Is it worth traveling to the United States given the inhumane way in which 'aliens' are treated at immigration

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robert w

Please understand our legal system is SC--ed up. instead of smartly profiling possible terrorist.we are required to make every one including grandmothers feel like scumbag terrorists, so we don't offend real possible terrorists feelings. Thanks to our lawyers. It isn't you so get over it . Of course we do have a legal right to allow visitors at our choice. Maybe a test should be would they eat a ham sandwich?

The Bricklayer

I have been to the US - 3 times this year.

I have a 10 year multi - entry Visa(I was a naughty boy).

I have never had any trouble with the security people at the US airports.

On one occasion it took me longer to get through customs upon my return to the UK,than it took me when I arrived in the US

The Shadow

They are strict. I've been 3 times lately and you'll have your fingerprints taken and you get asked a lot of questions. My experience was as follows,

I handed my passport to the guy checking them and he asked me why i had come to the usa, i said i had come to visit friends and he again asked me why. Why what? Why have i come to visit friends? Yes, why didn't you come last week or next, why have you came this week? Then i coughed and he asked if i was on drugs or ill as i seemed tired. Well excuse me but i've just done an 8 hour flight cramped in economy! It wasnt much better next time, still rude and snappy but i was more than happy once i'd cleared customs and America is a great place to visit

allmariexx

when i visited the states after the last terror threat in the UK, I was shocked at how rude the immigration were towards me, they clicked their fingers and then told me to walk forward, that was damn annoying....then they informed me that I had to fill out another form and sent me back to the end of the line, I was escorted by the police to the back of the line. When it was my turn to be called up again the same punk clicked his fingers at me and grilled me for at least 6 mins, whereas the other people had their prints and retinal scans done and was off. After they cleared me at immigration I went to claim my baggage and I had just picked up my case and customs decided to haul me over and checked my luggage, (for the 4 time!!!) and I was wearing simple white moccasin flip flops and they examined them like I was carrying a nuclear bomb and they actually pulled the sole back and the insole too. I wouldn't mind if they had said we are following procedure but their attitude was evil, I have never been so scared. When they question you of any sorts they mark your passport, so the next time I travel to the states, which will be in a few weeks time I know they will pull me over all over again. I know we don't know what a terrorist looks like but I am sure they don't look like a tired 30 year old single mum trying to holiday!!! Certainly is the land of the free.....lol

Emma

I am so sorry that our country has treated people visiting this way, I had no idea! I would certainly hope that they treat you right!

Dry Dreamer

you are right my experience with us immigration is they are down right hostile and very rude. not what you need after a 7 hour flight

iritadragon

Why don't you try the Barbadian's instead? I'm absolutely sure they will all welcome your tourist dollars. They, at least, know the value of keeping their tourist industry alive and thriving.

http://www.barbados.org/

haggesitze

For myself I decided years ago not to bother with the US any longer.
If they don't want us to spend our money in their country, that's fine by me.

Red

im sorry about it all. they are just trying to protect our country and with their weird ways too. im sorry so many americans who answered were very rude to you.

we are in the middle of the war. any body could be a terrorist. i always think that bush does not want illegal immagrants coming in because terrorists can go to mexico and then cross the border with bombs and other explosives. the same goes for every other country. i kno they have those metal detectors but who knows what else they will invent after liquid explosives? after 9/11 USA got a wake up call saying this is real and anything can happen. every hour i hear a helicopter flying over my house making sure america is safe. we dont kno when it will happen, how it will happen or why. they are just trying to keep us safe.

as for the americans that responded with a bad answers, you should be ashamed of yourselves. he is just trying to kno the facts. this place is for people needing advice and have questions that need to be answered. stop being mean

Hidden

Personally, I can't give an honest answer about the treatment of visitors from other countries by immigration officers, seeing how I am an American. I do know that it seems like since the 9/11 attacks, the mentality of the country as a whole has greatly changed to one that I cannot always be proud of (although, I will readily stick up for my country when I feel my nationality is unjustly being attacked). The media is constantly reporting negative things about this and that, as well as causing a general fear in Americans not to trust anyone, not one another, not people from other countries, and so on. Just on the side, one day at work (I work at an outdoor retail store), a large group of men (+20) of Mideastern background came into our store. It raised a bit of an eyebrow, but it was just a group of Jordanian soldiers looking for some miscellaneous products we carried. When I was talking to another customer, we realized the paranoia we went into when they entered the store, even though there was nothing for us to worry about. However, I feel that the U.S. government and media has made Americans so paranoid, that we often associate foreigners with terrorists, even if they are far removed from it.

I do hope you do come and visit the U.S. and enjoy it. I have met some British people where I work, and they seemed to have enjoyed their trip from the conversation I had with them. I hope you can come and enjoy yours as well and not be turned off by some prevailing attitudes that some Americans may carry.

