Searched By US Customs, Including Laptop & Camera

kimbathewhitelion · February 27, 2014

He did discover electricity, or so the Merkins want us to believe.

He invented the lightening rod. Americans know the ancient Greeks discovered electricity. When the other educational institutions catch up with America they will probably also know that Franklin did not discover electricity.

And that the world is indeed 'flat'.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

tjhorner · February 27, 2014

OHHHHH.......... How did I miss reading this post??????

Well allow me to explain what happens when one does NOT give up your password to US Customs agents........

A little background first:

I discovered Thailand about 6 years ago. After my first vacation here for a week, I decided I needed more Thailand in my life!!! And for the next 3 years I made a 29 trips from the US to Thailand; usually work 3 weeks in the States then 10 days or so in Thailand. In the last three years I began staying in LOS for about half the year for 2-3 months at a time.

I usually fly from BKK to TYO or ICN, then to JFK, ATL, MSP, SEA, PDX, SFO, LAX, HNL, and DTW. Never, Never have I had any problem/questions/strange looks/additional security checks except flying into DTW (Detroit). Every single time I fly internationally into DTW, whether its from ICN, TYO(HND/NRT), or HKG I get the secondary screening. So, in the last 6 years, out of about 50 flights, 7 times I have entered the US via Detroit and have gotten the secondary screening. Every time, I had been in Thailand, and on some occasions I had also been in Cambo, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, and/or Burma.

For a while I had contemplated getting Global Entry, but since I always fly biz class and I never check any bags I was usually first off the plane and first into Passport Control and normally lines weren't too bad with the exception of LAX and JFK...... but after a 2 hour wait in LAX I coughed up the 100 bucks and made a special trip to Atlanta for the interview. Approved. However, my next trip through Detroit, I get selected again. Same questions, where you been, how long, why, where do you stay...... same answers: Thailand, x days, my apartment in Bangkok. A few times they ask who do I visit, and I reply my GF. And few times they ask how old she is, where did you meet here, is she Thai.... and I answer politely, that's really none of your business. Sometimes they "gaze" into my back pack or roller board, but never much more than an unzip and a gander inside.... Never looked at my electronics; I usually travel with my laptop, a tablet or two, and 2 cellphones.

Fast forward to this past November, the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving..... Flying into Detroit via ICN and BKK (had been in Cambodia earlier in the month also) and a one day visa run hop to Singapore. Pass through the GE kiosk, head to the Customs stand and the lady there ask where my bags are, I reply that I live in Bangkok and maintain an apartment there and also have a house here in the states so I travel light. I kindly joke with her that I don't need any winter clothes in Thailand and shorts and flip flops do me no good in Detroit (at the time it was something like -10F outside with the windchill). She made the cursory marks on the Customs slip, ie circling Thailand and sends to secondary security, "follow the blue line", I commented "yeah, yeah I know I am in Detroit, this is the 6th time now in as many years".

So, I follow the blue line expecting the same as the past, 5 minutes or so of now routine questioning and a half ass bag search. I get to the end of the blue line, and there are 2 Customs agents standing a few meters away obviously having a very important conversation, I stood there for about 2 minutes. There was nobody else being searched; so I said to them "Is this where I am suppose to go?" They of course signaled me over. One guy was about 250 lbs and maybe 5'5" tall.... We will call him Fat. The second guy was about 6ft2in and maybe 150lbs..... we will call him Slim. Slim takes my passport and starts looking through it.

Fat ask me where I was coming from.... Thailand.

How long you been there..... Just about 3 months.

Why so long..... I live there.

You work there..... No, I work here in the states; I am a contractor and do work at cell phone towers all over the country, travel continuously. But I work 3-4 months at a time and then return to Thailand til I get a new contract. (Its always hard for these guys to understand that one can work in one country and live in another).

But before I could even finish the last word,

Slim says: You know cannot carry more than $10,000 in any currency into the US without declaring it.... Yes sir, I know that. And he continues to stare at me. It was a bit weird. A long uncomfortable pause one might say.

Slim: Well?? Me: Well what?? Slim: I said you can't have more than $10K. So, how much do you have? Me: You never asked how much I have, A little under a 100 bucks. Slim: Well, how much exactly? Me: I don't know, maybe 80 or 90 dollars, would you like me get my wallet out and show you?

Fat: Sir, put your bags on the table over here.

So my bags go on the table, and they proceed to start looking through my backpack. Slim starts the questions about do I have a GF, ask how old she is; usually I don't answer this but I responded this time. As he is going through my wallet pulling out my receipts and diligently looking at them, Fat grabs one of my tablets and starts looking through it. They are behind a table/conveyor belt with me on the other side facing them, so I cannot see what he is looking at. Slim gets bored with my receipts and picks up my my other tablet and starts looking on it. Slim starts to question me again about my girlfriend again, either where she works or how I met her.... I told him I didn't feel that was a question that I needed to answer, and I asked them what they were looking for? They didn't reply.

They spend about 5 minutes looking through my tablets, they are both leaned up against the table behind them. A third Customs guys comes up behind them and kind of leans over between them and is looking at my tablets too...... Then they the third guy points at something on the tablet Slim in searching and they all start giggling like school girls. I am just standing there with my hands in my pockets about 8 ft in front of them and about a foot from another table behind me; and I say "Really? Really? What's so funny?" Fat looks up at me and says, Sir take your hands out of your pockets and back up. I take my hands out of my pockets, look behind me and ask if he would like me to stand on or behind the table??? He doesn't respond.

Needless to say, I am now fu_king pissed!!!! I don't mind the secondary screening and question, yes its a huge inconvenience, but I understand it. The searching of the electronics, I do mind, Its an unlawful search...... Yes, I know the law, the court rulings, the precedents prior to this.

Slim ask again about my GF...... Wants to see a picture of her. I just kinda laugh and say not gonna happen. I then say, you got my tablets...... You obviously see pics of her on there. How long is this gonna take? I am so mad at this point..... the fact that they turned unprofessional and were snickering at something on my tablet. I don't know what, pics, emails???

Slim puts down the tablet and goes after the laptop and Fat goes to the cellphones. Both cell phones were dead, and wants to know where the chargers are, I am now to the point where they can go fuc_k themselves I am done being polite and cooperating, my response was something along the line of " if it was a fuc_king twinkie you could find it" Slim ask for the password to the laptop..... I'm like yeah right. He looks and says you have to give it to me its the law. I looked him right in the eyes and told him to shut the fu_k up and that I know the laws and my rights and you ain't getting shit from me. He wonders off and gets his supervisor. And hand me a slip of paper outlining the reasons for searches and how they are legal yada yada yada....... I read it briefly and tell them I ain't giving them shit. Super spouts off that they will get the password, and they will call an electronics forensics expert to come and it will take hours for them to get here and perform the search. I ask how long, he says probably about 6 hours. I say ok, will you call me when your done so I can pick it up or can you mail it to me. He responds well you will have to wait.... I tell him I know that's not the case, and that is unreasonable and if he needs to review it with his supervisor please do so.

