Annoyed By Us Immigration Returning From Thailand

[Jingthing]

I find it annoying to suggest that those of us who are hassled by these guys are:

asking for it

deserve it

have done something to trigger it other than exist

[PeaceBlondie]

Then he asks where I work. As a career IRS employee, I knew not to spill the beans too quickly.

1. "I work for the government."

2. (Which government?) "Federal."

3. (Which department?) "Treasury."

4. (Which agency?) "I manage tax auditors at the IRS."

5. (Excuse me a minute, sir.) He goes back to his computer for 30 seconds with my federal employee health ID card. Mind you, he and I belong to the same labor union, but I'm management and he's labor.

6. He concludes, "Sir, we're going to treat you as a VIP if you promise not to audit our income tax returns."

....While many terrorists are not very bright, some are, and surely it would occur to them that adopting the persona and paraphernalia connected to government employees or soldiers might put them under less scrutiny. Agents who do that are putting everyone at risk.

I condensed the conversation, which probably lasted for four minutes, while he checked me out against all the dangerous profiles he could think of. He saw everything in my wallet, including a calendar with the union logo on it, and an IRS employee card. He was not checking my baggage, only my identity. I assume his supercomputer identified me from the SSN on my health card. He could assume that I could get his tax returns audited (I did a lot of those selections). Not only did he do his job well, he resembled me more closely than both my male cousins.

These guys do this job for decades (Customs, not the new TSA employees), full time. They are experts. The new rent-a-cops may be incompetent. I saw them bring in a convicted killer of a Customs Agent at the border once, in shackles. They know what they're doing, generally.

[sbk]

I find it annoying to suggest that those of us who are hassled by these guys are:

asking for it

deserve it

have done something to trigger it other than exist

I wasn't suggesting that was the reason, but that it could be one of them. But, it appears, people are mistaking TSA agents for Customs Agents. Security and Customs are not the same people, as PB has pointed out.

I get stopped by security periodically, usually because of something they've scanned in my bag (once it was a speedometer for my husband's boat). I was patient and polite and had no problems. Usually, the ones who have an issue with security are the ones who are pushy and shouting.

As for Customs, again the only time they searched my bag was the KAL flight. I just assumed that an "international" airport that rarely deals with Asian flights (interestingly that flight no longer exists) would assume anyone coming from Thailand is involved in drugs. I was patient and polite. After he searched he said "Thank you" and I was on my way.

[jackspratt]

Not really. The dot you see in the word in your link (and for that matter in my link) is the way all dictionaries separate the syllables of words- it is most emphatically not a hyphen. Misspelled has no hyphen. To quote a reference on English grammer:

" Do not hyphenate words prefixed by non, un, in, dis, co, anti, hyper, pre, re, post, out, bi, counter, de, semi, mis, mega, micro, inter, over, and under (among others).Examples: nonaffiliated, nonemergency, uninfected, inpatient, disorder, disbar, coworker, copayment, antismoking, antimanagement, hyperactive, hyperrealism, preoperative, prejudge, reoccur, readjust, resubmit, postoperative, posttraumatic, outpatient, outmoded, bimonthly, biannual, counterrevolutionary, counterculture, decompress, semifinal, semiannual, misinformed, misprint, megabyte, microcircuit, interconnected, interoffice, overemphasize, override, underrepresent, underestimated."

Thank you Mac - I accept what you say.

There endeth the lesson.

ps how do you spell grammer

[simon43]

Just to comment that the millimetre wave xray machines have been in regular use at London Heathrow for months. I was checked by one in July when I was flying back to BKK.

Simon

[sriracha john]

Indeed, and they are quite striking photos of you, Simon...

[sbk]

Well, perhaps we don't have to be too concerned about naked photos

TSA looks into using more airport body scans

By Thomas Frank, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration plans to expand its use of screening machines that look under passengers' clothing for hidden weapons.

