Importing an ex-Military Humvee?

[Parm]

I had that in Minneapolis, but without any discernible reason. Had to sit in a massive waiting room for two hours while huge guys with guns came out and yelled at terrified passengers - things like "WE KNOW YOU'RE LYING! YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE!"

I sat there trembling for two hours then a woman shouted my surname - I went up to the desk and she handed me my passport and told me I could go. That was it - no explanation

(That said, I've been to the US probably 200 or 300 times and this is the only time that happened)

That’s exactly my experience too. Thought the Iraqi’s and Indians were bad at the airport, but the Mericans took things to new levels

 

[cardiffrob]

25 years in Long-haul flying. I always hated the way US Immigration treated us like unwelcome scum. One of my good friends (of Indian extraction) was pulled and harshly interrogated to find out his links to terrorism. He was repeatedly asked why he'd been to Pakistan so many times (He'd never been) until he realised that the TSA didn't know that Goa was in India.

First visit to Cuba had us welcomed like long-lost family, ushered through immigration and passport control towards our waiting crew transport. The billboard outside the terminal said "Welcome to Cuba. You are now entering the free world".

 

[Parm]

He was repeatedly asked why he'd been to Pakistan so many times (He'd never been) until he realised that the TSA didn't know that Goa was in India.

Just sums it all up really

 

[Shox Dr]

They don’t have to be waving a gun around, a pen is just as powerful to some power hungry people.

I called up Donny Ministry MOT station once and spoke to a women called Jane. Arrived at appointed time, walked into reception and asked for Jane. A large and miserable looking Donk snapped back that there as no one called Jane, and I would have a rebook, or wait 4hrs. Just then the phone rings and she says Hello Doncaster bla bla. Jane Speaking.


So she puts the phone down and I say you are called Jane! I spoke to you on the phone. All I got back was a grunt.

 

[mtt.tr]

Done much work in US defence sites in the USA - guy/girl on the gate, or check-in room is always right - be polite, businesslike, and all goes well. Say the wrong thing, even in the back ground . . . USA contractor mentioned in conversation she'd been in Pakistan a few months before while we were all waiting for our escorts . . . she was refused access from that moment on . . . one of the UK guys mentioned that the country would be alright without the Americans .. . he was on a plane home the next day and his replacement on the way out with instructions to keep quiet!
Roll on a few months when they know you a bit more, and some relax a bit to have more than a few words with you - but when you would have responsibility for someone being incorrectly let in, I guess it concentrates your mind a bit!

Only once been taken to one side in USA immigration - a few questions, a bag search, and I was out way before the rest

I did once have a strange experience in Chicago - immigration coming down the line asking for passports . . . lady took mine, looked at me, back at it, then said "follow me" . . . down the outside of the lines, through security . . .whereupon she stopped, handed me my passport back and wished me a "good day" . . . I have no idea why I got VIP treatment that day . . .

Signing in as a guest is about the most daunting thing ive done, hes based abroad so its nice holiday but they sure as **** won't take **** even with friend standing there.

Heathrow airport on the other hand didnt check the van we where all in

 

[Shox Dr]

There a guy called Mark Hutchins or Hutchinson from Essex and all he does is trade in ex us/usaf vehicles, he has dozens of Hummers and lots of the oddball yank trucks. I have bought engines off him in the past and he is easy enough to deal with, may be worth tracking him down because he keeps impressive stocks. His yard is this side of the Thames heading east before the Dartford tunnel.

