Nothing to declare!

[Buckman]

We have been watching this program over the past few weeks and found it quite interesting. It is a documentary type series on the Australian border control and quite an eye opener. It is amazing what people try and bring into Australia from other countries that may affect the biological environment. I doubt very much if the UK has anything close to their biosecurity, but may be totally wrong.
Many people also try and enter using a tourist VISA, but their real intentions are to work in the country thus depriving a citizen of work. Some of the excuses are unreal and quite hilarious until their VISA is cancelled and they are sent back on the next available flight.
Any one else watch this series?

 

[otherclive]

We have been watching this program over the past few weeks and found it quite interesting. It is a documentary type series on the Australian border control and quite an eye opener. It is amazing what people try and bring into Australia from other countries that may affect the biological environment. I doubt very much if the UK has anything close to their biosecurity, but may be totally wrong.
Many people also try and enter using a tourist VISA, but their real intentions are to work in the country thus depriving a citizen of work. Some of the excuses are unreal and quite hilarious until their VISA is cancelled and they are sent back on the next available flight.
Any one else watch this series?

When I worked in Oz not only were the national regulations stringent but there were similar ones between the states.

There are now controls on plants, fruit etc between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the much delayed bio controls between us and Europe are to be introduced in July 2022. But we don’t seem to be as rigorous as Oz, USA, Canada as whenever I’ve flown back you don’t get the same approach, signage or hoppers.

 

[Jcloughie]

The programme has been on for some years, there are UK, American, New Zealand as well as the Australian ones. We quite like it. Dip in every now and then. Each country goes about things a little differently but that does not necessarily mean better or worse. IMO.

I am always amazed at the enormous size of plastic wrapped bags the Chinese come with. And the strange foods. When we went into Australia I worried they might find my half eaten chocolate bar. When we departed Sydney they pondered if they could let us go if we were not taking Vegemite to show the world.

America, some parts, seem to have a reputation for being a bit nasty. My son found one like that, strict and trying to be over authoritative. With foreigners. It made him smile when he was called forward and they saw his semi diplomatic American visa, full page hologram. How their attitude changed in a second.

John

 

[otherclive]

The programme has been on for some years, there are UK, American, New Zealand as well as the Australian ones. We quite like it. Dip in every now and then. Each country goes about things a little differently but that does not necessarily mean better or worse. IMO.

I am always amazed at the enormous size of plastic wrapped bags the Chinese come with. And the strange foods. When we went into Australia I worried they might find my half eaten chocolate bar. When we departed Sydney they pondered if they could let us go if we were not taking Vegemite to show the world.

America, some parts, seem to have a reputation for being a bit nasty. My son found one like that, strict and trying to be over authoritative. With foreigners. It made him smile when he was called forward and they saw his semi diplomatic American visa, full page hologram. How their attitude changed in a second.

John

I used to travel to the US regularly for work and always felt slightly uncomfortable answering the form that asked had you been on a farm in the last 7 days. We had a small hobby outfit, and living on Dartmoor would frequently have to go through farms on footpaths, bridle ways or just to retrieve the kids.

Then when I lived in Ottawa I thought it a good idea to cross over the border to visit some designer outlets and malls. I was stopped by US Immigration as my visa wasn’t valid for a private/visit being a defence business only. But I must have found the friendly officer as they just issued me a tourist one there and then.

 

[Buckman]

The programme has been on for some years, there are UK, American, New Zealand as well as the Australian ones. We quite like it. Dip in every now and then. Each country goes about things a little differently but that does not necessarily mean better or worse. IMO.

I am always amazed at the enormous size of plastic wrapped bags the Chinese come with. And the strange foods. When we went into Australia I worried they might find my half eaten chocolate bar. When we departed Sydney they pondered if they could let us go if we were not taking Vegemite to show the world.

America, some parts, seem to have a reputation for being a bit nasty. My son found one like that, strict and trying to be over authoritative. With foreigners. It made him smile when he was called forward and they saw his semi diplomatic American visa, full page hologram. How their attitude changed in a second.

John

I didn't want to mention any ethnic group in particular, but it seemed to be mostly Chinese that brought in huge amounts of food and it was always the mother, granny or someone else that had packed their suitcase.
Also amazing was that some where arriving at the airport with two suitcases full of cigarettes and no clothes?