I remember, when visiting Los Angeles, we had the most awesome guy ever. He was young and chill guy. It was an awesome experience, and I hope that there are more like him.
I had someone called Officer John and he looked like he was about to shoot us. He gave commands like we were in a military training (That was in Atlanta)
Last year I've been in USA for the first time. Even after the interview when I was almost leaving that section another man stopped me. My heart froze, I couldn't even talk properly until he told me "I believe you, you can go"
This is literally the strictest thing ever. No other country is that extra. I got off a plane yesterday to go to Italy, they looked at my passport date and off i went to the exit haha.
well if your from europe You can go to any other european country without a travel visa, You actually need to do the same thing to get into italy for people outside europe you know LOL smh
Be careful to get it stamped on entry and exit if you're a non-EU/EFTA citizen. They sometimes get lazy about it which is illegal on their part can give you a living hell on exit or re-entry if getting someone scrupulous.
Guys don't worry about going thru this process it's actually not that hard it takes little time to and in my experience everyone is helpful and friendly
It helps to have a return ticket, and some money and credit cards. A confirmed hotel reservation helps too. If you arrive with a one-way ticket (single ticket) be prepared to wait, answer a lot of questions, and possibly get sent home on the next flight.
The first time I visited the US to be best man at a friend's wedding I was accused of being a Russian agent because....I didn't sound British. I'm a Scot. The next time they weren't happy I was staying with friends not at a hotel. They found that difficult to believe they said. I replied. You find it hard to believe Americans can have friends in another country. Yeah I can see why you would think that hard to believe. That went well. The third time they were suspicious I wanted to stay. I asked ok tell me what's so wonderful about staying here, I would leave my job, my home, my family and a country I love to live as a fugitive here? People do, they said. I replied. really? well shock horror bud, visiting's fine but you couldn't pay me enough to live here. Then they were offended I didn't want to stay. Welcome to America sure enough.
I was crossing the American/Canadian border by car with friends. The border/customs official on the American side had us show drivers' licenses, my friends whom I was visiting in Seattle had Washington state licenses, mine was Arizona. Oh, he didn't like that at all and didn't understand that it is legal and customary for Americans to have friends in other states and actually go visit them. I guess they want everyone to just stay at home and only know their neighbors.
Bruce Kingfield They do seem to treat the most innocuous things with extreme suspicion Bruce. I've gone to over a dozen countries but no one else has ever finger printed me and 3 times at that. Yet at the same time Mossad agents seem to stroll over the Mexican border on stolen passports and nobody bats an eye, go figure?
awais anwar I agree, I've travelled the world and never come across such an unpleasant experience as passing through any American airport. A smile and a small welcome considering the money tourism puts into the economy wouldn't go amiss.
That is the truth and if you American you treated like a criminal by us customs and home land security and we don't need either of them period they don't protect americans at all they rather screw us i have frist hand experience and have a law suit against them right the us customs agents may end up in a federal prison when get done with them. Us customs agents think they can do what ever they want with people and treat them badly and when iam done with them iam getting out this country as soon as possible and moved to Germany. I served the us military for 20 years and this country is a shit hole
That's even too soft for my standards people should be detained and questioned for hours unless they can prove they have a valid reason to come to the USA. Look at New York you can't even recognize it anymore. Much better here in Tennessee where people trespassing property without permission are first shot and then asked what they want.
WOW have things changed back when I was 18 all you had to show them was your divers license. Thats going from Canada into the US. I am 50 now. The US has changed a lot and I think not for the better
I can remember going to Canada and Mexico back in the late 80's and mid 90's and never had to show a damn thing. Got asked a couple questions and I was on my way. I am 54 now. Never had a passport before and don't plan on getting one. There are enough things here to see. My Navy ID worked when I was in from 85-89, it took me around the world once. 70% of Americans don't have a passport.
@PHANTOMA VLOGS ... Funny ... do you really believe that it was a terrorism attack? It all was arranged and planned by the American government .everyone knows that .
@@osamaalmulki4548 username ✅ Jk, alright? Have you seen videos about "jet fuel" melting steel beams? It looked a lot more like thermate burning (at *a lot* higher temperature), also, planes are made to be light, not to penetrate a building, first 2 or 3 rows of beams and concrete would smash those planes. Yes I do know that fuel could weaken beams till the point where they break, but burning was a lot more intense.
***** It was just fine. I was lucky to get a really nice officer. He just asked about my occupation and where I would be staying and that was it, I think. But get ready for standing in line for a VERY long time, that's probably the worst part.
