Comments on: SURVEY: USA WORLD’S MOST UNFRIENDLY COUNTRY TO VISIT

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:42:45 +0000

Unfortunately, at U.S. Customs, it’s almost as bad for Americans (especially if you don’t fit the typecast) as for foreigners. These border agents/guards, whatever you call them, are a disgrace. Rude, crude and nasty is the rule, not the exception. When traveling overseas, I almost expect other countries to be the same way, but they are usually professional and polite in the several foreign countries that I have visited. This being uncivil problem in the U.S. has been going on for decades and nobody in charge has improved things much, assuming they even tried (and that’s assuming a lot).

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:00:43 +0000

There needs to be strict hiring standards for immigration and customs officials. Only people with very long and extensive experience in customer service / relations should be allowed to be hired. Trust me….there are 10′s of thousands of QUALIFIED customer-oriented people out there who could do the easy job of being an immigration officer or customs officer. I really don’t know why most immigration and customs officers act like jerks…perhaps our government encourages it….which is stupid, since a country’s initial impression is done by these people. The US government needs to do something IMMEDIATELY to improve the immigration/visa/customs experience, as foreign travel to the US is so important to our reputation and economy. We can still be secure, but go about it in a more positive way. Seeing how rude the the US is to foreign travelers makes me ashamed and embarrassed to be an American.
Perhaps crusieship and Disney employees being hired to do the job of the current immigration and customs officers is the best way to improve the entire process.

By: haroldzenner

haroldzenner — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:53:22 +0000

Rory your comment is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. There is simply no justification at all for the behaviour of the bulk US immigration officials. If they’re underpaid then lobby your government instead of taking it out of visiting travellers. The perception of their bad behaviour is almost universal in blogs and surveys. It really reflects very badly on your country (as your remarks reflect very badly on yourself).

I’d always been well disposed to Americans and America in the past, excusing the occasional behaviour of the loud Yank as an aberration. I’m rapidly changing my mind and have started wondering if the attitude of the average American to other people (you know, those you and your kind dismiss as foreigners) is just typical of your arrogant hubris.

By: Shelly Max

Shelly Max — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 09:10:25 +0000

For some reason, Reuters removed the news item from their website. The heading says “US most unfriendly country to visit”. May be under pressure from Federal Govt.

By: BB

BB — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:35:48 +0000

I would wholeheartedly agree with all of those complaining about rude and intimidating US customs officials. I have to travel a lot between Canada and the US and believe me, it’s such a &$%45 hassle. Believe me, if I didn’t have to go there on business, I wouldn’t. It’s such a shame because I like the US and Americans once I get past the %^$&^$^& border. I have never run into ruder officials anywhere and I’ve been to over 20 countries. It’s getting worse too. Fingerprinting? Good god – at least they don’t do that to Canadians….yet. I’d love to see the Yanks get a taste of their own medicine and see how they like getting fingerprinted….and NO, I DON’T want to live in the Excited States – EVER.

By: Rory

Rory — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 09:50:06 +0000

To respond to Judith:
I am fortunate enough to come from an extremely affluent family, who just so happens to live right here in the beautiful USA. I have traveled all around the world and spent 7 summers in France with my family. I am allowed a week out of every year to travel anywhere in the world I would like on top of the two weeks of every year spent in Carriacou in the West Indies where we own a cottage. So I know travel. I know wealth but unlike you I feel I understand people, of all kinds much better.

“Uneducated self-important morons are humiliating you every way they can, always insinuating that you are trying to sneak your way into PARADISE (these very people make in a week what I make in a day, and who knows whether they even have health insurance or a good pension like we do in Europe”

What you have stated was a bigotted rant. It was rude and inconsiderate. You use your education (im a current college student…getting mine) and the fact that you make a significant amount of money (my families net worth is somewhere in the billions) to justify your superiority over some people who don’t make quite that much and dont have as good of benefits. Did you ever take the time to think that maybe the amount they are paid and their lack of benefits might be the reason they act the way they do. So although I understand it is a hassle to get through US customs (even us americans must do it to return to our country) take a moment out of your day to think of what may cause these people to act the way they do. Smile at them…they say smiling is contagious….try it

By: Dennis White

Dennis White — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:44:12 +0000

When I lived in Europe during the mid 50s the general consensus was that the two countries with the worst reputation with regard to entry/customs/immigration were # 1 USA and #2 Spain (under Franco). We were not allowed to travel behind the Iron Curtain.
I wonder what % of the US customs people have ever traveled to Europe?

Dennis White
Sunnyvale California

By: delia

delia — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:11:39 +0000

Yeah, tell me about it. Got stuck in Hawaii on my way home to Canada from Australia. From the boyz at Homeland Security, everything but a full body cavity search.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:55:18 +0000

I’m from the US, and I’ve traveled abroad several times. I’ve never had a negative experience entering a country. Schipol airport in Amsterdam was the only place I was asked any lengthy questions, and that took all of 1 minute.

Believe me, there are times that I am not proud to be an American, and this story is one of them.

By: Shokulan

Shokulan — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 10:26:41 +0000

I’m an American citizen and I’ve always felt that immigration and customs were stressful. Now that I’ve a non-American husband, the whole business is a nightmare. I always go through the ‘alien’ line with him.

Although some of those wielding the stamps are nice and have a sense of humor, I still feel I have to watch what I say and do.

What I object to most is the assumption, clearly stated in the fingerprinting and photographing, that all foreigners are criminals.

Yes, it is a horrible first experience of the US. Unfortunately, we went through the same thing to get my husband a US tourist visa.