Unfriendly CBP officers
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
Unfriendly CBP officers
Hi,
I have been working an living in California for about 3 years now, and per year I travel about 3 times to Germany.
Each and every time I reenter the states and go through immigration (visitor line), the CBP officer is rude and commanding. He immediately gives you the feeling as if you were not welcome here.
Not once did I have a friendly or at least neutral and professional acting officers.
To what degree does one have to tolerate their behavior? Can you request to speak to their supervisor or is this not a good idea? Is their any way to complain or give feedback to the CBP so they would start improving the training of the officers in how to respectfully treat visitors?
This really bums me out every time. I'll be so happy when I get GlobalEntry
I have been working an living in California for about 3 years now, and per year I travel about 3 times to Germany.
Each and every time I reenter the states and go through immigration (visitor line), the CBP officer is rude and commanding. He immediately gives you the feeling as if you were not welcome here.
Not once did I have a friendly or at least neutral and professional acting officers.
To what degree does one have to tolerate their behavior? Can you request to speak to their supervisor or is this not a good idea? Is their any way to complain or give feedback to the CBP so they would start improving the training of the officers in how to respectfully treat visitors?
This really bums me out every time. I'll be so happy when I get GlobalEntry
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Hi,
I have been working an living in California for about 3 years now, and per year I travel about 3 times to Germany.
Each and every time I reenter the states and go through immigration (visitor line), the CBP officer is rude and commanding. He immediately gives you the feeling as if you were not welcome here.
Not once did I have a friendly or at least neutral and professional acting officers.
To what degree does one have to tolerate their behavior? Can you request to speak to their supervisor or is this not a good idea? Is their any way to complain or give feedback to the CBP so they would start improving the training of the officers in how to respectfully treat visitors?
This really bums me out every time. I'll be so happy when I get GlobalEntry
I have been working an living in California for about 3 years now, and per year I travel about 3 times to Germany.
Each and every time I reenter the states and go through immigration (visitor line), the CBP officer is rude and commanding. He immediately gives you the feeling as if you were not welcome here.
Not once did I have a friendly or at least neutral and professional acting officers.
To what degree does one have to tolerate their behavior? Can you request to speak to their supervisor or is this not a good idea? Is their any way to complain or give feedback to the CBP so they would start improving the training of the officers in how to respectfully treat visitors?
This really bums me out every time. I'll be so happy when I get GlobalEntry
Rudeness need not be tolerated; you should request a supervisor if you encounter rudeness, but that might (illegally) prevent you from getting GE and force you to go the ombudsman route.
You haven't specific about what incidents of rudeness. With more information, you might get some better advice; some people here might disagree with your opinion that the CBP officer was rude.
In lieu of a follow up post, my suggestion is to grin and bear it until you get GE. Which will be good training, because then you really do have to grin and bear it once you have GE.
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
Border control people tend to rarely be friendly to most visitors. But rudeness from such types at airports tend to be more common in the US than in most other countries to which I've been -- that said, I rarely encounter a rude CBP employee and I encounter the rude types less frequently than I encounter friendly CBP employees. More commonly, CBP employees are non-friendly and non-rude to most passengers, but the exceptions are numerous enough and memorable enough and tolerated enough by CBP management that the CBP gets a worse reputation -- probably in large part due to the slower processing times and the more frequent questioning of passengers than is the case in many other countries.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
There is a fine line between non-friendly and rude. It's also one where the less interaction the better.
Given the nature of the system, I would think long and hard about filing a complaint about anything short of actual mistreatment. Databases have long memories and I do not believe for a minute that there is not bleed over between complaints and standard record-keeping.
Given the nature of the system, I would think long and hard about filing a complaint about anything short of actual mistreatment. Databases have long memories and I do not believe for a minute that there is not bleed over between complaints and standard record-keeping.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,773
I have never encountered a rude agent, usually they are pretty neutral in their demeanor. But they would probably say the same about me. Some may consider that neutral rude but not to me. I present my passport and answer their questions saying as little as possible. Rarely are there any pleasantries other than a simple hello. Some will say welcome home and I thank them for that and go on my way.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 574
Miami airport is getting a reputation for the rudest customs guys.
Even for a mere connecting flight through MIA they treat
you like you are immigrating from the East Bloc.
I don't get how such abuse can go on. 911 was 13 years ago, time to move
on and get modern.
Read for yourself. The word "nightmare" keeps coming up in the reviews.
http://www.airlinequality.com/Airpor..._forum/mia.htm
Even for a mere connecting flight through MIA they treat
you like you are immigrating from the East Bloc.
I don't get how such abuse can go on. 911 was 13 years ago, time to move
on and get modern.
