We have never been detained or questioned further. All information is on my entry documentation. No other chit chat is necessary.
Then what do you put down as your US address? if you do not live in the US?
I never fill it out because I have not had a US address since 1991 and as a US citizen I am not required to have an address and in my case I often do not know where I am staying that night. Yet, I often am threatened with being "delayed" until I put something on the form. I put any old address I can think of and write in the margin that "Officer X forced me to falsify this declaration in order to gain entry to the US". Pre-911 I that only happened once, now it is a regular occurence.
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CBP agents at DUB and SNN aren't armed, because Ireland won't let them be.
I have to say I can't understand what sense it makes for USCBP to be interrogating US citizens. I've never had any trouble or delay at Irish immigration (I'm an Irish citizen), and haven't been asked anything beyond where I was travelling from anywhere else in the EU, which turned out to be a question to establish what flights had recently arrived.
CBP agents at DUB and SNN aren't armed, because Ireland won't let them be.
I have to say I can't understand what sense it makes for USCBP to be interrogating US citizens. I've never had any trouble or delay at Irish immigration (I'm an Irish citizen), and haven't been asked anything beyond where I was travelling from anywhere else in the EU, which turned out to be a question to establish what flights had recently arrived.
That's because other EU countries are highly restricted in what they can ask you and in possible grounds for denial of entry.
I am a US citizen by birth (and also a Canadian citizen by birth), and live in Canada. I don't show my Canadian passport when entering the US, as it's of no significance then.
A couple trips ago, at US Immigration at YVR (for those who don't know, US Immigration clears people prior to their flights to the US), the agent looked at my US passport, and for no apparent reason, said, "So. You think you're going to fly today?". I said, "Yes". Then she asked me a couple questions that were slightly intrusive, but of little consequence. But I was taken aback by the hostile approach.
That's because other EU countries are highly restricted in what they can ask you and in possible grounds for denial of entry.
Try they are restricted, full stop. They may not ask any questions once valid travel documents for an EU citizen have been produced and identified as bonafide. The boys in AMS tend to forget this, but to be fair they only ask to see boarding pass or ask destination.
Try they are restricted, full stop. They may not ask any questions once valid travel documents for an EU citizen have been produced and identified as bonafide. The boys in AMS tend to forget this, but to be fair they only ask to see boarding pass or ask destination.
Which is what the rules should be for US CBP as well. Unless they have reason to believe the passport is not bonafide, or that you have lied on the custom declaration, that should be it.
Try they are restricted, full stop. They may not ask any questions once valid travel documents for an EU citizen have been produced and identified as bonafide. The boys in AMS tend to forget this, but to be fair they only ask to see boarding pass or ask destination.
I haven't flown through AMS much, but I recall being subjected to very extensive questioning in the boarding gate area on my departing flight asking what I was doing in Amsterdam, who packed my luggage, etc. Dutch drug cops, I assume.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jphripjah
I haven't flown through AMS much, but I recall being subjected to very extensive questioning in the boarding gate area on my departing flight asking what I was doing in Amsterdam, who packed my luggage, etc. Dutch drug cops, I assume.
This sounds like the standard security questions asked at the gate for passengers on USA airlines.
A couple trips ago, at US Immigration at YVR (for those who don't know, US Immigration clears people prior to their flights to the US), the agent looked at my US passport, and for no apparent reason, said, "So. You think you're going to fly today?". I said, "Yes". Then she asked me a couple questions that were slightly intrusive, but of little consequence. But I was taken aback by the hostile approach.
I've never had trouble with US Immigration other than an odd query
over a sandwich I had with me for personal consumption...
Me: I have a sandwich with me for personal consumption... is that ok?
US: Where did you purchase the sandwich?
Me: I made the sandwich myself.
US: What kind of sandwich?
Me: Roast beef?
US: Where did the roast beef come from?
Me: Purchased at Canadian grocery store.
US: Is it Canadian?
Me: The grocery store yes... the beef I'm not sure.
US: Is it for personal consumption?
Me: Yes, the plan is to eat it before I leave Canadian soil.
US: Ok, welcome to the United States.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bankops
Try they are restricted, full stop. They may not ask any questions once valid travel documents for an EU citizen have been produced and identified as bonafide. The boys in AMS tend to forget this, but to be fair they only ask to see boarding pass or ask destination.
I think that is more to ensure that non-passengers aren't entering the departures area without a valid flight to go to, as in some piers at AMS with security at the gate that will be the first "official check" you go through.
By the time I figured out that I didn't have to answer questions from CBP, I already had Global Entry, so I never had to decide whether it was worth it to refuse.
I have recently started responding to the name game by telling TSOs that I decline to answer any question that may be used to incriminate me. (Or saying, "I plead the 5th"). All good so far.
The only one that threw me was SFO, where I knew that the checkpoint was staffed by contract workers (so I wasn't 100% sure how the protections against self-incrimination apply), and they don't ask, rather they instruct you to say your name. But next time I will be prepared.
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5th
You're not required to answer questions, they will probably give you a hard time.
That being said as an expat US Citizen I put down my residence as overseas and I almost always get a Welcome Home response and nothing more..
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I know I was kind of rolling the dice on this one but the last time I flew into the US under "occupation" on the form I wrote down "bludger" (Aussie slang for a person who avoids work, especially someone of authority who is poorly regarded by others) when ICE asked me what that means I said "I'm in the same line of work as you". I got a smile and a "have a nice day". I was laughing all the way to the hotel!
