I think this is likely to be a rather heated topic. My opinion is that I'm sure some immigration officers could be nicer but things are the way they are. If somebody doesn't like it, they don't have to visit the US. I'm sure there are some unpleasant immigration officers in the UK too, though perhaps not as many if the security is more lax (which isn't a slight against UK immigration policy; it's very hard to get the right balance between being welcoming and being secure).

I travelled to the US shortly after 9/11 and do remember the increased security. You become used to seeing armed police everywhere in the US but seeing police standing there with shotguns was something new. It would be wonderful if every immigration officer was lovely and welcoming but, as in life, not everyone is like that. One could also make the argument that being harsh or unwelcoming is a small price to pay if it prevents another 9/11, whereas other people would say that civil liberties aren't something you can put a price on in that way.

It's never easy to find a happy medium and I'm sure some immigration officers take the tough approach a bit too far. Just remember that you'll only be talking to them for a few minutes (unless you have something to hide!) and, even if the experience isn't pleasant every time, at least it's fairly quick and then you can get on with the rest of your vacation.

Having travelled to many countries in the world, some of them not particularly welcoming to British citizens I don't expect 'lovely and welcoming' but I do expect politeness. I visited the USA not long after 9/11 and was greeted with downright nastiness, as did my travelling companion, at the time there were numerous reports of tourists being treated rudely or worse, all of this was enough to put me off from travelling to our so called ally for quite some time. Having worked for the US Government for over twenty years and often being a lone voice defending the USA to relatives and friends in Europe, I found this a difficult decision as I had loved my numerous visits over the previous 30+ years and have made many close American friends.
I finally returned in March of this year, the immigration official was brusque but not rude and I passed through to land side pretty quickly. Would a smile help, I think so, lots of people are pretty nervous when going through immigration, and I can't imagine that staff being pleasant would negate any security concerns.

We recently went to Sanford, the immigration officials couldn't have been nicer. Last went 2 years ago and they were perfectly pleasant then too. Haven't been through MCO for a long time, probably 20 years but I believe it's now one of the busiest airports in the world so maybe that's the reason, doesn't excuse it though.

Interesting and thought provoking replies guys

Let me tell you what happened a few weeks ago at Immigration at MCO. I still cringe when I think about it.

We all approached the fierce woman behind the desk and she proceeded to ask us various questions about our stay. When were we last there for example. She had the info on the screen infront of her so she knew anyway but no probs in asking or us replying.

One of my young daughters age 14 suffers from acne on her chest, a common hormonal complaint and embarrasing for her.She had a strappy top on and the woman looked at her and said infront of the whole family "What are those spots on her chest?"

Well, I know where she was coming from. She certainly didn't have smallpox or an infectious disease but I felt devastated for my daughter, already self conscious about her spots at her age. My heart sank at this point and I got a lump in my throat at her humiliation. P.R ??? What P.R.
Her tone and style of questioning didn't have a shred of decency.
We told the woman that it was just teenage acne and she accepted that and let us go through.

I agree that US Imigration could improve their customer service.

Yes security IS important but you can perform that role very easily whilst being civil and reasonable at the same time. I've seen a woman reduced to tears because a female imigration official started shouting at her because she was in the wrong queue - she was there with her young daughter and the official was bang out of order.
A couple of times I've had a little chat with the official whilst they sort the paperwork and scans etc, and they were great, even enjoying a laugh - and that PROVES that they don't have to be a55holes!
Unfortunately power does go to some peoples heads and they enjoy that side of the role, I can't see it changing.

I've been through US Immigration 7 times in the last 4 years and at best I could describe them as "efficient". They haven't been rude, but they haven't been friendly either.

I'm sure it would be a lot more pleasant for both parties if there was a little banter, but as long as they are not rude I'm OK with them just doing their job.

luci

When we travelled to NYC we landed at JFK airport. The passport control man was very funny, he took the photo of the eye and finger prints fine.

The trouble started when we got suitcases and queued up the other other end. This big burly officer came up to us to ask where was our white family form we filled in. I said i hadn't got it and that it was at passport control. He said it wouldnt have been left there, and open my bags and suitcases in front of him to check. We did as we were told in front of everyone in line (and cilla battersby who was behind us from corra). We were so embarrassed!. The man was really rough and said to me, that if the passport control bloke hadn't got my form, we were in serious trouble. He asked what port number we went to, we showed hi the correct one. He said something to the guy, and our white form was left on the side waiting for us to collect it. The burly man turned round to us both, and laughed and said have a good trip in New York.

That isn't an experience we want to repeat again. We then went to the front of the queue and he let us through to start our break.

LAX and Florida airports were fine and Washington Dullas were great as well.

We have just returned from America and flew into Sanford and found the gentleman that dealt with us polite and helpful although I think he was glad to get rid of me I was so tired as we were entering the country that I could not even work out which my index finger was to put in the machine!! After he had stopped laughing at me he kindly helped me

On our recent visit to Vegas, an immigration guy was very very rude and arrogant towards my mum so much so that some people rallied around her to see if she was ok and commented on how horrible he was towards her.
I went through before her and he was very inquisitive, asking me the purpose of my visit and even what I did for living, I think that he was on a bit of a power trip the nasty b.

Sue

Asking about your occupation is standard practise. They ask because it's a common question and one you should immediately know the answer to. They are seeing if somebody is unusually nervous or agitated when trying to enter the country, which could be a red flag when combined with other factors. There is nothing rude about the question and it's routine.

It looks like the responses here are mixed, with some people having bad experiences, others having good experiences, and one or two that were in-between. Some people also seemed to have better experiences at some airports than at others. This might be generalizing, but I get the feeling that the west coast immigration officers are friendlier than those on the east (like another poster, I've never had any trouble at LAX either.... though I can't say I've had trouble with any immigration officer in any country, ever, but perhaps I am just lucky). When you bear in mind that all of the targets on 9/11 were on the east coast, I'm sure that plays a huge part in things.

We went through at Philadelphia, the man was trying so hard to be nice but it just came out all wrong, it was actually very funny. I appreciated his efforts at small talk but I guess that they have been trained to be stern and efficient. The man at Newcastle airport was more rude to myself and many others back in August....

From my experiences at US immigration, I have to laugh when I read their "Mission Statement" displayed in large friendly posters before you get to the desk. That says something like "we will welcome you with courtesy and politeness to our country......"

Last time, in the queue for the immigration desks, a passenger's mobile phone began ringing. One of the immigration clerks stood up, got down from his desk and said "Switch that ****ing goddam cellphone off! Jeez, some people......"

That said, when we got to the desk, the clerk there said, when we gave him our Visa Waiver Forms "..... bet I find an error ya made!" After reading through them all, he grinned and said "..getya next time!"

Hi,
Just back from California, and going through Immigration at SFO we were confronted by a stern looking officer. After answering the occupation question as a Police Officer, the change in the guys look and attitude was remarkable. First thing he did was smile, then shook my hand, then she who must be obeyed's, with a welcome to the United States. The formalities were done in jig time, our customs form was notated with a letter and number, and after a "have a great vacation" it was off to Customs. The officer there looked at the form, smiled, and waved us through with another "Welcome to the United States Sir" I suppose being part of the great law enforcement brotherhood has a few advantages after all, as the same thing happened in Chicago a couple of years ago.