So they call in 2 DHS Special agents, these guys are straight tools. One is trying to play good cop, all buddy buddy with. Telling me that they really just want to get me on my way and they are just doing their jobs. While the second one is playing the bad cop role..... Stating how many years I can go to prison for lying to a Federal agent. I call them out on this bullshit right away. And tell them to seize my laptop, i know the laws and they must return it in 30 days unless they have just cause and Director approval to hold it longer. And I state that I am finished answer questions and making statements without the presence of legal counsel. Bad cop says your not under arrest, so your not entitled to a lawyer. So, I ask if I am being detained, and they respond no but they have to finish some paperwork concerning this investigation. I tell them to hurry up cause its been an hour. They plead for the next several minutes for me give up the password, and I continue to defer any questions without counsel. Good cop makes a statement about how a Delta plane almost got blown up by the underwear bomber and there are thousands of American soldiers dying to protect this country from terrorist. I told him that I am a combat infantry United States Marine Corps veteran and what he and his posse are doing doesn't even compare to those spilling blood on foreign soil.

So instead of just seizing my password protected laptop, which was only windows password locked and had nothing on it. And I mean nothing except for Windows, the week prior my HD crashed and I had a new one installed at the Toshiba shop in Paragan. (Note: Toshiba will do warranty work on US purchased laptops overseas.) they seized all my electronics: Laptop, 2 tablets, 2 cellphones. **** But the real kicker, I had 3 thumb drives and 2 external 1 TB HD that didn't even pull out of my backpack. They didn't even open the 2 side pockets.

Good cop ask when I will be back at the airport, cause they could be done in a few days. Told him didn't know and just mail it when done. He continues to pry for info, wants phone number to call me at..... I'm like hello you seized my phone I won't answering calls on it, then ask for email....I just point at my laptop that is now in an "evidence" bag and shake my head.

He gives me his business card and tells me to contact him in a few days and a receipt for my confiscated goods.

Long story longer, at 32 days I get my stuff back. No evidence that they had even looked at them. I exchanged one tablet back into my company for a new one. The other I gave to my niece which I had planned to do anyways, and got a new hard drive for my laptop. I had to buy a new cell phone anyways so they never got turned back on.

Oh, and when I got my stuff back, it was all packaged up in a UPS box with each device in a bubble wrap envelope. But between the envelopes was shredded documents. And cross cut shreds but the long strips..... And whats on these strips???? Names, addresses, aliases, DOB, SSN!!!! Hundreds of different names and numbers. You gotta love that.

And when I returned back to Thailand for a week over Christmas, and back to the states on 3 Jan....... yes back through Detroit. I know, i know I am a glutton for punishment but it was it was the cheapest by like $800....... Yes, as you can probably guess got selected again for secondary.... Slim and Fat were now where to be seen and the guy this time asked where, how long. Opened one pocket on my backpack, didn't even look in and said thanks, good bye. I asked him if I was on a list or what constitutes the secondary screening. He said its random, I said every time I come into Detroit.....he cut me off and said yeap its random.

I have been in contact with a few ACLU lawyers, not that I really intend to pursue anything but I know this info could be helpful to them if they plan to appeal recent rulings.

Like I said before, I don't despise the searches, but when there is no probable cause or even suspicion........ If I was on some secret list I would think it would affect me at other ports of entry not just Detroit. Maybe the guys in Detroit are into kiddie porn and that's what they like to confiscate. Dunno

I would try the Global Entry program. It's good for 5 years and costs $100USD and some credit cards like Amex Platinum pays the fee after you are approved. A few pages of questions have to be answered and then an interview with some pics taken and a finger printing are done. You scan your passport and fingerprint on the machine just before customs and get a slip to provide officials if asked. They can still go through your bags if they want but I hear it never happens. You also get a card for entries through Canada and Mexico

Global Entry gets you past the passport checker, but you can still be harrassed beyond that.

So much lol, and fail. This doesn't just happen to Americans. This doesn't just happen to "single males travelling from a certain place". It doesn't just happen to certain people because of their hairstyle.

At the end of a 4 year posting to Germany, Canada Customs sent agents to our base to inspect everything everyone was shipping "home". Married, single, male, female, didn't matter. They literally sat there and went through every magazine page by page, and every movie (on F/F - back in the days of VHS tapes). They brought in the dogs. They took stuff apart. They were looking for any and everything that was illegal to bring into Canada. I wasn't even allowed to bring back a special (Canadian) edition of Playboy, that had been bought in Canada, even after I showed the customs agent the info proving it had come from Canada.

That was back in the mid-80's.

I've been travelling internationally (personally and professionally) since the early 90s. Many trips to/from Thailand (as a single male). For the last 10(+) years I've been working in an ME country and living in Thailand. Once every couple of years I have to return to Canada for one reason or another.

With passports full of stamps/visas from Thailand, Cambodia, UAE, Philippines, Egypt, Afghanistan, Turkey and India, how many times have I been stopped/questioned/searched when arriving ? Zero.

I've actually been searched more often when leaving Canada, including having my phone/laptop swabbed and tested for traces of explosives.

Then again. I try to look presentable whenever I travel and rarely have more than a couple of drinks (if any - tend to dehydrate too much when flying). I have nothing to hide and maybe my mannerisms show that.

I'm that guy you see ahead of you in the line that breezes through the metal detector/scanner because he has already removed ALL metallic objects and put them in his carry-on or screening tray beforehand.

I'm the guy that whizzes through Immigration because my passport/paperwork is in order and ready to go when I get to the counter, I am polite and don't reek of booze/puke/body odour or act suspicious (or belligerent) towards the Immigration officer.

Actually, you won't see me ahead of you, because I'm usually through and gone so smoothly, hardly anyone ever notices. You usually only notice the people that are inconveniencing you. Whether it's people ahead of you causing delays, or people "singling" you out for some reason for additional "screening".

Funny how it's usually "someone else" that is the main cause of most people's problems...........

(note: It seems that in the last 10 years, I've only done 38 round trips and gone through 80 sets of Customs/Immigration in 8 different countries, so I may not have the experience that some other members here have with these matters.)

