Immigration bastards

bombidol

Im heading over to the states in a few weeks and ive been told im going to get serious hassle from the"man" cause im a single male travelling alone, they think im not coming back.
I only have the address of the hotel im stay at for the week, as im going over to check out some clubs and venues for my band who want to play there later this year. anyone any experience with this

gar

Victor

Dress tidy. Shave. Behave yourself. Be polite. Be friendly, but don't blabber. Be able to demonstrate your intended business (research on teh clubs. letters, e-mails).

ballooba

Make sure your well lubed before going through customs...

Nah.. just make sure you dress well. Be tidy like Victor suggested and be sure you can explain what your business is without having to go on for hours.

muffman

Happened me twice...

Address

102 Union Avn
Rutherford
(and the city you are going to)

Staying with a relative...
Dont say hotel because they more than likely wont accept it.

It worked twice for me (genuinely only going for a week or 10 days) and hopefully will work again at christmas


I went through Shannon both times... The trick is stay away from the bitches (and they are bitches) The last time i went i went to two of them and they refused me then I went to a man and he chatted away normally and treated me like a human being...


Best of luck!

PS An "I LUV NY" Tshirt might help as well:D

Bluehair

Can depend on who you get... One tip though if they quiz you in a dramatic kind of way or outright accuse you of lying (which they do sometimes to see if you get nervous) just tell the truth and be polite at all times.

Remember these guys don't have to justify *anything* and can and do deny entry on a whim...

And like the above posters suggest try not to fit their 'profile' of someone not likely to come home (leave the kitchen sink behind and forget the tearful goodbyes and waves to grandma, grandpa, mum, dad, sisters, brothers and the dog )

the corpo

i've never had any trouble whatsoever

bombidol

My biggest problem is that i only have the address of the hotel. If i get denied by someone what is the story there, is that my trip over or do i get in the line again to be quizzed. also someone told me that if im denied 3 times im not allowed in the States ever again, any truth to that? Im really feckin worried that i wont get in and i have important stuff to do there.

gar

Bluehair

If it's any reassurance I've worked 'beside' them in the past and know a few of them on a personal basis. On a purely numbers basis you're talking about 1% or less who get refused so don't worry *too* much about it.

Most important things are return airline ticket and 'sufficient' funds to cover your stay with maybe some evidence of what you're going to be up to/where you're staying etc...

They have a *lot* of people to go through each day so unless you give them a reason to get suspicious they won't particularly bother you.

Having something important to come back home to (esp career, the missus whatever) is viewed with some regard too if they have any reason to suspect you are intent on staying in the states.

Have a great time and don't work too hard over there!

[forgot to mention that if you ARE refused then forget it it's end of story for that day don't even consider trying to join another line. Most often people try to reroute through London or somewhere else and try again at US immigration in the States. Never heard of the '3' rule but open to correction..]

Ruu_Old

bombidol, trust me, u wont have any problems. Ive been there 3 times and not a word said really, just how long and what for. To get denied ud really have to slip up bad! good luck and have fun

bombidol

Thanks gents , i feel a bit more reassured now. Its just the thought of some goon denying me entry on a whim annoys me. This trip is costing too much to be uncertain

Ruu_Old

Let us know how u get on good luck

I arrived in on a BA flight to JFK in february, which meant going through immigration in JFK as opposed to Shannon or Dublin.

It too ten awkward silent minutes before, I was cleared through immigration as, the official had clicked UK instead of IE for my passport...but didn't tell me that, and me was thinking they were about to refuse me for *cough* the dodgy video's I'd been caught with in a security check the last time:D

Seriously though, all I've ever had on that form they give you is a hote address, and to all intents an purposes I also looked like a single traveller as I went to the window alone.
Once you have a return ticket , you'll be fine.
mm