Heh heh heh. Me, I always lie--at all borders throughout the world. In particular, I say I've got a job whether I do or not--this is SOP for any traveler. But I never lie about stuff which can be checked, like when I entered or left a country previously. And I always bring the appropriate paperwork, although this doesn't include bank statements or rent receipts.

Usually it's attitude which carries you through borders. Sometimes it's the whims of the particular border agent you happen to encounter....and contrary to the statement above, they are not necessarily highly trained, alert, intelligent and/or interested in doing their assigned job. Sometimes they are ignorant, badly-trained, sleepy and merely moonlighting from their actual careers, which are quite varied (I'm speaking of US border agents here, but this applies elsewhere almost equally). Sometimes, moreover, they are motivated almost purely by the desire to show you who's boss, and in such cases you've got to suck it up and let them do so.

Anyone who thinks that our American visa and visa waiver programs are applied and enforced fairly or efficiently is living in a parallel universe to which I've got no access. The system sucks, and not only does it make us look foolish and inept, but it fails to achieve even its most basic goals while doing so.

I can hear the rant ramping up in my tone, so I think I'll save it and sign off.

Safe journeys!

Mark

(back on American soil for the first time in many months)