Last weekend, upon re-entering the USA through JFK, the INS officer circled where I had checked "no" regarding plants, food, etc. He didn't comment on it; however, the customs agent asked me a couple of questions (occupation, purpose of trip, etc.) before letting me through. This has rarely happened to me - usually, they just waive me through. I'm curious as to what the INS flagging meant? The INS officer did try to chat with me briefly. Did he not like my responses? Or was the circling something else and the customs officer was asking on his own? FWIW, I had no European food products with me at all.

At various times I have been sent to ag for further inspection depending on where i was coming from. Usually, they just put my bags through the ag inspection belt and I'm quickly on my way again.

It sounds like the INS officer was trying to provoke a response from you. One technique they use to spot smugglers, illegal immigrants, etc, is to do something slightly out of the ordinary, which will cause the innocent person to be a little bit confounded, but will cause a guilty conscience to start displaying behavior like sweating, shifty eyes, stammering, muscle tension, etc. If the officer can provoke a such a response, they know to search and question you more carefully.

I've had the INS ask me some pretty off-the-wall questions on occasion.

Coming back (pre Sept 11) from a quick trip to Europe I was given this same treatment by a customs official. I was polite for the first few "odd" questions but I was tiring quickly.

Agent: Why did you come back so soon?
Me: I have a business meeting in Salt Lake City tomorrow.

Agent: Who paid for your ticket?
Me: Look! I am a US Citizen, I have a US Passport, I took a quick trip to Europe and now I'm returning. It doesn't matter who paid for my ticket. Are you going to search my bags or let me through.

Agent: (Frowns) Go ahead.

eastwest, I applaud your stance!

Would I be that brave? No. I would have visions of a full body cavity search flashing through my head! I would not want to anger a possibly bored customs agent!

-RKG

An excerpt from All I Wanted Was a Singapore Sling

"Welcome Home"???
Seeing as I was in the bulkhead row, I was the first to breeze through Immigration. The Immigration agent asked me how Singapore was and I replied, "Hot!" He laughed, stamped my passport and sent me on my way.

Having all my bags on me, there was no reason to wait at baggage claim. I declare my $30 in souvenirs and the lady sends me on my way. But not so fast. Since I was the first person off of the flight, I was to be "sampled" at Customs.

It was a quiet 815a on a Sunday morning. And the customs agent asked for me to put my bags on the table. So I threw my backpack up there and he said, "This is all of your luggage?" I reply "yes sir" and nod my head. He goes through a usual set of questions, "When did you leave? Who do you work for? Who paid for the ticket? Why did you go?" I answer the last question, "For Frequent Flyer Miles" I would think being honest I'd have no problems. But he didn't like that answer. "I've been doing this for 21 years and I have never heard that reason before." At this point, my bag's contents are completely out and everywhere on the table. I had brought home some macadamia nut candy from HNL and he asks me why I didn't declare them. I replied that I was unaware that I needed to declare a product that I bought in the United States. "Where did you buy these?" he inquired. "Honolulu," I reply. "You went to Hawaii, Japan and Singapore since Thursday?" he asked. "Yes sir" I reply. At this moment he shook his head and stuffed my things back into my backpack, typed something into his computer and finally sent me on my way.

happens to me all the time.

I just tell them what I do "work for the government, just like you" and go off my merry way.

Its the getting out of europe that I find harder than entering the US.

lala

You've got to be kidding. From where have you had trouble leaving Europe? I can think of only one time that I was even asked a question upong leaving Europe.

we were stopped first by ag then by customs returning form YVR because the officer said the dogs smelled mary jane on our bags - which we never do and would never do. A very friendly agent later told us that it most likely came from a baggage handler, back of the limo we were in, storage etc. and it was ENDEMIC to YVR - and not to worry but I was freaked ...
we actually sent for the report which is very interesting in that it listed all the times we'd been thru customs over the past few years

[This message has been edited by squeakr (edited 03-14-2002).]

By the way, when the customs officer asked the reason for my trip, I replied: Quadruple miles!
He rolled his eyes while waving me through <g>

My date with Ms. Mary Jane -

Just before handover, a friend and I went to Hong Kong. An openly toking fellow was right behind me on the immigration lineline. That was an experience!

I can't say that I would have taken eastwest's advisarial stance towards the INS guy.

That's just an invitation for trouble. And being an American citizen, or pretending to be one, doesn't mean that you're not up to something illegal.

d

squeakr wrote:

I didn't know you could do that. Cool. Who do you write to?

lalala: Funny. When I travel with my husband and they find out he's a fed, we get through in a snap too. One woman started to chew him out for not having his paperwork (he was in the cockpit so didn't get the forms), saw his badge, apologized profusely and waved him through.

I think that is right, I had the same experience, the guy circled, lloked at me, and told me to proceed (out of the airport) I did have some things though so it could have worked.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by letiole:
[b]squeakr wrote:

I didn't know you could do that. Cool. Who do you write to?

you send a request to the Customs office closest to your port of entry, which for Canada is usually at the airport itself, and request any reports about you. YOu need to provide Name, b/date, SS# and PP # and request specifically that
you are requesting this info
1) under the Fredom of Information act
and
2) that you agree to pay any copying charges for their report/.

(The charges only come in after 50 pages and it's 5 cents a page so ..)

dudster dearie:

When you are born deep in the heart of the axis of evil, european countries are happy to examine each and every stamp in your passport and ask very pointed questions about your travel while visiting their fair country.

Now, I must say, its really the US flagged airlines that are making it difficult and frustrating for me to return home.

Never had a problem returning to the US, I have a US passport and always smile

lala
who just was born in the wrong place at the right time