US Immigration Officials

Gisella

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Daverock said:
I am also interested to find out what experiences those from the US have had when travelling abroad. It could actually be a shift in behaviour at a more global level. It will be interesting to see.

I'm sorry about Paul and you experiences, and I'm a mix of you both in my reactions, like you I can fight for my rights but will not keep inside for long and as Paul i would not want to expend money or come back to places was not well treated too but the US is not her or some like her: rude ignorant unprofissional...is kind of strange after 9/11 for some immigrants people groups, there is hate in the air...tell me about it!

At least you share the English language, Dave, and people will listen you better for that when you choose to speak up.

I never had any problems with immigration officials anywhere...:cool: :tongue: ...dont bother with my sarcasm but nowdays i'm piss of with somethings going on...

Well, the only time they took me to that room to talk in the airport was in Toronto and I was 16 travelling alone in school time Canadian calendar but was even Carnaval time in Brasil...and i spend 40 days with a family there...

England immigration was good things were resolve in the spot: allowed to stay or keep off...plus when you get student visa they were very organized and know where you live and pay visit to check..:tongue: nice!

I had good experiences entering US in LA, NY, FL...and they ask me question and i almost told them my life story in short version #3, they were profissional agents but people human nice, but it was before 9/11 - things are not the same now.

I know some non Brasilians citzens that had terrible experiences in Brasil airports by Policia Federal or Immigration..most plain rudeness too. Sorry in the name of nice Brasilians everywhere...:smile:
 

DaveyR

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You know Gisella it is true what others have said. I can almost hear your accent when reading your post. Thanks for sharing your experiences. :smile:
 
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deleted3782

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The simple explanation: A portion of the US is progressive and enjoying 2006, another portion is conservative and stuck in 1855. Just think of the person you met as an experience in time travel to 1855.
 

DaveyR

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exwhysee said:
The simple explanation: A portion of the US is progressive and enjoying 2006, another portion is conservative and stuck in 1855. Just think of the person you met as an experience in time travel to 1855.

Good philosophy that!
 

tygrrr

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Gisella said:
I know some non Brasilians citzens that had terrible experiences in Brasil airports by Policia Federal or Immigration..

Never had any problems in Brazil, it's been very pleasant. It's the only place on the planet where I have had my luggage gone through though - but these guys were almost kids, and I got the impression they were mainly curious. It didn't bother me as long as they were nice (and cute too *grin*)

Most people you meet that work in any capacity at airports anywhere in the world are nice and are conscious they're there to make things run smoothly.

exwhysee said:
The simple explanation: A portion of the US is progressive and enjoying 2006, another portion is conservative and stuck in 1855. Just think of the person you met as an experience in time travel to 1855.

Yeah, the US can feel quite like a time travel at times, I don't know about 1855 but I've had distinct experiences of having been transported back to the 1950's at times - mostly kinda charming though, but surely it has felt weird. :cool:
 

SpeedoGuy

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I travel a bit overseas and occasionally encounter some rude US customs agents. However, I have never observed screaming or other very bad behavior by officials. Nevertheless, I do seem to be hearing more and more of these horror stories from other travellers.

From my perspective, it does little good to stand and argue with uniformed government agents on their home turf, even when they act like *&%holes. Its perilous to your freedom. The uniforms have all the advantages while YOU hold none. A loud, vocal confrontation with them will probably attract more hostile uniforms and that could result in batons, handcuffs and a lengthy trip the security pen, or worse.

I handle bad attitudes by contacting the shift supervisor and voicing my complaints on the spot if I have time, or, afterwards, with a letter. Record the offender's name and/or badge number. Revenge is a dish best eaten cold.
 

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I'm not sure, but I actually think US customs and immigrartion has changed this a bit now, not requiring you to be family members in order to clear customs together.

One reason was some lawsuits from up north here where same sex marriage is legal. You see, even though same sex marriage is not universally recognized in the US, under international law, a marriage is recognized if it takes place in a jurisdiction where it is legal and both parties are residents of that jurisdiction. So, if a Saudi prince and three of his wives enter the US, the marriage is recognized. Likewise, under the same principal, they have to recognize the same-sex marriage of two Canadian men or women.

