Travelling in and out of Columbia

[Giraffe]

Do Americans face scrutiny returning from Columbia over and over as some of you guys do? I'm just curious because of the drug situation there. Customs must question some people about their ongoing business in Columbia. Has this ever been a hassle?

[latinadreaming]

... in response to Travelling in and out of Columbia, posted by Giraffe on Aug 7, 2005

I hate coming thru Miami. They will harrass you when you come from Colombia. One time they met the flight at the jetway with dogs.  The dogs were smelling people as they came off the plane. One of the dogs jumped on a lady.  

No problem if you come into any other city.  I pay more money for flights to avoid Miami.

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Travelling in and out of Columbia, posted by latinadreaming on Aug 7, 2005

No problems whatsoever with Immigration or Customs.

[Mazu]

... in response to Travelling in and out of Columbia, posted by Giraffe on Aug 7, 2005

I have heard that folks coming through Miami have more problems. I have come through Houston four times and never have been grilled. Hell, the last guy asked what I was doing in Cali and I said "chasing girls". He himself had been to Chipichape and thought Colombian women were the best. He said don't give up. It was hilarious.

Matt
Mazu

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Travelling in and out of Columbia, posted by Giraffe on Aug 7, 2005

I have never had them ask me anything or even look in my bags. When I brought my wife and her kids back with me once, we had 10 suitcases. Never even opened one of them.
I think they use profiling heavily and I don't fit the profile. I just get a "Welcome back".

OTOH, my daughters got the third-degree coming abck from Colombia because they did fit one of the profiles for drug smugglers. Young women on a short visit with little baggage. My girls couldn't believe it and the customs guys told them, Hey we've got three girls just like you chained to toilets right now!

[Frank O]

... in response to Depends, posted by utopiacowboy on Aug 7, 2005

Long hair, leather pants...well I get stopped EVERY time I travel. It's annoying but I understand. My worst time was in Amsterdam. They actually held up the flight BECAUSE of me. I'm sure the same will happen when I return from Colombia.

[Looking4Wife]

... in response to Depends, posted by utopiacowboy on Aug 7, 2005

"I have never had them ask me anything or even look in my bags."

This is QUITE intriguing!

In BAQ it has been my experience that, EVERY bag of EVERY passenger gets searched upon departure.  Traveling through Bogota this last time, EVERY bag of EVERY passenger got searched upon departure.

What cities have you been through lately?

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Depends, posted by Looking4Wife on Aug 7, 2005

I thought he meant in the US. Of course you can't get out of Colombia without being searched thoroughly. Yeah, they go through everything!

[doombug]

... in response to Depends, posted by utopiacowboy on Aug 7, 2005

"Young women on a short visit with little baggage. My girls couldn't believe it..."

Have they seen "Maria Full of Grace"?

[Giraffe]

... in response to Re: Depends, posted by doombug on Aug 7, 2005

That's interesting. I don't do drugs, so I guess I don't need to worry anyway. Just curious how suspicious the governments are overall.