I travel in biz class and dress in biz attire. Dress pants, buttoned down collared shirt. I shower in the lounge at my stop over in Korea or Japan. And I brush my teeth, comb my hair, and usually shave before we land in the states..... so appearance isn't always a sure thing.

Topic has come up here since 2004.

https://www.google.com/search?q=U.S.+Customs+site%3Athaivisa.com&oq=U.S.+Customs+site%3Athaivisa.com&aqs=chrome..69i57.9766j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

I return often, and am in the target demographic, and have not been searched. I've been using Global Entry (kiosk) for a few years so no chance of a search now. Also get TSA Pre-Check so easy-peasey intra-U.S.

See a few lines up.....

Edited February 27, 2014 by tjhorner

sgtsabai · February 27, 2014

I never entered through Detroit, always heard bad, bad news about the gestapo there. I had a friend that did, always had a problem. Bad enough elsewhere, you are lucky they didn't just 'detain' you until they finished copying everything on your electronics and checked to make sure you didn't have anything 'hiding' up your anal cavity. Welcome to the Corporate Police State of Amerika, you ain't seen nuttin' yet.

JLCrab · February 27, 2014

I never entered through Detroit, always heard bad, bad news about the gestapo there. I had a friend that did, always had a problem. Bad enough elsewhere, you are lucky they didn't just 'detain' you until they finished copying everything on your electronics and checked to make sure you didn't have anything 'hiding' up your anal cavity. Welcome to the Corporate Police State of Amerika, you ain't seen nuttin' yet.

Leave your laptop in your saddle bag in Thailand before leaving for US.

sgtsabai · February 28, 2014

I would never take my laptop back to the Corporate Police State of Amerika, if I would even bring a phone there will not be a sim card in it and they can keep it before I will give the gestapo any info at all. Frankly I worry more about getting back out than in and I've been out of 'politics' for many years. I hope to never ever return to whatever country it has become. It never was what we thought, but always seemed to be getting better. It is now on the way to a theocratic plutocracy and 3rd world status. Yea, I know, I know the most powerful military in the world, ah duh can't even win a war against 3rd/4th world countries. Been there, done that, never got a t-shirt and I've lost my seabag. It certainly isn't the one I grew up believing in. Keep GitMo open for those that really belong there. Oh and I didn't bring my saddle or saddlebags here with me (or anything else I was 'carrying' with her). Sold that mare to a NM State Police friend, hell of a mountain horse.

meand · March 3, 2014

OHHHHH.......... How did I miss reading this post??????

Well allow me to explain what happens when one does NOT give up your password to US Customs agents........

A little background first:

I discovered Thailand about 6 years ago. After my first vacation here for a week, I decided I needed more Thailand in my life!!! And for the next 3 years I made a 29 trips from the US to Thailand; usually work 3 weeks in the States then 10 days or so in Thailand. In the last three years I began staying in LOS for about half the year for 2-3 months at a time.

I usually fly from BKK to TYO or ICN, then to JFK, ATL, MSP, SEA, PDX, SFO, LAX, HNL, and DTW. Never, Never have I had any problem/questions/strange looks/additional security checks except flying into DTW (Detroit). Every single time I fly internationally into DTW, whether its from ICN, TYO(HND/NRT), or HKG I get the secondary screening. So, in the last 6 years, out of about 50 flights, 7 times I have entered the US via Detroit and have gotten the secondary screening. Every time, I had been in Thailand, and on some occasions I had also been in Cambo, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, and/or Burma.

For a while I had contemplated getting Global Entry, but since I always fly biz class and I never check any bags I was usually first off the plane and first into Passport Control and normally lines weren't too bad with the exception of LAX and JFK...... but after a 2 hour wait in LAX I coughed up the 100 bucks and made a special trip to Atlanta for the interview. Approved. However, my next trip through Detroit, I get selected again. Same questions, where you been, how long, why, where do you stay...... same answers: Thailand, x days, my apartment in Bangkok. A few times they ask who do I visit, and I reply my GF. And few times they ask how old she is, where did you meet here, is she Thai.... and I answer politely, that's really none of your business. Sometimes they "gaze" into my back pack or roller board, but never much more than an unzip and a gander inside.... Never looked at my electronics; I usually travel with my laptop, a tablet or two, and 2 cellphones.

Fast forward to this past November, the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving..... Flying into Detroit via ICN and BKK (had been in Cambodia earlier in the month also) and a one day visa run hop to Singapore. Pass through the GE kiosk, head to the Customs stand and the lady there ask where my bags are, I reply that I live in Bangkok and maintain an apartment there and also have a house here in the states so I travel light. I kindly joke with her that I don't need any winter clothes in Thailand and shorts and flip flops do me no good in Detroit (at the time it was something like -10F outside with the windchill). She made the cursory marks on the Customs slip, ie circling Thailand and sends to secondary security, "follow the blue line", I commented "yeah, yeah I know I am in Detroit, this is the 6th time now in as many years".

So, I follow the blue line expecting the same as the past, 5 minutes or so of now routine questioning and a half ass bag search. I get to the end of the blue line, and there are 2 Customs agents standing a few meters away obviously having a very important conversation, I stood there for about 2 minutes. There was nobody else being searched; so I said to them "Is this where I am suppose to go?" They of course signaled me over. One guy was about 250 lbs and maybe 5'5" tall.... We will call him Fat. The second guy was about 6ft2in and maybe 150lbs..... we will call him Slim. Slim takes my passport and starts looking through it.

Fat ask me where I was coming from.... Thailand.

How long you been there..... Just about 3 months.

Why so long..... I live there.

You work there..... No, I work here in the states; I am a contractor and do work at cell phone towers all over the country, travel continuously. But I work 3-4 months at a time and then return to Thailand til I get a new contract. (Its always hard for these guys to understand that one can work in one country and live in another).

But before I could even finish the last word,

Slim says: You know cannot carry more than $10,000 in any currency into the US without declaring it.... Yes sir, I know that. And he continues to stare at me. It was a bit weird. A long uncomfortable pause one might say.

Slim: Well?? Me: Well what?? Slim: I said you can't have more than $10K. So, how much do you have? Me: You never asked how much I have, A little under a 100 bucks. Slim: Well, how much exactly? Me: I don't know, maybe 80 or 90 dollars, would you like me get my wallet out and show you?

Fat: Sir, put your bags on the table over here.