P.S. - do we really use the phrase 'Oh geez, I wonder why?' - argh!!! I suppose we do, among other sayings - but what country doesn't have its -isms? ; ^ D

laura_vermont

I'm american and can't get through an airport without the "complete treatment" due to metal parts placed during surgery. I just accept it as part of the plan. Security is doing its job. Every trip I am pat down searched as well as all my luggage hand checked. They have even done some chemical testing on my film containers. Accept it and expect it... then have a great trip!

Bambi slayer

How about saying what exactly happens instead of this whine. BTW, after my last trip thru Heathrow, our side is pretty relaxed.

Iknowsomestuff

Get used to it. It isn't just in the US that there are rude immigration officers, and if you had any idea of what has been tried to be smuggled in on airplanes coming from Britain you might just understand why. Try to be more understanding than that. If a 2 minute process of dealing with an ****** makes you not want to visit a whole country, choose a different place. But if you think you can suck it up for those 2 long minutes, try to shake it off and enjoy the rest of your trip where not everyone will treat you the same way.

Mist_02

Well mate, my advice is to not take it personal. My wife took a visit to Mexico last year, and she got a bit scared herself dealing with U.S. Customs at the air port. Don't recall if it was specifically one way, or both but she was not a happy camper.
I myself get the thorough checkout by security at the airport, the few times Iâ€™ve traveled.
Mind you we are both white, don't wear turbans, gang colors, or otherwise suspicious attire, but it happens. The world doesnâ€™t revolve around you. It happens to a lot of people, regardless of race, creed, or nationality.
As you can see form many of the previous posts, terrorism has â€œusâ€ a bit itchy in regards to a visitors. Terrorism is not strictly a U.S.A. problem. Personally, I think more effort could be used to seal up our borders, but if dealing with that is such a problem, then bypass it like so many Mexican do and just walk on over :)
I , as well as many other s I am sure, am happy that Britain is such a great ally. I plan on visiting the Manchester area shortly, and from what Iâ€™ve learned today you cannot even have any carry onsâ€¦ should I start a thread whining about how I can't have my notebook, or my mp3 player on my flight? I could, but what good would it do? I think it wouldn't do anything but open the door for flame wars as this thread has done. Itâ€™s just the way it is, and Iâ€™ll deal with it and move on. I am not going to let that force me into being some cheeky bastard and blame your country or its citizens as a whole. Trust me, the U.S. wants your dollars just as badly as they want mine :)

ShouldBeWorking

I have family that travels to America from England pretty regularly, about once a year, and they haven't had any difficulty, but I have no idea what the normal standard for time, etc is. I don't think the airport security is doing anything just to be disrepectful to other countries. I think they are just trying to do their job the best they can. Best of luck, and I hope you enjoy your vacation.

homeless

I am an American citizen WASP and 90% of the time American immigration are probably the most rude of all.
What you need to do is sneak across the border illegally and you will be treated better maybe even get free health care, free food, maybe there will be a immigration lawyer nearby to help you.obtain other freebies.

buddy

I have never seen any aliens at any usa airport so I cannot comment

Ivor Biggen

i think the whole roswell thing was made up.

the americans i know swear to me that the alien was dead on impact and was never even wearing latex as some clowns suggest.

dickn2000

Dr. James,

You must forgive us if we're cautious when dealing with tourists and others centering our country. For you see it was us, the poor, trusting Americans, who suffered our most grevious loss on Sept. 11, 2001, not the British.

If our customs and immigration officers seem harsh, it is because we don't want a repeat of 9/11. When dealing with potential terrorists, I'm afraid respect and courtesy must take a back seat. It's unfortunate, but I'm afaid that's the way it must be.

And if this alienates persons such as yourself, who are debating whether or not to visit the USA on holiday... I suggest you go to Sunny Spain, or Majorca, or to Hell for all I care..

Sincerely,

R. Nolan: MA., MS., PhD., PhD

Christoph

Fu*k off somewhere else for your holiday and stop moaning.

N3WJL

No it is not do us a favor and STAY HOME

Chico Infierno

Then don't come visit if you are just so self important that you cannot be subjected to our rules.

pblcbox

Did I miss something? Or are you just woefully ignorant of your own country's issues with domestic terrorists?

You obviously missed where your own law enforcement agencies arrested close to 30 people and charged many of those arrested with offenses relating to an attempted plot to blow up airliners, then. Yes, the personnel at our entry points are rather callous - we pay them to be that way. I don't want someone who's only interest is being your buddy to be the one making sure that the next Al Qaeda terrorist is kept out of the country. I want someone who isn't looking to make friends, and could care less about what you think about our country.

If you don't like the attitude here, then visit Afghanistan...I hear it's lovely this time of year.

( You dumbass Limey wanker!)

captmhunt

Absolutely NOT... I don't believe in going anywhere that I am not wanted and Americans don't want you here... so, if I were you, I would go to Belieze for holiday and forget the crude Wallies over in the Colonies.

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