Miserable customs officials in Australia
Jan 4th 2009, 5:38 pm
#16
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
When I landed in Adelaide on New Years day in 2008. I had to fill this blasted form in on the plane and one of the questions was about food you were carrying, this was to do with quarantine controls.
Anyway I duly filled the form in and stated that there was just a candy bar (very US) or two and some sachets of coffee. The grim faced customs woman made me empty my suitcase and show her the offending items which I couldn't find. I said to her " I don't remember having all these problems last time I came to Oz (2005)" and she said "problems?!" I said yes all this palava at customs with small items of food. Miserable bitch then said " I should stop right there if I was you!"
I then had to be interrogated by this miserable customs bloke, "How long you staying?" "Will you be working?" "Have you got any family here?" To the last question I said "No, but I might have in about 9 months time" (as I'm a bit of a lothario, but don't tell my misses). When I looked at the Customs bloke after this comment, his face was more miserable than ever.
Great start to the New Year and my stay in Oz.
Anyway I duly filled the form in and stated that there was just a candy bar (very US) or two and some sachets of coffee. The grim faced customs woman made me empty my suitcase and show her the offending items which I couldn't find. I said to her " I don't remember having all these problems last time I came to Oz (2005)" and she said "problems?!" I said yes all this palava at customs with small items of food. Miserable bitch then said " I should stop right there if I was you!"
I then had to be interrogated by this miserable customs bloke, "How long you staying?" "Will you be working?" "Have you got any family here?" To the last question I said "No, but I might have in about 9 months time" (as I'm a bit of a lothario, but don't tell my misses). When I looked at the Customs bloke after this comment, his face was more miserable than ever.
Great start to the New Year and my stay in Oz.
Barney
Jan 4th 2009, 6:58 pm
#17
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
Sorry to hear that, I guess working on a new years day get to us all. The worst customs I have been through is going into and out of the US. The treatment by them was not a one-off as it happened on each and every visit. Talk about Rigid. Jumped up little Hitlers would be the best way to describe them.
Barney
Barney
Jan 4th 2009, 8:17 pm
#18
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
If you don't want any crap from Australian customs don't bring anything organic in with you. Sometimes I even question leaving the wife on the plane.
Also, to reaffirm what another poster mentioned, when was the last time you went through US customs they are 50 times worse. At least the ones in California are.
Also, to reaffirm what another poster mentioned, when was the last time you went through US customs they are 50 times worse. At least the ones in California are.
Jan 4th 2009, 8:23 pm
#19
Joined: May 2006
Location: in the Sydney asylum
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
sorry you had problems but come on everyone has an off day sometimes you just had bad luck!
I have always found them to be helpful mind I ensure my declared stuff is in my hand luggage and easy to produce if possible.
I guess they have to put up with so much crap that you can understand them getting bit fed up better luck next time
I have always found them to be helpful mind I ensure my declared stuff is in my hand luggage and easy to produce if possible.
I guess they have to put up with so much crap that you can understand them getting bit fed up better luck next time
Jan 4th 2009, 8:24 pm
#20
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
Customs officials in OZ are way over the top. It is just a front to try and show they are protecting their borders.
Funny thing is if you post most of the items they stop you for they get in no problem.
Having said that I have never had any problems apart from them being rude to me. My response is to be disturbingly happy and nice to them.
Funny thing is if you post most of the items they stop you for they get in no problem.
Having said that I have never had any problems apart from them being rude to me. My response is to be disturbingly happy and nice to them.
Jan 4th 2009, 9:20 pm
#23
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Jan 4th 2009, 9:24 pm
#24
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
Travelling overseas for business, I went through Sydney customs about 5 or 6 times last year. Each time I had nothing to 'declare' and was waived through without having to go through the bag x-ray.
I think it has something to do with a code that the passport guy writes on your form, showing that you are a regular traveller etc. This happened coming in from NZ, UK and even Thailand.
When coming in from NZ about 4 weeks ago, I was just asked if I had been playing golf (soil on shoes I guess) and then sent straight through without queues or x-ray!
I have to say that NZ customs/bag scanning is much worse, especially if you arrive in Christchurch just at the same time as a few other planes - count on 1 1/2 hours at least to get through.
I think it has something to do with a code that the passport guy writes on your form, showing that you are a regular traveller etc. This happened coming in from NZ, UK and even Thailand.
When coming in from NZ about 4 weeks ago, I was just asked if I had been playing golf (soil on shoes I guess) and then sent straight through without queues or x-ray!
I have to say that NZ customs/bag scanning is much worse, especially if you arrive in Christchurch just at the same time as a few other planes - count on 1 1/2 hours at least to get through.
Jan 4th 2009, 9:25 pm
#25
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Posts: 3,821
Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
My OH always says when we get to the airport... no comments jokey or otherwise infront of customs/security.. ever... not ever.. in a million years..
Em x
Em x
Jan 5th 2009, 12:53 am
#26
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Location: An expat Aussie trying to understand why anyone wants to move to Oz.
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
If you don't want any crap from Australian customs don't bring anything organic in with you. Sometimes I even question leaving the wife on the plane.
Also, to reaffirm what another poster mentioned, when was the last time you went through US customs they are 50 times worse. At least the ones in California are.
Also, to reaffirm what another poster mentioned, when was the last time you went through US customs they are 50 times worse. At least the ones in California are.
Jan 5th 2009, 6:12 am
#28
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
Jan 5th 2009, 8:44 am
#29
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
Customs officials in OZ are way over the top. It is just a front to try and show they are protecting their borders.
Funny thing is if you post most of the items they stop you for they get in no problem.
Having said that I have never had any problems apart from them being rude to me. My response is to be disturbingly happy and nice to them.
Funny thing is if you post most of the items they stop you for they get in no problem.
Having said that I have never had any problems apart from them being rude to me. My response is to be disturbingly happy and nice to them.
Barney
Jan 5th 2009, 9:52 am
#30
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Re: Miserable customs officials in Australia
In contrast, we passed through LA on our way to NZ and our whole plane load of passengers were locked under armed guard in a barrack type building with open toilets (ie open to the guards who watched you pee!!)
On the return journey, we were given the run of the airport - not sure what the problem was on the outward journey??
