A question from a Canadian

[faithinkarma]

On another thread someone from the UK stated

the most difficult part of a holiday to the US is getting through immigration. The officers are rude, officious, humourless, difficult and very, very slow.

This really surprised me because it has not been my experience at all. Are Canadians given special treatment? Is this truly the way visitors from the UK are treated, or did this person just have a bda experience? I am really interested in knowing.

 

[Astrid]

Well I have to say that isn't my perception of the immigration officers I've come across.

Yes, the lines at time can be very slow and I wouldn't say that the officers are overly friendly, witty people, however, they've never been rude or officious when I've gone through.

In my opinion they are just doing their job properly.

Last time we went through the lady spoke to my son directly asking who he was, who I was and who his sister was and I felt this was the correct way of maybe dealing with the possibility of child abduction.

I'm sure others have differing views.

Astrid

 

[TracyK]

I would have to say that on the whole I have found them to be unfriendly and unwelcoming. I personally don't think that that is necessary. They can do their job but still show some friendliness and humour. I have visited the US several times and have to say that the only time I was greeted in a pleasant manner was when I visited Boston. When I visited NY at Christmas an American lady in the other queue commented that she was amazed anybody visited the US when they had to go through such an ordeal. So I would say I tend to agree with the poster's comments. Incidentally I used to work for Customs and Excise so I can appreciate that the job is of a sensitive nature but still feel that it doesn't warrant the bad attitudes so often displayed. JMHO
Tracy

 

[richard3330]

I totally agree with Tracy - I have found them to be quite unwelcoming, especially as they are usually the first Americans that you come across when landing in Orlando. I can't say that they have ever been specifically rude, however yes they are slow and humourless. I believe that they would still be able to do their job properly and effectively perhaps being slightly less intimidating!

Richard.

 

[mandymouse]

Hi there

We have flown to Orlando 6 times and we have found the US immigration staff always to be polite and professional. Even in recent times when there is more scanning of baggage and more questions concerning your trip, they always send us off with a 'have a nice day'.

mandymouse

 

[Olaf]

First, please let me apologize for the boorish behavior of the INS folks that you guys have come across. I'm an American and I've been treated badly by them as well. Keep in mind, these are government employees. It would take an act of congress to fire them, so they have absolutely no incentive to be pleasant.

They've been taking a lot of heat recently, for a myriad of reasons. The organization as whole as been very poorly run in the past. I think they're trying to make real changes and modernize. We'll see.

 

[KayleeUK]

On the last couple of occasions I have found them to be quite jolly

 

[Netty]

I have found them to be quite friendly, but what a different kettle of fish when we landed in manchester.. totally rude and ubrupt ,miserable ...
give me us immigration any time...
Jeanette

 

[SandraM]

I've never found them rude, but definitely officious & humourless!

Having said that, I once had a really hard time coming through the UK when I was on the way home to Dublin from New York. It was a last minute decision to come home and the cheapest way was to go via Gatwick, but the guy kept on at me for ages why didn't I fly direct. I asked him "I was born here, what's your problem?" Then he was complaining that my passport was Irish. Well I was brought "back" (I assume I was conceived there) to Ireland at a few weeks old and then adopted. He had most of my life story before he would let me through, begrudgingly. Nearly missed my flight!

 

[Danauk]

I have flown into 2 Amerian airports, Orlando and Las Vegas. Both times were got through security and customs quickly and didn't have any issues. When I was in San Diego we went to Mexico for the day. Getting back in to the USA took a while (anout 40 minutes in the line) but we didn't mind. When we got to show our pasports my American friend we were with told the officer we were foreigners and looking at my UK pasport he said 'Oh you're Canadian then?' I'm not sure if he was testing me or just hadn't looked at the pasport. I just replied that I was British and he let me through. He was still polite and friendly though.

 

[faithinkarma]

Just checking in to say thanks for the answers. And I didn't want to appear to have started a thread and run away, a habit which is getting a lot of discussion elsewhere.

