Experiences with US immigration in Ireland -v- in the USA

Naked Lepper

Anyone any idea which is better/ less hassle

Booked on a flight and just realised that we are not going to go through until we reach the states.. have plenty of time connecting but I have never went through immgration in newark so was wondering if anyone has any experience/ horror stories? Heard they can be quite rude and heavy handed stateside.

I went through once in JFK but had no problems at all and they were straight to the point etc, any time in dublin theyve always been sound and fairly relaxed.. just dont fancy meeting some absolute nob upon arrival, want to start the holiday on the plane with a few beers like

Anyone any ideas? I can prob change flights to the earlier flight which goes through immigration in Dub id say

ArmaniJeanss

Found it a much more pleasant experience the one time I did it in San Francisco Airport, compared to the times I did it in Dub or Shannon.

The whole demeanour of the customs staff was much nicer. Much more like the front line staff you'd come across in a European airport, doing their job efficiently, taking no bull****, but also aware that you have come off a 6+ hour flight etc and that there is no need to be antagonistic.

The guys in Dublin always struck me as having a bit of an attitude. My theory was that the Irish posting was a bit of a punishment, they had nothing to look forward to after their shift ended other than another night in a grotty dublin hotel etc, counting down the days til they could head back to the US. Hence they had the hump.

Third_Echelon

No difference whatsoever in terms of the staff etc.... The only advantage of doing it in Dublin is that you can get your bags on the US side and head straight out for a taxi etc.. rather than queuing up for immagration after getting off a long flight..

I've been over to the US loads over the past few years with work, so have cleared immigration more often that not in the US. Just answer their questions and dont be an idiot and you'll be grand....

Teferi

I've found the immigration staff in Dublin pleasant. One time as I was going through in Dublin Airport on my way to Kentucky the lad asked where I was going he looked at me and goes "Son, what the hell you goin' to Kentucky for? Ain't nothing there but horses and hicks" :pac:

Rented Mule

Have all of your paperwork finished and passports in hand.

Answer all questions asked.

Be polite.

vetinari

Found them much nicer stateside than in Shannon. Went throuhg immigration in Newark 2 weeks ago coming back from Lima (I live in Boston). They were very polite and efficient.

Uriel.

Cleared customs in Dallas in May and found it to be a quick, efficient and friendly experience to be honest. All the staff where very very nice and the procedure (finger printing etc...) didnt take long.

kaggie

Hi I don't want to be a party pooper but my friend was denied entry in Newark cos of the neww ten digit fingerprinting system there and he was sent back to the uk along with three others. They have a detention center in newark and they will find out anything you have to hide like overstaying in the past,criminal record in your home country as is waht happened to a london guy apparently.
If you have nothing to hide then you are cool.

Stinicker

Last time I precleared in Shannon I found the staff to be rude, condascending, arrogant and quite frankly nazi style in their interrogation, (I got taken to a separate room and grilled for ages. A meeker person would nearly have cried the way I was treated.

I got a Visa since B1/B2 to avoid all the sh*t associated with the VWP and last Monday upon my arrival into LAX I was treated no different to anyone else and the asian man processing the two of us was a grand lad and was very interested in the Sydney weather and got a kick out of the smily face on my friends passport which was a miracle it got approved as you are supposed to have a dull dour emotionless expression on your passport photo.

Steer clear of middle aged white women agents in Shannon if possible they are always grumpy.