Originally Posted by
star_world
You're not actually correct on this point. There have been several detailed discussions on this point, but the short version is that the CBP officer actually has a lot of latitude in terms of the questions that can legitimately be asked of an inbound passenger, especially a non-US citizen. Asking about who purchased the ticket the passenger traveled on, and the line of work the passenger is in certainly fall within these legitimate questions.
Annoying, but true
Yep, Australian travelling on VWP. I sort of have to answer the questions or risk getting refused entry and stuck with paying outrageous amounts for visas the next time I want to come back.
She asked (some a number of times):
Reason for trip
Length of stay
Travelling with anyone
Any family in US
Any friends in US
Work
How much ticket cost
How could I afford it
Number of bags
and one or two others
Apparently someone working in a supermarket for almost 7 years and is now a department manager can’t afford a AU$15k airfare – even though I get paid ~US$600/week and started on ~$450/week. Maybe she didn’t like that I get paid more than she does?
So... someone who is single, traveling alone, has few living costs at home and has had a steady job for years can't use their leave each year to travel around the world on a holiday and meet up with their friends?
The US is really too paranoid for its own good. At least she didn't send me to secondary like BOS did in 2007.
She finally let me through when I mentioned “credit card”.
The TSO who checked my bags looked a bit disappointed for a moment when he saw that the drugs in my bag are prescription medicine.