Travelling to the US speaking little to no english - what to do in border/customs?
Apr 10, 2016, 2:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 410
Travelling to the US speaking little to no english - what to do in border/customs?
Hi all,
I have some friends that are planning a visit to US. They all speak little to no english (little means they are able to produce some random words like beer, car, toilet but not able to make a phrase at all). Travelling under an EU passport with a valid ESTA.
How should they deal with border and customs officials? Say to them 'Hi, I speak no english, I am a toursit' in case they ask something? Give to them a paper written in english (by me) explaining the situation?
Any advice welcome (and no, they would no learn enough english for the time they are planning to go
)
I have some friends that are planning a visit to US. They all speak little to no english (little means they are able to produce some random words like beer, car, toilet but not able to make a phrase at all). Travelling under an EU passport with a valid ESTA.
How should they deal with border and customs officials? Say to them 'Hi, I speak no english, I am a toursit' in case they ask something? Give to them a paper written in english (by me) explaining the situation?
Any advice welcome (and no, they would no learn enough english for the time they are planning to go
)
Apr 10, 2016, 3:58 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Teach them "I don't speak English". Their passport should clue the official in as to what sort of translator if he needs to get one. (If they don't speak the primary language of the country whose passport they hold also teach them "I speak <language>".)
Apr 10, 2016, 4:19 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
You know that borders will most of the time dont get this. English is a world language. Sad but true. They will most likely run into issues. I think if they dont. Then they will be very lucky.
Apr 10, 2016, 8:00 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
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I think it varies a lot with where (point of immigration) and the language of the passenger. If they're from Spain flying into LAX they may be better off than other locations. But this is a daily occurrence for CBP officers.
I have done this for people that have limited english skills. I made flash cards with phrases written on 1 side in both languages and some possible answers in both languages on the reverse side. The topics included questions for immigration & customs along with topics for getting around and daily needs (dietary ect).
I have done this for people that have limited english skills. I made flash cards with phrases written on 1 side in both languages and some possible answers in both languages on the reverse side. The topics included questions for immigration & customs along with topics for getting around and daily needs (dietary ect).
Apr 10, 2016, 8:20 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 202
If they are travelling on an airline that is coming from their home country CBP usually has an airline rep to translate for the passenger especially if the customs declaration is not written in English, if not the worst that happens is they will bring them into secondary and use the language translation phone line to help out
Apr 10, 2016, 9:37 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
The average American thinks English is worldwide but that doesn't mean the immigration and customs officials will make that mistake. They've no doubt encountered plenty of people who don't speak English.
Apr 11, 2016, 7:06 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,636
I saw this in practice recently while in the queue and they just paged the airline rep. No idea what they'd do with someone who had connected for a different country than the airline.
Apr 11, 2016, 10:50 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
Are your friends specifically visiting you? Is it worth writing an invitation letter or similar, which explains their trip?
Note: this might not be a good idea, I really have no idea. I'm suggesting this mainly since I've had to get similar letters to get Visas for certain countries when visiting friends there, but in that case the letter was for embassy personnel. CBP might not be fans.
Note: this might not be a good idea, I really have no idea. I'm suggesting this mainly since I've had to get similar letters to get Visas for certain countries when visiting friends there, but in that case the letter was for embassy personnel. CBP might not be fans.
Last edited by televisor; Apr 11, 2016 at 11:04 am
Apr 11, 2016, 11:01 am
#9
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Does the airline or airport offer a (probably reserved and paid in advance) escort service that has the capacity to help them in their own language? Can you arrange for a bilingual FA to stay with them through immigration and customs (probably not)? If they speak a common language (or common language on the flight), another passenger on their flight might be willing to help.
The mention of ESTA suggests that they're coming from a developed country, so an extremely exotic language is unlikely, but it would help to know the airline, route, and language.
The mention of ESTA suggests that they're coming from a developed country, so an extremely exotic language is unlikely, but it would help to know the airline, route, and language.
Apr 11, 2016, 3:57 pm
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Does the airline or airport offer a (probably reserved and paid in advance) escort service that has the capacity to help them in their own language? Can you arrange for a bilingual FA to stay with them through immigration and customs (probably not)? If they speak a common language (or common language on the flight), another passenger on their flight might be willing to help.
The mention of ESTA suggests that they're coming from a developed country, so an extremely exotic language is unlikely, but it would help to know the airline, route, and language.
The mention of ESTA suggests that they're coming from a developed country, so an extremely exotic language is unlikely, but it would help to know the airline, route, and language.
Apr 11, 2016, 10:29 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: KSUX
Posts: 906
You didn't mention what language they speak but if it's one of the major languages spoken in Europe (i.e. German, Spanish, French, Italian, etc) they probably won't have any issues other than waiting while they find an officer who speaks it. If they happen to be able speak Spanish they'll be fine since it's the second most common language in the US.
Apr 12, 2016, 12:58 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
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Posts: 6,344
I don't know if CBP accepts the assistance of other pax to translate any longer, but my uncle did volunteer as a translator for unrelated pax at US customs twice in the early 2000s.
Apr 12, 2016, 1:18 am
#13
Join Date: May 2015
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Hi all,
I have some friends that are planning a visit to US. They all speak little to no english (little means they are able to produce some random words like beer, car, toilet but not able to make a phrase at all). Travelling under an EU passport with a valid ESTA.
How should they deal with border and customs officials? Say to them 'Hi, I speak no english, I am a toursit' in case they ask something? Give to them a paper written in english (by me) explaining the situation?
Any advice welcome (and no, they would no learn enough english for the time they are planning to go)
I have some friends that are planning a visit to US. They all speak little to no english (little means they are able to produce some random words like beer, car, toilet but not able to make a phrase at all). Travelling under an EU passport with a valid ESTA.
How should they deal with border and customs officials? Say to them 'Hi, I speak no english, I am a toursit' in case they ask something? Give to them a paper written in english (by me) explaining the situation?
Any advice welcome (and no, they would no learn enough english for the time they are planning to go
)
Apr 12, 2016, 2:48 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
So likey they will not run into a spanish people Immigration agent in NY. But who knows. Airports should be used to this. Sometimes they are not. And I do think that is wrong/sad/bad. They just have to be strong and stand their grounds if they come across a "bad" person.