Fixated on govt workers overstepping their boundaries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Federal employees live with lots of guidelines on what they can and cannot do especially dealing with the public. What seems excessive to you might be required by their office.

No, I swear I was the only one among many I asked about it who was asked questions beyond what was in my application and prep materials. I would understand clarifying what was in the application but not asking me if I fully understand a theoretical concept and asking me to explain it.
Imagine trying to pass an algebra exam and being asked a physics question. And then when you can’t answer you are asked to read the definition out loud. Yes it is vaguely relevant I guess but it is just beyond the scope of the curriculum.
Happened to me, happened to my loved one when I was there to witness.
They didn’t “fail” us but it did feel like they were flexing on us.
I know many people don’t even notice so I want to let it go and move on, too. But I can’t, at least not yet.

There could have been something in your application that raised a question, or you could have been randomly selected for extra screening, or you could have gotten a particularly zealous officer. Or you could have been targeted, I'm not saying that's impossible. But most people are just trying to get through their day.

These officers usually have large caseload, they encounter fraud and incomplete paperwork all the time, and they can be fired for letting something through that they shouldn't. That doesn't excuse rudeness but might help you imagine their perspective.

They aren’t rude, and the questions I mention aren’t about the application. Zealous is probably the case. Why do they feel they can be zealous with me?! Ask me what should be asked (civic and application/bf questions) and let me be!

How do you know? Have you been through the process? Some of them are a 100% rude just because they know immigrants have no recourse and like so many of the posters here just wish us to "go back to where we came from."

Here is just one interaction I had a while back with am immigration officer. I landed in DC from an international trip, presented them with a document they issued to me not even a month before and the officer immediately got irate because "it looked fake." Sure, it looked like a 3rd grader slapped my picture on a document, but that is what THEY issued to me. They put me in a room in the middle of the airport and proceeded to question me for 2 hours. I did absolutely nothing wrong. I answered all of their questions and the more he realized he didn't have anything against me the more visibly angry he got. I politely told him that I had a connecting flight that I would likely miss he smiled and said "shit happens baby." I missed my flight and they let me know because I was a 100% legit and it was a government-issued document. Their ignorance caused me a pretty significant inconvenience.

I get being diligent. I get that he needed to verify that my documents were real. I don't get the "shit happens baby." He only spoke to me that way because he knew I had zero recourse.

I am the OP, that’s how I know. They don’t quite hit the mark for being rude. It would be all clear cut if they did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Federal employees live with lots of guidelines on what they can and cannot do especially dealing with the public. What seems excessive to you might be required by their office.

No, I swear I was the only one among many I asked about it who was asked questions beyond what was in my application and prep materials. I would understand clarifying what was in the application but not asking me if I fully understand a theoretical concept and asking me to explain it.
Imagine trying to pass an algebra exam and being asked a physics question. And then when you can’t answer you are asked to read the definition out loud. Yes it is vaguely relevant I guess but it is just beyond the scope of the curriculum.
Happened to me, happened to my loved one when I was there to witness.
They didn’t “fail” us but it did feel like they were flexing on us.
I know many people don’t even notice so I want to let it go and move on, too. But I can’t, at least not yet.

There could have been something in your application that raised a question, or you could have been randomly selected for extra screening, or you could have gotten a particularly zealous officer. Or you could have been targeted, I'm not saying that's impossible. But most people are just trying to get through their day.

These officers usually have large caseload, they encounter fraud and incomplete paperwork all the time, and they can be fired for letting something through that they shouldn't. That doesn't excuse rudeness but might help you imagine their perspective.

They aren’t rude, and the questions I mention aren’t about the application. Zealous is probably the case. Why do they feel they can be zealous with me?! Ask me what should be asked (civic and application/bf questions) and let me be!

How do you know? Have you been through the process? Some of them are a 100% rude just because they know immigrants have no recourse and like so many of the posters here just wish us to "go back to where we came from."

