Arrivals Cards - it makes you wonder what's the point?

[Archphoto]

Had a shining moment with the customs guys at BNE a few years back - they weren't too polite regarding my partner.

I had filled in the form as she's been asleep at the time, and when she awoke, asked her to check and sign the form. All good, until they asked who had filled in the card, and she stated that I had.

"DON"T YOU KNOW THIS IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT!" - well, duh, yeah we do. And I explained she had signed it after reading through all the boxes, (and me explaining anything she didn't understand) so what was the problem?

Seems you have to do it all yourself - which begs the question - What if you can't read English? Obviously you're going to need help, so why the heavy-handiness?

Was a great way to welcome a first time visitor to Australia and I was rather embarrassed (and angered) at their attitude. After all, not everyone visiting from an Asian country is trying to pull a fast one, some of them are spending hard earned $$$ on enjoying a trip of a lifetime, leave the attitude at the door next time please. . . . .

 

[oz_mark]

Nothing in Malaysia for the last 12 months or so - same for South Africa - amazing a tech savvy place like Singapore still requires the card !!

Malaysia formally dropped the requirement for the disembrakation card in June last year. Their immigration system is fairly new though (National Enforcement Registry System - about two years, when the fingerprint stuff came in). Prior to that, use of the arrival card at KUL was a bit hit and miss, although at land borders they were pretty much still requiring them. The new system used your fingerprints to track your exit from the country (not that they've ever taken mine!)

It's not all about the technology - it's also about the processes that are required in the various jursidictions.

 

[anat0l]

What if you can't read English? Obviously you're going to need help, so why the heavy-handiness?

The arrival card is available in at least one other language besides English. Not sure how you get your hands on one though. It doesn't really help at customs, unless you get an interpreter.

 

[Archphoto]

The arrival card is available in at least one other language besides English. Not sure how you get your hands on one though. It doesn't really help at customs, unless you get an interpreter.

But if that other language isn't yours, you'll still be stuck - so reading the riot act to an international visitor is pretty poor IMHO.

The point I was trying to make, was that yes, I filled in the card, but the questions were explained and answered correctly - there really was no need for making her feel like a criminal for not being able to read English and requiring some assistance. She filled the card in as per entry requirements, and that should have been the end of it.

 

[whatmeworry]

IIRC they sold the immigration cards of the four Beatles from when they came to Australia.

 

[OATEK]

Mrs OATEK was in trouble leaving HKG a couple of years back because she had misplaced the arrival card that you carry with you! They made her fill out a fresh arrival card so that she could hand them the back the same card.