19-year old german girl's entry into US refused

August · 08-05-15, 08:35 AM

My Aunt and Cousin visited us from Germany just last November and they had no problems at all getting through customs.

Maybe it's just people who know Catfish?

NeonSamurai · 08-05-15, 12:30 PM

It sounds like she may have been planning to work for her cousin by caring for the cousin's children. Working on a visitor permit is a huge no-no, and will swiftly have you sent back if they find any evidence.

Something to be aware of is that most customs agencies now search electronic devices in your possession. They will insist on inspecting them and can turn you away if you refuse. This includes cell phones, computers, cameras, mp3 players, anything that can hold data. As most people have Facebook set up on their smart phones, they will take a look at your Facebook page too to see what you have been posting to friends about your trip. The also check messaging software and texts, and sometimes look for pirated material or pornography (child porn in particular obviously), even internet browsing history.

Personally I always traveled with a clean laptop, and a heavily encrypted external drive that looked like it was unformatted. The encrypted drive contained HIPPA protected client data, so there wasn't a chance in heck I was going to let some customs guard go through it. A lot of corporations also do the same when traveling, and keep backups on a secure file server for management to restore their computers after crossing the boarder.

Me I've never had much problems with the US boarder guards, generally they have all been really nice and helpful to me, but then I was a older white male holding a student visa. Canadian border guards, on the other hand tended to be more of a pain in the butt, though after multiple trips they generally tended to wave me through fairly quickly. I've had American friends tell me the exact opposite where the Canadian guards were very friendly, and the US guards very rude and short tempered. Maybe we just like being jerks to our own.

Betonov · 08-05-15, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

It sounds like she may have been planning to work for her cousin by caring for the cousin's children. Working on a visitor permit is a huge no-no, and will swiftly have you sent back if they find any evidence.

That makes too much sense

Platapus · 08-05-15, 04:41 PM

What are the chances we don't know all the facts about this case?

Oberon · 08-05-15, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

What are the chances we don't know all the facts about this case?

Now don't go bringing facts into this...

Sailor Steve · 08-05-15, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

What are the chances we don't know all the facts about this case?

About the same as the chances we don't know all the facts about everything that gets discussed here.

Jimbuna · 08-06-15, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

What are the chances we don't know all the facts about this case?

Probably the most believable fact on the whole topic.

Mr Quatro · 08-06-15, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

What are the chances we don't know all the facts about this case?

“We don’t know one millionenth of one percent about anything.” Thomas Edison

Catfish · 08-06-15, 02:53 PM

What we know is quite simple and evident, and there is no need to whitewash or sugarcoat it.

Everything on the net is being read, and those spying eyes pass the information on to all kinds of organisations.

So you better look out what you say or write, because we know that all kinds of things happen to people, even if there is no evidence at all for any wongdoing.
(You probably also know that people abroad are killed with drones by self-appointed judges through interpretation of metadata like certain behaviour schemes alone, not evidence. Just saying the truth or being an average citizen with no terroristic background does not help you)

Anyone remembers Neal's site was banned for Google adverts, because they found the word esc0rt serv!ce somewhere in this forum. Harmless, of course.

Apart from that, the way this woman was treated and threatened, beggars all description. When asking whether she would be allowed to sleep a bit before taking the next plane home (after 18 hours of flight and 24 more hours of harsh interrogation) the answer was "Yes, in jail".

NeonSamurai · 08-06-15, 06:54 PM

They either searched for her profile on Facebook (not uncommon if the officer is suspicious). That or they searched her phone (also very common now). Even though there was no mention of payment, just speaking of doing work that could entail payment can be enough.

I can't speak about how she was treated, as I can't read German well and haven't seen anything in English about it. It does sound though like they did treat her very poorly. Also they should have to explain why they did what they did.

Onkel Neal · 08-12-15, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catfish

Anyone remembers Neal's site was banned for Google adverts, because they found the word esc0rt serv!ce somewhere in this forum. Harmless, of course.

Why did you have to remind me!?

I'm still crying over that!

.
.
.
.
.

Kazuaki Shimazaki II · 08-05-15, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

It sounds like she may have been planning to work for her cousin by caring for the cousin's children. Working on a visitor permit is a huge no-no, and will swiftly have you sent back if they find any evidence.

From what Google Translate can make of the German, she did mention something about taking care of children on Facebook, but no mention of payment. And the issue is more like what's all the hostility even before the Facebook - did NSA or something else scan it beforehand and give a heads-up?

Even if that's the issue, that's merely a technicality. Merely ask to see the page, find the page, explain nicely that you can't, sorry, deny the Visa politely but firmly and send her back, without the crudity. Please.

Wolferz · 08-05-15, 10:34 PM

Nah, she was a drug mule bringing in that good German smack.

Oberon · 08-05-15, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Maybe it's just people who know Catfish?

Nah, it's the Justice Secretaries attempt to distract the public from the current Netzpolitik scandal.

