Reentering the U.S. after international travel.

[yardwork]

I've been reading a lot of concern about travelers having bad experiences with customs and border patrol after international travel. I just returned from a two- week trip abroad so I thought I'd share my experience here.

I didn't really expect a problem as I'm a native-born U.S. citizen. I arrived in my home state on a direct flight from Paris yesterday. I had no problems and I didn't witness any issues involving other travelers, either. All the lines moved fairly quickly, including the one for non U.S. passport holders.

The questioning by the customs agent was definitely more extensive and slightly more aggressive than my experiences prior to Trump's election, including last fall before the election. I was asked the usual series of questions: where did you go, who did you travel with, why were you traveling. The last question was a little odd. The agent said: "Are you happy to be home, though, or not?" The end of the question was said with a slightly aggressive tone. I responded that I was very happy to be home. Right answer.

Then he asked about some duty free bags I was carrying and I said I needed to declare some items and had the receipts. He was very helpful, passed me on to other agents who guided me through the process, and I had a very smooth and friendly exchange with the duty agent.

I'm posting this for others here who might be worrying about returning from foreign travel. Nobody asked to see my phone, rifled through my stuff, or anything. I realize that this is not true for everybody, but the fact is that thousands of folks enter the U.S. every day and the process is smooth and efficient for most.

Be sure to say you're happy to be home, though.

[fujiyamasan]

1. What a strange question though

Hopefully won’t have to go through that, since I made sure my family and I got global entry before traveling.

We’re heading home tomorrow after traveling to the UK and France as well. Hope you had a nice trip. I had never been to Paris. What a beautiful city!

[yardwork]

5. I hope your flight goes smoothly!

You were smart to get global entry.

[fujiyamasan]

24. Thanks, flight went smoothly

Global entry was definitely worth it. No questions at all. They just took a photo and it was on to baggage claim.

[Captain Zero]

2. if you answered differently?

I wonder if you went on and on about being glad to be home? Used some Trump memes.
Say something like, I read in a French paper that Trump has stopped the eating of cats and dogs while I was gone. That is such a relief!

[yardwork]

4. I wondered that as well but didn't want to put it to the test!

[newdeal2]

3. I fear soon they will ask who your favorite president is

Were the agents chatty or you just gave them direct answers without elaborating much?

[yardwork]

6. Not chatty. He was young and efficient.

[dalton99a]

7. +1

[VMA131Marine]

28. Obvious answer: George Washington

Nobody can disagree with that.

Or pick someone really obscure like Millard Fillmore, the 13th President.

[Irish_Dem]

8. What happens if you say you are depressed as hell

To return to this shithole country overrun by nazi bastards.

[yardwork]

10. After a 9 hour flight, I really was happy to be home.

I was motivated to say anything that would smooth the process!

[Irish_Dem]

15. You are smart. But I can be a stubborn SOB when I am pissed off.

And I don't like being pushed around by arrogant jackasses.

[miyazaki]

18. Almost told off a couple tyrannical immigration pricks years ago,

but being put on the 'no-fly-list' is a very real thing.

Hope it never happens to me again because my temper is about ten times worse now given current events.

[Irish_Dem]

19. My patience is wearing very thin as well.

I am a USAF military kid and my father did not risk his life flying combat so some
punk ass self important airport guard could push his daughter around.

[Skittles]

31. reminds me of this clip

[MineralMan]

9. I suspect it all depends on the flight's origin,

what you look like, what your name is, and whether you have some sort of accent from another language.

[yardwork]

11. I'm sure you're right, and I tick most of the MAGA approved boxes.

However, there were plenty of others arriving on the flight who were Muslim and other nationalities and ethnic heritages, and none of them seemed to run into any issues.

It also helps that this is a routine daily nonstop flight to/from Paris. Basically, it's a commuter run for tourists. Routine.

[MineralMan]

12. Yes. I'm sure a regular flight like that gets less attention.

It's all pretty complicated, I'm thinking. Probably a flight from Colombia is not going to go so smoothly.

