A paper of mine has been accepted to a conference in Orlando, Florida, so I get to travel there and hold a presentation. This will be the first time for me in the USA, so I am looking for advice.
The first thing that comes in my mind is the supposed hostility of the customs officers. Is it true? How should I behave? Do they check luggages only in the airport of departure, like in Europe, or in the arrival one as well, as a friend suggested? I also would like to know what I should do about some medicines I need.
I can’t help picturing a scene in my mind where I am being kicked out for futile reasons
Also, I probably will have a little extra time after the conference (just a day or two at the most, it seems), so I wonder if there is something interesting I could see/visit/do (not Disneyland, though - I don’t like the idea of going there on my own), and if there is anything/anywhere I should definitely avoid. And I wonder how the weather is in Orlando at the end of October.
I have read lots of things about the US on this board, both good and bad, and I am really wondering what I should really expect.
It’s been 10 years since i travelled to the US in A, and they were strict as hell back then, I had to have a proper full-time job at home that I was returning to, and have a lot of money with me to cover my expenses while I was in the States.
Don’t know how much of it still applies, I haven’t dared go back there since, they scared me so much :eek:
I have had the pleasure of several trips to the US of A, landing in various places such as New York (both Newark & JFK), Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago. But not Orlando.
Never had any problem on arrival with Customs people, nor Immigration either. The only strange luggage thing was at Atlanta, where you pick up your luggage off the flight but then give it over again and pick it up (again) after you’ve been through Immigration. But that applies to everyone.
If you are used to the living Hell that is Heathrow, you should be pleasantly surprised at how civilised things are. But if you’re a bumpkin who has only ever flown from Teesside (sorry, Durham Tees Valley) or Southampton, prepare for the worst!
Oh, that’s a worry, as I am a lowly PhD student and not employed full time, and definitely don’t have large sums of money to use as proof of, well, not needing to scarper.
Well, I never had any problem whatsoever in Heathrow to be honest, but I realize I could have just been lucky. But certainly the customs officers for UK do not play the tough guy game?
By the way, I am Italian, does it make any difference customs-wise?
According to the Transportation Authority Guide Book, all PhD candidates flying in from the UK who are italian must greet custom authorities with their trousers down around their ankles.
This helps speed up the body cavity seach.
Hope this helps.
I guess it means if you get into a tight spot you can just say “Hey, forget about it!” in a Brooklyn accent. That’ll lighten the mood, surely?
My trip was in 2000 but the customs officials were WAY scary - they asked me a ton of questions: why I was visiting (going to see a friend), how did I know this person (met on the internet), was I intending to get married… and so on and so forth.
I’m not sure I WANT to experience American airport customs people post-911.
Aside from Airport stuff, would you like some ideas of things to do in Florida? You could rent a car and drive east to the coast, about an hour, and go to the beach. Rent a surf board and try your hand at it. You could drive west to the gulf and take a scuba lesson and swim with the dolphins. You could take a air boat tour and go look at some cool birds and a few aligators. Or go buy some antiques just north of Orlando in Mt.Dora.
The customs officers were polite (there was a sign saying something about how they wanted to do a good job, whilst being respectful to visitors).
My first visit since 9/11 involved a fingerprint and iris check (took less than a minute). The conversation also took about a minute.
On my next visit, after checking my passport, I was waved through.
N.B. There were also a couple of lengthy forms to fill in on the plane.
On the way out of the US, I had to take my shoes off (as did everyone else).
The biggest delay was in the UK, where the outgoing luggage + security checks took over 2 hours.
So:
check with your travel agent what time to allow for outgoing security checks
make a note of your passport number, length of stay and address within the US
don’t make jokes to the US Customs (do you intend to overthrow the US Government? Sole purpose of visit :eek: )
wash your feet before leaving
yes, Bush is a complete stupid bastard idiot who has caused terrible harm - but there’s no need to mention it either as you enter or leave
I’ve travel to the US around six times a year for the past seven years with a British passport. There’s nothing to worry about.
I’ve never had my luggage searched.
On the plane, they will give you two forms to fill out - a blue customs form and a green I-94W form. Fill out both sides of each.
The only things that the immigration officer is going to ask you is “Why are you coming the USA?” and “How long are you planning to stay?”. Just tell the truth.
The only things you will need are:
A return ticket
The address of the where you are staying. It has to be a street address like
When I flew into Heathrow for my honeymoon, the UK customs officer was a grade-A asshole. What the others are like, I have no idea, but there’s at least one.
