> I learned not to say I was there to take a class. Just visiting. Hope to spend lots of money. Ok, have a nice day!
Isn't lying to those people a really bad idea?
Isn't lying to those people a really bad idea?
He didn't say he was lying. He said he learned not to say something.
So in that regard I would think you might as well tell them the truth simply because if you get caught in a lie then you would cause grief for yourself of no good reason. But if you are an excellent liar, then go for what're you want!
Basically the border patrol are looking for three things: terrorist, drugs and people who are coming to work illegally.
My point is really that there is no advantage to lying about being a student vs a rich tourist because they don't favor one over the other. They're not going to think "oh boy this person is really going to help our economy!"
Now, if you are planning to work illegally or overstay your visa - then you might want to make up a story!
Not true at all. I'm Australian and I regularly cross from Canada into the US in my junker car full of snowboarding or camping gear. Every single time the border guards want to see bank statements, proof of employment, etc. etc.
They're convinced I want to stay in the US and leech off the system (which is nonsensical, when I could stay in Canada, which actually has a system)
That being said, I'm getting super psyched for ski season and have been wanting to head to Canada this year. Recommend any good places within or near Ontario?
Unfortunately, Ontario is as flat as a pancake.
You really need to come out West, and you can't go wrong. All the resorts in the West are getting dumped on right now, and everyone's loving it. BC is where it's at for Canadian skiiing.
But if you have a record of being hassled, the policy seems to keep on harassing you.
People are always reporting odd conversations with border agents. When those conversations result in further scrutiny or being denied admittance, they can appear sinister or arbitrary in retrospect. But it's a basic behavioral profiling technique: Take a random walk down a conversation tree and look for the inconsistencies and delays that occur when the subject has to start making things up.
(You think that you're out to have fun on this exciting new adventure in life... your vacation!, your new business trip!, whatever. But they're looking for anything strange. They are bored, boring, unimaginative government bureaucrats. Give them the simple, bored, boring, short (but honest) summary of "the purpose of your visit". TFA said that getting searched is "just like in the movies!"... don't do that. Just... don't. Do not share any enthusiasm about anything with CBP.)
Something along the lines of:
"Where have you been today?"
"Santarpios."
"Never heard of it. What's that?"
"Really? It's right next to the turn off to get to the airport."
"Never heard of it."
"It's a pizza place."
"What sort of pizza did you have?"
etc. A whole bunch of quite specific questions at a rapid pace about a famous restaurant right next to the airport that carried on until his colleague had finished rummaging through my laptop bag.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/02/passengers-face-behavio...
Your description sounds like a guy who wasn't particularly good at it. They're supposed to be direct, but not argumentative ("Never heard of it.") If they're too pushy or intimidating, it's hard to spot genuinely suspicious answers or behavior.
One of the main problems with this kind of screening is that it requires training, practice and skill. Ex-cops are pretty good at it, from what I understand, but that kind of experience is in short supply.
How did you like Santarpios?
Santarpios is great and highly recommended. Galleria Umberto's is possibly better though (and far easier to get to).
I've just remembered that when I was waiting at a gate (before boarding had commenced) at LAX about 3 weeks ago, there were about half a dozen very young looking TSA agents receiving some training at the gate about how to approach people, being reminded to keep it friendly, etc. They then wandered off to another gate and I thought nothing more of it.