Entry requirements in the United States are the "worst in the world"
and visa rules are "cumbersome", causing tourists to steer clear
of America, according to a leading figure in US travel and tourism.
Jonathan Tisch, chairman of the influential Travel Business Round Table in the
US, which represents travel orangisations in America, told Times Online
Travel that urgent action is required to incease visitors to the United
States, as tourism numbers do not proportionately match up to other
countries.
He is calling on immigration officials at airports to be more polite, for
fewer visa restrictions and for a nationwide tourist board to promote
tourism - no such organisation exists at present as each state organises its
own tourist publicity.
Tisch, who is visiting London to watch the Miami Dolphins play the New York
Giants, which his family half owns, at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, believes
that potential visitors consider trips to the America to be "problematic".
This is making the US culturally isolated and is also having a knock-on effect
on the economy. "Travel is the number one industry in the world
(according to World Travel & Tourism Council figures), but the US is not
benefitting," he said.
"There are millions of travellers going abroad for the first time, from
the Asian market and Eastern Europe, we want to ensure that they come to the
US."
The Travel Business Round Table believes that a Presidential Advisory Panel
should be established as soon as possible to start pushing tourism in the US
properly, rather than relying on piecemeal efforts of individual state
tourist boards. It is pinning its hopes on the Presidential election next
year, when a change of administration might bring a fresh approach to
tourism.
Tisch is chairman of NYC and Company, the New York tourist board, and also
chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels. He pointed out that there were 44 million
visitors to New York last year, with only 18 per cent coming from overseas.
But these foreign visitors were responsible for 45 per cent of overseas
spending in the city - highlighting the importance of tourism, he said.
On a recent trip to New York, I was once again left bemused and frankly, angry at the treatment meted out to me and my wife upon entering the country.
The official in question was rude, ignorant, obtuse, obnoxious and free of any humanity whatsoever. This sadly has been my experience of ALL US immigration officials over 20+ visits to America.
He threw our passports back at us. Welcome to the US of A, where the A is not a polite A.
And now they make you feel like criminals even more by fingerprinting you.
Personally I think that any US Immigration official should be forced to declare what they do when they travel abroad. And then have every single one of them body cavity searched when entering other countries.
The US needs to do something about their appalling behaviour because it's a really off-putting aspect of going to America.
Andy B, London, England
I just arrived today from Frankfurt, Germany. I was there only for one day because my friend's 40's surprise party and i have to work the same day i arrived. I am a permanent resident of US. The US immigration with his moody and unfriendly face talked to me and asked me lots question.. how much money i make can afford to go to Germany only for one day? and kept me asked me non sense questions for almost 10 minutes. At the end he stamped and he told me "You can go now" instead of saying " welcome back" I have been thinking, this is kind of country i will be? i earned good money and pay good tax and spend most my money here in the US, but this is the way US Immigration treated me and others? couples lady in the Airport told me "Chicago Immigration is famous being rude and unfriendly!, they just want to powerful" Unbelievable !
They should be have comment card in the airport, how we satisfy with the Airport's employee?
Daniel, Chicago, IL
I am an european living in Mexico. Each year I travel at least 5 times to my country in Europe. I used to fly through Houston, Chicago or Atlanta. Since 2001 I take only direct flights to Europe. Even if it costs me more. I don't stand the way the immigration officers treat me. And I hear lots of Europeans flying to Mexico (or the other way round) just avoid any flight that makes them transit through the US for the same reason.
Robert, mexico City, Belgium
US immigratin rules are dreadful. Everyone who applies for immigration benefits in America is treated with contempt. Immigration Officers at airports in America are impolite, treat people with disgust and frequently show complete ignorance of other countries and cultures, not to mention their blatant disregard for peoples' feelings. Other countries have a steady influx of immigrants and foreign visitors yet these countries manage to deal with this flow of non-citizens in a professional and speedy manner. Given the fiasco America has caused in Iraq, however, it is no surprise that the US is incapable of mirroring the professionalism of other nations. The greatest problem, however, when speaking of US Immigration, is the complete lack of accountability of immigration related departments and other public offices within the US, making it plain to all that this country is free and democratic in name only. In practice, the opposite is true. Get your act together America, for goodness' sake!