I found your responses most interesting. Has anyone been to Canada who could speak to that experience?

Personally, since most of my returns to Canada are made in to Quebec, which can be a terrible experience, perhaps my US experiences only appear good to me in comparison.

 

[faithinkarma]

When we got to show our pasports my American friend we were with told the officer we were foreigners and looking at my UK pasport he said 'Oh you're Canadian then?' I'm not sure if he was testing me or just hadn't looked at the pasport.

Sadly, many Americans know so little about Canada it is possible he believed Canada to be part of the UK.

 

[WDWfan uk]

I have not found much difference in immigration in any country I've visited (i.e. a personality bypass seems to be a pre-requisite), but I do remember the last couple of visits to Florida noticing that the officers seemed softer and gave warm smiles both in Miami and in Orlando.

I can't even remember immigration in NY and we visited Canada in 2002 and I honestly don't remember the officials there either, except I remember thinking the airport in Toronto was super-efficient - so if I don't remember them, they could not have been too bad

I have seen up close the immigration officials in Heathrow, London on the non EU 'stations' be very humourless and abrupt as well - seems to go with the job.

The only time I really remember US immigration in a negative way was back in 1994 at Miami airport, my first visit to USA, and I found it rather scary. All the officials seemed particularly intimidating and unfriendly, and I remember a guy completing his Visa Waiver form in the line and getting really shouted at to get to the back of the line and the officer bellowed how dare he line up when he hadn't got a completed form and then when the guy had reached the very back of the line the officer screamed "What kind of a country do you think we are??" I felt so sorry for the chap's son.

Yet later visits to Miami have all been much much better.

 

[Kilted_Yank]

Originally posted by Olaf
First, please let me apologize for the boorish behavior of the INS folks that you guys have come across. I'm an American and I've been treated badly by them as well. Keep in mind, these are government employees. It would take an act of congress to fire them, so they have absolutely no incentive to be pleasant.

First of all, the INS (Immigration & Naturalization Service) ceased to exist in March of 2003. The functions of the INS are now the responsibility of monstrous lash-up that is known as the US Department of Homeland Security.

Regarding how pleasant these people are or aren't, while I agree that people could be more pleasant when they are doing their jobs, please be reminded that what they are doing is very serious stuff. The customs process really isn't the place for happy, happy - joy, joy.

As far as the inentive to be pleasant is concerned. I would have to disagree with you. The incentive to be pleasant is one of reciprocation. Some of my colleagues ask me why I can be so cheerful when my job is to teach extreme violence... my answer is that I am cheerful by nature, so don't take it amiss when I smile while I talk about shooting people... it's just who I am. I believe that you get what you give. Not everyone believes that. Having said that, it is important to note while it would be nice to cheery all of the time, being terse would by no means be ground for termination... government employee or not.

Customs people in most countries tend to be a humourless lot... it is the nature of what they do. I have had similar experiences in Canada, The UK, France, Jamaica, Japan, South Korea, and a number of other places.

 

[Olaf]

Originally posted by Kilted_Yank
I believe that you get what you give.

I buy off on most of what you said Bill, but I was very polite to said immigation offical. My great sin was in asking for my passport to be stamped.

My parents know several couples who have emigrated from Europe and they can tell you some sorry tales of their interactions with what was then known as the INS.

No one is asking them to be "cheery", just be polite. I'm aware of the importance of their job, but let's be frank, that particular organization hasn't exactly covered themselves with glory.

 

[duchy]

I've found US Immigration to be humourless but not rude. I used to work at Heathrow and it was pretty much the same story there. My brother worked at UK immigration at Gatwick and he told me of some of the scams that get pulled by people attempting to enter the country illegally and the abuse and violence they (the immigration officers) are subject to at times I can understand the sense of humour bypass.
As for Canadian immigration-I once managed to get on a London bound plane at Toronto without ever been asked for my passport-which was seriously worrying with hindsight !!