POE officers

[Nemeseax 36]

Not sure where to put this topic so trying here. 

A few days ago have read somewhere an interview with one CPB officer. Among all things said there one has " caught my eye ".He has said " everybody with non immigrant visa trying to come in our country is automatically suspicious as we think they want to work illegaly or live here.Even people with good works in their home country ".

I know that we re all guilty until we proove we are not; but does that make sense to you - people with good works comming here to live secretly and work underpayed jobs?

Have you ever got such an experience while travelling  ( I must say, never any problems).Have you been at secondary inspection?And what are your opinions about POE and all what is happening there? 

[Chris Duffy 1,256]

I am US citizen, I get secondary ever time I have came back from Philippines the last 10 trips.  I have been told it was because I travel out of the USA to Philippines on a regular basis. I only go about 2 times per year.  They think I am drug smuggler I was told

 

They ask the same questions. Where do you work, how are you able to travel so much, do you have cash you didn't report, some times they ask me to empty my pockets, and of course they look thru my luggage.  

 

When I came back with my fiance my last trip, The CBP officer asked me if I had filed my income taxes, which I thought was a tad strange.  She then told me to go to my local USCIS in Dallas after I was married to adjust status, I said ok.  It's been about 20 years since that was the process.

 

 

[Going through 5,668]

2 hours ago, Nemeseax said:

Not sure where to put this topic so trying here. 

A few days ago have read somewhere an interview with one CPB officer. Among all things said there one has " caught my eye ".He has said " everybody with non immigrant visa trying to come in our country is automatically suspicious as we think they want to work illegaly or live here.Even people with good works in their home country ".

I know that we re all guilty until we proove we are not; but does that make sense to you - people with good works comming here to live secretly and work underpayed jobs?

Have you ever got such an experience while travelling  ( I must say, never any problems).Have you been at secondary inspection?And what are your opinions about POE and all what is happening there? 

It does make sense to me that they would hold even those with good jobs with the same level of suspicion as everyone else.  I would hope they continue to do that.

 

I have been in secondary inspection a few times for various reasons.  POE officers have a hard job and for the most part are fair and reasonable (in my personal experience).  

 

The worst experience I had at POE secondary was due to my then almost-3-year-old daughter, who at the counter loudly proclaimed repeatedly that I was NOT her mother, and she did NOT know who I was while physically pulling away from me, and then began crying and begging the customs officer to "help her find her daddy".

 

 

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

1 hour ago, Going through said:

It does make sense to me that they would hold even those with good jobs with the same level of suspicion as everyone else.  I would hope they continue to do that.

 

I have been in secondary inspection a few times for various reasons.  POE officers have a hard job and for the most part are fair and reasonable (in my personal experience).  

 

The worst experience I had at POE secondary was due to my then almost-3-year-old daughter, who at the counter loudly proclaimed repeatedly that I was NOT her mother, and she did NOT know who I was while physically pulling away from me, and then began crying and begging the customs officer to "help her find her daddy".

 

 

Wow, that sounds embarrassing. That's a story you can use against your daughter for the rest of her life. Poor girl.

[Going through 5,668]

1 hour ago, Russ&Caro said:

Wow, that sounds embarrassing. That's a story you can use against your daughter for the rest of her life. Poor girl.

Embarrassment is not the emotion I felt when border officials immediately assumed I just kidnapped a child.  

 

Worry over "how am I supposed to prove I'm her mother" crossed my mind first.

 

The feeling of wanting to wring her neck came second.

 

When they brought her back to me at the end of questioning her breath smelled like BBQ chips, so at least one of us had a more enjoyable time.  

 

And yes, I've used it against her already since she's 11 now.  

[Nemeseax 36]

3 hours ago, Going through said:

It does make sense to me that they would hold even those with good jobs with the same level of suspicion as everyone else.  I would hope they continue to do that.

 

I have been in secondary inspection a few times for various reasons.  POE officers have a hard job and for the most part are fair and reasonable (in my personal experience).  

 

The worst experience I had at POE secondary was due to my then almost-3-year-old daughter, who at the counter loudly proclaimed repeatedly that I was NOT her mother, and she did NOT know who I was while physically pulling away from me, and then began crying and begging the customs officer to "help her find her daddy".

 

 

Wow such embarrasing experience with your daughter! 

I have never been in secondary but I  don't see the sense why would they suspect  ( for instance) some sucessful business man from UK or Germany, Iceland etc.Why would that people leave their families, friends and career in order to wash dishes in some bad restaurant? 

And I don't believe that employers are that crazy about illegal workers. Well that are just my thoughts, maybe I am wrong but I hope that will stop with that.Anyway after few hours they release honest people who just miss another plane and money. Unecessary. 

 

[Unlockable 7,306]

6 hours ago, Nemeseax said:

Not sure where to put this topic so trying here. 

A few days ago have read somewhere an interview with one CPB officer. Among all things said there one has " caught my eye ".He has said " everybody with non immigrant visa trying to come in our country is automatically suspicious as we think they want to work illegaly or live here.Even people with good works in their home country ".

I know that we re all guilty until we proove we are not; but does that make sense to you - people with good works comming here to live secretly and work underpayed jobs?

Have you ever got such an experience while travelling  ( I must say, never any problems).Have you been at secondary inspection?And what are your opinions about POE and all what is happening there? 

I want to speak on the above bold part. What is underpaying jobs here in the US can provide a good source of income in another country. If a person has family that can set them up with room and board while they work under the table (without paying taxes) for a few weeks to save up a few thousand dollars, it could be more than what they would make in a year.

