My first (terrible TSA) experience in USA as a 16 y/o (travelling with a 19 y/o) | Hacker News Reader

My first (terrible TSA) experience in USA as a 16 y/o (travelling with a 19 y/o)

blog.will3942.com

6 pointswill39429 comments

That is about as far from "terrible" as I can imagine the process being for a minor (in the United States) traveling internationally unaccompanied by their legal (in the United States) guardian.

Every time I've travelled internationally, even before I was 16 I've not had this problem (being completely alone meeting someone) therefore I was quite annoyed to be detained for this long and be met by someone who kept probing me for information when he could clearly see I'd got this far and had all require d information.

It felt like I was wasting the second TSA agent's time being there.

Perhaps terrible is the wrong word, but it still wasn't a very welcoming experience and left me feeling quite angry/upset for the remainder of that day.

Unfortunately, this "secondary inspection" is a pretty standard procedure for the Department of Homeland Security. Even though the situation is much better now, a couple year after 9/11 - all non-American males (and some females) will have to go through this secondary check.

The process took 2-3 hours, we have to sit on a room where we can't use our cellphone, and wait until we are called. Then comes the interview, which should be pretty easy if you have nothing to hide. Sometimes you have to show your credit card, letter from school/company, friends/family # to verify, etc. We have to go through this every-single-time we enter the border. Tedious, but that's the norm....

Nowadays they are more lenient on this secondary process, but if you get lucky - you'll get a taste of this "welcoming party" :)

Unfortunately this wasn't the case, my friend (never visited America) didn't have to go through this, only me.

Nowadays they pick people "randomly" - which means it can be anything..

Didn't seem to be phrased like that but thanks for the info :) think because everyone was at school and it wasn't a holiday it was less busy!

This doesn't seem like a "terrible" TSA experience at all? I know everyone loves to hate the TSA/Government, but this seems like a relatively normal procedure, especially for a 16 year old traveling with a 19 year old.

According to his description of events, the first TSA officer did nothing wrong but check his note and then send him through to make sure everything checked out. I know the OP might be insulted (because he's 16, he doesn't need a note), but that doesn't mean it's a terrible TSA experience when someone asks.

I'm all for hating the TSA, but I would not call this terribly by any stretch of the word, it's about as far from terrible as one could get.

The TSA agent was incredibly rude and didn't seem to want to listen to any part of my explanation, he could see I had a note from my mum saying I would be visiting with my friend so I don't see why I would have to be detained for a while.

Terrible was more of a personal opinion because I've never experienced airport security like this in my life, I've been asked when I arrive who I'm meeting etc but not detained or anything.

It sounds more like an issue with the customs agent, and not TSA. Was the note notarized? In America 16 is a minor and needs parent or guardian approval, a friend is not a guardian. I would say your experience was probably about par for the course for an unescorted minor entering the country (your friend doesn't really count) If the note wasn't notarized I'm surprised you actually made it into the country!

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