Aussies ‘treated like criminals’ at US border

[whatmeworry]

Reports of Australians being aggressively interrogated when entering the USA, under Trump directives.

AUSTRALIANS have told horror stories of being aggressively interrogated at the US border and being stuck in limbo over visa applications as President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown begins to bite.

Readers have shared stories of being “treated like a criminal” by US immigration officials after news.com.au revealed last week that Aussies hoping to visit and work in the US were undergoing more scrutiny under Mr Trump.

As part of his “hire American” push, the President has directed his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, to tighten rules on granting visas to foreigners. Heightened terrorism fears have also led to increased scrutiny on anyone who has ever visited predominantly Muslim countries.

Aussies ‘treated like criminals’ at US border

 

[Denali]

I would think that anyone with an Iranian stamp (insert many other countries on Trumps cough list) in their passport should expect additional security these days, even if their paperwork is in order.

And seriously, if someone going through her phone and saying she had too many photos of her dog made her feel "very violated", she needs to toughen up in this day of travel and terrorists under the bed. I would have prepared myself for secondary because of prior travel.

I will say that we were talking about returning to the US/the south next year and decided its not worth the hassle of having to deal with the Trump'sters so are going elsewhere. Even 2019, we're talking Africa, Uganda or Rwanda instead of US.

Edit: A few months ago I had security pat down that I thought was very aggressive and invasive and it did shake me a bit but thats because I wasnt prepared for the full cough pat down multiple times. Damn you, spanxs!

 

[RooFlyer]

Reports of Australians being aggressively interrogated when entering the USA, under Trump directives

Gosh, if President Obama hadn't put those 7 countries on the list in the first place, who knows what might happen

And for goodness sake, lets look at some of these cases:

Another Aussie, who wished to be known only as Julie, says she was “traumatised” after trying to enter the country via Los Angeles with a valid J-1 visa, but without a particular form she was not aware she needed.

“You would’ve thought I was a criminal,” she told news.com.au.

Going to USA without correct paperwork - yeah, that's always a good idea. She probably was under an suspicion of criminal behaviour, violating US immigration laws.

Another Australian, who declined to be named, fell afoul of this increased scrutiny in February after his B1-B2 visitor visa expired and his application for an E-3 working visa was rejected because he had spent more time in the US in the 12 months prior than he had in Australia.

When attempting to fly home from Mexico to Sydney via California, he was pulled up for being in the States on an expired visa.

He said immigration officers treated him with excessive aggression.

No visa .

Poor pets; "excessive aggression" - so easy to say isn't it? Nasty USA.

Other news.com.au readers report lengthy delays in having visa applications approved since Mr Trump’s presidency.

One US-based academic, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had been approved for a visa within two weeks in 2012; but today was still waiting for approval eight months after applying to upgrade his visa from a J-1 to an E-3.

Took me a month to get my US B1/B2 visa recently, having declared that I was going to visit Iran; all but 3 days of that was waiting for my appointment, which took 5 minutes; visa approved. There was another two days waiting for my passport to be returned to me.

I'll let everyone know if I get treated with "excessive aggression" after I visit the US next time ... on United, or another airline, that is.

 

[UP4014]

I've had some surly questions, but it's not my country or my rules and there are a lot of people who don't like the USA (envy perhaps). I love the place as a holiday destination and am ok with a few hard straight talking homeland security officers over a trip to Rwanda.

Matt

 

[theblank]

Doesnt sound like Australians are been treated agressively because they are australians to me. Another fake headline just to vainly discredit Trump

 

[n7of9]

As a single female traveler I've been hasseled a lot, mostly at 'western' borders (Vancouver being the worst, but also in London and San Fran). I suspect they think I'm there for marriage, am a mule, or a pro. I've even been asked how I can afford to travel when I've listed 'secretary' as my occupation

You just need to be polite, answer all their questions exactly as asked, and make sure you have all your paperwork on you including your trip plans (tour vouchers, hotel bookings, etc). They're just trying to keep you talking to see if you panic. Profiling happens for a reason, you need to keep your cool and repect their authority. If you don't like it, stay home

And when traveling in the middle east where they have females patting you down, be prepared for a full vag rub and grope...good times

 

[whatmeworry]

I'll let everyone know if I get treated with "excessive aggression" after I visit the US next time ... on United, or another airline, that is.

Let me guess, you're a white, Caucasian male with an Anglo-Celtic surname? Must be a hard life.

 

[RooFlyer]

Whoa! Enough of the racial profiling already!

When visiting the US, I usually describe myself as an Australian and a taxpayer.

