Why the custom officer at LAX gave my fiance a hard time?

[Almaviva 1]

I am a US citizen and one trip back through Miami i spent an hour being questioned as my passport photo does not look like me according to the officer

I had lost weight and also was quite sick the day i had the photo taken

i had to answer questions like where i was born

mother's maiden name

present addres

and when they searched my purse i had 3 SS cards (my original with maiden name, my first married name and present married name)

We can't let this bother us too much as we know our ID's and even passports can be stolen

so, i go with the flow

I understand that it's a 'bit' more complicated for american citizens since you have so many people from all over the world trying to come in, but if the police officer asked me anything at the airport in Chile when I'm coming back, I can just refuse to answer questions that they have no business knowing about. Like what were you doing at XXX, why did you stay there for so long, do you know anyone there, etc. etc.

I mean, I was born in this country, I'm a tax payer citizen and you can't deny me entry just because you're nosy and want to know everything I do on my trips. Stop making me waste my time.

[Rc123rc 528]

I am a natural born U.S. Citizen. I have been out of country a few times. I have never had a problem with customs either out of country or re-entering. My POEs in U.S. were Dallas-Ft. Worth and Boston. Both were professional and courteous. But it's been 10 years since I have been out of country. My fiance's POE was San Jose when she visited. Again, professional and courteous.

[minions2 24]

can DMV take away visa?

[jjbandero 39]

I think it's a power trip for many at the POE. My experiences at LAX have been mixed, from great, to utterly horrible. I have been questioned about my professional competence many times while I was on a valid work visa, except most of the time, they didn't understand what I had explained. They would get frustrated and ask more questions, so I try and simplify what I was saying in layman's terms, then they would say, "that doesn't sound like we need people like you to come here to do", basically no win.

I thought it would all be better after I got my green card, but I was pulled aside for secondary inspection when they I told me I had reported my passport lost/stolen. I told them that I reported no such thing, I was not believed, so I waited in secondary inspection with a bunch of other travelers (meanwhile the 5 officers stood around and chatted with each other). When it was finally my turn, they would not give me any information about who made the report, when and where it was made, I was told I need to sort it out with "my Government since they are always screwing up". So I waited for 45 minutes to be insulted, I was given zero information and dismissed with a tone that sounded like, "you're lucky I'm letting you go". When I called up the Australia consulate on the Monday, they had no report of any issue with my passport. To top it the officials were incredibly rude to my US citizen boss who was traveling with me, pretty much yelled at him to mind his own business when he simply asked where they were taking me.

There will always be people who think they are better than everyone else and act unprofessionally whenever they feel like it, all one can do is have one's paperwork in order and answer truthfully.

[Almaviva 1]

I think it's a power trip for many at the POE. My experiences at LAX have been mixed, from great, to utterly horrible. I have been questioned about my professional competence many times while I was on a valid work visa, except most of the time, they didn't understand what I had explained. They would get frustrated and ask more questions, so I try and simplify what I was saying in layman's terms, then they would say, "that doesn't sound like we need people like you to come here to do", basically no win.

I thought it would all be better after I got my green card, but I was pulled aside for secondary inspection when they I told me I had reported my passport lost/stolen. I told them that I reported no such thing, I was not believed, so I waited in secondary inspection with a bunch of other travelers (meanwhile the 5 officers stood around and chatted with each other). When it was finally my turn, they would not give me any information about who made the report, when and where it was made, I was told I need to sort it out with "my Government since they are always screwing up". So I waited for 45 minutes to be insulted, I was given zero information and dismissed with a tone that sounded like, "you're lucky I'm letting you go". When I called up the Australia consulate on the Monday, they had no report of any issue with my passport. To top it the officials were incredibly rude to my US citizen boss who was traveling with me, pretty much yelled at him to mind his own business when he simply asked where they were taking me.

There will always be people who think they are better than everyone else and act unprofessionally whenever they feel like it, all one can do is have one's paperwork in order and answer truthfully.

I agree that you can find any kind of people anywhere. Problem is, it seems like the number of jerks working for CBP is way higher than at any other average job. I don't know if it's required for the job to be like that, if they don't really choose the right people or if no one wants the job and they take whatever they can get.

