US takes the cake as the most unprofessional group of ding dongs around.
- LAX ; yelled at by an INS agent that my customs form has an incorrect flight number. I show him my boarding pass, he still argues. Luckily a UA agent is walking around - I flag her down. She tells the agent "This flight has been around for a month now"
- LAX ; also takes the cake for rude agriculture agents
- SFO/ORD/DFW ; Rude Customs agents
- PDX - De-portland anyone. First time I was asked for OTHER ID (drivers license), my business card, and details of who I work for. I wasn't detained, but had to stand to the side while they called my employer. (And yes I was here legally as a resident alien)
- MEM - Customs agents took my Domnican Republic cigars - thinking they were Cuban. I finally got compensation after I had the retailer in Germany fax a letter for me to Customs stating the cigars weren't Cuban.
- IAH - Clueless Customs agents always doing jetway inspections for South America destined flights - looking for money runners. Anyone ethinc is stopped. While anyone who to me truly looks like a money runner is given the OK.
.... I have loads of other US stories. With aprox 164 re-entry stamps in my old and current passport combined I think I've seen it all.
The 2nd worst goes to Canada. Who always think I'm coming to work. Come on: Who would want to go from mid 60 degrees weather to -10 in Montreal to work?. I've been given the "You're not here to work, eh?" at YYZ, YVR, YUL and YYC
The best:
Ummm, I'm impartial. UK (all airports) as I still have a British Passport. The key to no more than a 2 minute wait at immigration. So far no problems with customs either. Only ever stopped one comming off an AMS-LHR flight from an all night drinking session. I was looking like someone who wasn't hanging around a bar, but someone who hung around "coffee shops". I expected the grief, told the agent he could search anything... he politely let me through. (polite = word that INS and US Customs don't know anything about...uh I mean Dept of Homeland Security)
Most effective use of technology:
1) Australia: with their pre-cleared immigration ETA's - and the ability for carriers like QF to "pre-print" your info on the landing or departure card they hand to you.
2) South Africa: What a concept to put a barcode on the entry visa. Makes exiting a snap.
Positive mentions also to nearly all EU countries - especially when you have a British passport in hand
Negative mentions also go to Hong Kong (I think we have enough agents??), and to India (oh my gosh; has anyone other than B747 gone through in under 1 hour)
The wierdest:
In true Don Johnson style my nice BMW (with Munich plates) was stopped last year at a roadside parking area while driving from Munich to Zurich. It was the Augsburg based police doing "random checks". I was asked if we were carrying any money or other items they should be aware of. They checked my license (US/California), my passport, my car registration, etc. A friend was with me - his details were checked as well. We were given the "OK you are free to go, after 10 mins of waiting at this Random checkpoint"... As we were leaving I was putting all my items in the trunk and the policeman was still looking around the car - to see if he could get us for something. Very much in the leagues of the sterotypical "Your papers please"... However I didn't have documents stating I have billions of dollars in Swiss accounts (or so), like our ex-Miami Vice friend.
[This message has been edited by NickP 1K (edited 04-08-2003).]