Simsy85
Member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2010
- Posts
- 425
Hi Folks,
Long time since i've posted, but that's because we've been away!
Had an interesting incident when we flew into LAX from SYD on United last month. Landed at TBIT and proceeded through customs - both my partner and I had ETSA's and headed to the machine. Scanned all good then to the CBP staff. They stamped me through and then there was an issue with SWMBO passport - first time she's ever been overseas, and first time travelling on that passport. They said the ETSA wasn't there (despite the fact we had printed copies) and that she'd have to 'come with us'. They took her to the rooms at the top of the escalators and told me that I had to go down stairs.
I protested a bit at not wanting to be separated from my partner, but they refused to budge. I waited at the bottom of the stairs for any result. About 45 minutes later she came downstairs, red eyes and crying. She told me that they sat her down with about 15 other Australian's and refused to answer any questions about why they had been detained (can't be bothered not the Australian's). One by one they handed the passports back without saying anything and waived them away.
SWMBO pushed the issue with them a bit, who finally stated that there was a batch of Australian passports that had a glitch and that they had been flagged by the Australian Government - that it was a straight forward process, but it just needed to be checked. Fast forward to today and there are no more issues. All good.
Has anyone ever heard of this or been through it?
Cheers
Simsy
Long time since i've posted, but that's because we've been away!
Had an interesting incident when we flew into LAX from SYD on United last month. Landed at TBIT and proceeded through customs - both my partner and I had ETSA's and headed to the machine. Scanned all good then to the CBP staff. They stamped me through and then there was an issue with SWMBO passport - first time she's ever been overseas, and first time travelling on that passport. They said the ETSA wasn't there (despite the fact we had printed copies) and that she'd have to 'come with us'. They took her to the rooms at the top of the escalators and told me that I had to go down stairs.
I protested a bit at not wanting to be separated from my partner, but they refused to budge. I waited at the bottom of the stairs for any result. About 45 minutes later she came downstairs, red eyes and crying. She told me that they sat her down with about 15 other Australian's and refused to answer any questions about why they had been detained (can't be bothered not the Australian's). One by one they handed the passports back without saying anything and waived them away.
SWMBO pushed the issue with them a bit, who finally stated that there was a batch of Australian passports that had a glitch and that they had been flagged by the Australian Government - that it was a straight forward process, but it just needed to be checked. Fast forward to today and there are no more issues. All good.
Has anyone ever heard of this or been through it?
Cheers
Simsy