[MissB]

13. I am worried about my in-law

They are currently traveling out of country and will be returning soon. They are originally from south of the border but their grandparents immigrated to that country from the Middle East. So the in-law looks middle eastern but speaks with an accent from south of the border.

Hope they’re ready for the questions. They’re a seasoned traveler.

[yardwork]

14. I hope that everything goes smoothly for them.

[John1956PA]

16. In 1990, a returning 60-year-old white USA natural-born citizen was put through hell as he looked too sophisticated.

The experience which the man recounted was harrowing, but he related it with a tone of comedic irony. He was a very handsome, distinguished looking man of slightly smaller than average stature. He was returning from his first trip to Poland where he has visited distant relatives. He said one of the male customs employees wore a headdress. The man was detained for an hour or more and made to strip down in an interrogation room. My only conclusion in all of this is that there have always been incidents of customs officers taking odd steps in dealing with members of the flying public.

[yardwork]

17. Wore a headdress? Like an American Indian war bonnet?

[John1956PA]

21. From the man's description of it, the item of apparel sounded more like an Asian headdress.

In the following link, there is a sketch of a man wearing "a headdress consisting of a long scarf-like single piece of cloth wound round the head or sometimes an inner 'hat' or patka."

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Turban

Here is a snip from the webpage at that link:

[Skittles]

20. HOW is it their business whether or not you are HAPPY

[yardwork]

23. The implication was that I might be up to no good unamerican stuff.

Just because I enjoyed visiting France. Totally irrational typical MAGAT thinking.

[WestMichRad]

27. Exactly. What mood I'm in is none of their effin' business.

[ananda]

22. I think a lot depends on the airport.

Some friends of mine came back from Greece through DFW
and did fine.

But they said they understood how bad, say, Florida airports
are.

[fujiyamasan]

25. The whole process is very arbitrary and capricious

I guess it depends on the airport and agent. If the agent isn’t having a good day, it makes the ordeal very unpleasant.

[OrlandoDem2]

26. The fact we are talking about this is proof that foreigners definitely shouldn't travel here.

And Americans might wanna consider closing their wallets altogether. Nothing good comes from spending money supporting this disasterous regime.

[VMA131Marine]

29. I'm going to the UK in November

I’m seriously considering taking only my Android phone and deleting all social media apps, screenshots, and photographs off it.
I have an iPhone that I would leave at home.

I’m definitely getting sent to El Salvador if Trump’s goons read my social media posts.

[yardwork]

32. I had the same exact concern.

In the end I took both phones. It wasn't an issue but Customs has the power to go through everything.

One tip I heard is to turn off the face recognition on your phone and apps.

In the end, since I was traveling alone (meeting up with friends in various places) I decided to make it easy for myself and take my chances.

[DFW]

30. I went back to the USA in April.

I got asked one question: “are you bringing any food?”

I said, “no, man, I do this way too often to make that mistake.”

The guy smiled, said, “Welcome home,” and waved me on.

Next month, I’m going back with my wife, who is a German citizen. Let’s hope that goes equally as smoothly. If not, she would have no problem with saying, “I’m done with this place. Let me know when you get another president.” At least they won’t ask HER if she’s happy to be home.

[yardwork]

33. Something tells me your passport tells a story!

Seasoned traveler is an understatement!

I'd like to visit Germany next.

[DFW]

34. My last one for sure! My present one not so much.

The last one was so full, the border police couldn’t find anything. Since Schengen, I practically have nothing. My last passport expired during Covid’s worst stage. The US doesn’t stamp US passports any more, and since I have a permanent residence card for Germany, the Germans don’t stamp my passport, either. Only France and NL still stamp it when I enter or leave the EU from one of their airports. I haven’t been to a non-Schengen European country in over five years, not even the UK. Same goes for the Far East and South America, although that changes in September.

By the way, if you’re thinking if visiting Germany, ask for some suggestions before you go. California Peggy and Steve 2470 stopped by and lived to tell the tale.

[yardwork]

35. Thank you!