Economist Article on POE Officers
Jan 27th 2009, 5:46 pm
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Oakland
Posts: 664
Economist Article on POE Officers
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulli...ou_why_are.cfm
"AMERICA'S immigration officers are not in the business of making friends. A survey of 2,000 international travellers in 2006 found American officials’ attitudes to foreign visitors to be the most unfriendly in the world. Half the respondents said the officials were rude and unpleasant, and two-thirds expected to find themselves detained for saying “the wrong thing”. Indeed, some commentators suggest that its immigration experience is damaging America’s image and driving foreigners away."
cont.
"AMERICA'S immigration officers are not in the business of making friends. A survey of 2,000 international travellers in 2006 found American officials’ attitudes to foreign visitors to be the most unfriendly in the world. Half the respondents said the officials were rude and unpleasant, and two-thirds expected to find themselves detained for saying “the wrong thing”. Indeed, some commentators suggest that its immigration experience is damaging America’s image and driving foreigners away."
cont.
Jan 27th 2009, 5:47 pm
#2
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Economist Article on POE Officers
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulli...ou_why_are.cfm
"AMERICA'S immigration officers are not in the business of making friends. A survey of 2,000 international travellers in 2006 found American officials’ attitudes to foreign visitors to be the most unfriendly in the world. Half the respondents said the officials were rude and unpleasant, and two-thirds expected to find themselves detained for saying “the wrong thing”. Indeed, some commentators suggest that its immigration experience is damaging America’s image and driving foreigners away."
cont.
"AMERICA'S immigration officers are not in the business of making friends. A survey of 2,000 international travellers in 2006 found American officials’ attitudes to foreign visitors to be the most unfriendly in the world. Half the respondents said the officials were rude and unpleasant, and two-thirds expected to find themselves detained for saying “the wrong thing”. Indeed, some commentators suggest that its immigration experience is damaging America’s image and driving foreigners away."
cont.
Jan 27th 2009, 7:32 pm
#5
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Economist Article on POE Officers
to keep then coming
Jan 27th 2009, 7:48 pm
#6
stara koka masna juha
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,203
Re: Economist Article on POE Officers
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulli...ou_why_are.cfm
"AMERICA'S immigration officers are not in the business of making friends. A survey of 2,000 international travellers in 2006 found American officials’ attitudes to foreign visitors to be the most unfriendly in the world. Half the respondents said the officials were rude and unpleasant, and two-thirds expected to find themselves detained for saying “the wrong thing”. Indeed, some commentators suggest that its immigration experience is damaging America’s image and driving foreigners away."
cont.
"AMERICA'S immigration officers are not in the business of making friends. A survey of 2,000 international travellers in 2006 found American officials’ attitudes to foreign visitors to be the most unfriendly in the world. Half the respondents said the officials were rude and unpleasant, and two-thirds expected to find themselves detained for saying “the wrong thing”. Indeed, some commentators suggest that its immigration experience is damaging America’s image and driving foreigners away."
cont.
I'm sure occasionally you get an arsey one, but not each time?
People are so melodramatic!
Jan 27th 2009, 8:49 pm
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 1,544
Re: Economist Article on POE Officers
Well, I've never had them be horrible to me, but on *every* occasion they've been curt and indifferent. No smile, no have a nice day, nothing.
Jan 27th 2009, 9:10 pm
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Midlands - MA - CO-CA
Posts: 2,763
Re: Economist Article on POE Officers
Only twice have I dealt with an immigration officer that was semi-nice. Once in Boston (shock, horror) after all the times I have come through there, and once in Denver. I don't know if it was because I was a citizen by the time I came through Denver or not, or if I happened to get a semi-nice immigration officer at the time.
Jan 28th 2009, 2:10 am
#10
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Jan 28th 2009, 2:17 am
#11
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Economist Article on POE Officers
I've never experienced the US guy/gals any worse then the other countries I have been to.
To date the worst experience was Australia, but I would never say they were outwardly mean or rude, nothing that would keep me from not wanting to go back.
I find the best way to deal with them is no small talk, dont try to be friendly but also dont be rude, and answer their questions directly short and sweet.
To date the worst experience was Australia, but I would never say they were outwardly mean or rude, nothing that would keep me from not wanting to go back.
I find the best way to deal with them is no small talk, dont try to be friendly but also dont be rude, and answer their questions directly short and sweet.
Jan 28th 2009, 10:22 am
#13
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: 30°16'29" North 097°44'26" West
Posts: 22,151
Re: Economist Article on POE Officers
No complaints here. As far as I can remember (all the way back to yesterday 
) all the immigration officers I've dealt with were quite friendly.
Some didn't do small talk, but they kept being professionally nice to me.
) all the immigration officers I've dealt with were quite friendly. Some didn't do small talk, but they kept being professionally nice to me.
Jan 28th 2009, 11:17 am
#14
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Jan 28th 2009, 12:22 pm
#15
Queen of my house
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 5,043
Re: Economist Article on POE Officers
Never a problem...even had one comment that my first and middle names sounded nice together...but maybe because I'm USC.
Only had one officer actually smile at me when landing in England though. She was nice. Last time I went I forgot to write in address of where I was staying and "grandpa" had a fit. It took all of about 30 secs to fill in nor was there a long line of people waiting.
Only had one officer actually smile at me when landing in England though. She was nice. Last time I went I forgot to write in address of where I was staying and "grandpa" had a fit. It took all of about 30 secs to fill in nor was there a long line of people waiting.
Last edited by tamms_1965; Jan 28th 2009 at 2:18 pm.