Travel English: How to go through customs at the airport
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- Do the customs officers at the airport in the U.S. make you nervous? Me too. But there is no need to be. Just be prepared and calm, and use the tips in this lesson to make your experience much smoother and less stressful. Learn the words and phrases they will use when they ask you questions, and learn how to answer. If you answer incorrectly, you may be shot. Don't forget to practice with the quiz before you fly! www.engvid.com/...
TRANSCRIPT
Hi. I'm Adam. Welcome back to www.engvid.com. Today's lesson is a little bit specialized. We're going to talk about going through customs at a U.S. airport, more specifically, at an airport.
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.
For more travelling vocabulary, watch my new video on TOURISM vocabulary-resorts, group tours, sightseeing, and more! th-cam.com/video/tWTwb4cTKk0/w-d-xo.html
you're the best teacher ,that I have ever had.
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.
The States is far more vulnerable to terrorists than New Zealand and that's why they hold the airport under extremely tight security just to make sure everybody is safe. They may keep a straight face in hope of getting as much information as they can about passengers coming into their country.
England too!
Thank you very much. Never thought, that US customs officers are so serious...
Please, keep going do what you do
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.
Hi Adam .
Yours lessons are very easy to understand , always with nice topics .
Definetely a Great teacher .
Regards
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
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.
I felt the same way returning back to the US as a US citizen
I was last week from AMS to ATL and i come at the customs desk and that girl was very friendly.
Adam,you are the Best.Really. Thank you a lot and hello from Russia:)
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.
going to USA in 3 months. this is helpful❤ hope everything turs good!
How did it go?
This is the best video about it, great job, your teaching is easy to understand.
If you have nothing to hide, they have nothing to find!!
This lesson made me want to go to US!!!
Thank you Adam!
Adam, you are the best English teacher I've ever met in my life!
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.
Oh my Gosh. Adam is so tolerant and peaceful teacher I`d like to have
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.
That's awesome! Important tips. Almost all of the questions are the same you showed.
I am from Brazil, and this is a better way to learn english. I never saw another way more practice. Thank you very much and congratulation!
thanks for the lesson i always have a problem with us customs in NY when i flew from casablanca, thanks.
I was so happy I got the visa but now this.. thanks a lot Adam mate :)
The better way in life is to to be humble and learning from other, then I would line to say that, keep being as you are...
I should watch this video before I had that bad experience months before! Thank you Adam!!! I really appreciate this one and hope you could make more videos for such specific scenarios!
I agree
Im a US citizen new to international travel and this is very helpful and applicable anywhere i go.
Thank you teacher 👨🏫 Adam for teaching this lesson really you are the best I’m following you in TH-cam From Mariam 2019
Extremely helpful!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Adam!! Very good idea by the way!!!
Thanks Adam. Your lessons and recommendations are very helpful.
this couldn't be more helpful, thanks so much, Adam. A great work indeed.
You are my favorite teacher
Dear sir, thank you 'cause I can understand what you teach. Your tone is very clear, not fast or slow. Thank a lot, sir.
Thanks for the tips, they are very helpful, but above all, thanks for taking the time to support the travelers.
Best teacher, you covering everything,thanks .
One of the most useful video I have ever seen.
Thanks
Thank you for excellent exposure.
Thanks for lesson
Go in July to London on vacation for 10days from SA
My first visited and am alone .
Thank you very much Mr. Adam. I appreciate your help.
Thank you so much for teaching us this very useful information
Adam you're the best teacher thanks a lot
All of your videos are phenomenal, I really needed your videos its so helpful.
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.
Thank you, Adam, I like your way of teaching/speaking! You do a good work :)
Thanks a lot Adam.Your teaching technique and the way you teach is very good and you speak very clear .
Thanks for the information, i haven´t had the opportunity to travel to U.S. but anyway i watch this video, maybe it can help me someday.
Thank you for the class.
I respect you my big brother ... continue
it is great to know how it goes when we are gonna traval on business or vacation abroad.
Thank you, Adam,your lesson is very useful!