Here is just one interaction I had a while back with am immigration officer. I landed in DC from an international trip, presented them with a document they issued to me not even a month before and the officer immediately got irate because "it looked fake." Sure, it looked like a 3rd grader slapped my picture on a document, but that is what THEY issued to me. They put me in a room in the middle of the airport and proceeded to question me for 2 hours. I did absolutely nothing wrong. I answered all of their questions and the more he realized he didn't have anything against me the more visibly angry he got. I politely told him that I had a connecting flight that I would likely miss he smiled and said "shit happens baby." I missed my flight and they let me know because I was a 100% legit and it was a government-issued document. Their ignorance caused me a pretty significant inconvenience.

I get being diligent. I get that he needed to verify that my documents were real. I don't get the "shit happens baby." He only spoke to me that way because he knew I had zero recourse.

Op here, I am sorry this happened to you. It is clear though who was in the wrong.
I am talking about less clear cut cases where they ask extra questions, request BS extra evidence, mansplain, etc.
I know I should let it roll off my back but I am just so tired of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Federal employees live with lots of guidelines on what they can and cannot do especially dealing with the public. What seems excessive to you might be required by their office.

No, I swear I was the only one among many I asked about it who was asked questions beyond what was in my application and prep materials. I would understand clarifying what was in the application but not asking me if I fully understand a theoretical concept and asking me to explain it.
Imagine trying to pass an algebra exam and being asked a physics question. And then when you can’t answer you are asked to read the definition out loud. Yes it is vaguely relevant I guess but it is just beyond the scope of the curriculum.
Happened to me, happened to my loved one when I was there to witness.
They didn’t “fail” us but it did feel like they were flexing on us.
I know many people don’t even notice so I want to let it go and move on, too. But I can’t, at least not yet.

There could have been something in your application that raised a question, or you could have been randomly selected for extra screening, or you could have gotten a particularly zealous officer. Or you could have been targeted, I'm not saying that's impossible. But most people are just trying to get through their day.

These officers usually have large caseload, they encounter fraud and incomplete paperwork all the time, and they can be fired for letting something through that they shouldn't. That doesn't excuse rudeness but might help you imagine their perspective.

They aren’t rude, and the questions I mention aren’t about the application. Zealous is probably the case. Why do they feel they can be zealous with me?! Ask me what should be asked (civic and application/bf questions) and let me be!

How do you know? Have you been through the process? Some of them are a 100% rude just because they know immigrants have no recourse and like so many of the posters here just wish us to "go back to where we came from."

Here is just one interaction I had a while back with am immigration officer. I landed in DC from an international trip, presented them with a document they issued to me not even a month before and the officer immediately got irate because "it looked fake." Sure, it looked like a 3rd grader slapped my picture on a document, but that is what THEY issued to me. They put me in a room in the middle of the airport and proceeded to question me for 2 hours. I did absolutely nothing wrong. I answered all of their questions and the more he realized he didn't have anything against me the more visibly angry he got. I politely told him that I had a connecting flight that I would likely miss he smiled and said "shit happens baby." I missed my flight and they let me know because I was a 100% legit and it was a government-issued document. Their ignorance caused me a pretty significant inconvenience.

I get being diligent. I get that he needed to verify that my documents were real. I don't get the "shit happens baby." He only spoke to me that way because he knew I had zero recourse.

I am the OP, that’s how I know. They don’t quite hit the mark for being rude. It would be all clear cut if they did.

Well they were very clear cut rude on many occasions when I was going through the process. So much so, that I took my American friend with me one time (because she didn't believe me) and she was appalled at some of the behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like our government, you can go to the competition instead.

Bye.

You have clearly never dealt with a government worker dealing with immigration. They are on a power trip and needlessly rude. And people like you enable to treat people like animals. Shame on you.

You do realize some of the immigrants have been through hell on earth only to come here and deal with people like you. I wish that you'd experience the same one day.

No sympathy taking our jobs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Federal employees live with lots of guidelines on what they can and cannot do especially dealing with the public. What seems excessive to you might be required by their office.

