Britons might need a visa to visit the USA

photome · 21 April 2017 at 2:32PM

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Well for me if I want to visit a country getting a visa is just part of the pita process of travelling.

However, what I find unwelcoming, is the grilling I've always got at customs when visiting the US...in fact I wonder every time why people bother.

I have been many times and never had a grilling, questions yes, but so what, takes a couple of minutes.

dontone · 21 April 2017 at 5:39PM

EssexExile wrote: »

I've never been grilled by customs in the US. Or immigration. A few polite questions, a bit of idle chit-chat & we're on our way.

We haven't been grilled either. Any time we have been, it's always been a few questions, 'yes sir, no sir' and on our way. The first time we went, we were asked 'have you brought any food?' Never been asked that since, so I'm guessing the chap was hungry.
And when we went to New York in 2011, the immigration officer - after finding out that we were going to Vegas a few days later - told us about all the casinos in the NY area that he did well at, and which ones to avoid. We were there about 10 minutes chatting to him. We weren't even going to any NY casinos, but he was a rather pleasant bloke.

Roger1 · 22 April 2017 at 7:56AM

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I had to get a visa when I first went there, and the visa remains valid for the rest of my life.

Is it one valid for 'unlimited applications for entry'? Have you tried to use it recently?

I had one of those, back when inbound tourism was young and visitors were regarded as potential immigrants so everybody needed a visa. ISTR they were cancelled in the 1980's, and visitors either used the Visa Waiver scheme or relevant visas (work, entertainment, journalism etc).

I have since travelled widely on a B1/B2 visa for business and personal use but they need to be renewed from time to time.