www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Just tell the officer " Hey, You look like the cop from the Village People".

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There once was a Latina who lived in a shoe. She had so many k*ds her uterus fell out !

not just atlanta

today i see guy with a shorter line coming back so i go to him
looks like a hard ass, but i wasn't worried.

he asked me how long i was there- he already new answer
so he was just trying to fester me, to see if i would get nervous
or lie i guess- so i say 10 days; he asks me biz/pleasure-again
he already knows-so i say vacation. asks me if i have friends
there- i know a couple but i like to stay loose-so i say no.

then he asks me why i was there so so long- 10 weeks alone;

i say 10days to relax; and i go on vacation twice a year.
after that he let's me go...

(actually i've gone more than twice a year but not for 10 day trips
but that didn't bother him.)

kinda of bothered me though, according to the aclu we don't have to answer any questions unless a judge asks us. they already have the answers to the legal obligatory questions on the customs form.

i think next time i won't start out friendly with the person,
i said "hey"-living in north carolina for couple years

i'll just hand him my forms and say nothing

if he asks me a question, i may start talk about something else
or ask him a question....hehe

this was in newark airport- so not just in atlanta they try torattle you.

anyway, mAYBE THIS IS practice because i may be flying out of atlanta
in the near future AND have to get used to not getting-"welcome back"

p.s village people comment very funny ~

?

have any of you guys in effect in a way told them you don't want to
answer any questions?

IMHO, the last people that you want to ph*ck with are the U.S. Customs & Immigration personnel!!! Just be courteous, answer their stupid questions, and you'll be on your way in less than a minute. Why take a chance ?
My dos colones........
Mucho Gusto

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Yeah, I said, "I have been drinking for the last 4 hours and have to take a leak. Not only am I not going to answer your silly questions but if you persist I'm going to piss my pants right here!"

That showed them.

Why would you not answer their questions? You are not "officially" in the USA until THEY admit you. They have all the power and you have none.
Just how long did you want to hang out with them before proceeding on with your travels?

Let's look at this another way. They are in a federal government job. They sit there all day stamping passports. Don't you suppose they would like some excitement once in awhile just to break the monotony?

I for one will not give in to them. I won't play their silly game. I won't be the guy they all talk about later in the coffee bar. I answer their questions, hit the baño and get the hell out of there ASAP.

But that's just me. I'm a pacifist by nature, a lover not a fighter.

Happy trails.
Wit

I agree. They walk around there with their guns stapped to their waist like real cops. They act like such bad-asses and some of the looks they give people are pretty fucken funny. Bottom line is that they check immigration forms, a bunch of paper pushers. But they do love their power trips, so just let them have it and move on.

I think they have guns in case anybody tries to use a cell phone in the immigration area. I think they have shoot to kill orders.

The scary part to me is these are the same people who will one day be seeing every piece of personal info about you from the chip that will be inbedded in all USA passports in the next couple years. From there it goes to tracking you and your passport anywhere in the world based on GPS technology. The futurist movies of fingerprint and retina recognition identification is here...and everyone but the terrorists and robbers will be traceable anywhere in the world...

Welcome to our world and government hyper intrusion. Those damn terrorists...see what they started? Big brother on a world wide scale. So, your messing around with the little guy at the booth is meaningless in the scope of things...just play along...because "they have got you where they want you"...

These people have arrest powers and can make your life miserable, whats the point of screwing with them. If "mongers" get a bad name were all gonna be sitting in Customs secondary as we have our luggage tosseed and our connecting flights missed. They most likely have a mundane job, as a stamp monkey in immigration dealing with hundreds of people a day asking the same questions and bitching about the same stuff. And I'm just talking about citizens not some third world camel jockey, who have to be worse to deal with..

And now the hand lotions and the warming lubricants have to be checked in

Well, Tman. You called it! This is in today's A.M. Costa Rica (8/15/06):

Electronic passports being produced in U.S.
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The U.S. Department of State has begun issuing electronic passports.

Production has started at the Colorado Passport Agency and will be expanded to other production facilities over the next few months, the agency said.

The new U.S. passport includes biometric technology. A contactless chip in the rear cover of the passport will contain the same data as that found on the biographic data page of the passport (name, date of birth, gender, place of birth, dates of passport issuance and expiration, passport number), and will also include a digital image of the bearer's photograph.

The Department of State has taken steps to lessen the chances of the electronic data being skimmed (unauthorized reading) or eavesdropped (intercepting
communication of the transmission of data between the chip and the reader by unintended recipients).

Metallic anti-skimming material incorporated into the front cover and spine of the e-passport book prevents the chip from being skimmed, or read, when the book is fully closed, said the department. Technology is used that requires that the data page be read electronically to generate a key that unlocks the chip. And a randomized unique identification feature will lessen the risk that an e-passport holder could be tracked, the department said.

To prevent alteration or modification of the data on the chip, and to allow authorities to validate and authenticate the data, the information on the chip will
include an electronic signature, said the State Department.

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

No problems on my last trip with my second CR entry in 4 weeks, but an interesting observation...

Coming through immigration at EWR, I was the first off my flight. The "US Citizen" line was full of non-citizens from an earlier flight. The line moved very slow. Once the US citizens got to through, the lines moved very fast. These guys and gals are doing a good job of protecting us.

MG, thanks for the post about the passports!

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"Ah, if only I had brought a cigar with me! This would have established my identity." - Charles Dickens

RFID passports, not so secure?

Moved:
https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/vi ... hp?t=13062

Israel could have wiped these SOBs off the map. Too bad Netanyahu isn't Prime Minister

I despise law enforcement/authority as much as the next libertarian, but when trying to hold your tongue in line, just think about the law enforcment guy you met hanging in CR....they're people too...and most of them entered law enforcement with the reality that they may have to give their life so that others may live. That's pretty strong in my book

PS - above comments exclude what the government bureaucracy does to these brave human beings during their tenure

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Create a Caribbean Cruise Travelogue

On return of one of my recent trips the agent assumed I was fishing. He asked me if I caught anything and I replied I hope not. He laughed and stamped my passport.

I got the 3rd-degree treatment in Atlanta returning from my 5th trip on Monday, a Friday-Monday short trip. Immigration agent was this tough-type guy, gave me the cop act. Was polite and answered honestly, though I did not mention anything about sex, which I never do and never will--don't give them ammunition. Near the end he said "I don't think you're being completely truthful" and I replied "I didn't do anything illegal there", which was true and the bastard doesn't need any more than that. He then replied "Mayber under their laws" and sent me on with a glare. Of course I was sent to get my bag checked, but the customs guy was better. He was this younger fellow, friendly. Started with a few of the same questions, but things warmed up when he saw my Fodor's and Frommer's guidebooks. We then started talking about the various kinds of of guidebooks, how they cover things differently and so on, and soon I was on my way. I only had three condoms left in my non-liquid/gel toiletries kit, but he didn't search it.

Next trip is for the Thanksgiving period, and will be longer so I'll be able to do several daytrips and tours, will be packing my small Camelbak and water shoes, so next time I'll be able to honestly say I did eco-stuff.