So my bags go on the table, and they proceed to start looking through my backpack. Slim starts the questions about do I have a GF, ask how old she is; usually I don't answer this but I responded this time. As he is going through my wallet pulling out my receipts and diligently looking at them, Fat grabs one of my tablets and starts looking through it. They are behind a table/conveyor belt with me on the other side facing them, so I cannot see what he is looking at. Slim gets bored with my receipts and picks up my my other tablet and starts looking on it. Slim starts to question me again about my girlfriend again, either where she works or how I met her.... I told him I didn't feel that was a question that I needed to answer, and I asked them what they were looking for? They didn't reply.

They spend about 5 minutes looking through my tablets, they are both leaned up against the table behind them. A third Customs guys comes up behind them and kind of leans over between them and is looking at my tablets too...... Then they the third guy points at something on the tablet Slim in searching and they all start giggling like school girls. I am just standing there with my hands in my pockets about 8 ft in front of them and about a foot from another table behind me; and I say "Really? Really? What's so funny?" Fat looks up at me and says, Sir take your hands out of your pockets and back up. I take my hands out of my pockets, look behind me and ask if he would like me to stand on or behind the table??? He doesn't respond.

Needless to say, I am now fu_king pissed!!!! I don't mind the secondary screening and question, yes its a huge inconvenience, but I understand it. The searching of the electronics, I do mind, Its an unlawful search...... Yes, I know the law, the court rulings, the precedents prior to this.

Slim ask again about my GF...... Wants to see a picture of her. I just kinda laugh and say not gonna happen. I then say, you got my tablets...... You obviously see pics of her on there. How long is this gonna take? I am so mad at this point..... the fact that they turned unprofessional and were snickering at something on my tablet. I don't know what, pics, emails???

Slim puts down the tablet and goes after the laptop and Fat goes to the cellphones. Both cell phones were dead, and wants to know where the chargers are, I am now to the point where they can go fuc_k themselves I am done being polite and cooperating, my response was something along the line of " if it was a fuc_king twinkie you could find it" Slim ask for the password to the laptop..... I'm like yeah right. He looks and says you have to give it to me its the law. I looked him right in the eyes and told him to shut the fu_k up and that I know the laws and my rights and you ain't getting shit from me. He wonders off and gets his supervisor. And hand me a slip of paper outlining the reasons for searches and how they are legal yada yada yada....... I read it briefly and tell them I ain't giving them shit. Super spouts off that they will get the password, and they will call an electronics forensics expert to come and it will take hours for them to get here and perform the search. I ask how long, he says probably about 6 hours. I say ok, will you call me when your done so I can pick it up or can you mail it to me. He responds well you will have to wait.... I tell him I know that's not the case, and that is unreasonable and if he needs to review it with his supervisor please do so.

So they call in 2 DHS Special agents, these guys are straight tools. One is trying to play good cop, all buddy buddy with. Telling me that they really just want to get me on my way and they are just doing their jobs. While the second one is playing the bad cop role..... Stating how many years I can go to prison for lying to a Federal agent. I call them out on this bullshit right away. And tell them to seize my laptop, i know the laws and they must return it in 30 days unless they have just cause and Director approval to hold it longer. And I state that I am finished answer questions and making statements without the presence of legal counsel. Bad cop says your not under arrest, so your not entitled to a lawyer. So, I ask if I am being detained, and they respond no but they have to finish some paperwork concerning this investigation. I tell them to hurry up cause its been an hour. They plead for the next several minutes for me give up the password, and I continue to defer any questions without counsel. Good cop makes a statement about how a Delta plane almost got blown up by the underwear bomber and there are thousands of American soldiers dying to protect this country from terrorist. I told him that I am a combat infantry United States Marine Corps veteran and what he and his posse are doing doesn't even compare to those spilling blood on foreign soil.

So instead of just seizing my password protected laptop, which was only windows password locked and had nothing on it. And I mean nothing except for Windows, the week prior my HD crashed and I had a new one installed at the Toshiba shop in Paragan. (Note: Toshiba will do warranty work on US purchased laptops overseas.) they seized all my electronics: Laptop, 2 tablets, 2 cellphones. **** But the real kicker, I had 3 thumb drives and 2 external 1 TB HD that didn't even pull out of my backpack. They didn't even open the 2 side pockets.

Good cop ask when I will be back at the airport, cause they could be done in a few days. Told him didn't know and just mail it when done. He continues to pry for info, wants phone number to call me at..... I'm like hello you seized my phone I won't answering calls on it, then ask for email....I just point at my laptop that is now in an "evidence" bag and shake my head.

He gives me his business card and tells me to contact him in a few days and a receipt for my confiscated goods.

Long story longer, at 32 days I get my stuff back. No evidence that they had even looked at them. I exchanged one tablet back into my company for a new one. The other I gave to my niece which I had planned to do anyways, and got a new hard drive for my laptop. I had to buy a new cell phone anyways so they never got turned back on.

Oh, and when I got my stuff back, it was all packaged up in a UPS box with each device in a bubble wrap envelope. But between the envelopes was shredded documents. And cross cut shreds but the long strips..... And whats on these strips???? Names, addresses, aliases, DOB, SSN!!!! Hundreds of different names and numbers. You gotta love that.

And when I returned back to Thailand for a week over Christmas, and back to the states on 3 Jan....... yes back through Detroit. I know, i know I am a glutton for punishment but it was it was the cheapest by like $800....... Yes, as you can probably guess got selected again for secondary.... Slim and Fat were now where to be seen and the guy this time asked where, how long. Opened one pocket on my backpack, didn't even look in and said thanks, good bye. I asked him if I was on a list or what constitutes the secondary screening. He said its random, I said every time I come into Detroit.....he cut me off and said yeap its random.

I have been in contact with a few ACLU lawyers, not that I really intend to pursue anything but I know this info could be helpful to them if they plan to appeal recent rulings.

Like I said before, I don't despise the searches, but when there is no probable cause or even suspicion........ If I was on some secret list I would think it would affect me at other ports of entry not just Detroit. Maybe the guys in Detroit are into kiddie porn and that's what they like to confiscate. Dunno

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I would try the Global Entry program. It's good for 5 years and costs $100USD and some credit cards like Amex Platinum pays the fee after you are approved. A few pages of questions have to be answered and then an interview with some pics taken and a finger printing are done. You scan your passport and fingerprint on the machine just before customs and get a slip to provide officials if asked. They can still go through your bags if they want but I hear it never happens. You also get a card for entries through Canada and Mexico

Global Entry gets you past the passport checker, but you can still be harrassed beyond that.

So much lol, and fail. This doesn't just happen to Americans. This doesn't just happen to "single males travelling from a certain place". It doesn't just happen to certain people because of their hairstyle.