New York's Kennedy and Los Angeles International airports will get "backscatter" X-ray machines that the American Civil Liberties Union has called a "virtual strip search" for the vivid anatomical images they can create. Those airports and Phoenix Sky Harbor also will test a similar technology, using low-intensity millimeter waves, to scan passengers' bodies.

The machines are capable of showing passengers' bodily parts, but TSA says that, due to privacy concerns, they will not. All of the machines will use software that will blur images of passengers, so screeners will see weapons but only fuzzy images of people's bodies.

Their use will be voluntary for passengers who are pulled aside for extra screening beyond a metal detector.

"We will not roll out body imaging that does not have very high standards of privacy protection," TSA chief Kip Hawley said in an interview. "We'll use a variety of measures including software that may obscure some features."

www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-10-07-backscatter_N.htm

[Naam]

To quote a reference on English grammer:

Thank you Mac - I accept what you say.

There endeth the lesson.

ps how do you spell grammer

:D

[Jeff1]

Travel all the time back and forth to yank land. Never been stopped or bothered. Very professional and pleasant going through passport control.

I have also recieved this pleasant and fair treatment from these American bastards. EVERYTIME !

I never had a problem and I travel quite often. I always get a smile and a welcome home.

<deleted> !

[mcgriffith]

Not really. The dot you see in the word in your link (and for that matter in my link) is the way all dictionaries separate the syllables of words- it is most emphatically not a hyphen. Misspelled has no hyphen. To quote a reference on English grammer:

" Do not hyphenate words prefixed by non, un, in, dis, co, anti, hyper, pre, re, post, out, bi, counter, de, semi, mis, mega, micro, inter, over, and under (among others).Examples: nonaffiliated, nonemergency, uninfected, inpatient, disorder, disbar, coworker, copayment, antismoking, antimanagement, hyperactive, hyperrealism, preoperative, prejudge, reoccur, readjust, resubmit, postoperative, posttraumatic, outpatient, outmoded, bimonthly, biannual, counterrevolutionary, counterculture, decompress, semifinal, semiannual, misinformed, misprint, megabyte, microcircuit, interconnected, interoffice, overemphasize, override, underrepresent, underestimated."

Thank you Mac - I accept what you say.

There endeth the lesson.

ps how do you spell grammer

Touche, my typo, nay misspelling! And there endeth the lesson.....

[Jingthing]

I visited New Orleans, the MURDER capital of America, and I was not murdered.

Must mean there are no murders there and/or the people who were murdered asked for it.

[elkangorito]

Isn't this thread dead yet?

[shasta]

If you wish to avoid hassles with US Customs you basically have two options:

1. Don't leave the United States; or,

2. Don't come back.

How true!!!!!!

[cdnvic]

I too have been asked the porn question about my laptop. I know they have to ask since I fit the profile.

What is the profile for laptop porn? Sexually active male?

All the Viagra spam in the inbox has been replied to.

[jackspratt]

All the Viagra spam in the inbox has been replied to.

Is it possible to get viagra in spam form now? I was aware of tablets, gel and inhalants - maybe even injections.

More to the point, have the Indians started to produce a cheap generic

[pampal]

this is a very interesting op because i recently returned to the usa (i am native born citizen) after residing in LOS for many years and had exactly the opposite experience. having heard of experiences similar to what the op reported from my friends who travel back and forth from usa to LOS more frequently, i was prepared for and expected the worse. before leaving los, i had, of course, purged my notebook of any possibly questionable material and had nothing else on my person or baggage except for my clothes and other necessaties. i had 1 carry-on suitcase and a notebook case with me. therefore, i guess i didn't have any nervous mannerism or other signs that might give away someone with something to hide. my profile is single male, mid-40s. my entry point was san francisco - arriving on EVA air from Bangkok. my passport shows dozens of entry and exit stamps from countries throughout se asia (including the red-flag one for cambodia).