Neil Baker USA is the only country having metal detectors in schools. Just saying. It is aso among the relatively few countries in the world that massacres are to be expected at any time. And the only western nation where this is the case.
tore haaland not all schools have metal detectors. Only really really really really bad neighborhoods have metal detectors. My kids schools don't have metal detectors. The BS that people are fed.
@@semsemeini7905 , when since is accepting refugees (people fleeing some of the most inhumane and atrocious situations) a bad thing? Canada and some European countries accept millions of refugees yearly and I don't know if they have problems with their schools, public facilities, or citizens being shot up or bombed almost on a daily basis. In fact, Canada and Europe are some of the safest places on the planet. Furthermore, refugees are some of the most heavily vetted people! You need to educate yourself before you put nonsense on social media. You are clearly drinking the fear mongering and anti-immigrant kool aid that is taking over the US. As a side note, you should be lucky you were born in a country where you are not persecuted for simply existing. Sadly, being persecuted in the country which you were born is the reality for many people. P.S. do not respond to me with mere xenophobia or ignorance. Research before you respond so we can have an intelligent discussion.
an update to my old post. for any first time travellers from my experience it was easy, stress free and went abroad first ever time and on my own at 20 so don't worry about it :) and to my replies i've had well going back to UK was obviously easy for me as that's where i live but i will admit i actually got lost in the UK airport when i got back but never did in the USA, who figures.
Hey I'm actually travelling to the states next month for the first time, as well as it being my first time to actually travel outside the UK. I was just wondering if you could tell me if the CBP form in the clip is something I need to have ready before I arrive at the airport in the US? or do I get and fill one in once I'm there?
Skorix96 Hey, they gave me the form on the plane to fill in just before landing. and i'm going back there next month actually, i cannot wait, it's amazing. so I hope you have a great trip too.
Ah that's good to know, I'm gonig out for my other half's brithday and have been super nervous for this trip (mostly gonig through passport control to be honest, forgetting paperwork and the like) so just trying to make sure i am as prepared as possible in advance, thanks for the quick reply and I hope you have a great time as well
You guys could be more friendly with tourists. US Customs officers are always talking loudly and being rude with almost everyone, this gives a pretty bad first impression of USA.
MAY7317 They are rude to Americans too. A friend had his 6 year old child detained for several hours because the child's name was the same as some 40 something year old fugitive. I was threatened with arrest once after an agent asked to see my passport at the airplane door, which I showed her, only to be accused by another agent 5 feet away of not showing my passport, and after I politely apologized for any confusion and showed her my passport, I had to stand there while she scolded me for no reason.
These customs people are not nice. I remember I once flew to Mexico for vacation, and on the way back I had my passport checked at the airplane door, then 5 steps away a different Customs agent threatened to arrest me for not showing my US passport , which I had already done. I showed her my passport and she gave me lip about whether I thought I was a wise guy. I was very polite and was still treated very rudely. At the counter the gentleman gave me attitude about my passport picture looking a little different...which of course it did as my passport was 8 years old and I had grown a beard since then. Although my subsequent experiences have never been as bad as that trip, every trip there is always some power-hungry customs agent giving people a hard time for no reason.
Sallent R I remember when I used to cross the US-Mexico border as a teen and I would just say”US citizen” to the Customs Agent and they would wave me thru without checking my green card or back pack. Of course this was in 1990’s in the pre-9/11 era.
My friend,I am an American citizen,and they fucking hold me in a room for almost 2 hours putting stupid questions on me.why they did that I don't know.is it because I am an immigrant?.I will say yes and also because they don't do it to people who are born here.
Last time I came back from a holiday, the US Custom Agent (after asking me where I've been) told me that I should've gone to so-so country instead, because it's better. I answered back, "sure, if you pay for my whole trip, I'll go to that country on my next holiday." He didn't say anything anymore. Really, you're going to tell me where to go for a holiday when it's on my time and my dime? lol
peko peko, I had a similar incident in my country coz we'd been feuding with the country I was traveling to. The immigration officer suggested other countries that I could go to for a vacation. Lol.
I'm an Irish citizen, it's 4am here and I have absolutely no wishes to visit USA nor have I ever. But wow, the customs officers sure seem to make it as difficult as possible to enter the country and the taking of biometric data just to enter the country? Wtf!
@@drake8065 Standard of living is highest in the world? WHAT A JOKE. Then why are there mass shootings and the highest medical bills in the world? At least Europe doesn't have maniacs with guns, but yes they do have the shit terrorists there who pretend to be refugees! However, the US also has them, A LOT MORE of them - the idiots who shoot up schools and start gunning people down in churches and shopping malls are too! Sorry, America - less and less people I know are considering you and are eyeing EU countries, Canada, China, Australia, New Zealand, and even Southeast Asia as places to immigrate to and work and do business in. They don't even want to VISIT the US anymore, not even for leisure!