At the end of a 4 year posting to Germany, Canada Customs sent agents to our base to inspect everything everyone was shipping "home". Married, single, male, female, didn't matter. They literally sat there and went through every magazine page by page, and every movie (on F/F - back in the days of VHS tapes). They brought in the dogs. They took stuff apart. They were looking for any and everything that was illegal to bring into Canada. I wasn't even allowed to bring back a special (Canadian) edition of Playboy, that had been bought in Canada, even after I showed the customs agent the info proving it had come from Canada.

That was back in the mid-80's.

I've been travelling internationally (personally and professionally) since the early 90s. Many trips to/from Thailand (as a single male). For the last 10(+) years I've been working in an ME country and living in Thailand. Once every couple of years I have to return to Canada for one reason or another.

With passports full of stamps/visas from Thailand, Cambodia, UAE, Philippines, Egypt, Afghanistan, Turkey and India, how many times have I been stopped/questioned/searched when arriving ? Zero.

I've actually been searched more often when leaving Canada, including having my phone/laptop swabbed and tested for traces of explosives.

Then again. I try to look presentable whenever I travel and rarely have more than a couple of drinks (if any - tend to dehydrate too much when flying). I have nothing to hide and maybe my mannerisms show that.

I'm that guy you see ahead of you in the line that breezes through the metal detector/scanner because he has already removed ALL metallic objects and put them in his carry-on or screening tray beforehand.

I'm the guy that whizzes through Immigration because my passport/paperwork is in order and ready to go when I get to the counter, I am polite and don't reek of booze/puke/body odour or act suspicious (or belligerent) towards the Immigration officer.

Actually, you won't see me ahead of you, because I'm usually through and gone so smoothly, hardly anyone ever notices. You usually only notice the people that are inconveniencing you. Whether it's people ahead of you causing delays, or people "singling" you out for some reason for additional "screening".

Funny how it's usually "someone else" that is the main cause of most people's problems...........

(note: It seems that in the last 10 years, I've only done 38 round trips and gone through 80 sets of Customs/Immigration in 8 different countries, so I may not have the experience that some other members here have with these matters.)

I travel in biz class and dress in biz attire. Dress pants, buttoned down collared shirt. I shower in the lounge at my stop over in Korea or Japan. And I brush my teeth, comb my hair, and usually shave before we land in the states..... so appearance isn't always a sure thing.

Topic has come up here since 2004.

https://www.google.com/search?q=U.S.+Customs+site%3Athaivisa.com&oq=U.S.+Customs+site%3Athaivisa.com&aqs=chrome..69i57.9766j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

I return often, and am in the target demographic, and have not been searched. I've been using Global Entry (kiosk) for a few years so no chance of a search now. Also get TSA Pre-Check so easy-peasey intra-U.S.

See a few lines up.....

Maybe this will all be "solved" by waiting for one of these situations where the right person, or the right lawyer, gets pushed the wrong way, takes it to court and fights it diligently. I just don't see how they get away with this stuff.

thailiketoo · March 3, 2014

Maybe this will all be "solved" by waiting for one of these situations where the right person, or the right lawyer, gets pushed the wrong way, takes it to court and fights it diligently. I just don't see how they get away with this stuff.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonpartisan non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States."^[5] It works through litigation, lobbying, and community education. Founded in 1920 by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Helen Keller, and Walter Nelles, the ACLU has over 500,000 members and has an annual budget over $100 million.

Scarpolo · March 3, 2014

OHHHHH.......... How did I miss reading this post??????

Well allow me to explain what happens when one does NOT give up your password to US Customs agents........

A little background first:

I discovered Thailand about 6 years ago. After my first vacation here for a week, I decided I needed more Thailand in my life!!! And for the next 3 years I made a 29 trips from the US to Thailand; usually work 3 weeks in the States then 10 days or so in Thailand. In the last three years I began staying in LOS for about half the year for 2-3 months at a time.

I usually fly from BKK to TYO or ICN, then to JFK, ATL, MSP, SEA, PDX, SFO, LAX, HNL, and DTW. Never, Never have I had any problem/questions/strange looks/additional security checks except flying into DTW (Detroit). Every single time I fly internationally into DTW, whether its from ICN, TYO(HND/NRT), or HKG I get the secondary screening. So, in the last 6 years, out of about 50 flights, 7 times I have entered the US via Detroit and have gotten the secondary screening. Every time, I had been in Thailand, and on some occasions I had also been in Cambo, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, and/or Burma.

For a while I had contemplated getting Global Entry, but since I always fly biz class and I never check any bags I was usually first off the plane and first into Passport Control and normally lines weren't too bad with the exception of LAX and JFK...... but after a 2 hour wait in LAX I coughed up the 100 bucks and made a special trip to Atlanta for the interview. Approved. However, my next trip through Detroit, I get selected again. Same questions, where you been, how long, why, where do you stay...... same answers: Thailand, x days, my apartment in Bangkok. A few times they ask who do I visit, and I reply my GF. And few times they ask how old she is, where did you meet here, is she Thai.... and I answer politely, that's really none of your business. Sometimes they "gaze" into my back pack or roller board, but never much more than an unzip and a gander inside.... Never looked at my electronics; I usually travel with my laptop, a tablet or two, and 2 cellphones.

Fast forward to this past November, the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving..... Flying into Detroit via ICN and BKK (had been in Cambodia earlier in the month also) and a one day visa run hop to Singapore. Pass through the GE kiosk, head to the Customs stand and the lady there ask where my bags are, I reply that I live in Bangkok and maintain an apartment there and also have a house here in the states so I travel light. I kindly joke with her that I don't need any winter clothes in Thailand and shorts and flip flops do me no good in Detroit (at the time it was something like -10F outside with the windchill). She made the cursory marks on the Customs slip, ie circling Thailand and sends to secondary security, "follow the blue line", I commented "yeah, yeah I know I am in Detroit, this is the 6th time now in as many years".

So, I follow the blue line expecting the same as the past, 5 minutes or so of now routine questioning and a half ass bag search. I get to the end of the blue line, and there are 2 Customs agents standing a few meters away obviously having a very important conversation, I stood there for about 2 minutes. There was nobody else being searched; so I said to them "Is this where I am suppose to go?" They of course signaled me over. One guy was about 250 lbs and maybe 5'5" tall.... We will call him Fat. The second guy was about 6ft2in and maybe 150lbs..... we will call him Slim. Slim takes my passport and starts looking through it.

Fat ask me where I was coming from.... Thailand.

How long you been there..... Just about 3 months.

Why so long..... I live there.

You work there..... No, I work here in the states; I am a contractor and do work at cell phone towers all over the country, travel continuously. But I work 3-4 months at a time and then return to Thailand til I get a new contract. (Its always hard for these guys to understand that one can work in one country and live in another).

