Airport kerfuffle

[fizzy]

When we used to travel all over the Middle East we had separate passports for our visits to Israel. Wouldn't have been allowed into Arab countries with Israeli stamps and vice versa. Things haven't changed much
I once found about 50 different passports in my Dad's bag. He used to visit the British embassies a lot. Would never tell me what he was up to

 

[bricol]

When we used to travel all over the Middle East we had separate passports for our visits to Israel. Wouldn't have been allowed into Arab countries with Israeli stamps and vice versa. Things haven't changed much
I once found about 50 different passports in my Dad's bag. He used to visit the British embassies a lot. Would never tell me what he was up to

Exactly what we do at work. A few other countries on that list too.

 

[Nick67GT]

American Border Force guys freaked out when they saw I had an Iranian stamp in my passport. I didnt think they were going to let me in for a while.

When I reapplied for my ESTA to travel to the US under the visa waiver system, it was rejected on what I assumed was my declared visits to both Iran & Iraq, as well a few other ‘questionable’ countries. So I had no option but to apply for a (10 yr) US visa.

That meant a day out in London at the embassy, with lots of form filling, queues and detailed questions in roughly equal proportions. They wanted to know why I had travelled to certain places, who I had met with and for what purpose. In addition, why did I want to continue travelling to the US in the future? And with whom?

Most frustrating when you work for an American company, that take on government contracts in these countries and you’re the one who is assigned to them.

Anyway, visa approved all OK, but even now, each time I travel to the US I get pulled to one side and asked the same old questions, resulting in a delays of between 20 mins to nearly 2 hrs.

Worst types are at the Canadian border when returning back into the US.

 

[fizzy]

When I reapplied for my ESTA to travel to the US under the visa waiver system, it was rejected on what I assumed was my declared visits to both Iran & Iraq, as well a few other ‘questionable’ countries. So I had no option but to apply for a (10 yr) US visa.

That meant a day out in London at the embassy, with lots of form filling, queues and detailed questions in roughly equal proportions. They wanted to know why I had travelled to certain places, who I had met with and for what purpose. In addition, why did I want to continue travelling to the US in the future? And with whom?

Most frustrating when you work for an American company, that take on government contracts in these countries and you’re the one who is assigned to them.

Anyway, visa approved all OK, but even now, each time I travel to the US I get pulled to one side and asked the same old questions, resulting in a delays of between 20 mins to nearly 2 hrs.

Worst types are at the Canadian border when returning back into the US.

The US Canadian border especially on the West Coast side is a joke. Maximum security. Takes hours. 2 miles down the road the border is a grass verge! That's it. Just step across or back in again. Like that for a few thousand miles. There is one little village with the library straddling the border. Front door in the USA back door in Canada. Or vice versa. Before 9/11 you could move freely. Considering Canada has less crime what is the problem?

 

[Mick Annick]

When we used to travel all over the Middle East we had separate passports for our visits to Israel. Wouldn't have been allowed into Arab countries with Israeli stamps and vice versa. Things haven't changed much
I once found about 50 different passports in my Dad's bag. He used to visit the British embassies a lot. Would never tell me what he was up to

Only time I went to the Middle East they gave me the stamp on a piece of paper tucked into my passport so it could be removed if I needed to go Israel.

 

[mtt.tr]

Try having longer hair and being reasonably well spoken , Im prime drug swab.

Can think of worse things, and I your case would rather your moment of annoyance than a plane being blown up.

 

[fizzy]

I am surprised @Nomad doesn't attract more attention when he flies. He carries a lot of strange bits and pieces

 

[pedrobedro]

Long time since I went near an airport but I had a harmonica in my jacket pocket and the security man made me play it before he let me put it away.

 

[DAPPH]

I am surprised @Nomad doesn't attract more attention when he flies. He carries a lot of strange bits and pieces

But he's a almost a meathead and has a good demeanor .

 

[LiftedDisco]

I was taken aside in LAX for questioning because I had a Jar of Marmite and 100 tea bags.

I tried to get the officer to sample some Marmite but he wasn't having any of it.

Similar tale - arriving in New York to see a purely platonic friend of the female variety….**

Question from a pretty substantial customs officer (whatever her title may have been), “do you have any gifts with you…”

“Yep, stockings and lip salve…”

Cue an instant smirk from the customs officer and “well, enjoy your stay in the US…!”

** her sister was a slightly different scenario…!

 

[500e]

Used to go for work in USA occasionally not a problem, who do you work for what are you going to do how long etc OK.
Went for a holiday where are you staying "dont know hiring a car and traveling" you must have an address NO am hiring a car going to Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California.
Lot of muttering, bloke behind me said do you know anyone in US just give them any address so I gave them an address in Reading Pennsylvania, happy bunnies, nowt so strange as customs
Bought a pair of Peters cowboy boots and wore them home customs man made comment nice boots mate

 

[not done it yet]

Early in this century we used to cross from Canada to US at Cornwall, do a little shopping along the way, and cross back at Ogdenburgh. After about 2010, we gave up on that day out as the hassle at the border became far more trouble/risky than it was worth.