 2y ago
some airports laid back. others like sfo must have an ongoing bust quota contest.
kortilla 2y ago
> (an affront to Irish sovereignty, but that's another matter I’ll bite. Why do you think it’s an affront to their sovereignty? It’s entirely voluntary and it’s something the Dublin airport (and the dozens of other airports in Canada) actively seek out to get direct access to the domestic side in the US. The US does not force any airports into these arrangements.
- lmm 2y ago
  The programme is there for the convenience of the US. Would they allow Ireland to operate a corresponding facility on US soil? (The popularity of that airport for CIA torture flights also doesn't help the case, even if not directly linked)
  - rssoconnor 2y ago
    > The programme is there for the convenience of the US. Would they allow Ireland to operate a corresponding facility on US soil? FWIW, I recall reading that the program in Canada is reciprocal, and it is simply the case that Canada hasn't decided to operate any corresponding facility in the US.
    - goodcanadian 2y ago
      That is correct. IIRC, Bermuda is also part of the agreement, and I would be very much surprised if Ireland doesn't operate on the same rules.