David, Chattanooga, TN, USA
The problem is these sorts of methods really do a fantastic job of making sure only the desperate will want to come to the US. Relatively affluent travelers are in NO mood to subject themselves to this kind of treatment. Even the visa process at the US embassies can be demeaning, so my question is : why even bother ??? Who needs to be treated like that ? Why subject oneself to that kind of humiliation ? I went to Canada recently via Toronto and immigration was a breeze and friendly to boot. Either the American officers and embassies learn how to treat middle class travelers right and with the appropriate dignity or they'll just signal that they want us to stay away. Simple as that. (Its a pitty because most Americans themselves are the opposite of rude and unfriendly.)
ST, Amsterdam, Netherlands
I have to agree with the article...entering the US is akin to entering the gates of hell. Even though I have a US work visa, I always get grilled and sometimes taken to secondary screening by US customs. Of course, once they discover all my papers are in order I'm free to go. You would think they would have my passport and visa in their computer systems. If I didn't have to work in the US, I would never visit at all.
hank, toronto, canada
I agree that many immigration officials are rude here in the US, I deal with them everytime I re-enter the country, but I've encountered the same bad attitudes in Canada, the UK and in the Netherlands. It's almost as if it's a requirement to have a bad disposition if you're going to work as an airport immigration official, no matter the area of the world. That being said I have met few over the years who pleasantly surprised me and actually smiled. I'm sure it's a tedious job, but most jobs dealing with the public are... and not all service professionals act like they do.
Alicia, Powhatan, VA, USA
I was married last year and, despite 6 months advance notice, at least 20 people invited from France were unable to get visas to come to the wedding, including an 80 year old aunt. Those who were able to come complained of being treated as a criminal at the immigration desk. While we all appreciate issues related to security, the paranoia and level of bureaucracy has gotten out of control.
Evelyne, Lake Worth, usa/fl
My sister in law - US citizen- was dying of cancer ,and wanted her fathter to visit from Bangladesh. He has been to the US a number of times before. to vist her THe US embassy in the capital,Dhaka, cleared him for the visa, but then stated that there were f"ormalities" to be carried out by Homeland security and he was told not to contact the embassy. HE waited two months and then chose to contact them as my sister in law's condiition has become critical. HE received no response nor any contact in the US he could pursue. One more month later my sister in law died and it is now almost two mohths since her death and he still has not heard.
How a man in his late 70's could be a threat to the security of the US confounds me. It seems that the summer slumber of the Home land security staff was more important , than considering the dying wishes of a US woman to see her father.
Shame on the US Government!!! That is the way it treats its own citizens!
Meme Ahmed, Jakarta, Indonesia
Does the US have an international tourist industry? Not for much longer. "Love it or leave it." Meant as a rebuke, but turn it round and you have hate it and leave it.
Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan
I read that the US immigration officials are trained to treat every person entering as if they intend to stay permanently. I travelled there once (on business) and my experience at immigration was the only time in my life that I knew what a suspected criminal felt like.
Mark, London, UK
I have to agree wholeheartedly with the article. Legitimate visitors are made to feel as welcome as the Taliban. That said, our own self important bureaucratic immigration service treat returning Britons like cattle, let alone foreign visitors.
ray stone, nottingham, uk
Having had to get through the disorganised and totally deplorable throng of people in the understaffed immigration hall at Stanstead Airport, I don't think anyone from Britain can really criticise US immigration arrangements. Also, if you ever visit a country like India, you will hear many stories of unkindness and rudeness by our Home Office immigration people. So I doubt whether the American immigration people really are the world's worst - even though getting into America can be tiresome.
Ian Chandler, Horley, England
My sister in law - a US citizen- was dying of cancer and wanted to see her Bangladeshi father - a doctor who has been to the US several times . On the application form , he indicated clearly the reason for the visit. The US embassy, in Bangladesh, cleared him for entry but stated that there were still formalities at Homeland Security in Washngton and it was a case of "don't contact us we'll contact you". HE waited two months , and as her condition worsened- he contacted the embassy again reminding them of the reasons for the visit. No reponse.
A month later she died- and it is now almot two mnths since her death and still no news. It seems that the summer slumber of the H. Sec staff is more important than dealing with the the wishes of a dying US Citizen. And the US calls itself civilised! How in his late 70's can be a threat confounds any logic, and when the US adminstration treats its own citizen in such a disgraceful manner what hope for the rest of the us. Shame. Shame!
Meme Ahmed, Jakarta, Indonesia
I've talked with lots of English people on ski vacations here in the USA and they all say (I've asked) that it's no worse getting into the USA than into any other country. And they say that Americans are the friendliest people they've met.
I'm not sure this article is totally accurate.
Dave , Kansas City, Kansas
The staff at the rainbow bridge, Niagara Falls, USA are the pits. I was in US for about 4 months for the treatment of my son, when I decided to see the Niagara Falls from the Canadian side. The immigration officer was very rude, saying that she had to work for a living and what kind of job I had which allowed me to take time off for 4 months and almost did not allow me entry! Wanted to see the hospital papers and exit ticket. Whereas I have a 10 year multiple entry visa and had been permitted to be in the US by the immigration officer at JFK to stay in the US for 6 months. It was horrible.
Kartic Chauhan, Jabalpur, M.P. India
Each time I visit the USA (at least twice a year as my son and daughter both live there) I quietly dread the immigration process. I am always made to feel guilty, as if I'm trying to enter their precious country illegally and the questions they ask seem to be aimed at catching you out. On my last visit to Los Angeles the immigration officer looked at the stamps in my passport and asked me "When were you last here?" When I replied that I thought I'd last been there in February he stared at me hard and said "You visited Boston in April, what was the purpose of THAT visit?" Evidently "here" meant anywhere in the U.S.A to him...so, I was caught out again and made to feel as though I was visiting too much. This is certainly not the way to promote tourism!
Jane St John, Milan, Italy
I went to Belarus, Russia, Poland and you think the USA is bad. Try those places. Totally rude. Question everything you do. To get a visa into the country makes the USA a piece of cake. Stealing from your luggage. Rude and obnoxious workers in the airports. Forced to buy thie medical insurance. There are many countries that are so, so much more terrible than ours. Yes do we have to do more true but get real. This article is not factual
Bass, Boston, MA
I had the same thing occur in the Bahamas. I've had no desire to return. It leaves an indelible impression if not a fearful one.
Tim, Everywhere, USA
Last year I went to see Niagara Falls Ontario part. While coming back, I took a wrong turn and I found myself on the rainbow bridge. While I reached the port of entry, I politely said "Sorry! I don't wanna go to USA, I made a wrong turn". That's it!! The custom officer yelled, "What do you mean by you don't want to go to USA... ". He then showed me the long lineup of the car and continued, " Look.. look at the long line... yeah right... that is why we have this big line and evrybody is standing to go to USA".
Nehal, Toronto, Canada
Coming back from Germany I had to go through customs in Denver and had to deal with a rude, inconsidered, arrogant customs official. I forgot to fill in the customs form with one check mark that indicated I was bringing in some items that were considered "food". I mentioned every item I had purchased on the back of the form but he kept harping on my one mistake. Of course, my suitcases were opened by an even more arrogant female customs official. I have never had to deal with anyone as stuck up, unfriendly and rude as this woman. If I was coming to the USA as a visitor and was treated like that, I would never, ever come back to the USA. These customs employees need to be reminded to get off their high horse. They are on a power trip, anybode can replace them. Having to deal with someone like that when you first enter this country puts a real bad taste in your mouth and you'll never forget it.
Garcia, Colorado Springs, CO