I do appreciate you, Adam, you are a good teacher
Thank you so much for teaching us this very useful information. And what I'm worried about is that I don't understand what they're going to ask :( I mean they might speak too fast to hear clearly :(
don,t worry never be afraid of them all the best
Thank you Mr AD it is very clear voice and very good topic
Great lesson. Thank you.
Thank you so much Adam, It is very useful. :) Happy weekend.
Thank you so much for your videos, i've been watching them for half a day and can't stop))))
Very well explained thank you ☺️.
Keep going Adam. I like your lessons, and the your method to explaine.
Thank you, Adam! This lesson is great!
This is really good. Customs really unsettles me, and I haven't visited the U.S. yet, Australia is a bit nervous too, and I am a citizen! UK was nerve-racking, but I am much better prepared now, and thanks again for the vid.
Very useful information!👏🏻👏🏻
now I'm really scared ! LOL I'm going to U.S. in july for the first time. thanks a lot for this video Adam :)
Hi Licia! I'm an online English teacher and I can help you getting ready for your trip. Get in touch with me in case you're interested.
Regards,
Vitor Rabbit
Me too. Also in July.
Thanks so much it's really helpful for me I m going very first time from pakistan thanks brother
thanks a lot for such a good lesson just before my departure on to toronto
Nice lesson, it's gonna help me, your teaching style is nice Adam.
thank you so much Adam .
Great material, thanks a lot
Excellent teacher. Thanks
Omg this is the best vids i have ever seen:) thank you, Adam;)
A Nice Educative & a Helpful Video! Thanks!
Very helpful! If i had seen a video like these before traveling to US for the first time... hahaha
They do all of this when you drive in too, although last time I drove to Canada, customs actually left me alone -- coming AND going (which is strange).
Also, be wary that they'll also make shit up to ask you apart from the example questions listed here -- some of them can get downright PERSONAL, too... Frequent travelers should enroll in the GOES program, then customs leaves you alone (For the most part).
Thank you for a lesson, Adam!
Very clear lesson. Thank you Adam.
Thanks I looked for video like that. I'm going to go to the US this year and these informations are very helpful for me ;)
Thanks this was really helpful! Greetings from Chile.
Where were you in 2011 when I needed you? jajaja I was 19 the first time I went to the U.S (I was alone) and they asked me those questions but I was so nervous! the guy had a poker face and then he told me "please, come with me" and I got so scared! I thought I did something wrong, that they were going to send me back to Chile. Now thanks to you I know how to react!
Thanks Adam. You’re a good teacher.
That's a great lesson. I hope to use it soon.
Very important lesson thanks
I don't wanna hide that I a little affraid of... I thing when my turn begins I'll be so nervous to answer the customs attenders. (hahahaha...). Only in to whatch this video I shivered. (hahahaha....). Thnks for the video.
Thanks Adam; Now, I'm going to Miami, Florida for vacation (Haha, I'm so excited), this will be very useful ...
Eduardo González Hope you enjoyed :'-/
Thank you so much for your help my dear teacher
Thank you so much for this video!
It''s important information for travelers.Thanks a lot.
Hi Adam .Thank for your lesson.I try to do the test better next time.
you know, I'm here asking myself...
how can be possible a human being dislike a video like this???
Very usefull video Adam. Thanks for sharing.
The tense solve us
You are a good teacher ?thank you Adam .i studied with your videos english
Thanks! Very interesting lesson!!!
I´m already nervous watching yout tips, lol
Com essa foto aí, tem que ficar nervoso mesmo. kkkk
OMG!!! thankyou so much for this lessons it wil really help me when I reached the USA
Thank you this is helpful and your channel is amazing
Thank u Adam. It's really helpful!
Very good! what a great teacher! Thank you!🌷🌷🌷
very informative in clear and understandable accent. Well done
More tips for traveller please! :)
Great video Adam. This will help me out when I will go to the US.
Thanks for Teacher!
Thank you for the ingles clase
your explanations are very clear
Thank for your classes and videos.
Thank you for your observation and your video it is very useful to me. I would write down those questions and the answers to them for my next flight. I'm a new flyer.great job.