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US Customs- WTF?

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Capt1124

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 17, 2005
Posts
292
I have just about had it with these donkeys. Make one little mistake, after trying in good faith to comply with the rules, and you're a criminal. Or worse- I'm sure felons get more respect, at least from what I see on "Cops."

The power tripping disrespect is way out of line. If they were actually accomplishing something I would understand, but since you can just walk across the border and get a fake Social Security card and green card for $100 I don't see how jacking up legitimate people in private aircraft is anything but an ego boost.
 
Get use to it.. it's not going to change any time soon. It was a pleasure to pass through customs today in the NE where you don't have to unload all the bags and pax and do the walk into the customs building to be degraded by government workers with an attitude! They came out to the a/c at the FBO, were very nice and in 15 min had us on our way. You want to see bad come down to Miami or OPF or PBI!!!! It doesn't get any worse than that! :)
 
my favorite is getting berated by a cutoms guy who has a hispanic accent, and questioning my blue eyed red blooded AMERICAN BORN azz!:uzi:
 
I thank both aircraft manufactures and whom ever came up with the over flight permit. It's been years since I have had to clear customs any where other than our home airport.

My favorite customs story comes from Miami...it was late at night, I flew for an air ambulance company at the time. We landed at Miami, and made our way to the customs building. The customs official refused to clear us until the immigration person had cleared us. The immigration person refused to clear us until the customs person had our paper work...lots of finger pointing. As somepoint both persons came to the aircraft after a nice long wait. The flight nurse kept asking what was going on as the passengers condition was deteriorating. We explained that it's typical Miami customs crap. The nurse took it upon herself (which we where not pleased with, but laugh about it now) to walk inside and ask for whom ever was in charge, she was met with resistance, and I'm sure we where close to being put in customs jail...when she finially was attended to, she asked for the officers name and badge number...and also the local time. With a look of confusion the office asked why? She said that she needed the information for her paper work when the passenger passed away...needless to say we where cleared quickly and on our way. I loved the look on their faces...but hate Miami with a passion!
 
First of all Custom's officers have supervisor's and other people they answer to. Find their Chain of Command and send out a professional and desciptive letter outlining your mistreatment and make sure every one in the Chain gets a CC: that way if there is an attempt of cover up or lose the letter, it can be verified quickly. Just make sure your letter is done in a non judgemental and non accusatory way. Outlining the facts and providing witnesses will help.
As a government employee it is very difficult to fire someone, however they do have to maintain a record of employment which has yearly reviews for promotions.
I use the power of the pen when I feel it is needed and have found that I rarely need to follow up with another.
 
thatpilotguy said:
I thank both aircraft manufactures and whom ever came up with the over flight permit. It's been years since I have had to clear customs any where other than our home airport.

My favorite customs story comes from Miami...it was late at night, I flew for an air ambulance company at the time. We landed at Miami, and made our way to the customs building. The customs official refused to clear us until the immigration person had cleared us. The immigration person refused to clear us until the customs person had our paper work...lots of finger pointing. As somepoint both persons came to the aircraft after a nice long wait. The flight nurse kept asking what was going on as the passengers condition was deteriorating. We explained that it's typical Miami customs crap. The nurse took it upon herself (which we where not pleased with, but laugh about it now) to walk inside and ask for whom ever was in charge, she was met with resistance, and I'm sure we where close to being put in customs jail...when she finially was attended to, she asked for the officers name and badge number...and also the local time. With a look of confusion the office asked why? She said that she needed the information for her paper work when the passenger passed away...needless to say we where cleared quickly and on our way. I loved the look on their faces...but hate Miami with a passion!
Click to expand...

After dealing with the customs folks in just about all the airports in South Florida over the years, I generally think they get more cooperative the further north you go. Miami is a real pain and it is a last resort stop for me. As for KFLL, we were based there and cleared it mostly without much hassle because we got use to their routine. The customs folks say it is the same everywhere, but that's a bunch of hogwash. Each unit has their own fiefdom and protocol and they offer no assistance in helping you figure out exactly what they want. They just expect you to know it. We began keeping notes as to what was wanted at which location and most times, it all went smoothly. Last week we entered the country from Canada through Great Falls and they were very pleasant indeed. So, it depends on the location and the person you are dealing with.
 
I whole heartedly agree with this last post, once you learn the little likes and dislikes of every single agent at every single customs and and immigration office it will be a breeze!
Seriously though it can be pretty frustrating at times, I've learned that if you're clearing at a station you haven't used before it's a good idea to "over do" the paperwork, smile a lot, say Ma'am and Sir as appropriate ( if you can accurately judge whom you're dealing with ) and be ON TIME.
I think they have some serious standardization issues to deal with nationwide, but unless you're dealing with them on a daily basis it's nothing you can't live with.
 
another favorite of mine is when the pax start mouthing off to them. Gee thanks, my 14 hr day just turned into 20.
 
