@Silver
I agree that I had more leeway. No my SO does not have a middle eastern sounding name. I don't understand what's wrong with being assertive. I don't mean be hostile, but definitely be confident/act like you know what you're talking about. If OP is getting paranoid and worried it may come off badly when he approaches customs. I won't sit on here like most everyone else and tell OP that he won't be denied because I cannot say with certainty that he won't. Just because you've had many friends/family members who have made it through just fine that does not mean the same for others. I know tons of people with US customs horror stories just as OP said, and I have one of my own (my SO).
And Tooki, no... There was really no specific reason why he was detained. Right before he was detained he was on his phone, but that's it. I'm sure there are plenty of people that are on their phone before they reach the officers. They told him he was chosen at random (I was told the same thing, I know that I was released partially because of my US citizenship but the time spent being questioned was significantly shortened because I cut to the chase).
When my SO was brought back for questioning they asked him why he was visiting. He innocently told them about me. They asked how we met, he told them the whole story. We met through online gaming. Unless the officers also have a degree in Psychology I don't think that should have made them suspicious of him. He had to wait 2 hrs after that and then they questioned him further (another officer took him back into a room and that's when it got really really personal). So really, the only reason why my SO could have been detained is 1. He was on his phone 2. He was wearing a hoodie and was flying out to Texas in the middle of the summer 3. He is a gamer and there are a lot of studies that link gaming to aggression.
Anyone who meets my SO will tell you he's the most chill person ever. Soft spoken too. I don't understand why it's hard to believe US customs would do something like that. They're police officers. Police officers are known to do much worse when they feel as if you're ignorant to the law.
OP: I'm not trying to scare you. I know you scored the internet and found stories of your own. Just be confident (I won't use the word "assertive" anymore since it's not being received well) and make sure you have all of your evidence. Also, do tons of reading on rules and policies, make sure you go in there knowing full well your rights as a human being. I hope it all goes well for you.
Edit: my SO's name does have middle eastern origins. my bad. I don't think that has anything to do with it though seeing as they were US custom officers in Toronto, CA. Toronto is extremely multicultural. Originally we thought it was because he is middle eastern but I've figured that doesn't make much sense considering the city he lives in.
I agree that I had more leeway. No my SO does not have a middle eastern sounding name. I don't understand what's wrong with being assertive. I don't mean be hostile, but definitely be confident/act like you know what you're talking about. If OP is getting paranoid and worried it may come off badly when he approaches customs. I won't sit on here like most everyone else and tell OP that he won't be denied because I cannot say with certainty that he won't. Just because you've had many friends/family members who have made it through just fine that does not mean the same for others. I know tons of people with US customs horror stories just as OP said, and I have one of my own (my SO).
And Tooki, no... There was really no specific reason why he was detained. Right before he was detained he was on his phone, but that's it. I'm sure there are plenty of people that are on their phone before they reach the officers. They told him he was chosen at random (I was told the same thing, I know that I was released partially because of my US citizenship but the time spent being questioned was significantly shortened because I cut to the chase).
When my SO was brought back for questioning they asked him why he was visiting. He innocently told them about me. They asked how we met, he told them the whole story. We met through online gaming. Unless the officers also have a degree in Psychology I don't think that should have made them suspicious of him. He had to wait 2 hrs after that and then they questioned him further (another officer took him back into a room and that's when it got really really personal). So really, the only reason why my SO could have been detained is 1. He was on his phone 2. He was wearing a hoodie and was flying out to Texas in the middle of the summer 3. He is a gamer and there are a lot of studies that link gaming to aggression.
Anyone who meets my SO will tell you he's the most chill person ever. Soft spoken too. I don't understand why it's hard to believe US customs would do something like that. They're police officers. Police officers are known to do much worse when they feel as if you're ignorant to the law.
OP: I'm not trying to scare you. I know you scored the internet and found stories of your own. Just be confident (I won't use the word "assertive" anymore since it's not being received well) and make sure you have all of your evidence. Also, do tons of reading on rules and policies, make sure you go in there knowing full well your rights as a human being. I hope it all goes well for you.
Edit: my SO's name does have middle eastern origins. my bad. I don't think that has anything to do with it though seeing as they were US custom officers in Toronto, CA. Toronto is extremely multicultural. Originally we thought it was because he is middle eastern but I've figured that doesn't make much sense considering the city he lives in.
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