IloveAmerica2
Registered Users (C)
Hi Y'all!
For those of you who don't know me: I was outside USA for just less than 6 months [178days], and was coming back in. I was a bit worried because I ALREADY HAVE RED-FLAG in my passport [it is written "advised to keep residency"] after being away for 11 months, then coming in, then leaving for another 5 months, then coming in and having a very tough immigration officer that was a thread away from hauling me before the judge! Then I stayed in USA for almost a year, then went out for 2months, then came back in [no problem that time], then recently out for 6months.
Some points to note: I notice that I have NOT AS MUCH trouble, if the immigration officer turns to a random page in my passport and stamps it. Therefore, they don't "see" the red-flag [unless they see it on the computer, but I have no knowledge whether it is even on the computer or not. I SUSPECT IT IS NOT ON THE COMPUTER. WHY NOT? BECAUSE I remember when they wrote "advised to keep residency" in my passport, the JNR. Immigration guy shouted at the senior guy that let me off, and walked away, "What shall I write in his passport?". The senior guy shouted, walking away "Oh just write - Advised to keep residency". After the guy wrote it, I spent 10 seconds staring at him. He looked away - as if he had already forgotten me, and was 'ready for action' for the next passenger ! In summary: I don't think they note these things down on the computer. I don't think it is important enough for them to note it on the computer. I think they only note it on the passport. But I'll come back to this - for people that are thinking of "ditching their old passport" - I will update my "BEATING THE SYSTEM" !
OK - I had a MEDIUM sized problem this time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It came from an UNEXPECTED corner ! So listen up!
IMMIGRATION went fast. They merely asked why I was away for 6 months. I said "visiting" [yea, right, as if I 'visit' my own country! But hell, that's what I said "visiting"].
Then picked up my bags. And CUSTOMS asked me a question - AND THEN had me report to a 2nd customs officer ! Now this 2nd person, took a good 15minutes or maybe longer! They were friendly - but firm. THEY ASKED:
Why was I out for so long?
What 'work' did I do?
How much money did I leave with - and - how much am I carrying back with me?
If I had been to any other countries [even though my form stated only one country and that was the intended country].
I had nothing to hide BUT I SUDDENLY BEGAN TO THINK "Do these people ALSO have the SAME RIGHTS as immigration?" Because their questions were VERY SIMILAR TO IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS - and I suddenly began to sweat "Shit! I thought I had got past immigration, but here we are with same types of questions" ! But then I assured my mind-brain "No. These people's job is to make sure that I am not evading taxes by bringing in over $10,000, not bringing in banned items and so forth".
I have a feeling this is a trend these days - for the customs to ask MORE questions than immigration. Is it true? And do customs, who are ALSO UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA BODY : Department of Homeland Security - have the same rights as immigration? Are they immigration too, in disguise? ! Afterall they are "border patrol".
Anyway, I got through fine.
Friends, you may remember from previous postings that my aim was to come back to the USA, stay for a few weeks then LEAVE AGAIN for a few months ! And to take steps to prevent being denied entry next time. How? If you read my earlier posting "BEATING THE SYSTEM" - there I reveal how you too can "beat the system".
Summary of beat the system: 1- GET RE-ENTRY PERMIT, this is the MAGIC LAMP! But this is not enough. 2/Pay FED TAXES every year as "resident"; 3/Have, keep and pay bills: utilities, credit cards; 4/Have bank accountS, and play with money [shift it around from time to time] and keep statements! 5/Have an address at least ! And carry all this proof with you upon landing. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!
TOGETHER, we can PARTY AND LIVE OUTSIDE THE US of A ! And together, we can come and go as we like ! We are FREE. FREE! No one, no customs, no immigration is going to tie us down! FREE ! They can't treat us Greencard holders like slaves to the system! Hence I say "BEAT THE SYSTEM" !
For those of you who don't know me: I was outside USA for just less than 6 months [178days], and was coming back in. I was a bit worried because I ALREADY HAVE RED-FLAG in my passport [it is written "advised to keep residency"] after being away for 11 months, then coming in, then leaving for another 5 months, then coming in and having a very tough immigration officer that was a thread away from hauling me before the judge! Then I stayed in USA for almost a year, then went out for 2months, then came back in [no problem that time], then recently out for 6months.
Some points to note: I notice that I have NOT AS MUCH trouble, if the immigration officer turns to a random page in my passport and stamps it. Therefore, they don't "see" the red-flag [unless they see it on the computer, but I have no knowledge whether it is even on the computer or not. I SUSPECT IT IS NOT ON THE COMPUTER. WHY NOT? BECAUSE I remember when they wrote "advised to keep residency" in my passport, the JNR. Immigration guy shouted at the senior guy that let me off, and walked away, "What shall I write in his passport?". The senior guy shouted, walking away "Oh just write - Advised to keep residency". After the guy wrote it, I spent 10 seconds staring at him. He looked away - as if he had already forgotten me, and was 'ready for action' for the next passenger ! In summary: I don't think they note these things down on the computer. I don't think it is important enough for them to note it on the computer. I think they only note it on the passport. But I'll come back to this - for people that are thinking of "ditching their old passport" - I will update my "BEATING THE SYSTEM" !
OK - I had a MEDIUM sized problem this time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It came from an UNEXPECTED corner ! So listen up!
IMMIGRATION went fast. They merely asked why I was away for 6 months. I said "visiting" [yea, right, as if I 'visit' my own country! But hell, that's what I said "visiting"].
Then picked up my bags. And CUSTOMS asked me a question - AND THEN had me report to a 2nd customs officer ! Now this 2nd person, took a good 15minutes or maybe longer! They were friendly - but firm. THEY ASKED:
Why was I out for so long?
What 'work' did I do?
How much money did I leave with - and - how much am I carrying back with me?
If I had been to any other countries [even though my form stated only one country and that was the intended country].
I had nothing to hide BUT I SUDDENLY BEGAN TO THINK "Do these people ALSO have the SAME RIGHTS as immigration?" Because their questions were VERY SIMILAR TO IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS - and I suddenly began to sweat "Shit! I thought I had got past immigration, but here we are with same types of questions" ! But then I assured my mind-brain "No. These people's job is to make sure that I am not evading taxes by bringing in over $10,000, not bringing in banned items and so forth".
I have a feeling this is a trend these days - for the customs to ask MORE questions than immigration. Is it true? And do customs, who are ALSO UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA BODY : Department of Homeland Security - have the same rights as immigration? Are they immigration too, in disguise? ! Afterall they are "border patrol".
Anyway, I got through fine.
Friends, you may remember from previous postings that my aim was to come back to the USA, stay for a few weeks then LEAVE AGAIN for a few months ! And to take steps to prevent being denied entry next time. How? If you read my earlier posting "BEATING THE SYSTEM" - there I reveal how you too can "beat the system".
Summary of beat the system: 1- GET RE-ENTRY PERMIT, this is the MAGIC LAMP! But this is not enough. 2/Pay FED TAXES every year as "resident"; 3/Have, keep and pay bills: utilities, credit cards; 4/Have bank accountS, and play with money [shift it around from time to time] and keep statements! 5/Have an address at least ! And carry all this proof with you upon landing. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!
TOGETHER, we can PARTY AND LIVE OUTSIDE THE US of A ! And together, we can come and go as we like ! We are FREE. FREE! No one, no customs, no immigration is going to tie us down! FREE ! They can't treat us Greencard holders like slaves to the system! Hence I say "BEAT THE SYSTEM" !