Just went through BGR yesterday. Customs met us at the airplane and we were done in less than 5minutes. In fact, from landing to takeoff was only 25 minutes... refuled (3000 gal.), lav service, trash & catering. Superb service!
 
Customs definately seems to be the worse in S. Florida.

Isn't it interesting that it is all one agency, but the procedures for clearing are vastly different from place to place. For instance in S. Florida you pack up the bags and take them inside, but at other destinations if you step out of the airplane you can get screamed at. Paperwork and entry requirements are different also. In S. Fla all that is needed is a phone call an hour in advace in order to enter, but at other places you need to fax the Gen Dec two hours ahead of time. The worst part is that it isn't written anywhere. Best bet is to call ahead anytime you are visiting a Customs office that you haven't been to before.
 
Aguadilla and San Juan Puerto Rico. Horrid.

ILM, BUF, ALB...smooth as silk.
 
Never had any issues in West Palm or Ft. Pierce. That is until the big boss insisted on using his cell phone inside the customs building. After a very short debate he found out he was not the big boss in there. No more issues.
 
Skinner said:
Just went through BGR yesterday. Customs met us at the airplane and we were done in less than 5minutes. In fact, from landing to takeoff was only 25 minutes... refuled (3000 gal.), lav service, trash & catering. Superb service!
Click to expand...


I think that BGR customs is the best. I have used them a couple of times, and been treated great both times.
I sat in BTV one time for 30 min. before they came out, and I was right on time getting there. Once there the agent was nice though.
South Florida Customs are terrible.
 
ag2pilot said:
I think that BGR customs is the best. I have used them a couple of times, and been treated great both times.
I sat in BTV one time for 30 min. before they came out, and I was right on time getting there. Once there the agent was nice though.
South Florida Customs are terrible.
Click to expand...

I agree BGR is great.
 
laredo guys have always been great, as well as DAL. FLL is another story. My coast guard son always said to try OPF, but haven't had the chance so far.
 
Cleared customs one day in pbi and got the usual reaming about my paperwork not being in order. sigh. The customs guy then procedes to staple a packet of paperwork for me to fill out next time i see him. He tells me this is the specific paperwork and to make sure I fill just these forms out. So we head back out to the islands that same day and come back through mia. I take the same exact paperwork the customs guy in pbi has told me he wants filled out. I take the paperwork inside and get berated on not having the right paperwork.

Sigh

My favorite though was a customs stop in new england. It had a 2 hour ppr which I complied with but the pax showed up early so we had to leave early. I land taxi up to customs and the guy never comes out. I can see him in the window but he's just staring back at me. So i call him. He says your 45 minutes early so you'll wait out there for 45 minutes.

I explains this to my passenger and we wait. Customs guy comes out right at 45 minutes and when I open the door the passenger demands to know his name and badge number. The guy recoils and get's the "who the f are you attitude.

The passengers aide then says maybe you don't recognize the senator. the customs guy says you should have told me. To which the senator replied why should i be any different.

I wasn't allowed to return there for quite some time. :)
 
Cool story, Diesel. I wish I could have seen the customs guy's face.... It must have been priceless!
 
nfg2u said:
Get use to it.. it's not going to change any time soon. It was a pleasure to pass through customs today in the NE where you don't have to unload all the bags and pax and do the walk into the customs building to be degraded by government workers with an attitude! They came out to the a/c at the FBO, were very nice and in 15 min had us on our way. You want to see bad come down to Miami or OPF or PBI!!!! It doesn't get any worse than that! :)
Click to expand...

Everybody gripes about MIA customs, but I have cleared GA customs in MIA at least 200 times over the last few years and never had a problem. I am not defending them, I am just curious what the problem is.
 
South Texas = No problemo
South Florida = Big problemo

We go in and out of ELP, LRD, MFE and BRO on a regular basis. Never do we get the dog treatment nor do we have to bring our bags in to be searched. Every time in FLL, they make us do the perp walk even if we are coming in empty. Like some of the previous posters said, some standardization between cities would be nice.
 
Last edited:
Diesel said:
The passengers aide then says maybe you don't recognize the senator. the customs guy says you should have told me. To which the senator replied why should i be any different.

I wasn't allowed to return there for quite some time. :)
Click to expand...

I will vote for this Senator.
 
The senator is still in position and she has grown to be one of the more influential senators in the northeast. I was always impressed with her.
 
Windsor said:
South Texas = No problemo
South Florida = Big problemo

Another big problemo for both of these areas is the abundance of spanish speaking that is going on. The other day in Orlando, I saw a car with "objects in mirror are closer than they appear" written totally in spanish. :puke:
Click to expand...
 
Brown field in San Diego was so hit and miss, I started taking our plane to Calexico, CXL. Depending on whatever the hell it was, the SDM guys could make you wait up to an hour, then act like we were really putting them out just rollin on their ramp, totally sucked. The Calexico guys are friggin great, always consistently friendly and I've never waited more than 15 minutes to clear. If you can get past the smell and the heat, cxl works nice.
 

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