# Travelling to the US **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193 "2006-12-14T22:09:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/1 "2006-12-14T22:09:58Z")
Every time I travel to the states and line up for 30 minutes to get to the counter I get reasonably pissed off. I hate waiting. Though I understand the reason for this procedure, I get antsy. So when I finally stand there in front of the immigrations officer and hear him/her ask “What’s the purpose of your visit”, I answer politely whilst thinking “None of your damn business.” (though in fact it is very much their business). Now, hypothetically, what would happen if I did infact say those very words? Would that be enough for expulsion from the united states? Would I get pulled into some other room for a more lengthy “chat”? Or would they just explain why they have to ask? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/2 "2006-12-14T22:27:45Z")
It’s unlikely that you would get expelled, but they’d probably pull you aside and thoroughly inspect your luggage and they might put you in an interrogation room and demand to know why you’re being a jerk. In order to be turned away at customs, you’d need something pretty serious like an invalid (or non-existing) passport, contraband, an invalid visa (if you’re not from a country on the visa-waiver program) or your name is on a terrorist watchlist, or you’re a communist. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/3 "2006-12-14T22:34:35Z")
[QUOTE=indierock82] So when I finally stand there in front of the immigrations officer and hear him/her ask “What’s the purpose of your visit”, I answer politely whilst thinking “None of your damn business.” (though in fact it is very much their business). Now, hypothetically, what would happen if I did infact say those very words? Would that be enough for expulsion from the united states? Would I get pulled into some other room for a more lengthy “chat”? Or would they just explain why they have to ask? [/QUOTE] I don’t know, but I suspect it would depend very much on the mood of the individual immigration officer. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/4 "2006-12-14T23:34:24Z")
I suspect it would be met with the same sense of humor that security folks exhibit if you say, “What? You think I have a bomb or something?” Try it some day (NOT!), it’ll be a day you never forget, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/5 "2006-12-14T23:38:00Z")
I think you’d be taken into a room and politely instructed to bend over and spread 'em. Then you’ll hear the gentle ::smack:: of latex gloves. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/6 "2006-12-14T23:39:09Z")
Oh shit. That was meant to say “smack” in a sound effect style. Never mind, I’m starting to like the surrealism of the above post with the smiley in place. ---
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/7 "2006-12-15T00:37:38Z")
Yeah, I agree. It wouldn’t be a smart thing to say, and hence I haven’t gone down that road yet. I wouldn’t really compare it to joking around about having a bomb or something as that could be deemed as a threat where as being an asshole to the officer is something different. Would that give them grounds for a body cavity search? I’m leaning towards no, but then again they might do it just to spite me. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/8 "2006-12-15T01:16:13Z")
The TSA people have no sense of humor. At all. Coupled with a serious little Napoleon complex… I imagine the customs & immigration people are similarly humorless. Then again, I’ve had no problems with C&I anywhere I’ve traveled, either here or abroad. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/9 "2006-12-15T16:50:31Z")
If you’re travelling from Ireland, you have to go through Immigration here, and they’re equally unfriendly… The first time I was asked “what is the purpose of your visit?” I stared at the fella completely dumbfounded. I was going on holiday, what did he think I was doing? Surely if I was going to the US for anything other than a holiday I’d have a visa or summat?! Trouble is, my hesitation set off a klaxon in the back of his head and I was given a lengthy interrogation [at the desk]. What did help was I was going to stay with relations and had no proof of my intent other than a return ticket… scary biscuits… ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/10 "2006-12-15T17:10:58Z")
I don’t see what the complaint is here. I’ve certainly been asked the same questions when traveling to Canada & Mexico from the US. I always assumed that was standard questioning from any customs/immigration official, regardless of the country being entered. Do you not get a similar question upon your return? Re-entering the US, I’ve also always been asked for the reason for the visit to the country from which I’m returning. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/11 "2006-12-15T17:14:21Z")
[QUOTE=Lobelia Overhill] If you’re travelling from Ireland, you have to go through Immigration here, and they’re equally unfriendly… The first time I was asked “what is the purpose of your visit?” I stared at the fella completely dumbfounded. I was going on holiday, what did he think I was doing? Surely if I was going to the US for anything other than a holiday I’d have a visa or summat?! [/QUOTE] Not necessarily in the case of Canadians, and I would assume for Irish. You could be going on a business trip, e.g. a conference, visiting head office, etc., which would not require any special paperwork. I’ve checked off “business” on that INS form many times when I’ve hopped across the border. I seem to recall it’s not called INS any more. You know what I mean anyway! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/12 "2006-12-15T17:30:11Z")
The last time I visited the UK, the immigration person asked, “Business or pleasure?” – My response was, “Neither” I’m here for my aunt’s funeral." This seemed to satisfy him. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/13 "2006-12-15T17:41:18Z")
Going through customs and immigration was never supposed to be easy. They know you’re nervous. Everybody is supposed to be. Some are even annoyed. It’s a deliberate process of standardization where people acting outside of the standard got a twice-over look. Sometimes more. But as long as you followed instructions (and were not on any hidden lists) you got through it with no problems. Today the ambiguity is gone. It’s a post-9/11 world. Anything that may raise any suspicion will get you flagged. > [@](#): > > Under the authority granted by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended, a CBP officer may question, under oath, any person coming into the United States to determine his or her admissibility. In addition, an inspector has authority to search without warrant the person and effects of any person seeking admission, when there is reason to believe that grounds of exclusion exist which would be disclosed by such search. > > The INA is based on the law of presumption: an applicant for admission is presumed to be an alien until he or she shows evidence of citizenship; an alien is presumed to be an immigrant until he or she proves that he or she fits into one of the nonimmigrant classifications. Source: [http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border\_security/port\_activities/overview.xml](http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/port_activities/overview.xml) My suggestion is endure the inconvenience just like everyone else. The alternative is being denied entry, or worse, banned from entering. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/14 "2006-12-15T17:48:27Z")
the reason they ask these “stupid” questions is so they can nail you at least for lying to them and that gives them time to push for heavier charges. When they ask, “do you belong to a terrorist organization?”, well, it turns out that belonging to a terrorist organization is not really a crime in the US. But now you lied to them and that lets them hold you. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/15 "2006-12-15T17:55:49Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] When they ask, “do you belong to a terrorist organization?”, well, it turns out that belonging to a terrorist organization is not really a crime in the US. But now you lied to them and that lets them hold you. [/QUOTE] Being a member of a terrorist organization is grounds for inadmissability (8 USC § 1182). And providing material support or services to a terrorist organization is a federal crime (18 USC § 2339B). And training with a terrorist organization is also a federal crime (18 USC § 2339D). ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/16 "2006-12-15T18:01:03Z")
As some have pointed out, it depends on the mood of the Customs & Passport Control agent. They may explain to you why they are required to ask. But if you annoy them enough, they will be motivated to show you just how much of a pain in the ass they can make your visit. (hyuk hyuk hyuk! I made a funny!) ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-to-the-us/384193/17 "2006-12-15T19:01:07Z")
Remember it is entirely at the discretion of the immigration officer whether or not you are allowed entry. There is no kind of burden of proof they need to deny you entry, they can say “I didn’t like the cut of his gib” and thats a valid reason.