I read through some comments. The lines are long but if you can tell them where you are going, where you are staying and when you are leaving then it's just a line and some short forms you fill out while on the plane. There are even cute dogs sniffing people and bags. Many are Beagles and they WILL find fruits, drugs, weapons. Really cute dogs. There is nothing to worry about.
I have read all sorts of horror stories about this and I'm sure some are true. Some people will simply have a similar name that is similar to a suspected criminal, or they fit a number of suspicious criteria (paid cash for a ticket / only having a one-way ticket etc / flying from certain countries). They ask questions repeatedly to see if you contradict yourself, they may pull you for secondary if you seem nervous, all sorts of things. I've traveled with a number of foreign business colleagues and all say that the CBP officers were perfectly civil.
brass427 that's why they want fingerprints. Mistaken identity is killed right there. The fingerprints are used for running through the system. They look for people with arrest warrants, known drug dealer, known terrorist, among other things. It happens all the time that someone breaks the law in their country and tries to get into the US and disappear.
My second time i was there, the officer asked where i would stay. Since i Was in Texas i told the name of the town. He then sait '' that's a bit random huh?'' everyone is going to Dallas, and you are not? But after i told him i was going to be there for Thanksgiving, he lightened up, and was all smiling. I guess it part of the process.. they try to intimidate you, to see if you get nervus and might blow your cover (if u have one). He even asked me if i had any booze. And i told him no. After some other questions, he replied '' what kind of booze did you bring'' Bassically to see if you are lying. All in all, its their job. If your shit is straight and dont lie... no problem. Going back soon.
I’m European, last month to go to Costa Rica I had the bad idea of taking a flight with conntection in the United States. Exaggerated controls: very intrusive questions, interrogation to everyone even before the first check in. and then... why if I'm just in transit do I have to pick up my luggage and check in again for the second flight? It costs a lot of time (in addition to customs controls) I can understand that each country has its own control policy, but the question I ask myself is: do American citizens have to pay for a visa and be questioned in order to come to Europe, even if only for a transit/connection flight?
yes you should watch the videos called uk customs or something like that you will see it is the same in all big countries, Canada, Australia, NZ UK and USA all have shows about this.
@@supposedly1-2 Yes you're right, in the end I was just a little annoyed that I almost missed the connection flight. I have a flight to the US in a few days, but this time I'm prepared and will answer every question with a smile, because I have nothing to hide and I'm happy to be able to travel again!
March 2022 going through this process at JKF. Questions- What brings you to US? Tourist or Business purposes? Any alcohol or tobacco? He took pic, got fingerprints then asked me to follow him to room located slightly behind main hall. I was travelling from England and at that point started expecting loads of troubles. However, he passed on my passport to another sec. guy, he asked me if I was a tourist or businessman then stamped my passport saying Welcome to US. Still don't get a reasons going through that process.
being asked questions at the border is one of shittiest experiences one can have, that and getting your belongings searched! europe is much better, more free, and democratic.
It is not for those coming from outside Europe ( America's for sure). We do go tru customs in Amsterdam or Frankfort if we land there. I had to as did everyone else on the plane. Easy border crossing within Europe in comparable to easy State crossing in the USA, and that is a much bigger landmass.
Lol meanwhile USA is being shot up left and right .. No immigrants needed for that. Closed borders are great LOL highest incarceration rate in the world LMAO
Don't get the negative comments. I visited the US in 2019 with my family. We waited like 30 minutes in the queue, which was fine. The officer was friendly and after a very short time he stamped our passports and welcomed us.
I have a question. If I want to bring honey and sweets for my cousin in the US, should I mark in customs declaration that I am bringing food and animal products to the US?
Whar else documents do I need if I travel unter the visa waver program? All the times they say: your passort, ESTA approval and / (or) the other documents?
My family got pulled back at airplane entry and missed our flight because they had to check our money... We guessed because we didn't know how much we carried and was stuttering because the security was scary
Does anybody know how much is the tax for items purchased abroad after the $800 exemption and it says in their website exemption is $4000 if traveling with a family of four. What if I'm traveling with my husband and parents for a total of 4 but we live in separate households, can we still qualify for the $4000 exemption? Any answer is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
If I was to fly to the US and for pleasure to state hop, knowing I will only be staying at a hotel for a short while in one state before going into another, would I still need to write down the hotel and address on the declaration form? Is flying from a different state back home internationally, allowed?
Just write down the address of the hotel you will be spending the first night in the US in. Sharing your intentions to visit a variety of states will actually give more credibility to being a legitimate tourist, so don't hesitate to share that if asked. US doesn't have any exit immigration checks, and couldn't care less what airport/state you leave from. If the government is pissed at you (ie you committed non-immigration crimes), then they will stop you as you board, but otherwise are just happy you're leaving.
