Don't Carjack in Kansas City.

[snoopy369]

You forget that we're not really a nation, Flubber. We're a collection of 50 states that happen to get along reasonably well, in part due to the large federal armed forces.

[Flubber]

My fellows from Sweden had a much harder time entering Canada for a conference than the US. I also had more questions, but was not sent off to another room for further questioning, as they all were.
JM

I bet every country has their share of power-tripping asshats among their border police-- Sounds like you hit some .. . . . OR it might be that it was time for one of their random , more intensive questionings. I fond the US border to be a very variable experience. One of the most intensive questionings I witnessed was when crossing by car with my two children (then 1 and 4) and my parents (senior citizens). Everyone was a Canadian citizen and had passports and birth certificates etc but they questioned my dad for a while and a lot of it was about his work history (retired schoolteacher). I never saw the point except maybe the border guy was bored and suspected my dad of being a chemistry teacher turning to a life as a manufacturer of methamphetine or something

[Felch]

Your dad didn't have cancer, right?

[Flubber]

Your dad didn't have cancer, right?

No-- (and his name wasn't Walter either LOL) He did have a beard though -- so maybe they assumed he had to be a Taliban type

[Kitschum]

My fellows from Sweden had a much harder time entering Canada for a conference than the US. I also had more questions, but was not sent off to another room for further questioning, as they all were.

Well, that's the nature of anecdotes. I've never been to Canada but I've been to the US twice.

I've also heard many bad experiences about entering the US and none about Canada. It might very well be that US is a more popular destination. I dunno. All I know is that US border was the most complicated/unfriendly to enter yet of any place I've travelled, including Iran and China.

[Jon Miller]

All of the Swedes I arrived with were forced to go to a separate room, wait in line, and answer questions.

I and the German did not have to. Although I was questioned more than usual. There were 4? Swedish people in my group?

And I have a hard time believing the US is harder than China, you don't have to go to the US embassy over a month ahead of your trip like you do for going to China. (maybe you don't count that as a border hassle, but I consider that much more of a hassle then waiting in line to get your passport stamped which is all I have seen my Swedish friends ever have to do upon entering the US.)

Other than the extra 'stand in front of a weird machine', I have seen no difference between US security and European security. Note that German security is much stronger than Swedish security.

JM

[Jon Miller]

Yes, I know there is an extra blue form you fill out. But is that so bad?

JM

[Uncle Sparky]

Over the last few years, Canada has been under a great deal of pressure from the US to conform to their standards. And yes, Canadian Customs people are becoming more 'diligent'.

I recently travelled to Canada from Englandia. I wore my only undershirt with a pocket (under a regular shirt and a jacket) and had a couple of safety pins in said pocket. This kept setting off the various alarms, and the poor UK customs agent was extremely polite to the point of apologizing for asking me to step into another room where the big scanner spotted the problem. Then that customs person apologized for the delay, and since they were small safety pins (each a couple of cms long) I was sent on my merry way. They were very polite.

I suspect this may have been handled differently in the US.

[Uncle Sparky]

Back on topic - OK, let's pretend I don't care if the victim executed the criminal through reckless driving. But what about other drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, etc? Are their rights to life and safety superceded by the danger the victim is in? Why isn't the victim at least being charged for damaging the police garage?

[Kitschum]

All of the Swedes I arrived with were forced to go to a separate room, wait in line, and answer questions.

I and the German did not have to. Although I was questioned more than usual. There were 4? Swedish people in my group?

Like I said, no experience of Canada. Sad if they've been going the Draconian route of course.

And I have a hard time believing the US is harder than China, you don't have to go to the US embassy over a month ahead of your trip like you do for going to China. (maybe you don't count that as a border hassle, but I consider that much more of a hassle then waiting in line to get your passport stamped which is all I have seen my Swedish friends ever have to do upon entering the US.)

Visit? No, all the visa business was done by mail. No more a hassle than booking the trip.

Other than the extra 'stand in front of a weird machine', I have seen no difference between US security and European security.

Practically everywhere else you're waved through (Though in Australia they asked if I was bringing in any foreign food, and then cleaned my shoes.). First time entering the US I faced a sour-looking Mexican(?) asking me a series of questions and looking at me suspiciously. The wait to get there was for ever. I've heard some people were denied entry for no reason.

Note that German security is much stronger than Swedish security.

How? Honest question. For the record, going to Germany for me is a matter of getting in a bus/train/car. There's no checks at all.

[Felch]

Back on topic - OK, let's pretend I don't care if the victim executed the criminal through reckless driving. But what about other drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, etc? Are their rights to life and safety superceded by the danger the victim is in? Why isn't the victim at least being charged for damaging the police garage?

Because none of it would have happened without the attempted carjacking. Don't they have the concept of mens rea in Canada?

[Jon Miller]

Yes, from Europe there are no checks. I didn't claim there was! But if you fly into Germany from the US you go through more security than if you fly into Sweden from the US.

You getting waiting in line is something everyone faces at a busy airport. You don't face that as much if it wasn't busy. You getting a couple of questions is surely not a great hassle? Especially compared to having to ask for a visa/etc by mail/etc. And because you get it when you come to europe (from outside of europe) too.

Having a rumor of some people being refused entry seems silly to base an opinion on?

The main issue I think that exists is that anyone who has a felony/etc isn't allowed to enter the US.

JM

[Kitschum]

Yes, from Europe there are no checks. I didn't claim there was! But if you fly into Germany from the US you go through more security than if you fly into Sweden from the US.

No, I do understand that. My question was: how? What does the "more security" consist of?

You getting waiting in line is something everyone faces at a busy airport. You don't face that as much if it wasn't busy. You getting a couple of questions is surely not a great hassle? Especially compared to having to ask for a visa/etc by mail/etc.

Eh no. I've been to busy airports. Heathrow wasn't like that for instance, even when I flew in from Asia. It sucks, yes, but not because of the border checks. American international airports suck because of the checks. That's the point.

And getting a visa to China was no hassle at all. Maybe someone else had a bad experience, but then we're back to anecdotes.

And because you get it when you come to europe (from outside of europe) too.

Well, I've no experience in that (as a non-European citizen) so what is it to me?

Having a rumor of some people being refused entry seems silly to base an opinion on?

Not a rumor. My then girlfriend's cousin was refused entry. He says it's because he was an Iranian citizen. I don't know the real reason, if there was one. But knowing that makes the probing questioning (took about a minute per person) a worse experience.

The main issue I think that exists is that anyone who has a felony/etc isn't allowed to enter the US.

Only if you tell. That seems to be the main purpose of the on-flight visa application, assuming there is one.

[Jon Miller]

You aren't given any questions when you come into europe from outside? You still have to wait in line to go through passport control, and don't go through instantly. I have watched europeans. It is still a minute or so.

Security, I mean going through the airport security system. Which is something everyone goes through when going through the airport.

I am amazed that you think a couple of minute wait (which I know exists in europe too... I have waited it and have seen europeans having to wait it too!) is such a terrible thing.

I think that having to apply before hand for a visa is annoying. I like to be able to be asked to go to some place and go there the next week. I do that quite often.

Both europeans and non-europeans have to wait even at Arlanda if enough people come in at the same time.

JM

[Dr. A. Cula]

I think Jack did it better: