Currently watching border control series. First from Heathrow, now the USA which covers several points of entry in the US.

It's really interesting to watch. The main difference between the UK and US version being that at Heathrow they try to make it a good experience for the passengers. That means they're strict but polite and do their utmost to keep/make the passenger happy.
The US border people are totally different, more like "guilty until proven innocent" and aren't polite.
At some point an English man and his family were stopped to investigate and the man asks at some point "Why don't you say 'please'?"
The border dude thinks he only asks that to deflect the investigation, me thinks, "Nope dude, he comes from the UK where people do say 'please'! He's not used to such a rude approach."

The amount of things that need to be checked is insane! I didn't know you could take foods into the US, except for a few things. But they have to check all foods regardless.
Why not ban foods -I think they do in Australia. Would save a helluva lot of money.
And the amount of live pests they find...

During arrivals they look for people's body language and behaviour, and nervous behaviour is found suspicious. Me thinking, "wot?!?!"
I remember I was bloody nervous when having to enter the US, because A) so much has changed with check-in machines and B) they do treat you like a suspect of something.
The questions the border dude asked are really non of his effing business, but if you don't answer them to his liking you're sent back. Logical people get nervous!

Also amazing to see the dogs do their work on parcels and mail. Makes you wonder why people even bother trying to get money, drugs, weapons etc. in as the dogs will find it every time. Even when you vacuum-wrapped it several times, hid in it herbs or tea, the dogs will sniff it out.
So why bother trying to get stuff past the dogs' noses? Hihi.

Also odd... it happens apparently that people take the wrong turn-off on the motorway near the Canadian border, and end up taking the exit towards Canada. That gets them to border control first. And even if they only took the wrong exit they get totally checked, cars searched and so on.
So they never left the US, didn't mean to either, yet some end up in trouble regardless only because they took the wrong exit.

All in all I find it really interesting to watch!

The one on Heathrow is somewhat different as it also shows all the work and maintenance on the airport, including outside. Removing rubbish from runways, getting rid of birds etc.

I got to watching this as I stumbled upon the one in Alaska, Ice Airport Alaska it's called.
There's one on Australian border control too, but I haven't found that online to watch just yet.

Yes, I watched Border Security shows for many years now ...it's amazing the things people actually do ... but the border security people have a job to do .... and unfortunately there are many ways to do it .... and not all are acceptable !!!
Australia I found , thru personal experience , have the toughest Border security and their agents , like some of the population, are not very 'politically correct'...
I drive across the border to the USA a few times a year , with no problem at all . Simply because I register with the TSA before I go .... so they do the check on me in advance , and when I pass thru , basically , I am waved thru .... coming back is another long story ha ha !!!

"Border Security: Australia" is my favourite out of the franchise. I agree with you Crystal and Slim, it is an interesting watch. I too have been watching the series for years. However, I learnt so much about the dangers of certain organic foods (nuts, fruit, coffee etc.), how these foods can wipe out an entire crop. The Australian climate depends on their meat export and can't afford for the cattle to be at risk.

Perhaps, the most memorable episode for me was watching a lady who had taped an exorbitant amount of cocaine between her head and her wig. The officers had noticed that something "looked off" as she navigated through the airport. The officer who questioned her was so respectful and non-aggressive. She was detained by the end of the episode, but I found it so interesting how she questioned and how she eventually explained her story.

Oh, another interesting episode followed the interview of a father from New Zealand trying to get to his daughter who lived in Australia. The daughter was trapped in a marriage with an abusive husband and had sent messages to her father with a desperate plea for help. It was so sad that he was denied entry into Australia because of a prior criminal record. I don't know why but that one broke my heart.

It's a great series

I think it's stories like that which make these shows interesting to watch, Merry!

Slim, I've understood that indeed you shouldn't have much problems, provided you do things right, hihi.

Australia does have the reputation of being the strictest, doesn't it!
When I arrived there yonks ago the first thing that happened after the plane had come to full stop was 2 AUS officials entering the plane and spraying some substance around to kill off any potential anything that could be on board. Bacteria, viruses, fungi etc. I guess.
You as a traveller have to sit there and get to inhale whatever crap they've used.
I cannot remember how the rest went, but I think I would've recalled it had it been difficult.
You did have to dump any cheese, animal skin stuff etc. but they didn't check people.
I had snake skin shoes. No freakin way was I going to dump those, haha.

Oh, on the way out of AUS I did have an issue. I had a lot of things in my hand luggage, special precious things too from my time in the Aboriginal community. But the handluggage had to fit in a certain mould attached to a display and mine didn't.
I was heartbroken for having to leave, that was the proverbial last straw. I ended up bawling my eyes out in despair, and 2 friendly female officers or airline stewardesses helped me out.
I did have to leave some stuff though until it fitted that mould. So it wasn't weight-related but volume.

The worst part is if they go through your stuff, toss things out and then when they're done you have to try and get the whole lot back in again. In a hurry as there's more people, or you got a connecting flight to catch.
I hate it when that happens as all that checking makes me nervous anyways, hihi.
I used to be an experienced plane traveller, but not so much anymore these days :p

Interesting points, Border force in the UK is to catch the bad guys, and there are plenty. They will try anything. You can work out the obvious ones.
Counterfeit goods are a problem. How much did you pay for that handbag £30, funny it retails at £750.
Apart from buying a product that will fall apart. You are supporting organised crime.
When I travel I book in as soon as possible, pass security and have a beer. Until the gate is called.
Just read the rules.

Oh, if you like series like this I do recommend watching Ice Airport Alaska!
Because of the extreme weather conditions, and also they have to deal with bears, moose and apparently the latter can be quite aggressive?! I had NO idea, haha.
They also show things that go on around the terminals, like de-icing the runways (they do an amazing job!!), the wild animals & birds etc.
And a bit on the smaller ski planes as they have to deliver goods and petrol etc. to the people in the outback.

Very good show, unfortunately only 1 season of it.

Having watched 2 episodes of the Australian border control I think it's safe to say they are not the strictest.
I just watched some younger bloke with a serious attitude problem calling the customs officer a stupid dickhead and threaten to punch his lights out.
I highly doubt you'd get away with that in America. In the end another official joins the upheaval and tells him to go to a room to cool off. No handcuffs, nothing.

Many people arguing with customs over having to pay a fine etc. while they themselves effed up.
Then an Indian woman pretend to be ill and coughs loudly, right in the face of the customs lady?!? And then she glares.

My idea... throw 'em on a plane back to India and ban them from ever coming back. After they've paid the fine.
I would not be cut out for this work as I'd get real PO.

I can't help but say that a number of these rude obnoxious people should be dealt with in a much stricter approach, and not letting is escalate like what I see either. Unbelievable to call a customs officer a stupid dickhead and no repercussions?
I'm not sure but I think even in the Netherlands you're going to get in trouble with that.
Certainly if any military police is involved or near. These do not mess around and do not have a sense of humour either, hihi.

So in that sense I don't like the US approach as often outcomes seem to depend on the officer's mood and/or liking someone, and their reasoning is oftentimes totally ridiculous ---> Someone not having (much) underwear with them is reason to send them back? In one case the man did have legit reason of entry and was allowed in after all. What idiot customs officers checks underwear? Some people are just not that clean, hihi. So best make sure you have plenty of undies when you travel to the US! But not too many as then they think you're not going to leave anymore.
But in the end it might be the better approach.

I think it's time to find something else, something more relaxing as this is getting too stressful for me.

Sorry for making this one post a 3 poster but the forum didn't take it, there was nothing, just gone.