US Customs in Seattle

I just returned from BKK to US and entered thru Seattle.

After telling them I visited Payatta my hand carry and luggage was thoroughly checked looking for pirated CD's or at least any with Porn. They told me they were after underage porn.

After seeing innocent magazine like Spice or a gay hotel brochure my computer was thoroughly checked and all of my saved pictures were reviewed. My camera was dilligently inspected and luggage reinspected looking for flash card or photo memory cards. They found nothing as none existed. Twenty Questions became Two Hundred and Twenty wanting to know where I stayed in Thailand etc etc and then questions about my work and many others that should have been none of their business. Notes were being taken and this took more time. All of this in a secure area.

Very distressing hour or more while computer was searched. After a long flight this is not a happy way to enter your country.

My advice, before leaving go thru your suitcase assuming they will be and purge anything you don't want to share with the Feds.

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I learned a long time ago never to carry anything that is not aboslutley necessary with you. Never volunter information. I no longer carry cameras computers or video cams. I do not carry address or keep cell phone numbers (I will email them to my home computer to be ther when i get home). Not that I have anything to hide but I hate the invasion of privacy. Its just simply none of their business.

[fedssocr]

why did you tell them you had been in Pattaya? Did they specifically ask?

My return to DC was maddening, not because of any scrutiny, but because on arrival there was only 1 or 2 agents working at passport control. So hundreds of us stood in line forever. After about 35 minutes a bunch more came on duty and the line went relatively quickly for US passport holders as they were trying to clear the line out, but the foreigners were still not moving. Welcome to America! I had visited Thailand, Cambodia, and Japan and faced no real questioning at all. I was actually more thoroughly inspected by Japanese customs who made me open my bag full of (mostly) dirty clothes. I think he was looking for drugs. Back at Dulles I was way over my customs exemption but when I got to the customs agent he just asked if I had any agricultural products (no) and sent me on my way without any questions about having been in Thailand or Cambodia.

[daa raa]

I had a similar experience in Seattle about a year ago. They took my camera and checked it out while another agent went through all my bags. I have been to Thailand at least 4 times since then and have had not other incidents like this, but I have not returned via Seattle. I will not use Seattle as a connecting point again.

[Bob]

Having come 4-5 times through Detroit and a dozen times through Los Angeles, I've never had a problem. I always carry my camera and the last two times I also have my laptop and twice this year I got no more than a "wecome home" from the customs/immigration folks. Probably hit or miss but I've never been given the second or third degree.
Then again, there are no inappropriate images that I'm carrying nor would I be fool enough to try that.

[francois]

Having come 4-5 times through Detroit and a dozen times through Los Angeles, I've never had a problem.

Never say never! Like lightning they can strike at any time, anywhere.
Best advice is not to carry anything that might make Customs search further. Often I send photos or CDs with photos to my home address rather than carry them. Not sure if that would work with a camera card.

The first agent (where citizens line up) ask where I had been in Thailand and I answered 'Bangkok'.
He immediately shot back with the question 'did you go to Pattaya?'
Defensively, I said yes. He quickly marked my card and dismissed me to luggage area. Then going thru the last screening I was whisked away to a secure area where two officers started the Two Hundred and Twenty questions.

The sighting of a Pattaya hotel/sauna advertisement where I stayed showed two boys setting together with only towels around them and a Spice magazine made it obvious I was gay. When one was examining the brochure I quickly stated it was not against the US law to be gay. His answer was no, were looking for (underage) porno.

Notes were being made to direct questions: what hotels did I stay in, who is running my business while I am out of country, etc.

I tried not to volunteer info, but the questions were coming pretty fast. I'm not a choir boy, but I have NEVER been arrested in my 60 plus years. Twenty year career in management, now a businessman and active community leader. My closet door only gets open when out of country or with friends. So, why me? This was not random and I believe its targeted to guys traveling alone to Thailand.

By posting this I hope to save others going thru SEA the time consuming harassment and emphasize the point that nothing in your computer or on your digital cards are safe. My suitcase was totally examined looking for anything sewn into the lining or secret pockets. I was not strip searched, but my carry on bag was where they found the brochure stuck inside my papers with the hotel invoice etc. And after multiple hours setting on a plane, this is a poor way to enter your country.

[dab69]

why would they ever expect we had to answer to them? (200 questions)
not sure I would have put up with such crap after such a flight

After telling them I visited Payatta ...

And why did you tell them that?

[fedssocr]

it's not like you can refuse to answer their questions. They are holding all of the cards with respect to whether or not they let you into the country. However if you are being treated poorly I think you could ask for their names/ID to file a complaint later, not that much would likely come of it. I think you did what you had to do unfortunately. If asked point blank I think it is easier to tell them the truth than lie to them and have them zero in on you and make them even more suspicious. Not that it sounds like that did any good in this case.

I always try to be as pleasant and relaxed as possible when dealing with these people.

The Canadians at Toronto airport have always been the toughest on me for some reason. I guess no one visits Toronto alone without plans to visit friends or family.