Democracy Land of the Free

Have a very good friend who is a senior diplomat for a small EU country with an enviable history. We met as he was our neighbour (Silly boy had a TVR...hence conversation struck up.) in another country many years ago, he was their Consul there. Anyway after that stint he was posted to Japan as Ambassador, then as their ambassador to Washington a very senior posting. Anyway he requested, with all seriousness in regards E-mails not to be my usual flippant self in same to him as all read....muttering "key words phrases". Well I could not resist so used to title my e-mails "The Evil Empire". Had dinner with him & his wife in NY a few years ago whilst he was still in that position & he had us in stitches as to the surveillance of he, his staff & family much of which apparently quite open particularly driving outside DC. Personally never had any problems with US immigration, they have always been as much as those types can, polite & efficient. One last thing that brings a wry smile, I commented on Condi Rice & her feminine attributes to be told she batted for the other side (?) must disappointment.

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Originally Posted by leratty

. Personally never had any problems with US immigration, they have always been as much as those types can, polite & efficient. One last thing that brings a wry smile, I commented on Condi Rice & her feminine attributes to be told she batted for the other side (?) must disappointment.

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Well sir, I will say 'tis a pity that those self same Immigration Officers cannot take a lesson from the Condoleezza Rice College of Charm and Diplomacy then. Our own I.O. Staff in Britain may lack charisma and style but they do know about treating visiting aliens with tact and respect,two qualities I,and many others found to be distinctly lacking in their U.S.counterparts,as recorded in earlier posts.

"she (Condi) batted for the other side"... Oh dear,I take it that you don't mean the Washington Nationals then? Attachment 10532

Respectfully
Gulliver ;)

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Originally Posted by Gulliver

Well sir, I will say 'tis a pity that those self same Immigration Officers cannot take a lesson from the Condoleezza Rice College of Charm and Diplomacy then. Our own I.O. Staff in Britain may lack charisma and style but they do know about treating visiting aliens with tact and respect,two qualities I,and many others found to be distinctly lacking in their U.S.counterparts,as recorded in earlier posts.

"Gulliver ;)

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Couldn't agree more, the immigration process entering the USA in most of their airports seems akin to being led to the Cells (Though I have no personal experience!) I am surprised that they do not issue every traveller with orange boiler suits, they already have thumb prints (used to be one, it is now two) and iris recognition. The exception to this prison like experience being Las Vegas where they realise that their city needs the "Alien" tourists to make it work and survive, I hope they haven't followed the other airports alienating attitudes as I am going there again in September

The Immigration Officers at L.A. [LAX] can be a bit daunting.
Not saying anymore in case I am being monitered
Assalamualikum
Brian

Hi Ivan, well good luck on your forthcoming visit to USA, hopefully you will be politely received,it was on the News earlier this year i believe that when a Cruise Liner docked somewhere in the USA they lined the Passengers up alongside the Ship in the sweltering heat to interrogate them, mostly elderly people, were there for hours. not allowed back on board to use the toilets, and i think mostly UK Citizens, 3 times i have had the pleasure of there company, found them arrogant and rude every time, without me saying a word, i vowed never to go there again,my worst experience was at Newark Airport, the Airport Staff were not much better, they seen to want to antagonise you, but its more than you dare do to answer back, if you want entry,so good luck, would be nice to know your experience with them. have a good trip.

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Originally Posted by Tony Wilding

....good luck, would be nice to know your experience with them

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Provided they let me in, after reading this lot,(as I'm sure they are) I will report back, if they let me out again :cool:

Blimey Gulliver I/we guess are just lucky with US immigration though been travelling there for many, many years (45+). I wonder if it is not the attitude given or body language, maybe excess booze on breath or possibly mode of dress....that brings about such response from the immigration parties? Must also say I have not had as yet a poor experience entering the UK which we do frequently. In fact on Cathay midnight flight from HK to London arrive around 6am after often a superb flight up Thames. I/we have more than once walked through customs & immigration without being stopped. Oh once in Manchester some years ago I have just been advised coming in from Berlin they were tichy, but it was midnight & winter so understood, still through in less than 30mins.

Those parties have a job to do wherever they are we smile look relaxed. Try mainland China or Thailand, now that is surly & threatening immigration/customs staff at times scary! Recently out of Beijing to HK had one nutter want to take my wife's expensive lighter & through it in the bin, only very cool quietly spoken + sign language diplomacy on our part with several armed non English speaking locals that they agreed to allow the gas to be emptied & wife could retain.

Love Condi!

Ivan sadly I feel most of the posts re US immigration treatment just might be hear say? When we arrive in NY we are through within 1/2 an hour at most now with the iris recognition etc system the lines move quickly. On saying that possibly being a frequent visitor & hopefully without bring the wrath of God down on my head we are accorded another level to that of the cruise Line-budget flight visitor? Anyway enjoy a wonderful country with great food nice people & plenty to see. Keep an open mind sir.

Hi Tony.
If I was one of those passengers lined up on the wharf I'd be terrified at what they were going to do.
Achtung Ve vill show you not to come here bang bang.
Cheers Des

Two funny episodes regarding imigration.
A cousin of mine was flying to Los Angles to meet his son who is in the fire brigade there. He is a bit of a fussy eater and does not like aircraft food so he took some fresh chicken sandwiches with him. He did not eat them all and when going through immigration was told it would be an offence for him to bring them inot the country. Being an independant sort of guy he stood there and ate them in front of the official. He must have seen the funny side of it as he let him through once he had finished them.
In Madrid international a few years ago and we were told to stand behind the red line until called. One guy got a bit anxious and put one foot over before being called. He will never do that again. I have never seen any official go off like this guy did, only stopped berating him just short of murder.

Our only experience as a family of US Immigration and homeland security is at Orlando and JFK airports and in the main have never had any problems. Long ques yes but that happens every where.
Last time through JFK had a rather nasty guy but his problem was that his fingerprint scanner had a scratch on its screen which made getting it to recognise the finger print difficult unless you had your fingers in a certain area of the screen. No doubt it was out of frustration at his equipment more than anything else that caused him to be so sour faced.
The worst problem was leaving as like in a number of airports these days, it was automated check ins where basically you do everything youself from using a machine to get your boarding pass to checking your bags in. his led to big ques at the machines and then even longer ones at security.
Its frustrating but since 9/11 we have always allowed extra time at all airports to allow for increased security etc and I have no sympathy for anyone who complains or does not allow for the nowadays increased length of time you have to have from arriving at the airport to actually getting on your flight as I am shure all those names on the 9/11 memorial garden (well worth a visit if you are ever in N.Y.) would agree with me. There are still enough idiots around so anything that makes your journey safer...go with it.
rgds
JA