If you dislike the attitiude of U.S. immigration officials...

[carolfoy]

... you'll be pleased to learn that James Rasulo, chairman of WD parks and resorts and chairman of the Travel Industry Assoc of America is spearheading a training scheme for U.S. officials to welcome in a Disney'style with a 'have a nice day' attitude!,
"Immigration officers need to be taught to be more friendly and welcoming, we have a list of measures to improve this. At disney we are all about managing a large number of people. We know how to do it"

They are also going to initialise a proper marketing campaign so UK visitors will know the proper rules and regs concerning visas and passports etc

As a long time lamentor of how terrible the info published practically each week in the British Tabloids is, I can't wait for more publicity, then maybe I won't have to spend every saturday afternoon checking passports because the Daily Mail has published yet more wrong info.

 

[jen_uk]

 

[foxylady]

This can only be a good thing. I always feel nervous going through immigration and I always warn DS only to speak if spoken to and not joke about anything. I have to say that last year we were lucky and the guy was lovely. Just made some comment about how we must love the "big cheese".

 

[Andy B]

I had no problems the last time we went to the US. We do not rush off the plane as I feel we all have to wait for the bags anyway. We were virtually last in line at immigration at Cincinnatti, well me and my DS and DD, my DW has dual nationality and went through the US gate, as we were waiting a call goes out, can Mr B***** make himself known, I did and we were escorted to the US line and went through with my DW ahead of the non US queue.

 

[Ali and boyz]

to be honest they terrify me

 

[wayneg]

They have one of the most boring, repetative jobs in the world. I would look like they do with their job. I have always found smile and speak to them, instead of just throwing your passports at them, they do exactly the same back.
I would not like to deal with 400 tired British travellers. I know there will be bad ones as in any job, but I get on OK with them.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

12 years ago when we first went they were all very "Have a nice day!" and it really felt like they meant it, let's hope we're going back to the good ol' days.

 

[ariel75]

When you go through immigration you automatically feel like you are guilty of something.They just seem so serious.

 

[wickesy]

I think they take their job seriously but they do have sense of humour as well.

When Dad and I went to Las Vegas last year we were dealt with by a very stern looking immigration officer. As I was standing looking at the camera a broad grin spread across her face. I thought she was laughing at me for some reason but she then said: "I like your shirt". I was wearing a sweatshirt I bought in San Francisco which has on the front: "Alcatraz Psycho Ward - Outpatient".

From that point on she was as nice as pie. I think as long as you respect the job they are doing you can have a laugh with them as well.

 

[Goofyish]

We have never had any problems with the immigration officers - they have always been friendly, chatted to our DDs and made us feel welcome - perhaps we have honest faces LOL

 

[Altymark]

I've always found NY immigration officers to be the most misserable - even pre 9-11. By contrast, the Orlando officials I've encountered have been very pleasant and friendly. One tried to start a conversation about "soccer" - he clearly didn't know much about it, but at least he made the effort.

 

[castanea1985]

Altymark, I totally agree, out of all the US immigration officials, we've always found those in the state of NY, the worst!
Tracy

 

[julieannbabe]

to be honest they terrify me

me too

 

[Cyrano]

They have one of the most boring, repetative jobs in the world. I would look like they do with their job. I have always found smile and speak to them, instead of just throwing your passports at them, they do exactly the same back.

I agree. They are also unfairly the brunt of failures in security regardless of the lack of support and resources

 

[buzz182]

We find that most are ok, and like Wayne says, chat back to them too, they are after all only human.

On a previous trip we took the later 12.45 flight from gatwick and landed around 17.20 but we had not stayed the night before at Gatwick and so had a lovely 2 hr 45min drive to Gatwick from home. Anyway to cut a long story short I didn't go to bed the night before as too busy, so was v tired when we landed. ( Could not go to sleep on plane ) Anyhow the female immigration officer went to take my finger prints and said "can you place your finger on the red light ma'am" so I put my finger on the red light or so I thought when my DH decided to tell me i'd only put my finger on the webcam!!!!!!

We all had a good laugh about it and I could not stop apologising.
At least she saw the funny side of it! Lol
DH now finds it highly amusing to remind me of this every time we go.

Karina

 

[Minniespal]

We've never had any problems with them. I'm usually pleased to see them - it means that I have arrived and my holiday officially starts

 

[Groovee]

I've never once had a problem. As long as you are friendly and answer their questions straight I've always found them fine. When I went to NY last year the guy asked why I was there and I said to visit family and he asked when we were going home and then wished us a happy stay.

 

[Howard412]

We passed through immigration on 24th Jan with no problem at all - My brother was reading UG2007 on the plane and was carrying it when we got to the desk. The guy there said "Going to Disney huh?" stamped the cards and we were through.

The asian family infront of us however, were given the third degree about their plans, asked to show return tickets and all their currency, thorough bag searches, the whole malarky... but that's a totally different story I guess. Was sad to see.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

The asian family infront of us however, were given the third degree about their plans, asked to show return tickets and all their currency, thorough bag searches, the whole malarky... but that's a totally different story I guess. Was sad to see.

I would think that this is based upon the amount of people who illegally stay in the USA from certain ethnic groupings.

If this was my countires Immigration/passport control I would hope they would do the same to keep the country secure and free as far as possible from illegal immigration.

 

[leemel]

JFK were very brusque with us, very thorough in 2004. Found them most unwelcoming.
Sanford, completely different story. We were in the queue waiting for the official, a very pleasant lady who seemed stern with me and the missus, but when she got to Hollie, out came the special stamps for her passport, and she was really good.