Bob

If you[Bob] or anyone else finds his guys details. Please let me know. I want a diff for the Pickup

 

[Tinbasherdan]

The TSA are a breed all of their own. Waited in line for 30 mins, stepped 12” out of line to put some chewing gum in the bin and the TSA guy made me go to the back of the line again, mental. Also had a US marine in my face in the middle of Grand Rapids, Michigan because the boots I was wearing were lowa desert boots and “you have to be military to wear those”

some strange ideas out there

 

[Nick67GT]

yep. Couple of months after I had returned from Iraq I had to go to Miami. They kept me in a room at the airport for 3 hours. No explanation or communication

I have the exact same problem each time I go through US immigration. It makes planning onward connections very difficult as you can imagine. Mrs GT gets particularly annoyed having to hang around anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Some of the detail they demand is laughable at times, particularly as it’s getting on for 6 or 7 years since I was actually in Iraq. It’s difficult, to say the least, to recall the names of the companies I visited whilst there, let alone the people. It’s all on my visa application document ffs, so why can’t they read that?

It’s all very ironic, especially as I worked for an American company and they sent me there.....

I’ve stopped mentioning that fact the last few times as it seems to inflame their already irrational curiosity.

 

[Nick67GT]

25 years in Long-haul flying. I always hated the way US Immigration treated us like unwelcome scum. One of my good friends (of Indian extraction) was pulled and harshly interrogated to find out his links to terrorism. He was repeatedly asked why he'd been to Pakistan so many times (He'd never been) until he realised that the TSA didn't know that Goa was in India.

First visit to Cuba had us welcomed like long-lost family, ushered through immigration and passport control towards our waiting crew transport. The billboard outside the terminal said "Welcome to Cuba. You are now entering the free world".

Same here @cardiffrob. I could write a book on the illogical and petty bureaucracy at airports I’ve experienced around the globe.

 

[skotl]

Counter-story: A former colleague managed to travel from London to the US and back again, before realising that he had his son's passport instead of his own. He is around 5ft4 and grey-haired, his son is 30 years younger, has black hair and is over 6ft tall.
Nobody questioned it...

 

[Parm]

I have the exact same problem each time I go through US immigration. It makes planning onward connections very difficult as you can imagine. Mrs GT gets particularly annoyed having to hang around anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Some of the detail they demand is laughable at times, particularly as it’s getting on for 6 or 7 years since I was actually in Iraq. It’s difficult, to say the least, to recall the names of the companies I visited whilst there, let alone the people. It’s all on my visa application document ffs, so why can’t they read that?

It’s all very ironic, especially as I worked for an American company and they sent me there.....

I’ve stopped mentioning that fact the last few times as it seems to inflame their already irrational curiosity.

ahh yes, big generalisation on my part but probably true. They don’t read detail. Just look for names and trigger words

I could say more but Red Neck Hill Billy with power and Gun is Enough

just look at thier current president

 

[Parm]

Counter-story: A former colleague managed to travel from London to the US and back again, before realising that he had his son's passport instead of his own. He is around 5ft4 and grey-haired, his son is 30 years younger, has black hair and is over 6ft tall.
Nobody questioned it...

see post #51

 

[roofman]

When i lived in the states early millennium i was held at Houston airport Inbound for 8 hours once for being suspicious because i had a pair of Artic cammo trousers and a MA1 jacket on even though i had a work Visa and a settled address on the west coast missed my connection flight which was 1st class and never got that back,missed a meeting for work which gave me endless grief for weeks after and the rental car i had booked had gone too, All this because of there ridiculous border control directives back then and its got much worse and its put me off going over there ever again even though my wife is American which incidentally does not work in your favor at all flying and trying to get through customs hassle free Land of the free my a r s e

 

[slim_boy_fat]

....I did once have a strange experience in Chicago - immigration coming down the line asking for passports . . . lady took mine, looked at me, back at it, then said "follow me" . . . down the outside of the lines, through security . . .whereupon she stopped, handed me my passport back and wished me a "good day" . . . I have no idea why I got VIP treatment that day . . .

Rugged good looks?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Rugged good looks?

His or hers?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

His or hers?

Thinking logically, it had to be his, otherwise she'd have put him back on the plane. Good ol' land of the beautiful, innit....

 

[Parm]

Rugged good looks?

or did he have a banana in his pocket?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

or did he have a banana in his pocket?

Nope, @4String. tried that and look where it got him.