That's really not the case at all, unless you're talking about gun laws or abortion laws. Short of that most everything is the same across the board.
Problems obtaining a visa to enter the USA.
- Thread starter stockhausen
- Start date
That's really not the case at all, unless you're talking about gun laws or abortion laws. Short of that most everything is the same across the board.
I don't believe this is an option anymore. If you are eligible to apply for ESTA then you _must_ apply for ESTA.
Also, it sucks for the professor but we are just reading his side of the story. Maybe one of his acquaintances or co-workers or friends is indeed involved in something shady and he wouldn't know about it - but the agencies would. Who the hell knows. It's obvious the system has flagged him for something, so it's down to him to disprove it. I'ts not as if the US immigration has nothing better to do than flagging people all day. Of course some times they get it wrong, and it's impossible to get them to see the truth, and that needs fixing. However, the reality is that you aren't entitled to enter their country, you are asking to do so, so they reserve the right to ask questions.
Also, about those concerned for immigration officials checking their phones. Again, no one is interested in your data or emails or whatnot, unless you have been flagged up in the system. It just doesn't randomly happen. There is usually a reason. If you are so concerned then just back up your data on the cloud and do a factory reset once on the plane, don't know what to say. No, I'm not taking the position of 'if you got nothing to hide..', not at all, but you need to understand no system will be perfect and there will be imbalances. I've had my share of time-wasting with US immigration, so I'm not a fanboy either, but I won't restrict myself from enjoying their wonderful country just because they have asking for more data or whatnot. I don't think the balance has tipped so much yet.
- Joined
- 30 Jul 2006
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Liquid refreshment hostelries?
However, what I was really referring to was personality, outlook and attitude in general.
Rather a risqué example, but I saw this somewhere;
Thirteen states' statutes purport to ban all forms of sodomy, some including oralintercourse, regardless of the participants' genders: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
Soldato
Shouldn't be a problem. I have more than a few stamps from Lebanon in my passport and have visited the States without issue. The only time I've ever had a problem was in Israel.
Will we ever learn, I sailed quite close to the wind once, at immigration in JFK, I got away with it, but I considered myself so lucky, that I behaved myself from then on.
After the usual routine questions, the agent said, “Do you have relations in New York City?”
I couldn’t resist it, I blithely replied, “If I get the chance.”
He didn’t even look up, he just said, “Excuse me?”
I said, “No sir, I don’t.”
Stamp, stamp, welcome to the United States sir.”
I had no problem in January with my brand-new passport and ESTA 
Only eyebrow raised was when a customs agent asked what I did for a living, how long i was staying and how much money I had on me. When I said about $200 he said "$200 sir?, for a 10 day stay" At which point I went in to a panic and started spewing credit limits on my travel card I was using, how much I had in my current account and savings trying to justify I had enouch cash - what a fool!! The guy chuckled and said "OK, you have a nice stay sir, stay safe"
I then I almost immediately got told off for waiting for the Mrs who was next to go through, once through you need to keep moving on apparently "Sir you need to keep moving!"... woooops
Only eyebrow raised was when a customs agent asked what I did for a living, how long i was staying and how much money I had on me. When I said about $200 he said "$200 sir?, for a 10 day stay" At which point I went in to a panic and started spewing credit limits on my travel card I was using, how much I had in my current account and savings trying to justify I had enouch cash - what a fool!! The guy chuckled and said "OK, you have a nice stay sir, stay safe"
I then I almost immediately got told off for waiting for the Mrs who was next to go through, once through you need to keep moving on apparently
"Sir you need to keep moving!"... woooops
Soldato
Never employ humour in the presence of TSA agents or CBP officers. If your airline lounge is located before security (I’m looking at you, SFO Virgin Lounge), don’t get plastered and then have to rush to the departure gate.
Liquid refreshment is pretty much the same all over. There are some states where 18 is legal age but the most are 21.
That's far more a regional thing than a state by state thing. South vs. East... etc.
Soldato
I had no problem in January with my brand-new passport and ESTA
Only eyebrow raised was when a customs agent asked what I did for a living, how long i was staying and how much money I had on me. When I said about $200 he said "$200 sir?, for a 10 day stay" At which point I went in to a panic and started spewing credit limits on my travel card I was using, how much I had in my current account and savings trying to justify I had enouch cash - what a fool!! The guy chuckled and said "OK, you have a nice stay sir, stay safe"
I then I almost immediately got told off for waiting for the Mrs who was next to go through, once through you need to keep moving on apparently
I had a very similar experience. They suspected I was coming into the country to work (the 3 month stay may have raised suspicions
) and I just got a more thorough grilling at the immigration desk. They asked me how much money I had too which caught me off guard.I did end up in the 'other' room for further checks once due to it taking so long for my renewed green card to arrive and passport expiry dates falling during my travel, etc. If you think the people on the desks are miserable just wait until you see the guys in this other room...
Flying into the US via Toronto is a much nicer experience as you go through US immigration in Canada. Traveling in with a green card is a lot nicer now too as I don't get grilled at all.
lol.... got a kick out of that. Yes, there are some very strange laws still on the books in many states. They are however ignored > 99% of the time. Nobody is worried about them.
I had no problem in January with my brand-new passport and ESTA
Only eyebrow raised was when a customs agent asked what I did for a living, how long i was staying and how much money I had on me. When I said about $200 he said "$200 sir?, for a 10 day stay" At which point I went in to a panic and started spewing credit limits on my travel card I was using, how much I had in my current account and savings trying to justify I had enouch cash - what a fool!! The guy chuckled and said "OK, you have a nice stay sir, stay safe"
I then I almost immediately got told off for waiting for the Mrs who was next to go through, once through you need to keep moving on apparently
If you are travelling with your wife/partner you can go together at the immigration desk. No need to go 1 by 1.
I still miss the old immigration questionnaire.
Do you have a communicable disease; physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict?
Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?
Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities; or genocide; or between 1933 and 1945 were you involved, in any way, in persecutions associated with the Naza Germany or his allies?
Moral turpitude?
Also seeking entry to engage in immoral activities? If possible.. yes!
Still not as funny as as the: 'Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?' Question that used to exist. Or the 'Do you have anything in your possession that may cause a nuclear explosion?'
Do you have a communicable disease; physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict?
Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?
Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities; or genocide; or between 1933 and 1945 were you involved, in any way, in persecutions associated with the Naza Germany or his allies?
Moral turpitude?
Also seeking entry to engage in immoral activities? If possible.. yes!Still not as funny as as the: 'Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?' Question that used to exist. Or the 'Do you have anything in your possession that may cause a nuclear explosion?'
Soldato
Entry into a country is a privilege not a right if you are not a citizen. I've not had any issue getting into the US and I'm happy to answer all their questions because I'd like access to their country. I'm more surprised that people seem to think that visiting other countries should be as easy as popping next door with zero checks carried out. Then again I happen to live in the real world where nasty things happen which requires security to prevent rather than some fantasy make believe world where people want it to be sunshine and laughter.
Soldato
A perk of the Treaty of Windsor.