But before I could even finish the last word,

Slim says: You know cannot carry more than $10,000 in any currency into the US without declaring it.... Yes sir, I know that. And he continues to stare at me. It was a bit weird. A long uncomfortable pause one might say.

Slim: Well?? Me: Well what?? Slim: I said you can't have more than $10K. So, how much do you have? Me: You never asked how much I have, A little under a 100 bucks. Slim: Well, how much exactly? Me: I don't know, maybe 80 or 90 dollars, would you like me get my wallet out and show you?

Fat: Sir, put your bags on the table over here.

So my bags go on the table, and they proceed to start looking through my backpack. Slim starts the questions about do I have a GF, ask how old she is; usually I don't answer this but I responded this time. As he is going through my wallet pulling out my receipts and diligently looking at them, Fat grabs one of my tablets and starts looking through it. They are behind a table/conveyor belt with me on the other side facing them, so I cannot see what he is looking at. Slim gets bored with my receipts and picks up my my other tablet and starts looking on it. Slim starts to question me again about my girlfriend again, either where she works or how I met her.... I told him I didn't feel that was a question that I needed to answer, and I asked them what they were looking for? They didn't reply.

They spend about 5 minutes looking through my tablets, they are both leaned up against the table behind them. A third Customs guys comes up behind them and kind of leans over between them and is looking at my tablets too...... Then they the third guy points at something on the tablet Slim in searching and they all start giggling like school girls. I am just standing there with my hands in my pockets about 8 ft in front of them and about a foot from another table behind me; and I say "Really? Really? What's so funny?" Fat looks up at me and says, Sir take your hands out of your pockets and back up. I take my hands out of my pockets, look behind me and ask if he would like me to stand on or behind the table??? He doesn't respond.

Needless to say, I am now fu_king pissed!!!! I don't mind the secondary screening and question, yes its a huge inconvenience, but I understand it. The searching of the electronics, I do mind, Its an unlawful search...... Yes, I know the law, the court rulings, the precedents prior to this.

Slim ask again about my GF...... Wants to see a picture of her. I just kinda laugh and say not gonna happen. I then say, you got my tablets...... You obviously see pics of her on there. How long is this gonna take? I am so mad at this point..... the fact that they turned unprofessional and were snickering at something on my tablet. I don't know what, pics, emails???

Slim puts down the tablet and goes after the laptop and Fat goes to the cellphones. Both cell phones were dead, and wants to know where the chargers are, I am now to the point where they can go fuc_k themselves I am done being polite and cooperating, my response was something along the line of " if it was a fuc_king twinkie you could find it" Slim ask for the password to the laptop..... I'm like yeah right. He looks and says you have to give it to me its the law. I looked him right in the eyes and told him to shut the fu_k up and that I know the laws and my rights and you ain't getting shit from me. He wonders off and gets his supervisor. And hand me a slip of paper outlining the reasons for searches and how they are legal yada yada yada....... I read it briefly and tell them I ain't giving them shit. Super spouts off that they will get the password, and they will call an electronics forensics expert to come and it will take hours for them to get here and perform the search. I ask how long, he says probably about 6 hours. I say ok, will you call me when your done so I can pick it up or can you mail it to me. He responds well you will have to wait.... I tell him I know that's not the case, and that is unreasonable and if he needs to review it with his supervisor please do so.

So they call in 2 DHS Special agents, these guys are straight tools. One is trying to play good cop, all buddy buddy with. Telling me that they really just want to get me on my way and they are just doing their jobs. While the second one is playing the bad cop role..... Stating how many years I can go to prison for lying to a Federal agent. I call them out on this bullshit right away. And tell them to seize my laptop, i know the laws and they must return it in 30 days unless they have just cause and Director approval to hold it longer. And I state that I am finished answer questions and making statements without the presence of legal counsel. Bad cop says your not under arrest, so your not entitled to a lawyer. So, I ask if I am being detained, and they respond no but they have to finish some paperwork concerning this investigation. I tell them to hurry up cause its been an hour. They plead for the next several minutes for me give up the password, and I continue to defer any questions without counsel. Good cop makes a statement about how a Delta plane almost got blown up by the underwear bomber and there are thousands of American soldiers dying to protect this country from terrorist. I told him that I am a combat infantry United States Marine Corps veteran and what he and his posse are doing doesn't even compare to those spilling blood on foreign soil.

So instead of just seizing my password protected laptop, which was only windows password locked and had nothing on it. And I mean nothing except for Windows, the week prior my HD crashed and I had a new one installed at the Toshiba shop in Paragan. (Note: Toshiba will do warranty work on US purchased laptops overseas.) they seized all my electronics: Laptop, 2 tablets, 2 cellphones. **** But the real kicker, I had 3 thumb drives and 2 external 1 TB HD that didn't even pull out of my backpack. They didn't even open the 2 side pockets.

Good cop ask when I will be back at the airport, cause they could be done in a few days. Told him didn't know and just mail it when done. He continues to pry for info, wants phone number to call me at..... I'm like hello you seized my phone I won't answering calls on it, then ask for email....I just point at my laptop that is now in an "evidence" bag and shake my head.

He gives me his business card and tells me to contact him in a few days and a receipt for my confiscated goods.

Long story longer, at 32 days I get my stuff back. No evidence that they had even looked at them. I exchanged one tablet back into my company for a new one. The other I gave to my niece which I had planned to do anyways, and got a new hard drive for my laptop. I had to buy a new cell phone anyways so they never got turned back on.

Oh, and when I got my stuff back, it was all packaged up in a UPS box with each device in a bubble wrap envelope. But between the envelopes was shredded documents. And cross cut shreds but the long strips..... And whats on these strips???? Names, addresses, aliases, DOB, SSN!!!! Hundreds of different names and numbers. You gotta love that.

And when I returned back to Thailand for a week over Christmas, and back to the states on 3 Jan....... yes back through Detroit. I know, i know I am a glutton for punishment but it was it was the cheapest by like $800....... Yes, as you can probably guess got selected again for secondary.... Slim and Fat were now where to be seen and the guy this time asked where, how long. Opened one pocket on my backpack, didn't even look in and said thanks, good bye. I asked him if I was on a list or what constitutes the secondary screening. He said its random, I said every time I come into Detroit.....he cut me off and said yeap its random.

I have been in contact with a few ACLU lawyers, not that I really intend to pursue anything but I know this info could be helpful to them if they plan to appeal recent rulings.