No, I swear I was the only one among many I asked about it who was asked questions beyond what was in my application and prep materials. I would understand clarifying what was in the application but not asking me if I fully understand a theoretical concept and asking me to explain it.
Imagine trying to pass an algebra exam and being asked a physics question. And then when you can’t answer you are asked to read the definition out loud. Yes it is vaguely relevant I guess but it is just beyond the scope of the curriculum.
Happened to me, happened to my loved one when I was there to witness.
They didn’t “fail” us but it did feel like they were flexing on us.
I know many people don’t even notice so I want to let it go and move on, too. But I can’t, at least not yet.

There could have been something in your application that raised a question, or you could have been randomly selected for extra screening, or you could have gotten a particularly zealous officer. Or you could have been targeted, I'm not saying that's impossible. But most people are just trying to get through their day.

These officers usually have large caseload, they encounter fraud and incomplete paperwork all the time, and they can be fired for letting something through that they shouldn't. That doesn't excuse rudeness but might help you imagine their perspective.

They aren’t rude, and the questions I mention aren’t about the application. Zealous is probably the case. Why do they feel they can be zealous with me?! Ask me what should be asked (civic and application/bf questions) and let me be!

How do you know? Have you been through the process? Some of them are a 100% rude just because they know immigrants have no recourse and like so many of the posters here just wish us to "go back to where we came from."

Here is just one interaction I had a while back with am immigration officer. I landed in DC from an international trip, presented them with a document they issued to me not even a month before and the officer immediately got irate because "it looked fake." Sure, it looked like a 3rd grader slapped my picture on a document, but that is what THEY issued to me. They put me in a room in the middle of the airport and proceeded to question me for 2 hours. I did absolutely nothing wrong. I answered all of their questions and the more he realized he didn't have anything against me the more visibly angry he got. I politely told him that I had a connecting flight that I would likely miss he smiled and said "shit happens baby." I missed my flight and they let me know because I was a 100% legit and it was a government-issued document. Their ignorance caused me a pretty significant inconvenience.

I get being diligent. I get that he needed to verify that my documents were real. I don't get the "shit happens baby." He only spoke to me that way because he knew I had zero recourse.

I am the OP, that’s how I know. They don’t quite hit the mark for being rude. It would be all clear cut if they did.

Well they were very clear cut rude on many occasions when I was going through the process. So much so, that I took my American friend with me one time (because she didn't believe me) and she was appalled at some of the behavior.

I am sorry about that!
This wasn’t my experience but a lot of unnecessary BS (I am NOT talking about logical security related questions!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like our government, you can go to the competition instead.

Bye.

You have clearly never dealt with a government worker dealing with immigration. They are on a power trip and needlessly rude. And people like you enable to treat people like animals. Shame on you.

You do realize some of the immigrants have been through hell on earth only to come here and deal with people like you. I wish that you'd experience the same one day.

No sympathy taking our jobs

OP here: I am actually sympathetic to your concern but I hope you don’t work in immigration. Outside or work people are entitled to opinions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like our government, you can go to the competition instead.

Bye.

You have clearly never dealt with a government worker dealing with immigration. They are on a power trip and needlessly rude. And people like you enable to treat people like animals. Shame on you.

You do realize some of the immigrants have been through hell on earth only to come here and deal with people like you. I wish that you'd experience the same one day.

No sympathy taking our jobs

Take your ignorance elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is another example. I step in front of the global entry kiosk. The employee there feels the need to tell me I won’t need my documents just the biometrics. Sure enough the machine scans my face and asks for my document. The employee thinks there is something wrong (even though it’s apparently part of the process) and starts asking if I even have global entry and asks me to show my card (mind you, no need for the card when crossing by air but ok). Then she scans the wrong document and I am summoned to an immigration officer who tells me I scanned the wrong document. Why so much fuss around me?!
I know I should just let it go but it irks me and keeps building up and I want to process it and move on!
So thanks for helping me