 

[mannej]

Let me guess, you're a white, Caucasian male with an Anglo-Celtic surname? Must be a hard life.

Whoa! Enough of the racial profiling already!

When visiting the US, I usually describe myself as an Australian and a taxpayer.

Bla white male privilege bla. Sorry but apart from trying to place the bait what purpose does it serve by referring to it here?

 

[RooFlyer]

Bla white male privilege bla. Sorry but apart from trying to place the bait what purpose does it serve by referring to it here?

bla slogan bla. Can't tell what 'it' refers to.

 

[coriander]

Do they do an internal exam on females ( going by anatomical descriptions above)? That's intrusive by any standards.

 

[trooper]

Let me guess, you're a white, Caucasian male with an Anglo-Celtic surname? Must be a hard life.

Ok... are you suggesting all these people complaining were NOT white, caucasians with Anglo Celtic surnames???? Seems to me your suggestion of bias is hardly supported by THESE stories...unless you have insider knowledge of their ethnicity?

I have a typically Jewish name and I'm not classically "Caucasian"... and I don't recall poor treatment on 49 visits to the US....(don't tell me you think anti-Semitism doesn't still exist please!)

 

[Denali]

Do they do an internal exam on females ( going by anatomical descriptions above)? That's intrusive by any standards.

I shudder at the thought and would hope there are protocols before someone starts gazing into a womans cough for hidden contraband.

If it was drug suspected, xray is an option. I think a strip search is a spread the cheeks and legs wide visual inspection.

In my experience, I was fully clothed and offered to be taken to a side room for privacy. Not expecting what I got, I said do the pat down here/in public. It was a standard pat down until the cough was full hand pressed/swipe multiple times and firm pressing of the full open hand to my cough and pressure applied numerous times. Yes, over clothes but still, hadnt had that much action in a while and didnt know if I needed a drink or to give her a $20 for the experience. If it was my teenage daughter having this done to her, I would have been very upset.

 

[Anna]

This isn't new since Trump. It's just getting more media coverage since Trump.

Vancouver being the worst

+1 for YVR being the worst! Doesn't matter whether you're entering Canada or at YVR doing US immigration before a flight to Pacific Northwest USA. So bad there several times that I've decided I have no need to ever visit anywhere else in Canada. The Canadian Tourist Board can be proud of their vigilant immigration officials.

 

[GSP]

I will say that we were talking about returning to the US/the south next year and decided its not worth the hassle of having to deal with the Trump'sters so are going elsewhere. Even 2019, we're talking Africa, Uganda or Rwanda instead of US.

Uganda or Rwanda wouldn't have been my alternatives to US, Europe seems a likely equivalent. Chad wouldn't be also on the list of alternatives would it?

 

[Berlin]

Just been to the US and nothing has changed versus pre-Trump from what I can tell. If anything- the electronic arrival computers make it much easier and save time entering on an ESTA. Planning my next holiday for mid 2018 as we speak and would chose it over some obscure African countries any day!

 

[Melburnian1]

On my most recent visit to USA, immigration was a pleasant experience: polite and fairly quick.

Arriving in Canada I was asked one question, answered it and was admitted. No problems at either.

 

[Berlin]

On my most recent visit to USA, immigration was a pleasant experience: polite and fairly quick.

Yep, that sounds about right. Now, traveling to Russia is a different story...

 

[clifford]

On my most recent visit to USA, immigration was a pleasant experience: polite and fairly quick.

Arriving in Canada I was asked one question, answered it and was admitted. No problems at either.

In my dozens and dozens of trips to US/Canada (I'm a 2.5 million miler on UA, so I must have been there a few times) I've been given a (relatively) hard time on a couple of occasions (both involving female immigration officers).

Both seemed to centre on the fact that I was travelling as a solo older male (well, I was probably a pedophile!) , but after a short search of my stuff, all was good to go. However the tone and demeanor of the women was insulting.

I haven't been back to the US or Canada for at least 10 years, and I have no intention of ever going again (but who knows?). Let the NRA have free reign there, and good luck to all Aussie visitors. As for me, there is plenty of the rest of the world to go to.

 

[earlyriser]

Just been to the US and nothing has changed versus pre-Trump from what I can tell. If anything- the electronic arrival computers make it much easier and save time entering on an ESTA. Planning my next holiday for mid 2018 as we speak and would chose it over some obscure African countries any day!

On my most recent visit to USA, immigration was a pleasant experience: polite and fairly quick.

Arriving in Canada I was asked one question, answered it and was admitted. No problems at either.

My parents (Mum has Alzheimer's) just entered through Houston and I was quite concerned something may happen but no issues either. Of course, they now think I warned them for nothing.