in any case, i was literally off the plane, through immigration and customs, and outside the terminal waiting for the BART train (SF-Bay Area subway system) in 20 minutes. i was amazed. fortunately, there was only 1 person ahead of me at immigration. when i went to the counter, the officer was very courteous and professional (male). he glanced through my passport, asked me if i had any animal or agricultural products (i had none and so stated), and that was it. he then waived me through with the words "welcome back sir." literally...he used those words...i was floored...after hearing about the negative experiences of others. i then proceeded to the customs lanes to the nothing to declare line and handed a lady officer my form which she accepted and pointed me to the exit doors of the imm/customs area...again with the words "welcome home."

i don't know if SFO has a rep as being more courteous than other entry points but that was my experience!! maybe it was just a one-off...but it certainly seems these particular immigration officers have been getting the training that Bangkok's officers were supposedly have gotten awhile back.

I agree with you, it's alot easier entering through SFO.

Entering the US through LAX was horrible for me, it's the reason I haven't been back home (LA) to see my family in 5 years.

Anyways, they prefer to come to BKK to see me

Edited October 13, 2007 by pampal

[onethailand]

I agree with you, it's alot easier entering through SFO.

Entering the US through LAX was horrible for me, it's the reason I haven't been back home (LA) to see my family in 5 years.

Anyways, they prefer to come to BKK to see me

I must just be lucky, then. Other than a cursory question or two from Immigration, such as "What are you doing in Thailand" and "How long are you staying" I never get bothered - despite obviously being Asian, and dressed down (sweats). I can only imagine the thick passport I carry around must provide some assurance that I am a frequent traveler or something. And I entered through LAX every time this millennium.

This trip though, SFO - you guys have put me off now

[Sanpatong]

Ok, let me try to add some focus:

1. Any question, check or procedure aimed at preventing terrorism and improving safety: Good.

2. Insulting remarks or questions that are degrading to Thailand or people who travel there: Bad.

So far I only encountered (1). Which is fine, I always get singled out for a second check for any flight inside or out of the USA; this takes like 5 minutes, if that. I'm HAPPY they make flying safer. I also seriously don't envy the people working in security.. I imagine what it must be like to work in some of the places I've seen, I can't begin to describe the horror.

I typically don't encounter (2). But then I'm not American; from posts in this discussion as well as others they seem to hit mostly their own citizens with this spiel.

To be sure though, I thoroughly wipe my laptop, memory cards, etc. It's a little bit ridiculous because the USA is by far the biggest producer of porn in the world, and porn is actually illegal in Thailand, but NOT in the USA... No doubt the irony would be lost on the goon squad though.

[rainman]

Wait...they say the machine blurs out private body parts? So I could basically walk through with a weapon in the front of my pants and my wife could walk through with a pair of hand grenades in her bra? Either they're lying or this new system is useless!

The bottom line is, the last time I left the US I promised myself not to go back there for as long as they're being so ridiculous at the border towards visitors. Terrorism concerns are alright, but other countries have safety measures too and are successful with them, without being rude or mean on purpose towards visitors. There's a difference between screening someone for weapons or explosives or doing things like that on purpose. You can search people without being mean to them. In my opinion, 99.9% of US border agents are feeling powerful in the position they're in and will use all possible methods to show it.

I remember the time when I was denied entry into the US (read a few posts back, you'll know why), they confiscated a pack of chocolate while they decided if they wanted to grant me entry or not. When I was finally allowed to go, they wouldn't give me the chocolate back, saying I wasn't allowed. No reason to do that. That's just like I said, mean.

Edited October 13, 2007 by rainman

[rainman]

To be sure though, I thoroughly wipe my laptop, memory cards, etc. It's a little bit ridiculous because the USA is by far the biggest producer of porn in the world, and porn is actually illegal in Thailand, but NOT in the USA... No doubt the irony would be lost on the goon squad though.

Wait, are you saying you have porn on your laptop?

[Scott]

Sorry for those of you who have had trouble. I ALWAYS have a problem, I just assume it's normal. It's either immigration or customs, but one or the other usually takes a personal interest in me. I try to take it like maybe I am somebody really important!

Actually, if you comply, answer their questions, but don't volunteer too any information (that raises their curiosity), they look through my things, ask a few questions and I am on my way.

