Going through customs: Do they hassle you??

#1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 01:24 AM

Say you are going to Colombia for a vacation; perhaps try to meet some Latinas. Do they think that is suspicious? Like when they ask the purpose of your trip....and you reply "vacation" but don't speak Spanish all that well?

***HonkyTonk*** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 01:31 AM

No. Colombia welcomes visitors with open arms. US customs might ask you on your return. I just reply...women or adventure. They smile

Underwriter · #3 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gringoner

Say you are going to Colombia for a vacation; perhaps try to meet some Latinas. Do they think that is suspicious? Like when they ask the purpose of your trip....and you reply "vacation" but don't speak Spanish all that well?

Last time I flew out of Ft Lauderdale the Homeland Security guys at the security check point checked my ticket and passport, saw I was going to Colombia...got a huge smile on his face and asked me if I was going to party and meet women....I laughed and agreed...the next thing he asked me, as he was Hispanic, was did I know Spanish...I told him "poquito"....he told me to learn Spanish, I would have a better time....

Two lessons from that....First of all, he is right! Learn Spanish!!! Second, American tourism to Colombia is starting to pick up. 5 years ago, he might have thought I was a drug dealer going to Colombia...now he just thinks I am going for the beautiful women. He was right.....

UW

Supermary · #4 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 09:15 AM

I bet if I went to the USA saying I was looking for men and adventures there I'd be deported, or even a Latin man going to the USA to look for ladies...

Lostagain · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 09:40 AM

In as much as I am not going to Colombia for the women and have had enough "adventure" there, if asked, I tell people I am going there on business and don't say any more. They can conjure up in their minds whatever stereotype they want after that.

Charlie640 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 10:30 AM

On my first trip when going though customs in BOG en route back to the USA
.. YES I was mega hassled.....

Guys in BOG made made me go though a body xray. I write all about this experience in thread I posted over a year ago. CHeck my prior posts.

Cubafro · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supermary

I bet if I went to the USA saying I was looking for men and adventures there I'd be deported, or even a Latin man going to the USA to look for ladies...

Actually you may would habe been seen as a green card sharck or something like that

CUBA

KPunch2 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 04:13 PM

There is a 50-50 chance they will question you, but you wont get hassled...for what? what would they hassle you for?

For example, they might of caught mules from an earlier flight, deal with rude/obnoxious passengers, working overtime, etc,. Just go with the mind frame that someone will ask you a bunch of questions upon entering the US. It's interesting, I always get questioned through Atlanta and here in Chicago via Mexico. They check everything, my luggage, paperwork and I get asked where I work, how long was my trip...OTOH, I always breeze through customs in Houston and Miami.

Don't worry about anything if you have nothing to hide my friend.

SEDONA · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 08:28 PM

Have been questioned a few times, just simple stuff nothing heavy, and had the bad luck of getting the "red alert" button going into the customs area, once or twice. And even at that they were not rude and did not hassel me.

Have had more hassels and rude customs and immigration experiences when returning to Miami.

***HonkyTonk*** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 08:52 PM

SuperMary, upon entering any foreign country I'd tell them I'm there on vacation, business, family or whatever. Upon returning to my country, the USA, I would tell them I was in Colombia or wherever for the women or adventure...maybe even vacation. I often get a "Welcome back!".

Because you live in Brasil, do you think your Customs would care if you said you visited the US for the men or adventure? That would be comparing apples to apples.

The original question was if Gringoner would he hassled entering Colombia when he didn't speak Spanish. My answer was no. He won't be bothered by US Customs upon return to his own counry unless something doesn't seem right.

Have you had a bad experience with US Customs? Your post seems to indicate you have or you think poorly of them.

I have a US Customs story concerning foreigners entering the US. I like to think it was an isolated incident, maybe not.