Hi,
I am GC plastic card holder since March 2004. I am a Pakistani citizen and travel to Pakistan every year. I always get "extra questions" on my way back, last time in 2004 immigration officer asked me for my business card and itinerary at SFO airport. I still work for same company that sponsored my GC for last 5yrs.
Yesterday I was travelling back from Pakistan via London LHR. I landed at SFO. I went to US Citizen /PR queue. Officer asked me where I am coming from ? I said Pakistan. Officer was not too happy about it, he looked at his screen too. He said I travel frequently ? I said yes. I have my OLD Parent in Pakistan and I do go there to visit my parents anually. Officer asked what else I do there? I said I have my "OLD" parents in Pakistan and do I go there to visit them. Officer asked how long you were away? I said 25 days. Officer said , please go to Window # 8 . I went to Window # 8 (I was surprised it was VISITOR window). Officer at Window 8 was scrutinizing someone before me for almost 10mins. My turn came. He said me several questions, why I was away. What was I doing in Pakistan. What do I in USA ? I gave my Company Badge / My business card / My itinerary to officer. Officer said I like your company but he still kept on asking questions where do i like etc. ALL THIS TIME , OFFICER WAS TYPING IN HIS COMPUTER. Finally officer stamped ARC on my passport and me wrote a big "M" on my Custom Paper. I asked officer, Sir I always get lot of questions on my way back. Is there a reason for it? Officer got pissed . He said I didn't ask you a lot of questions, did I. What can I say!!!! Then I went to Customs. The guy stopped me again. This time Customs officer started same crap. Where do I live? He asked for my Driver's License. Then he asked me that my address on driver's license doesn't match my current address. I said yes. I lived on each of these address for 2 yrs (I rent). Custom officer took my passport and driver's license and kept on typiing on his computer for 5 mins. Finally he returned my passport and said I am all set. He didn't inspect my lugage though.
I am really pissed. I want to have freedom to visit my Parents , my bros, sister back home whenever I like. I pay thousands in taxes and deserve better treatment than this, I am very by the book and lawful guy. I feel very insulted with this behaviour. I hope i won't have a bigger trouble nexttime I visit my parents in Pakistan.
I am not sure if anyone had a similar experience like mine
khi_boy
I am GC plastic card holder since March 2004. I am a Pakistani citizen and travel to Pakistan every year. I always get "extra questions" on my way back, last time in 2004 immigration officer asked me for my business card and itinerary at SFO airport. I still work for same company that sponsored my GC for last 5yrs.
Yesterday I was travelling back from Pakistan via London LHR. I landed at SFO. I went to US Citizen /PR queue. Officer asked me where I am coming from ? I said Pakistan. Officer was not too happy about it, he looked at his screen too. He said I travel frequently ? I said yes. I have my OLD Parent in Pakistan and I do go there to visit my parents anually. Officer asked what else I do there? I said I have my "OLD" parents in Pakistan and do I go there to visit them. Officer asked how long you were away? I said 25 days. Officer said , please go to Window # 8 . I went to Window # 8 (I was surprised it was VISITOR window). Officer at Window 8 was scrutinizing someone before me for almost 10mins. My turn came. He said me several questions, why I was away. What was I doing in Pakistan. What do I in USA ? I gave my Company Badge / My business card / My itinerary to officer. Officer said I like your company but he still kept on asking questions where do i like etc. ALL THIS TIME , OFFICER WAS TYPING IN HIS COMPUTER. Finally officer stamped ARC on my passport and me wrote a big "M" on my Custom Paper. I asked officer, Sir I always get lot of questions on my way back. Is there a reason for it? Officer got pissed . He said I didn't ask you a lot of questions, did I. What can I say!!!! Then I went to Customs. The guy stopped me again. This time Customs officer started same crap. Where do I live? He asked for my Driver's License. Then he asked me that my address on driver's license doesn't match my current address. I said yes. I lived on each of these address for 2 yrs (I rent). Custom officer took my passport and driver's license and kept on typiing on his computer for 5 mins. Finally he returned my passport and said I am all set. He didn't inspect my lugage though.
I am really pissed. I want to have freedom to visit my Parents , my bros, sister back home whenever I like. I pay thousands in taxes and deserve better treatment than this, I am very by the book and lawful guy. I feel very insulted with this behaviour. I hope i won't have a bigger trouble nexttime I visit my parents in Pakistan.
I am not sure if anyone had a similar experience like mine
khi_boy