[jjbandero 39]

I agree that you can find any kind of people anywhere. Problem is, it seems like the number of jerks working for CBP is way higher than at any other average job. I don't know if it's required for the job to be like that, if they don't really choose the right people or if no one wants the job and they take whatever they can get.

Agreed, it's probably not the best of jobs and I venture to say that the training is not great either. The first few times I traveled with my work visa (it was an E3, similar to H1B but for Australia citizens only) when it was first released, the POE officers had to check with their supervisor to understand what the visa was for.

[mallafri76 1,012]

I don't think asking questions at POE when immigrating is giving someone a hard time. Personally, I think CBP should ask questions to see who's coming into the country.

[pch1 64]

can DMV take away visa?

No they can't take away your visa! People think that taking away visa is something simple, its not. It requires some processing and at times hearings and court orders.

[Almaviva 1]

I don't think asking questions at POE when immigrating is giving someone a hard time. Personally, I think CBP should ask questions to see who's coming into the country.

Sure thing, but there's something called manners and some CBP officers don't seem to know those. They have the right to ask you things, but it's the way they do it and the way they treat you that makes you think they just do it because they can, rather than because they have to.

Also, what's the point of asking tons of personal questions to american citizens? It's not like they can deny you entry just because he doesn't like the country you were visiting.

[pch1 64]

Custom agents at the POE can ask you any question they feel fit and appropriate. If they feel something is not right of fishy, they might escort you to a room for more questioning. People have nothing to worry about should just be patient and have the Custom agent do his job.

I remember one time coming from the Philippines during a visit to x-gf. The custom agent was friendly and smiling, asking me how I liked the Philippines and what did I do over there. I told him it was nice and I was there to visit my fiance which I meant to say my gf...All the sudden he started to question me more...Is it fiance or Gf which one? I had to tell him Gg, I don't know why I said fiance...then he said if you are sure of that then go ahead, welcome back home! I didn't know what difference would it have made if it she was gf or fiance, but I didn't want to ask ...

[ryna 132]

Sure thing, but there's something called manners and some CBP officers don't seem to know those. They have the right to ask you things, but it's the way they do it and the way they treat you that makes you think they just do it because they can, rather than because they have to.

Also, what's the point of asking tons of personal questions to american citizens? It's not like they can deny you entry just because he doesn't like the country you were visiting.

The question that always annoyed me the most at POE was "What is your final destination?" I'm a US Citizen! What difference does it make? The only people I know who have to tell the government where they will be are probationers and parolees.

[JFH 12,191]

I have only been questioned once upon entering the UK (I have a UK passport). The officer, whose English was broken at best, asked where I had been. I gave the name of the small town in Washington state where my husband was living at the time and he said "and did you enjoy your holidays in xxxx?" I said "of course. My husband lives there." I was then taken aside and given a long lecture about the requirements for bringing a spouse into the UK to settle. My husband wasn't even with me. I said "thank you. I am very much aware of the rules." And then he let me go.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I have also been asked to show my cash. That was Las Vegas airport.

My best one of all was Toronto pre-clearance. He said "what's your final destination?" I started to say "Los Angeles" and got as far as "Los An" and he interrupted me with "enjoy your stay" and handed back my stamped passport.

I have good and bad experiences with Toronto. Terminal 3 is horrible, but terminal 1 wasn't so bad.

[marianath 27]

I am a naturalized citizen and travel to asia every other year to visit family.

No issues at LAX Immigration but a funny experience with customs.

Flight came from the Philippines and the Customs officer asked me if I brought some filipino sausages.

I said YES but pointed at my tummy while saying "It is in here"...... LOL

Another story, my best friend travels a lot for contractual work in the middle east for our military.

He came from overseas couple days prior and we met in Texas were I was travelling for work.

We were both travelling back to LAX flying from Texas La Guardia Airport, the day before he lost his wallet with all of his ID's so the only thing he has was his passport.

The TSA agent after flipping thru his passport with all the middle east countries he has stamps with made a big deal asking him so many questions.

That was the first time I saw him really pissed basically told the TSA agent to mind his own damn business, my friend also dropped a name and told the TSA officer to call that number if he has any problems ...it was very interesting lol...

Edited April 29, 2016 by marianath

[Casey&Titi 14]

It's been almost one year since my wife and I arrived at LAX at which time we didn't have any problems. The customs officer was very friendly and joked around with us. It took less than five minutes.