Travel English: How to go through customs at the airport

TRANSCRIPT

Now, before I begin, why am I doing this lesson? Not too long ago, I flew... I had to go out of town and I had to fly through the States. I flew through Detroit, it's a big hub. In case you're ever flying through a hub, a hub is a central area where many flights come and connect to other flights. And I was in line at the customs, and ahead of me was a couple, they were tourists, I think. And I could see the panic on their faces when the custom guy... Customs guy started speaking to them and asking them questions, and they were so nervous, and they could barely speak. And the more nervous they became, the more questions they got from the customs guy. So, I want to make going through customs as easy as possible for you by giving you a few tips.

First thing you have to remember when you come to the customs guys: have all your forms completed properly. So, if you're coming into a States, you're going to be given a form, I think it's an I-94 form with all kinds of questions. Fill out everything correctly, properly. If you're not sure what something means, ask a flight attendant to help you, they will. Fill everything before you get to customs. Have all your documents; your passport, your return flight ticket. If you're going as a student, have your Visa. If you're going there to work, have your Visa, your work permit, whatever you need. All documents ready, all forms complete, ready to go.

Then the most important thing that you can do when going through customs at an U.S. airport is relax. Okay? Very important to relax. Now, one thing you will notice about American customs officers, they never ever smile. They will never smile. They are always going to look mean, and tough, and questions, questions, questions. That's their job. They're nice people. Don't think anything badly of them. They're doing their job, they want to scare you so that you give them the information that they need.

So, relax. Answer all their questions quickly and as short as possible. If they ask you a yes/no question, answer yes or no. Almost... In most cases, in 99% of the questions, don't say: "I don't know." You do know. You know everything that they're going to ask you. Yes, no, there, there, this long, that person, done. Okay.

So, they can ask you any number of questions, but here are a few of the more common questions that they might ask you. Okay? So, be prepared, answer them quickly, go on your way, enjoy your vacation in the U.S.

What is your final destination? It means: where are you going? Where is your last stop? So, if you're flying in to New York and then you're catching another flight to Kentucky, your final destination is Kentucky, not New York. So, you're going to Kentucky. If you're going to another country, so for example I was coming back to Canada. What is your final destination? Toronto. I was just flying through the U.S.

How long will you be staying in the U.S.? Again, never say: "I don't know." You do know. You have a return ticket out. If you have an open ticket, say you have... "I have a one-year open ticket. I'm not sure when I'm going to go back, but within one year." Have that ticket ready to show him or her. Okay?

How long will you be staying? Two days, a week, two weeks, whatever.

What is the purpose of your visit? Why are you here? To visit family, work or business, tourism, vacation, or transit. Okay? I was there, just transit. Transiting. I was just catching a flight to my next place, which is Canada. I was just here to transit. No problem.

Where will you be staying? Now, this is a very important question. If you are staying in the U.S., make sure you have your hotel address ready to tell the customs officer. If you're staying with a friend, have your friend's address ready to tell the customs officer. If you're staying in a dorm, if you're a student, say the name of the school, the dorm, have the address ready. Never say: "I don't know. I haven't figured it out yet." They want to know where to find you if they need to find you. Okay? Make sure you have an actual place to stay.

[braydonmackey]

I live in New Zealand and the customs officers there are really nice, they always smile!!! and talk to you with a random conversation like How's your day been.

[brainhugu]

you're the best teacher, that I have ever had.

[eduardoalcantara]

Hi Adam .
Yours lessons are very easy to understand, always with nice topics .
Definetely a Great teacher .
Regards

[rodrigotorres]

I came across with this helpful lesson and I was like: I can't believe it, because Actually I'm going to the States in 12 days to visit family, my final destination is Minnesota and I'm going through Houston, so this was really helpful for me, I just want to give you massive thank you Adam, you are my favorite teacher, keep on doing really helpful lessons. Greetings from Mexico.

[gilsonmandalogo]

This video is awesome, it's very easy to understand for people who don't speak english very well, but need to answer the customs questions in english

[ronaldofinotti]

Thanks so much Adam. I'm from Brazil. I'm going to LA for vacation with my family. I learned a lot with the video.

[chdn]

Thank you very much. Never thought, that US customs officers are so serious...
Please, keep going do what you do

[DANIEL-sbyp]

Thank you very much! In airport customs, many people find difficult to answer simple questions because, on those occasions, they are unfortunately afraid to say something wrong to the customs official.

[MrChyroxy]

going to USA in 3 months. this is helpful❤ hope everything turs good!

[tarciogama]

This is the best video about it, great job, your teaching is easy to understand.

[vivianpolackkutter]

Extremely Thank you Adam!! Very good idea by the way!!!

[wim]

I was last week from AMS to ATL and i come at the customs desk and that girl was very friendly.

[nangfamin]

Thank you so much for your teaching. it very useful :) this time it my first time to go to abroad and i'm worried that i might nervous on that time. i will try to relax and do my best to answer quickly and as short as possible.

[jairoeuzebio]

That's awesome! Important tips. Almost all of the questions are the same you showed.

[lapzay]

Adam, you are the Best.Really. Thank you a lot and hello from Russia:)

[yanzenhernandez]

I hope you can make a second part, because I think that It's very useful, there are many people who get nervous at the airport, and this helps a lot.

[resurreccionrodriguezgil]

I, m from Spain and in this moment I am teaching a tourism course in English, for me and for the students are very usefull your videos about tourism, students say that is very easy to undertand you, thank you very much. Do you have any video about the usual words or questions to do in a travel agency?, it is a pleasure to hear about your videos.
 

[lauramamulashvili]

Thanks Adam. Your lessons and recommendations  are very helpful.

[Momarofa]

Thank you teacher 👨‍🏫 Adam for teaching this lesson really you are the best I’m following you in YouTube From Mariam 2019

[simonmhamdi]

thanks for the lesson i always have a problem with us customs in NY when i flew from casablanca, thanks.