The last time I went through customs, they didn't pull me aside and check my suitcase--for the first time ever--and I didn't know what to do, so I just stood there looking stupid. I didn't dare walk out!!!

Best of luck--it's the way things are these days.

[ercorn]

I visited New Orleans, the MURDER capital of America, and I was not murdered.

Must mean there are no murders there and/or the people who were murdered asked for it.

Or you were just lucky you weren`t murdered.

[britmaveric]

In/out passport control in less than a minute once I reach the desk - dunno what you fine gents do??? Be polite, answer their questions and smile. They have a tough job, one mistake could be costly for all of us.

BTW this applies everywhere in the world, and never had one problem.

Edited October 14, 2007 by britmaveric

[PeaceBlondie]

My general advice about answering questions by American officers is: listen carefully to the question, pause only a second or two to understand what they're asking, and then slowly answer only the question you were asked. Remain calm, don't answer what wasn't asked, don't tell them too much, and don't lie. Unless you're given sworn testimony under oath, you don't need to tell all the truth.

[AGareth2]

On my return to the UK this summer I was stopped and asked by UK customs where I had come from.

Thailand was my reply. The officer then asked to search my bags. Why not he has to do something for his salary.

It's like marking students homework! You have to look like your a teacher!

[britmaveric]

On my return to the UK this summer I was stopped and asked by UK customs where I had come from.

Thailand was my reply. The officer then asked to search my bags. Why not he has to do something for his salary.

It's like marking students homework! You have to look like your a teacher!

Mate of mine was going through LHR on his way back, was questioned by female in passport control. She asked what was his purpose of travel to thailand - he answered amusingly "I'm single". She had a good laff and on he went.

[Captain Chaos]

On my return to the UK this summer I was stopped and asked by UK customs where I had come from.

Thailand was my reply. The officer then asked to search my bags. Why not he has to do something for his salary.

It's like marking students homework! You have to look like your a teacher!

Interesting - I was asked the same question when I arrived (on Emirates via Dubai, not direct from BKK) last year. Next question was "how long have you been there" - when I said "about 4 and a half years" the customs bloke laughed and waved me through - is it possible that an "expat" is somehow considered a lower risk than a "tourist"?

Doesn't seem to make sense to me, but ...

[Sanpatong]

To be sure though, I thoroughly wipe my laptop, memory cards, etc. It's a little bit ridiculous because the USA is by far the biggest producer of porn in the world, and porn is actually illegal in Thailand, but NOT in the USA... No doubt the irony would be lost on the goon squad though.

Wait, are you saying you have porn on your laptop?

Possibly.

Consider that I don't want to leave this up to the nazi goons to decide what qualifies as porn and what's just a picture of a Thai chick on the beach, or my daughter in the bath tub.

Some people here got their diapers in a knot when someone made an excellent point but then in the same breath said something about illeteracy, and that part he later withdrew; total gent and I agree with the point he REALLY made. The point is that the nazi-goons are not qualified, or able to make certain decisions they are making. So best to not give them anything that would require them to use their brains.

[GuestHouse]

? I was about ready to tell them to if they think they are going to look at my personal files they are going to to have call my attorney who's card I always carry with me...So much for having rights as an American in your own country....

It's no good calling your attourney, in the US just like everywhere else, you waive your rights to privicy when you pass into the customs area.

Customs have the absolute right to search what bags, files, memory devices they like, including body cavities, if they so wish.

[britmaveric]

? I was about ready to tell them to if they think they are going to look at my personal files they are going to to have call my attorney who's card I always carry with me...So much for having rights as an American in your own country....

It's no good calling your attourney, in the US just like everywhere else, you waive your rights to privicy when you pass into the customs area.

Customs have the absolute right to search what bags, files, memory devices they like, including body cavities, if they so wish.

Use PGP encryption program, and files will be safe. Creates an encrypted virtual partition for private files (mind you not sure why anyone would want to hide anything - unless they are up to no good)