US Public Servants (Well that's a laugh)
Posted by: velofellow on 10 August 2004
Got back from the USA on Sunday and I still can't believe how rude and pig ignorant the immigration and customs officials are.If that shower of twats are Uncle Sam's first line of defence then I hope that the second line is better.Cheers Tony
People here in the U.S. are pretty good on the whole and I cannot really speak for any airport other than Boston, but my wife and I travel frequently through Logan and they are efficient and polite but never friendly. I think they have a sense of humour bypass before they are allowed on the job. The US does have it's violent dark side that these people are only too aware off.
I recently took a brace of 250's back to the factory for a service, thanks Sheila and Mark
the outer case of one tested positive for nitrates.... Security and I politely and calmly talked about Hi-Fi, Manchester United and other banal subjects whilst suitable tools and a supervisor were located, after the amp's innards tested negative I was allowed to reseal it and join my flight with no fuss at all. A decent experience given the approach to security that Boston understandably takes these days.
Admittedly Heathrow was a pleasure to return through but back in Boston we had no issue getting through customs and security, we do have to give an electronic fingerprint sample even though we are legitimate alien residents but that takes a second and is quite painless. I would feel worse joining the Non-EU line at Heathrow that is for sure.
Here in the U.S. Henry Ford has taught people to 'just do as they are told' and they will be successful, it's different but it works, stand in line, be respectful and people will respect you back is my experience.
Oh and the nitrates??? Probably mouse urine my Biochemist wife informs me...
So if you are looking for a holiday/vacation in the U.S. give Boston and New England a chance, it's a fantastic City with some great countryside and coastline plus cheap shopping given the exchange rate right now. There are no Naim stocking Hi-Fi stores but that is a bonus really, the nearest 552 is probably 600 miles away and that it probably too close for comfort....
BTW Mick, I think that the new restrictions on the visa waiver scheme are about to be delayed as a large lobby group has realized just what it will mean to the economy.
I think I have been 'assimilated'
Andy
I recently took a brace of 250's back to the factory for a service, thanks Sheila and Mark
the outer case of one tested positive for nitrates.... Security and I politely and calmly talked about Hi-Fi, Manchester United and other banal subjects whilst suitable tools and a supervisor were located, after the amp's innards tested negative I was allowed to reseal it and join my flight with no fuss at all. A decent experience given the approach to security that Boston understandably takes these days.Admittedly Heathrow was a pleasure to return through but back in Boston we had no issue getting through customs and security, we do have to give an electronic fingerprint sample even though we are legitimate alien residents but that takes a second and is quite painless. I would feel worse joining the Non-EU line at Heathrow that is for sure.
Here in the U.S. Henry Ford has taught people to 'just do as they are told' and they will be successful, it's different but it works, stand in line, be respectful and people will respect you back is my experience.
Oh and the nitrates??? Probably mouse urine my Biochemist wife informs me...
So if you are looking for a holiday/vacation in the U.S. give Boston and New England a chance, it's a fantastic City with some great countryside and coastline plus cheap shopping given the exchange rate right now. There are no Naim stocking Hi-Fi stores but that is a bonus really, the nearest 552 is probably 600 miles away and that it probably too close for comfort....
BTW Mick, I think that the new restrictions on the visa waiver scheme are about to be delayed as a large lobby group has realized just what it will mean to the economy.
I think I have been 'assimilated'
Andy
It's a TEXAS thing isn't it!!!
From CNN.Com oct. 30th 2000
"BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Hundreds of passengers were ordered off flights and an American Airlines terminal was evacuated Monday after a security guard spotted a handgun in a carry-on bag at Logan International Airport.
A Texas man carrying two unusable guns in his bag -- an antique pistol with no working parts and a handgun with no ammunition -- turned himself in to State Police, after more than 600 people were taken off planes and the area was searched by authorities, said Massport spokesman Phil Orlandella.
Orlandella said no charges were expected to be filed.
Massport Aviation Director Thomas Kinton said the guard noticed a gun in a bag passing through an X-ray scanner at 8:30 a.m. Officials detained a man, but then realized the suspect bag had already been picked up by someone else and its owner had continued on his way.
Orlandella said the Texas man's bag is believed to be the one that originally triggered the security seach.
Passengers were cleared off the concourse of Terminal B and pulled from five planes, including one that had just left the gate, to search the area, Kinton said.
