Originally Posted by
jenniparks
This would scare me specifically because I can confirm that when i entered Switzerland on Fri from the plane from the USA there was absolutely no scrutiny of my passport whatsoever. The immigration staff didn't even ask me why i was in the country, how long i planned to stay or any of the standard questions I've been asked when entering canada, the UK, Ireland, or France. They simply scanned my passport and stamped it straightaway.
That's generally SOP for Americans in Europe. In Zürich they might only have done that much because they are now a Schengen country. Two years ago they opened my passport briefly, barely lifted a corner of my wife's passport and pushed them back to us. Departure examination was even more cursory, had to hand my wife's passport back to them & request a stamp as a souvenir.
In Geneva this week they were scanning and examining all passports. No questions for me but the guy at the window next to me was getting lots of them.
In Europe I think we've only been asked questions -- very briefly -- in London & Frankfurt, although a lot it is a blur by now. Part of it might be influenced by the record that comes up when they scan your passport and perhaps by the number of stamps in it -- a well stamped passport indicates there's a good chance you'll be leaving.