Aktungbby · 08-05-15, 01:16 PM

I was in charge of the lobby at Immigration on Sansome Street in San Francisco in my time and saw it all! in addition to getting pulled aside at all British airports (in a coat and tie) on my last outing for a secondary inspection with thumbprint as my wife and daughter stood by looking puzzled. Having thus been on the giving and receiving end : business as usual. Of course no respectable Fraulein would be going to Cleveland!

Any sharp eyed immigration official would pick up this: "The reproach of the gruff officer are absurd. "I have children her age who are already working," says the COP and a little later: "If you had wanted to do to New York City, it would have been so believable, but hell what do you want in Cleveland?" Assuming my translator is correct

...even though my old German girlfriend lived just over the line in '70's Seymour, Indiana

If he thought she was an undocumented Aupair, as with my neighbor across the street, originally from Hamburg, who (properly IMHO

) does import young lasses to tend her two young daughters, it's unfortunately understandable.

08-05-15, 08:35 AM	#1
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,204 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My Aunt and Cousin visited us from Germany just last November and they had no problems at all getting through customs. Maybe it's just people who know Catfish? __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

08-05-15, 12:30 PM	#2
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	It sounds like she may have been planning to work for her cousin by caring for the cousin's children. Working on a visitor permit is a huge no-no, and will swiftly have you sent back if they find any evidence. Something to be aware of is that most customs agencies now search electronic devices in your possession. They will insist on inspecting them and can turn you away if you refuse. This includes cell phones, computers, cameras, mp3 players, anything that can hold data. As most people have Facebook set up on their smart phones, they will take a look at your Facebook page too to see what you have been posting to friends about your trip. The also check messaging software and texts, and sometimes look for pirated material or pornography (child porn in particular obviously), even internet browsing history. Personally I always traveled with a clean laptop, and a heavily encrypted external drive that looked like it was unformatted. The encrypted drive contained HIPPA protected client data, so there wasn't a chance in heck I was going to let some customs guard go through it. A lot of corporations also do the same when traveling, and keep backups on a secure file server for management to restore their computers after crossing the boarder. Me I've never had much problems with the US boarder guards, generally they have all been really nice and helpful to me, but then I was a older white male holding a student visa. Canadian border guards, on the other hand tended to be more of a pain in the butt, though after multiple trips they generally tended to wave me through fairly quickly. I've had American friends tell me the exact opposite where the Canadian guards were very friendly, and the US guards very rude and short tempered. Maybe we just like being jerks to our own. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

08-05-15, 04:41 PM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,373 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	What are the chances we don't know all the facts about this case? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-06-15, 02:53 PM	#9
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,767 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	What we know is quite simple and evident, and there is no need to whitewash or sugarcoat it. Everything on the net is being read, and those spying eyes pass the information on to all kinds of organisations. So you better look out what you say or write, because we know that all kinds of things happen to people, even if there is no evidence at all for any wongdoing. (You probably also know that people abroad are killed with drones by self-appointed judges through interpretation of metadata like certain behaviour schemes alone, not evidence. Just saying the truth or being an average citizen with no terroristic background does not help you) Anyone remembers Neal's site was banned for Google adverts, because they found the word esc0rt serv!ce somewhere in this forum. Harmless, of course. Apart from that, the way this woman was treated and threatened, beggars all description. When asking whether she would be allowed to sleep a bit before taking the next plane home (after 18 hours of flight and 24 more hours of harsh interrogation) the answer was "Yes, in jail". __________________ >^..^<*)))>{ All generalizations are wrong.

08-06-15, 06:54 PM	#10
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	They either searched for her profile on Facebook (not uncommon if the officer is suspicious). That or they searched her phone (also very common now). Even though there was no mention of payment, just speaking of doing work that could entail payment can be enough. I can't speak about how she was treated, as I can't read German well and haven't seen anything in English about it. It does sound though like they did treat her very poorly. Also they should have to explain why they did what they did. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

08-05-15, 10:34 PM	#13
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Nah, she was a drug mule bringing in that good German smack. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

08-05-15, 01:16 PM	#15
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 30,018 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Lage Normal alle durcheinander! (SNAFU) I was in charge of the lobby at Immigration on Sansome Street in San Francisco in my time and saw it all! in addition to getting pulled aside at all British airports (in a coat and tie) on my last outing for a secondary inspection with thumbprint as my wife and daughter stood by looking puzzled. Having thus been on the giving and receiving end : business as usual. Of course no respectable Fraulein would be going to Cleveland! Any sharp eyed immigration official would pick up this: "The reproach of the gruff officer are absurd. "I have children her age who are already working," says the COP and a little later: "If you had wanted to do to New York City, it would have been so believable, but hell what do you want in Cleveland?" Assuming my translator is correct...even though my old German girlfriend lived just over the line in '70's Seymour, Indiana If he thought she was an undocumented Aupair, as with my neighbor across the street, originally from Hamburg, who (properly IMHO) does import young lasses to tend her two young daughters, it's unfortunately understandable. __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!!