very suspicious in america

naz101

ahhhhh that may be it. I checked to see if I needed a Visa to get into Canada but never even considered if I needed one to het back into the US.
The only problem with this would be a few other people on the trip also only had ESTA's aswell.
But it would explain how my friend got away with it. She had the Visa from before...

Jeff_Bridges_hair

naz101 wrote: »

ahhhhh that may be it. I checked to see if I needed a Visa to get into Canada but never even considered if I needed one to het back into the US.
The only problem with this would be a few other people on the trip also only had ESTA's aswell.
But it would explain how my friend got away with it. She had the Visa from before...

Do you know for sure they only had ESTAs? Some people who do these tourist trips do a few every year and have visas already in their passports to let them pass through.

naz101

that I dont know. they may well have had visas from previus trips but that makes a lot more sense though.
I feel really stupid now that I didnt check that!

vic_sf49

On the luggage search issue......D'oh! I'd assumed you were on a coach for some reason and didn't consider you were hopping about on internal flights.

Yeah, I've stopped locking my suitcases too as they just cut them off. I do have one suitcase with the specialised lock that security can open, but let's face it if they want to check your stuff they're getting into the case by any means necessary.

The confusion over the ESTA still remians though. You're a British citizen entering the USA. You're from a Visa Waiver country so met their requirements by having an ESTA, a valid passport, and a legal reason for being there...i.e. tourism.

The ESTA does not say you have to go direct from the UK to the USA. Just think about all those flights that connect in Europe before onward legs to the USA. The only issue with visas would have been if you needed one to enter Canada. You'd have found that out pretty quickly when they didn't let you in in the first place.

I think we'll have to summise that you were just unlucky and got questioned more than your travel group.....or they like your accent.

I get comments about that quite a bit, along with, "Oooh isn't your English good"......errr yes, that's because I'm English.....but your passport says you're from Great Britain.......!! I couldn't even make this stuff up!

naz101

Vicsf-49, that reminds me on when I went to see the Capitol building for the tour. I was alone but there were a number of tourists looking for the entrance. After a while of searching, I decided I would have to ask the security guards who were dressed for full combat. After giving me quick directions, he then called over his collegues who decided my accent was "cool" and could I say random stuff for them and was the weather different? (it was raining in July!)
When I finally got away and decided I would share my info with others who were looking for the entrance, they were very interested as to why I was being interrogated by security!!!!:rotfl:

dfh

Bamber19 wrote: »

I can't help but feel we're creeping ever so slowly towards the answer you're looking for/suspect, that it's because you're asian.

I agree WITH YOU. Racial profiling may sound unpleasant but it can save lives. I suspect you and I vote for the same party. Happy new year, mate.

:beer:

Jeff_Bridges_hair

naz101 wrote: »

that I dont know. they may well have had visas from previus trips but that makes a lot more sense though.
I feel really stupid now that I didnt check that!

Hey dont feel stupid we all dont think of everything all the time!
Just chalk it down to a learning experience and remember for next time

meritaten

naz101 wrote: »

Vicsf-49, that reminds me on when I went to see the Capitol building for the tour. I was alone but there were a number of tourists looking for the entrance. After a while of searching, I decided I would have to ask the security guards who were dressed for full combat. After giving me quick directions, he then called over his collegues who decided my accent was "cool" and could I say random stuff for them and was the weather different? (it was raining in July!)
When I finally got away and decided I would share my info with others who were looking for the entrance, they were very interested as to why I was being interrogated by security!!!!:rotfl:

Like I said before my bro and his wife love the US and go there often - but their accents often cause comments! hilarious usually!
They are Welsh so the Americans get confused as they dont speak 'upper class English' and they are always asked where they are from.....Wales. so of the comments my bro thought were funny are:

Where is Wales? 'Great Britain' So you arent English then? 'No' But I thought you were British? 'Yes I am' You cant be - you arent English!

Ohhhhhhhhhh Myyyyyyy Youre Welsh? how wonderful! Whats Welsh?

oh - Like that singer? Tom Jones? I saw him in Vegas - Now where in the world is Wales? is it in Europe?

OOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhh I jussssssssst Looooooooooove your Accent you Cockney?

dfh

The OP has gone quiet now that she has been exposed by Bamber19

topbadger

RainbowDrops wrote: »

I have a Media Visa in my passport, and I get a grilling whether I'm travelling for work or for pleasure!

Me too - and as I can only use it when I'm working, I go in on a visa waiver (ESTA) when I'm visiting for non-work purposes. Every single time I've done that I've been asked at immigration whether I'm going to be working. Erm, no, if I were working I'd be going in on my I-visa, wouldn't I, you idiot? Though not in quite those words. Best not to cross them...