A number of couples crossing into the states were subjected to arbitrary separation (it seems most immigration policies are ad-hoc, or at least the exercising of them) and threatened to sue in retaliation.

Because of this, I belived US Immigration dropped the family member requirement, rather than explicitly recognize same-sex married couples.

I don't know if they've gone back to the family only method, but as of my last trip south, I was able to clear while travelling with a friend.
 

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I used to travel a fair bit between Canada and the US, and even Europe a couple times. MY experience has been all over the place, even at the same airports, same shifts, sometimes even same people. SOme have been friendly and courteous, some have been complete asswipes. THis goes for both American and Canadian customs officials, by the way. People have good and bad days. I've had everything from people giving me advice on how to streamline the process in the future, to one guy in Calgary (the rudest Canadians I have ever met, hands, down, by the way---don't know why, and not saying ALL Calgarians are that way, just been my consistent experience---and I LOVE Canada) who threatened to beat my face in, because I put my breifcase on his podium so I could get out the papers I needed. SOme people are obnoxious jerks, some people are nice. I DO know, from talking to the main INS office, that the local customs officials have tremendous power and authority--they basically have the last say, hands down, on what you do or don;t do. Basically, what they say, goes, end of story. SO, I guess you grit your teeth and bear it if you want to get through, or else they WILL make your life a living hell if you dare say anything (trust me on this one..).
 

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BuddyBoy said:
I'm not sure, but I actually think US customs and immigrartion has changed this a bit now, not requiring you to be family members in order to clear customs together.

One reason was some lawsuits from up north here where same sex marriage is legal. You see, even though same sex marriage is not universally recognized in the US, under international law, a marriage is recognized if it takes place in a jurisdiction where it is legal and both parties are residents of that jurisdiction. So, if a Saudi prince and three of his wives enter the US, the marriage is recognized. Likewise, under the same principal, they have to recognize the same-sex marriage of two Canadian men or women.

A number of couples crossing into the states were subjected to arbitrary separation (it seems most immigration policies are ad-hoc, or at least the exercising of them) and threatened to sue in retaliation.

Because of this, I belived US Immigration dropped the family member requirement, rather than explicitly recognize same-sex married couples.

I don't know if they've gone back to the family only method, but as of my last trip south, I was able to clear while travelling with a friend.

I'm not absolutely sure, since it has been awhile since I read the legislation, but I think that the "Defense of Marriage" act that COngress passed quite a few years ago now, specifically says that the US Federal government does not recognize gay marriage, period, whether it is recognized in any specific state or country or not. The US government routinely defies international law when it suits them. Then talks out of the other side of their mouth when it comes to other countries actions. Especially these days, anybody who gives ANY excuse to ANY official, can be thrown on the fleshpile with no charge, recourse, rights, or anything else. We are now living in a very fascist government, and until , and if, there is a regime change, I suspect it is only going to get worse. I have reccomended to international friends who have considered coming here, NOT to come until there IS a regime change, simply for their own protection from this present government.
 

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davidjh7 said:
I'm not absolutely sure, since it has been awhile since I read the legislation, but I think that the "Defense of Marriage" act that COngress passed quite a few years ago now, specifically says that the US Federal government does not recognize gay marriage, period, whether it is recognized in any specific state or country or not. The US government routinely defies international law when it suits them. Then talks out of the other side of their mouth when it comes to other countries actions. Especially these days, anybody who gives ANY excuse to ANY official, can be thrown on the fleshpile with no charge, recourse, rights, or anything else. We are now living in a very fascist government, and until , and if, there is a regime change, I suspect it is only going to get worse. I have reccomended to international friends who have considered coming here, NOT to come until there IS a regime change, simply for their own protection from this present government.
I do recall some talk about DOMA vis-a-vis international recognition, and it seems to me that the legal opinions were on the side of international recognition, with DOMA being considered a domestic law. That said, your are quite right that the current administration sees fit to defy international law as they please (boy, do I know that, living in a lumber producing province!) so it matters not what the courts have to say.

It remind me all too much of Pompey "Magnus" invading Sicily, I think, against the extisting regulations and treaties. His reply could have been crafted in the west wing itself: "Stop quoting laws to us, we carry swords."