Going Green
Difficulty:  | Review Topic: Port of Entry Review
Hi Guys,
I came in at Chicago O'Hare, following a direct flight from Manchester.
It was wonderfully quiet. Guess it was a dead time for travel. Even the plane had loads of spare seats (don't you love it when there's no-one sat next to you?) After the familiar looooong walk from the gate to immigration control, I took my place in the queue, unopened immigration envelope, my passport and even my medical CD in hand.
Unfortunately, the officer I was directed to was your classic joyless, stoney-faced, thickly-accented wiseguy. There was me, all smiles at nearly being across the victory line, and here was this fella who looked like someone (possibly from Britain) had just run over his dog.
He barely acknowledged me, just grumpily asked me why I was coming to the country. I told him and passed over my envelope. He didn't take it, just asked me if I'd filled in a little rectangular white form. Nobody at American Airlines had given me one, so I said no. I swear he looked like he was about to call me a dumbass, but instead he handed me one over and told me to go "oer there", fill it out and come back. He also told me to open the envelope to "save us some time". We all know it's a no-no to open that and that you can be denied entry if you do, but I wasn't about to argue, so I did what he said.
While I was filling out the form at a neighbouring unoccupied booth, another officer came over and asked me what I was doing. I told him and looked up to see the first guy had vanished. I honestly thought I'd be reprimanded for apparently opening the envelope on my own volition. Fortunately, old stoney-face returned and everything was OK. He took the papers from the envelope, that all-important white form (which I'm still not convinced I had to complete since I had a visa), took my prints, told me I was "good to go" and that was that. He didn't need my medical CD, so I have that for posterity.
After a desperate visit to the loo, I returned to find my bags waiting for me, then passed customs and gave my fiancee and her little boy a monster hug.
So yeah, I was sweating for a bit, but it all worked out. My advice: if you're coming in through O'Hare, try to avoid Mr. Stoney-Face's booth and if you're asked to open the envelope make sure the officer doesn't disappear on you!
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Port of Entry Member Review #14810
Entry Date: 2010-11-05