Like I said before, I don't despise the searches, but when there is no probable cause or even suspicion........ If I was on some secret list I would think it would affect me at other ports of entry not just Detroit. Maybe the guys in Detroit are into kiddie porn and that's what they like to confiscate. Dunno alt=rolleyes.gif width=20 height=20>

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I would try the Global Entry program. It's good for 5 years and costs $100USD and some credit cards like Amex Platinum pays the fee after you are approved. A few pages of questions have to be answered and then an interview with some pics taken and a finger printing are done. You scan your passport and fingerprint on the machine just before customs and get a slip to provide officials if asked. They can still go through your bags if they want but I hear it never happens. You also get a card for entries through Canada and Mexico

Global Entry gets you past the passport checker, but you can still be harrassed beyond that.

So much lol, and fail. This doesn't just happen to Americans. This doesn't just happen to "single males travelling from a certain place". It doesn't just happen to certain people because of their hairstyle.

At the end of a 4 year posting to Germany, Canada Customs sent agents to our base to inspect everything everyone was shipping "home". Married, single, male, female, didn't matter. They literally sat there and went through every magazine page by page, and every movie (on F/F - back in the days of VHS tapes). They brought in the dogs. They took stuff apart. They were looking for any and everything that was illegal to bring into Canada. I wasn't even allowed to bring back a special (Canadian) edition of Playboy, that had been bought in Canada, even after I showed the customs agent the info proving it had come from Canada.

That was back in the mid-80's.

I've been travelling internationally (personally and professionally) since the early 90s. Many trips to/from Thailand (as a single male). For the last 10(+) years I've been working in an ME country and living in Thailand. Once every couple of years I have to return to Canada for one reason or another.

With passports full of stamps/visas from Thailand, Cambodia, UAE, Philippines, Egypt, Afghanistan, Turkey and India, how many times have I been stopped/questioned/searched when arriving ? Zero.

I've actually been searched more often when leaving Canada, including having my phone/laptop swabbed and tested for traces of explosives.

Then again. I try to look presentable whenever I travel and rarely have more than a couple of drinks (if any - tend to dehydrate too much when flying). I have nothing to hide and maybe my mannerisms show that.

I'm that guy you see ahead of you in the line that breezes through the metal detector/scanner because he has already removed ALL metallic objects and put them in his carry-on or screening tray beforehand.

I'm the guy that whizzes through Immigration because my passport/paperwork is in order and ready to go when I get to the counter, I am polite and don't reek of booze/puke/body odour or act suspicious (or belligerent) towards the Immigration officer.

Actually, you won't see me ahead of you, because I'm usually through and gone so smoothly, hardly anyone ever notices. You usually only notice the people that are inconveniencing you. Whether it's people ahead of you causing delays, or people "singling" you out for some reason for additional "screening".

Funny how it's usually "someone else" that is the main cause of most people's problems...........

(note: It seems that in the last 10 years, I've only done 38 round trips and gone through 80 sets of Customs/Immigration in 8 different countries, so I may not have the experience that some other members here have with these matters.)

I travel in biz class and dress in biz attire. Dress pants, buttoned down collared shirt. I shower in the lounge at my stop over in Korea or Japan. And I brush my teeth, comb my hair, and usually shave before we land in the states..... so appearance isn't always a sure thing.

Topic has come up here since 2004.

https://www.google.com/search?q=U.S.+Customs+site%3Athaivisa.com&oq=U.S.+Customs+site%3Athaivisa.com&aqs=chrome..69i57.9766j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

I return often, and am in the target demographic, and have not been searched. I've been using Global Entry (kiosk) for a few years so no chance of a search now. Also get TSA Pre-Check so easy-peasey intra-U.S.

See a few lines up.....

DETROIT????

The Muslim Capital of America?

Other than Washington DC,

do you not realize that Hezbollah and other groups are here, and Detroit is one of thier favorites?

Thailand is also a Hezbollah hub,

really guy,

going through Detroit, is not the actions of a sane, heavy world traveler, but I am glad you wrote all this because, Chicago Ohare may not be much better, and, JFK< is JFK.

I think I will deal w LAX, and MIA only now

Scarpolo · March 3, 2014

I wonder if this guy had his laptop, or any of his cronies bags searched?

let me answer that; no.

http://www.redflagnews.com/headlines/obama-lets-muslim-leader-who-preaches-killing-gays-jews-into-us-to-raise-money

mania · March 3, 2014

Ahhhh reading this thread has me so looking forward to my 1st trip back to US in years

I remember thinking last time I left as I was searched etc & the long TSA lines how happy I was about leaving.

All these posts do not make me look forward to returning & going thru the in & out screens again.

sgtsabai · March 3, 2014

redflag is a conservative rag created and edited by J.R. Elliott, a teabagger who is creator and editor of the tea party brief. I would read anything he says with not a grain of salt but and entire bucket. Let me make it very clear, I don't like obushma but not for phony reason the right wing liars come up with. There are plenty of real reasons to think he might should have a reservation in GitMo.

Lots of luck mania, let us know just how much you, really, really enjoy the airport gestapo. I'm sure it will be an oh so pleasurable experience...lol.

Edited March 3, 2014 by sgtsabai

mania · March 3, 2014

redflag is a conservative rag created and edited by J.R. Elliott, a teabagger who is creator and editor of the tea party brief. I would read anything he says with not a grain of salt but and entire bucket. Let me make it very clear, I don't like obushma but not for phony reason the right wing liars come up with. There are plenty of real reasons to think he might should have a reservation in GitMo. Lots of luck mania, let us know just how much you, really, really enjoy the airport gestapo. I'm sure it will be an oh so pleasurable experience...lol.

You know I have noticed on previous trips it is the getting out I dread more than the entry

Usually getting in is just/or was just...welcome do you have anything to declare? No? Ok go ahead.

But getting out sheesh 3rd degree, body scans, TSA & then in line of final boarding gates an officer of which dept I know

not is asking each & everyone of us do you have more than 10k cash? Are you sure??

WTH? if it is security you would guess it would be tougher getting in than out.

But not so in my experience

Yeah not looking forward at all to it.

Wish I had just sent the kids $$ to visit me instead lol

Edited March 3, 2014 by mania

balo · March 3, 2014

If you have pictures in your phone of your cute 25 year old Thai gf, you might get in trouble in the US.

They would probably think she was underage and that you're a pervert .

Edited March 3, 2014 by balo

Scarpolo · March 3, 2014

redflag is a conservative rag created and edited by J.R. Elliott, a teabagger who is creator and editor of the tea party brief. I would read anything he says with not a grain of salt but and entire bucket. Let me make it very clear, I don't like obushma but not for phony reason the right wing liars come up with. There are plenty of real reasons to think he might should have a reservation in GitMo. Lots of luck mania, let us know just how much you, really, really enjoy the airport gestapo. I'm sure it will be an oh so pleasurable experience...lol.

