Actually, United States citizenship doesn't necessarily solve the problem. I have a dual citizenship, so I can compare entry procedures. I was always baffled when US immigration asks me questions about what work I do or where I'm headed when I'm entering the country. I couldn't see how it was any of their business.
In most (if not all) of the EU, an immigration officer being presented a native passport has exactly two choices: a) let the person in, b) get the police to arrest him on the spot. In both cases the person is under the local jurisdiction.
It seems the United States has a legal gray area around its borders, and a very black area outside of its borders (think Guantanamo). There are reported cases of people being detained or harassed. So being a US citizen doesn't let you travel worry-free either.
I also get this as US Citizen and there is nothing stopping you from entering the US except your patience. You could refuse to answer and then be detained for further interrogation. but eventually they'll have to let you go. Most people, myself included, have an event to attend or plane to catch so we answer to get it over with, quickly.
One time I was going to a wedding and I didn't know where it was because my family sent a cab to take me to the hotel. Border guard told me to go to the payphone (hadn't used one in years) and get the address. I complied then asked her what was preventing me from walking out the airport. She told me absolutely nothing. Although I imagine some information would probably be enterred in the USCIS database.
If this is indeed the case (I heard otherwise, scary stories about the legal immigration gray area, but don't have the time to hunt down relevant URLs at the moment), then why do people put up with this sort of harrassment?
I mean, the land of the free, and all that — and border guards tell you to go to a payphone to get the address of the place you're going to? This just doesn't make sense.
Like I said, timing. Most citizens clearing immigration know they have a legal right to return. They don't know how long CBP can detain them. I think the rules say a "reasonable amount of time" without actually assigning a hard value.
I'm a non-resident Australian citizen (ie, i've lived overseas in a variety of places for 15+ years). When I go to Australia I fill out the visitor card (because i'm non-resident) and use the Australian Citizen line at immigration.
The last few times i've been they essentially ignore the visitor card, (literally) say "Welcome home" and let me in within 30 seconds.
Hearing that after being away for years (for me) and arriving jetlagged after a long flight is pretty emotional. The immigration officers probably just have a game amongst themselves to see how many people they can get to burst in to happy tears.
Yes. Every time I enter the United States, I'm asked very specific questions about why I lived a year in Canada. I have never lived in Canada, but my very unique name (Michael Roberts - just try Googling me) obviously leads to considerable suspicion.
And they don't ask it like, "Oh, you lived in Canada, what was that all about." They very specifically are questioning my loyalty. Their attitude says if they were legally allowed to deny me entry, they'd love to.
I love entering my home country, NL. I hand my passport over, the agent looks at it for 5 seconds, hands it back to me with a smile and welcomes me home.
No fingerprinting, no taking pictures, no questions as to what I am doing or where I am going or how long I plan on staying, or what work I do. Nothing. A smile and a welcome home.
They ask these questions to me all the time and I'm a (non-dual) citizen. The EU and especially the UK is more intrusive about their questions. Switzerland is/was the least intrusive. China never asks me any questions, but Thailand and Japan might.
My experience in the EU is that, even for EU citizens, the UK and (a somewhat distance second) Spain can be quite intrusive. For the rest of the EU and Switzerland, they almost never ask anything.
But I definitely agree that China seems to be the "easiest" in this sense. No questions at all. :)
When I crossed over from Kazakhstan into China I got the most thorough luggage search I've ever had (never been to the US). Everything taken apart and went through; I was carrying the card game Citadels and had to struggle a little to explain what it was (my fault - I speak neither Kazakh or Russian nor Chinese, he spoke a little English). It was all very professional and courteous, and actually over quite quickly, but it was thorough, and having soldiers in uniform going through your stuff while you stand there in your pyjamas is always going to be a bit intimidating.
I've only ever had my luggage searched at customs in the states...multiple times, very thorough. I think they were looking for pirated DVDs or something.
It was only afterwards that I realised I'd been reading the hunger games on my kindle at the time (which they did get as far as turning on); pretty sure that's illegal. Oh well.
I have never been asked a single question at Swiss immigration (at Geneva airport), but its been 5 years since I lived there. It was just wait in the foreigner line for about 5 minutes, get through.
This isn't unique to the US. In the 5 years I had my green card, I received the best service from the USCIS and the worst from Canadian customs (despite being a citizen).
In most (if not all) of the EU, an immigration officer being presented a native passport has exactly two choices: a) let the person in, b) get the police to arrest him on the spot. In both cases the person is under the local jurisdiction.
It seems the United States has a legal gray area around its borders, and a very black area outside of its borders (think Guantanamo). There are reported cases of people being detained or harassed. So being a US citizen doesn't let you travel worry-free either.