Authorities reopened the terminal after determining it to be safe. Passengers taken off their flights were allowed to reboard after passing through security checkpoints a second time.
Police filed no charges, Orlandella said, because the man turned himself in. The guns were heirlooms the man was taking home after attending a family member's funeral in Maine, he said."
andy
From CNN.Com oct. 30th 2000
"BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Hundreds of passengers were ordered off flights and an American Airlines terminal was evacuated Monday after a security guard spotted a handgun in a carry-on bag at Logan International Airport.
A Texas man carrying two unusable guns in his bag -- an antique pistol with no working parts and a handgun with no ammunition -- turned himself in to State Police, after more than 600 people were taken off planes and the area was searched by authorities, said Massport spokesman Phil Orlandella.
Orlandella said no charges were expected to be filed.
Massport Aviation Director Thomas Kinton said the guard noticed a gun in a bag passing through an X-ray scanner at 8:30 a.m. Officials detained a man, but then realized the suspect bag had already been picked up by someone else and its owner had continued on his way.
Orlandella said the Texas man's bag is believed to be the one that originally triggered the security seach.
Passengers were cleared off the concourse of Terminal B and pulled from five planes, including one that had just left the gate, to search the area, Kinton said.
Authorities reopened the terminal after determining it to be safe. Passengers taken off their flights were allowed to reboard after passing through security checkpoints a second time.
Police filed no charges, Orlandella said, because the man turned himself in. The guns were heirlooms the man was taking home after attending a family member's funeral in Maine, he said."
andy
I had a nightmare back in 1994, when I was doing some work related to the World Cup.
My then employer talked to the US embassy, and I was duly issued with something called an R1 Visa, which allowed me to carry out work in the US, as long as none of the stuff I wrote while out there appeard in US publications).
When I arrived at Chicago O'Hare, I was questioned for almost two hours and nearly missed a vital connecting flight to St Louis. I could not convince the crypto-Nazi in Immigration that was a legitimate hack out there on a legitimate job (flashing my NUJ card only seemed to make things worse). He kept wanting to know what I was going to write (I said that I didn't know, as the events I was reporting on hadn't happened yet). No amount of English charm could speed up the process. I also the fatal mistake of asking iif could speak to his supervisor/superior. If you're eveer unlucky enough to hhave hassle with Immigration officers when visiting tthe States, NEVER, under ANY circumstances, do that! You'll only make things worse!
However, flying into Seattle and Boston was much smooother, and even New York JFK's infamously grumpy Immi officers were nothing compared to thaat Chicago guy.
Kevin (Bobbie Gentry: Okalona River Bottom Band)
PS The worst hassle I ever had was upon entering Zimbabwe in 1997 (God knows what it's like now). I had to siggn an undertakking not to write anything nasty about that nice Mr Mugabe and to check in at a police station once a wweek, and with the Immigration Office in Harare the day of my departure.
My then employer talked to the US embassy, and I was duly issued with something called an R1 Visa, which allowed me to carry out work in the US, as long as none of the stuff I wrote while out there appeard in US publications).
When I arrived at Chicago O'Hare, I was questioned for almost two hours and nearly missed a vital connecting flight to St Louis. I could not convince the crypto-Nazi in Immigration that was a legitimate hack out there on a legitimate job (flashing my NUJ card only seemed to make things worse). He kept wanting to know what I was going to write (I said that I didn't know, as the events I was reporting on hadn't happened yet). No amount of English charm could speed up the process. I also the fatal mistake of asking iif could speak to his supervisor/superior. If you're eveer unlucky enough to hhave hassle with Immigration officers when visiting tthe States, NEVER, under ANY circumstances, do that! You'll only make things worse!
However, flying into Seattle and Boston was much smooother, and even New York JFK's infamously grumpy Immi officers were nothing compared to thaat Chicago guy.
Kevin (Bobbie Gentry: Okalona River Bottom Band)
PS The worst hassle I ever had was upon entering Zimbabwe in 1997 (God knows what it's like now). I had to siggn an undertakking not to write anything nasty about that nice Mr Mugabe and to check in at a police station once a wweek, and with the Immigration Office in Harare the day of my departure.
Full on Eastern Block border crossings hundreds of times etc, etc, the Worst experience of my little life on two occassions has been good old England though.
Fritz Von Speculateasisyourwont
Fritz Von Speculateasisyourwont