Those people at the airports at customs and border control can be kind of pissy with everyone. We are all born in the US, Caucasian etc…but sometimes the officers get a little sarcastic, annoying etc…I don’t know if it’s because their jobs are boring, stressful, power trip, whatever. think you are overthinking it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is another example. I step in front of the global entry kiosk. The employee there feels the need to tell me I won’t need my documents just the biometrics. Sure enough the machine scans my face and asks for my document. The employee thinks there is something wrong (even though it’s apparently part of the process) and starts asking if I even have global entry and asks me to show my card (mind you, no need for the card when crossing by air but ok). Then she scans the wrong document and I am summoned to an immigration officer who tells me I scanned the wrong document. Why so much fuss around me?!
I know I should just let it go but it irks me and keeps building up and I want to process it and move on!
So thanks for helping me

Those people at the airports at customs and border control can be kind of pissy with everyone. We are all born in the US, Caucasian etc…but sometimes the officers get a little sarcastic, annoying etc…I don’t know if it’s because their jobs are boring, stressful, power trip, whatever. think you are overthinking it.

I don’t actually think they treat me like that because I am an immigrant but thanks for kind of confirming my observation.
My problem is that it gets to me too much!
Thanks for sharing, it helps

[Anonymous]

Government workers have zero incentive to respect your rights.

[Anonymous]

Border control agents take particular pleasure in being rude and controlling towards visa holders, OP. When I return to the US at Dulles airport, I've only once, in 20 years, come across a polite one!!! One at the Niagara Falls border yelled at my husband so everyone could hear and called him a liar. His manager had to come from the back office and calm him down in front of everyone. It's scary, because you know you're at the mercy of border control and have to stay polite at all times.

That being said, a lot of low-level public-facing government workers end up being grumpy, because the public isn't well-informed about their documents, and can sometimes be entitled too! In this country AND my home country

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like our government, you can go to the competition instead.

Bye.

You have clearly never dealt with a government worker dealing with immigration. They are on a power trip and needlessly rude. And people like you enable to treat people like animals. Shame on you.

You do realize some of the immigrants have been through hell on earth only to come here and deal with people like you. I wish that you'd experience the same one day.

No sympathy taking our jobs

The process to be allowed to work here is actually incredibly grueling, PP. We are immigrants from Europe and needed to show we were more qualified than Americans to do the job, and that no one else could be found to do it. We have a huge file of documents proving our academic worth. USCIS asked if we had a Nobel Prize, and because we didn't, we had to file even more awards, grants, letters of recs, etc.

Somehow I don't think we work in the same field

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like our government, you can go to the competition instead.

Bye.

You have clearly never dealt with a government worker dealing with immigration. They are on a power trip and needlessly rude. And people like you enable to treat people like animals. Shame on you.

You do realize some of the immigrants have been through hell on earth only to come here and deal with people like you. I wish that you'd experience the same one day.

No sympathy taking our jobs

The process to be allowed to work here is actually incredibly grueling, PP. We are immigrants from Europe and needed to show we were more qualified than Americans to do the job, and that no one else could be found to do it. We have a huge file of documents proving our academic worth. USCIS asked if we had a Nobel Prize, and because we didn't, we had to file even more awards, grants, letters of recs, etc.

Somehow I don't think we work in the same field

NP here - there are many types of work visas, not all based on receiving international acclaim.

If you’re taking about the visa for someone with “extraordinary abilities” science or art - you would know that eligibility wasn’t about being “more qualified than Americans” for a job. Rather, eligibility was contingent on proving sustained national or international recognition of your accomplishments - hence the need for proof of your professional awards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the service from civil servants in your home country?

This! Some customs officials are on a massive power trip. Same with military. I actually think US officials are much kinder than other countries.

[Anonymous]

I am an American diplomat and I sometimes get rude behavior at customs and immigration. Why I do know is, they are trying to do their job. They need to find people who are trying to enter this country on false documents, or who are trafficking persons, or who are here on false pretenses. It is their job to ask questions and challenge you on your documents. I was challenged when I was traveling without my child and not my husband (they were concerned I was kidnapping my child, which does happen when there is a custody dispute). Yes, I was perturbed by the questions and by the fact that I was carrying a black passport, but I also could have been absconding from another country with my child. It is their job to ask questions that will catch you off guard, because that is when you are mot likely to lie (and when they can catch the lie).