They don't care about candy. What they care about is meat, fruit, nuts, plants, and tea. I'm from Switzerland and have family in the US. I ALWAYS bring about $100 worth of candy. Just write what it is (chocolate, Gummis, etc). You do have to declare it though.
I'm an 18 year old from Venezuela, and I'm visiting the US for the second time. I went once in 2010 with my family to go to disney world. Now I'm going to visit my cousing and meet his wife, also to spend my university vacations there. I'm truly scared of them being suspicious of me travelling alone
+David Espinoza well, if u are doing nothing wrong you don't need to be scared, if you are clear, they can look everywhere they want that won't be anyway to accuse you of anything. so be chill
I would like to come to the United States without a passport or any other identification, I need a ride to Washington DC I hear you provide bus rides for this if I come through Texas. Piece a cake right?
Dayum I'm gonna visit my brother who studies in the US tomorrow and I've never been on an airplane. I live in Europe and it's like an 8 hour flight... I'm so nervous.
Hi, I'm a new ship's crew, I'll have to travel for the first time, I'll meet the ship only in the United States, I don't know where the contract ends, any problems with a one-way ticket?
Please i want ask a question. Im planing on a vacation to visit my Aunt at chicago..exactly what i put on my Ds160 form..but im stopping at NYC Airport to see a ftnd for 2days b4 going to chicago. Any advice on that?
So if I don’t do the cbp on the monitor I could just do the cbp form ? dose anyone know I’m landing to jfk in a couple weeks just wanna know if you have to do it on the monitor
I remember when I used to cross the US-Mexico border as a teen and I would just say”US citizen” and they would wave me thru without checking my green card or back pack. Of course this was in 1990’s in the pre-9/11 era.
It's good for me but I have one question for u imagine I trip for one country just I'm alone .but the passport said family name what does it mean?.thanks.
After completing the procedure you are also allowed to fly for a commercial us airline, run an american wallstreet bank, become govenor of florida and defeating ISIS all by yourself. edit: Whoops, won't pass now I guess :P
I am going to the states in 2 weeks and 5 days to see a friend for 2 weeks. I'm flying from Heathrow to Newark. The boarder control is the only thing worrying me about my trip.
Next time fly through Dublin or Shannon. CBP has preclearence facilities at these airports what means that in US you arrive at a domestic terminal. Moreover, CBP officers are not armed and do not have any right whatsoever to interrogate or detain you while on EU soil. If you don't like the procedure you can simply turn back and walk away freely (though I've always encountered only great service there and can't complain at all).
There is just 2 things that you need to remember when you go through Passport Control and Customs. Be truthful about what you are in the US for and when in doubt about the things you have in your bag, Declare. If you bring food with you, declare it, even if the food you do have is not listed on the card, if you think you have a sum of money on you that is close to the US$10,000 level, Declare it. It is way better to declare you have something that you really don't have than to not declare and the officers find you had something that you should have declared in the first place. When you go through Passport Control, don't lie about why you are there.
It was fine. I arrived at Newark, the man asked me what I was planning on doing on my trip, took my fingerprints and that was it. Although I did have a suitcase check there I presume because I'm a female traveling on my own and they wanted to make sure I wasn't smuggling cocaine or anything. Honestly its only scary departing from a US airport.
I keep reading nightmare stories, but it seems to vary heavily as my experiences (as a Swede) have all been just fine. I do get asked a number of questions each time, but have never had a complication occur.
@@akath22 Nope, read about many Brits, Irish, Australians etc. getting a hard time too. Plus, I was there as a single male in my lower 20s, which is a high-risk profile. Again I would get questioned quite a bit, but never brought to discomfort.
if my passport is water damaged, but no too much, i might have a problem in the customs in usa? the personal information is clare, and my fhoto too. i am from other country.
I plan to spend short vacation in Toronto and during that time also visit Buffalo. How would the border control go when I travel bus/train from Toronto - Buffalo as a EU citizen?
Starting this year, you need an ESTA to enter overland. Bring a printed confirmation with you. The train/bus will stop after crossing the bridge to the US and officers will check your documents and interview you, it's straightforward.
@@JK96CZ depends on if there are other busses/trains ahead of you, and how many people are on the bus/train. They most likely will verbally ask you questions too as opposed to filling out a declaration form.
Can someone anwers a question for me? Ok Im traveling with 6 other people to Orlando from the UK, Im traveling with my gf and her 4 kids plus her dad. I live at a different address as does her dad, will get split up going through immigration? If so can me or her dad wait just on the other side for her and the kids or will we get moved on ?