Read for yourself. The word "nightmare" keeps coming up in the reviews.
http://www.airlinequality.com/Airpor..._forum/mia.htm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I have never encountered a rude agent, usually they are pretty neutral in their demeanor. But they would probably say the same about me. Some may consider that neutral rude but not to me. I present my passport and answer their questions saying as little as possible. Rarely are there any pleasantries other than a simple hello. Some will say welcome home and I thank them for that and go on my way.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 574
"They simply have a job to do."
Part of that job is treating people with a little respect. Remember, we learned from Nuremberg, "just taking orders" or "just doing a job" isn't a sufficient excuse for people with badges to treat others (in this case cash paying customers) like garbage. And believe me, in airports like Miami, the customs
officers do treat people like garbage.
Part of that job is treating people with a little respect. Remember, we learned from Nuremberg, "just taking orders" or "just doing a job" isn't a sufficient excuse for people with badges to treat others (in this case cash paying customers) like garbage. And believe me, in airports like Miami, the customs
officers do treat people like garbage.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: CPH
Programs: Delta SM
Posts: 497
#12
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
I find this so frustrating. Tourism is so important to the United States. We want every visitor to feel welcome from the minute they arrive. Fourteen million Americans work in tourism, and it has a USD1.8 trillion impact.
We cannot afford to treat our guests this way.
Sadly, the US is not alone. There are snippy, difficult customs and immigration staff in the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Sweden, and Israel, among other countries with massive tourism economies. But that's not an excuse.
Although I use Global Entry, I've largely been treated well by US CBP at land and air crossings. I can only think of only three incidents with power-tripping or difficult CBP officers. All three cases were at Washington/Dulles. And one weird guy at Newark. I've encountered friendly, sincere "welcome homes" at Newark, JFK, and Houston. And I've also been treated well at Dulles. In other words, it's neither universal nor predictable.
My view is that you "catch more flies with honey." A friendlier, more conversational customs and immigration officer is far more likely to identify someone whose story "doesn't check out." The indifferent or hostile official is too busy thinking about himself or herself to notice a problem.
Since Customs and Border Protection seems uncontrollable, it seems like it's up to the rest of us to ensure that visitors are treated well. Maybe we can compensate a little for the disrespect they receive at the airport.
We cannot afford to treat our guests this way.
Sadly, the US is not alone. There are snippy, difficult customs and immigration staff in the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Sweden, and Israel, among other countries with massive tourism economies. But that's not an excuse.
Although I use Global Entry, I've largely been treated well by US CBP at land and air crossings. I can only think of only three incidents with power-tripping or difficult CBP officers. All three cases were at Washington/Dulles. And one weird guy at Newark. I've encountered friendly, sincere "welcome homes" at Newark, JFK, and Houston. And I've also been treated well at Dulles. In other words, it's neither universal nor predictable.
My view is that you "catch more flies with honey." A friendlier, more conversational customs and immigration officer is far more likely to identify someone whose story "doesn't check out." The indifferent or hostile official is too busy thinking about himself or herself to notice a problem.
Since Customs and Border Protection seems uncontrollable, it seems like it's up to the rest of us to ensure that visitors are treated well. Maybe we can compensate a little for the disrespect they receive at the airport.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
If you are LIVING and WORKING in California as a VISITOR he has every right to be rude as what you are doing is illegal.
Which is it? Are you a visitor or are you working and living in CA illegally? It is a little difficult to form an opinion with the conflicting information given by you.
Which is it? Are you a visitor or are you working and living in CA illegally? It is a little difficult to form an opinion with the conflicting information given by you.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 22
The CBP officer is in command, so he can be commanding.
Rudeness need not be tolerated; you should request a supervisor if you encounter rudeness, but that might (illegally) prevent you from getting GE and force you to go the ombudsman route.
You haven't specific about what incidents of rudeness. With more information, you might get some better advice; some people here might disagree with your opinion that the CBP officer was rude.
In lieu of a follow up post, my suggestion is to grin and bear it until you get GE. Which will be good training, because then you really do have to grin and bear it once you have GE.
Rudeness need not be tolerated; you should request a supervisor if you encounter rudeness, but that might (illegally) prevent you from getting GE and force you to go the ombudsman route.
You haven't specific about what incidents of rudeness. With more information, you might get some better advice; some people here might disagree with your opinion that the CBP officer was rude.
In lieu of a follow up post, my suggestion is to grin and bear it until you get GE. Which will be good training, because then you really do have to grin and bear it once you have GE.
Maybe I am to sensitive. Anyways, I will just continue to stay firendly and let it go.
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
If you are LIVING and WORKING in California as a VISITOR he has every right to be rude as what you are doing is illegal.
Which is it? Are you a visitor or are you working and living in CA illegally? It is a little difficult to form an opinion with the conflicting information given by you.
Which is it? Are you a visitor or are you working and living in CA illegally? It is a little difficult to form an opinion with the conflicting information given by you.