You know I have noticed on previous trips it is the getting out I dread more than the entry

Usually getting in is just/or was just...welcome do you have anything to declare? No? Ok go ahead.

But getting out sheesh 3rd degree, body scans, TSA & then in line of final boarding gates an officer of which dept I know

not is asking each & everyone of us do you have more than 10k cash? Are you sure??

WTH? if it is security you would guess it would be tougher getting in than out.

But not so in my experience

Yeah not looking forward at all to it.

Wish I had just sent the kids $$ to visit me instead lol

I flew first class out of JFK in Sept. to BKK via Hong Kong with a brand new passport, in fact, it was just a few days old.

Didnt have any hassle other than I needed a supervisor to allow my guitar on board.

Had a laptop, had a carry on, nothing was searched and no one asked me anything.

Had cash, less than the eye brow amount, but close enough to show I knew the rule,

And thought it was the easiest departure of my life,

it was a 1am flight, out of JFK, and the airport was deserted, so, there may be a clue in that

On departure in Hong Kong though, they confiscated my favorite perfect fitting screw driver for my guitar pegs, and two lighters, as one is the limit.

Never had a problem in Laos, or Thailand, but after reading this thread, my passport now looks like the one's they want to scrutinize, so, I will answer their questions promptly, matter of factly, and not give anyone with power that they don't deserve, any excuse to abuse it, as that is what they are trained to do,

to train americans into obedience,

so they will go into the box cars, willingly, after disarming the people first; which is coming

Edited March 3, 2014 by Scarpolo

sgtsabai · March 3, 2014

Sometimes getting out is a real pain. Once in 1972 I was not allowed out, the border guard said, it is your country, not mine. I found out why about 2 weeks later after a visit from the fumbling bureau of idiots. On the way back here I once made the mistake in Houston of making eye contact with a really pretty TSA agent. Looked like Beyonce, I winked, couldn't help it-the devil made me do it. Immediately pulled out of the 50/60 people barely moving screening line and made to go to the 'we are going to search your belongings and maybe really screw you over' area. Surrendered luggage, was sat down and told to remove boots. One minute later I was on my way past the crowd, sometimes it pays to break the rules. Just wish I had gotten her phone number. On my hopefully final trip back to Thailand I had approx. 1 hr. of free drinking time in the Gold Card lounge. Oh no! Idiot TSA gets a false reading of gunpowder on one of my external hard drives and of course wouldn't tell me what the problem was. I would have known it was false because that hard drive had never been anywhere near any of my reloading equipment, ammo or guns and I had been careful to not have any in the luggage I carried. Supervisor finally rescued me from the 2 idiots. Idiot #1 'forgot' to get a clean wipe. I missed the entire free drink time, and got to the boarding area just as they called 1st/business class. Oh, was I pissed you ask, why of course not. I knew I had been protected by the best, NOT! Nothing but kabuki theater of the absurd designed to instill obedience and fear. When they offered to re-pack for me I politely told them to <deleted>-off!

isawasnake · March 3, 2014

The omnipresent question "you have been over there a long time, what have you been doing?" seems harmless enough. ---- Maybe "working" or "visiting in-laws".

Sometimes the questions after the first one get rather ridiculous in my estimation. I guess the more politely, clearly and concisely you answer the questions, the better chance you have of going unscathed, but to what extent do you even need to answer their ridiculous questions?

tjhorner · March 3, 2014

redflag is a conservative rag created and edited by J.R. Elliott, a teabagger who is creator and editor of the tea party brief. I would read anything he says with not a grain of salt but and entire bucket. Let me make it very clear, I don't like obushma but not for phony reason the right wing liars come up with. There are plenty of real reasons to think he might should have a reservation in GitMo. Lots of luck mania, let us know just how much you, really, really enjoy the airport gestapo. I'm sure it will be an oh so pleasurable experience...lol.

You know I have noticed on previous trips it is the getting out I dread more than the entry

Usually getting in is just/or was just...welcome do you have anything to declare? No? Ok go ahead.

But getting out sheesh 3rd degree, body scans, TSA & then in line of final boarding gates an officer of which dept I know

not is asking each & everyone of us do you have more than 10k cash? Are you sure??

WTH? if it is security you would guess it would be tougher getting in than out.

But not so in my experience

Yeah not looking forward at all to it.

Wish I had just sent the kids $$ to visit me instead lol

I flew first class out of JFK in Sept. to BKK via Hong Kong with a brand new passport, in fact, it was just a few days old.

Didnt have any hassle other than I needed a supervisor to allow my guitar on board.

Had a laptop, had a carry on, nothing was searched and no one asked me anything.

Had cash, less than the eye brow amount, but close enough to show I knew the rule,

And thought it was the easiest departure of my life,

it was a 1am flight, out of JFK, and the airport was deserted, so, there may be a clue in that

On departure in Hong Kong though, they confiscated my favorite perfect fitting screw driver for my guitar pegs, and two lighters, as one is the limit.

Never had a problem in Laos, or Thailand, but after reading this thread, my passport now looks like the one's they want to scrutinize, so, I will answer their questions promptly, matter of factly, and not give anyone with power that they don't deserve, any excuse to abuse it, as that is what they are trained to do,

to train americans into obedience,

so they will go into the box cars, willingly, after disarming the people first; which is coming

We are discussing entering the US and dealing with Customs, when flying out of JFK (or any city in the US) you don't have to deal with Customs only the idoits of TSA.

The omnipresent question "you have been over there a long time, what have you been doing?" seems harmless enough. ---- Maybe "working" or "visiting in-laws".

Sometimes the questions after the first one get rather ridiculous in my estimation. I guess the more politely, clearly and concisely you answer the questions, the better chance you have of going unscathed, but to what extent do you even need to answer their ridiculous questions?

Like I said above in my book of a post..... When they start asking questions about anything other than where i've been, and how long, and especially about my GF....... I politely decline!!!!

BohemianDaddyo · March 3, 2014

Given I just booked a flight this AM to Chiang Mai for an exploratory look at Thailand with an eye to retire there by year end, thanks for the warning of a potential invasion of privacy by the Feds, not that I'm a pedophile or use drugs..

Scarpolo · March 4, 2014

Given I just booked a flight this AM to Chiang Mai for an exploratory look at Thailand with an eye to retire there by year end, thanks for the warning of a potential invasion of privacy by the Feds, not that I'm a pedophile or use drugs..

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