 

My wife has a college degree from her country and was working as an account manager in an office for Claro, which is one of the biggest Telecommunication companies in the Caribbean and South America. Still, her income was roughly the equivalent to $400 a month (she could reach about $500 with extra work she did). She now has a manual labor job here in the US grossing $2500 monthly. While that is not upper class income by US standards, it is about 6 times more than what she was making in her country.

[Nemeseax 36]

17 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

I want to speak on the above bold part. What is underpaying jobs here in the US can provide a good source of income in another country. If a person has family that can set them up with room and board while they work under the table (without paying taxes) for a few weeks to save up a few thousand dollars, it could be more than what they would make in a year.

 

My wife has a college degree from her country and was working as an account manager in an office for Claro, which is one of the biggest Telecommunication companies in the Caribbean and South America. Still, her income was roughly the equivalent to $400 a month (she could reach about $500 with extra work she did). She now has a manual labor job here in the US grossing $2500 monthly. While that is not upper class income by US standards, it is about 6 times more than what she was making in her country.

I understand that depends on standards in certain country  ( your wife's example shows that).My question was more about people from countries with good or even higher standards then USA. Sorry , have forgotten to specify.

And I got an  impression that they think someone just step on American soil and voila- a lot of illegal job offers appear. As have written, that are just some of my thoughts and I consider myself still as  just one curios beginner in all of that  ( immigration, living here , laws, etc) .So I really hope you will excuse my curiosity. 

[Unlockable 7,306]

42 minutes ago, Nemeseax said:

I understand that depends on standards in certain country  ( your wife's example shows that).My question was more about people from countries with good or even higher standards then USA. Sorry , have forgotten to specify.

And I got an  impression that they think someone just step on American soil and voila- a lot of illegal job offers appear. As have written, that are just some of my thoughts and I consider myself still as  just one curios beginner in all of that  ( immigration, living here , laws, etc) .So I really hope you will excuse my curiosity. 

It is a good topic. Nothing wrong with being curious. It is the best form of education.

 

For the countries that have good or higher standards than the US, you may find that they not only have a lower refusal rate for visitor visa but also may not even be required to even have a visa. You can view the countries that are listed that have ESTA/VWP and notice some similarities.

 

 

[Nemeseax 36]

1 hour ago, NuestraUnion said:

It is a good topic. Nothing wrong with being curious. It is the best form of education.

 

For the countries that have good or higher standards than the US, you may find that they not only have a lower refusal rate for visitor visa but also may not even be required to even have a visa. You can view the countries that are listed that have ESTA/VWP and notice some similarities.

 

 

I know that; I am Scandinavian and our life standards are ( I dare to say) high.Anyway have heard the stories that people from VWP countries sometimes have to go to secondary and have been asked if they were thinking of find some illegal job. So therefore my topic - I am surprised, according how much time take secondary officers to do that detailed questioning and finally they release that people.

So would be nice to share such experiences if you have some. 

[Going through 5,668]

What I always found to be odd...every time I've been in secondary was AFTER becoming an LPR, not before.  Was only asked about work once before becoming an LPR---after officer questioned how I could put aside 2 months time for a vacation (at the time I was unemployed, so told him so)---but that was not in secondary.  I don''t think he was assuming I was looking to work illegally in the US either, or overstay.

 

 

[Nemeseax 36]

That seems to be very strange. Always thought that LPR are on somehow " higher level " according to crossing the border. 

50 minutes ago, Going through said:

What I always found to be odd...every time I've been in secondary was AFTER becoming an LPR, not before.  Was only asked about work once before becoming an LPR---after officer questioned how I could put aside 2 months time for a vacation (at the time I was unemployed, so told him so)---but that was not in secondary.  I don''t think he was assuming I was looking to work illegally in the US either, or overstay.

 

 

 

[Alabamak1 688]

10 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

I am US citizen, I get secondary ever time I have came back from Philippines the last 10 trips.  I have been told it was because I travel out of the USA to Philippines on a regular basis. I only go about 2 times per year.  They think I am drug smuggler I was told

 

They ask the same questions. Where do you work, how are you able to travel so much, do you have cash you didn't report, some times they ask me to empty my pockets, and of course they look thru my luggage.  

 

When I came back with my fiance my last trip, The CBP officer asked me if I had filed my income taxes, which I thought was a tad strange.  She then told me to go to my local USCIS in Dallas after I was married to adjust status, I said ok.  It's been about 20 years since that was the process.

 

 

i had that problem going to my native country also. i enrolled in GE (global entry) and don't get harrassed with this questioning no more

[Nemeseax 36]

Our old neighbors ( 71 and 75 yrs old) USC-s, have been kept 4 hrs at POE after their 10 days trip to Jamaica , treated very badly, without any respect due to their age. They have been suspected to be drug dealers; smuggling drugs to USA.So much unecessary stress  ( they both have health issues).

I completely understand nature of officers job and I know it is very difficult and responsible one.But; why rude behaviour and disrespect? Any reason for that? They have complained after that horrible experience- but got just one generic  meaningless answer .

 

 

 

[Going through 5,668]

On 4/25/2018 at 4:53 PM, Nemeseax said:

That seems to be very strange. Always thought that LPR are on somehow " higher level " according to crossing the border. 

 

I think quite the opposite----they want to make sure LPRs are abiding by the rules and not using a green card as a glorified tourist visa, hence more scrutiny sometimes with a GC depending on how long one was out of the country.