Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the US
 

Hi all

Travelled back from the UK yesterday after visiting for xmas and probably got one of the most miserable immigration inspectors ever, what a complete wanker. I was sent to his "station" - the one for crew, disabled passenger and diplomats and put my documents on the counter. Not even a hello was given just "put your documents there" whilst pointing to the lower level where the disabled passengers in wheel chairs can put their documents - what a lazy f****** I thought, couldn't be bothered to stretch a little.

First question - where do you live
Second question - how long have you been outside the states
Third question - what was the purpose of your visit
Fourth question - how long have you been outside the states
Then - right hand for finger prints
Then - photo
fifth question - how long have you been outside the states

all this without a please, smile or thankyou - usually at Boston I have found the immigration staff friendly - not this one, he then put my documents on the disabled desk for me to pickup.

It seemed a bit much to ask me how long I had been away so I'm wondering if there is a crack down on "permanent residence" who do not actually live in the country and come back once in a while to "renew" their residency. I actually hope there is as I think that it is wrong to live in another country if you have a green card.

Thanks

Brendan

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

They sound normal questions.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

that's the usual questions we get at Houston too.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

They're similar to the ones I used to get when I was on a Green Card. .... Except for the first time I visited the US, when the fourth or fifth question was "are you going to get married [during the week you're here]", followed by the third degree about how long I'd know my girlfriend, where we'd met, when we were planning to get married, etc.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

I'm a USC and I don't get any better treatment than that half the time when I come back home.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

I found most of the immigration officers pleasant enough but with a few bad apples.

Since signing up with Global Entry a few years back I've never had to talk to any of them. Flying into LAX is now painless as all I have to talk to is one of the kiosk computers. Can't recommend it enough.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

Mrs P got a thorough roasting by US Immigration when she returned to the US to get her visa to live in the UK. They asked her what the purpose of visit was - and she sooo wanted to tell them "I'm a frickin' US citizen, I have a right to be here!" Then the Customs officer she handed her customs declaration to asked her where she'd been, so she told them: the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland; then they wanted to know why her customs declaration was so little, so she had to explain that her purchases were back in the UK as was moving there. :argue:

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

Yep - I thought I'd be treated better after becoming a USC. However, my worst experience ever was at Dulles (near Washington DC) when returning from the UK as a USC.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

Yeah, sounds like normal questioning to me as well. It's also a common technique to ask the same question more than once to see if the answer is consistent. Cops do that, too.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

Coming into Philly this afternoon, I got asked the purpose of my visit, what country I had come from today, my job title. The officer then looked at me and said he'd seen me before and hunted out the stamp in my passport from October with his number!

Went swimmingly after that, chatting about the holidays and the weather and I said id see him next time!

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

Ditto for me yesterday in San Diego. Except mine only last saw me less than two weeks previously :) The guy even remembered my last name!!

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

There are some right jobsworths working in CBP, and CBSA for that matter. The worst ones I find are the ones who are ex-military and haven't been doing it for very long.

I agree on Global Entry, the idea behind it is that it is for frequent travellers but even if you aren't I would do it, saves so much hassle.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

How long does it take to get the global entry application processed?
We are travelling on the 21st January, I'd guess it would not happen before then?

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

It isn't quick. You also really need to live in reasonable traveling distance of somewhere they do the interviews.

Re: Is there a crackdown on Green card holders and how long they have been out of the
 

*groan* I didn't realise they do interviews, I'll wait till we get back before applying then. Where can I find out the places for interviews?