Travel English: How to go through customs at the airport
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/travel-english-...
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.
Пікірлер: 481
For more travelling vocabulary, watch my new video on TOURISM vocabulary-resorts, group tours, sightseeing, and more! kzread.info/dash/bejne/pouI2cRtk7exm5M.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.
@johnsondave7124
5 жыл бұрын
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.
@kenney1050
3 жыл бұрын
England too!
Hi Adam . Yours lessons are very easy to understand , always with nice topics . Definetely a Great teacher . Regards
Adam,you are the Best.Really. Thank you a lot and hello from Russia:)
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
this couldn't be more helpful, thanks so much, Adam. A great work indeed.
Thank you very much. Never thought, that US customs officers are so serious... Please, keep going do what you do
Thanks Adam. Your lessons and recommendations are very helpful.
Thank you, Adam! This lesson is great!
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.
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.
This is the best video about it, great job, your teaching is easy to understand.
Thank you, Adam,your lesson is very useful!
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.
Thanks for the tips, they are very helpful, but above all, thanks for taking the time to support the travelers.
Adam, you are the best English teacher I've ever met in my life!
Extremely helpful!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Adam!! Very good idea by the way!!!
All of your videos are phenomenal, I really needed your videos its so helpful.
Thanks a lot Adam.Your teaching technique and the way you teach is very good and you speak very clear .
Best teacher, you covering everything,thanks .
Thank you teacher 👨🏫 Adam for teaching this lesson really you are the best I’m following you in KZread From Mariam 2019
Very clear lesson. Thank you Adam.
Thank you for a lesson, Adam!
One of the most useful video I have ever seen. Thanks
Thank you very much Mr. Adam. I appreciate your help.
I was last week from AMS to ATL and i come at the customs desk and that girl was very friendly.
Oh my Gosh. Adam is so tolerant and peaceful teacher I`d like to have
Thank you, Adam, I like your way of teaching/speaking! You do a good work :)
Thanks Adam. You’re a good teacher.
Very well explained thank you ☺️.
Great lesson. Thank you.
Thank you for the class.
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!
@johnmarks714
4 жыл бұрын
I agree
Thank you for excellent exposure.
great teacher
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!
Great lesson! Thanks Teacher Adam!
Thank you so much Adam, It is very useful. :) Happy weekend.
That's awesome! Important tips. Almost all of the questions are the same you showed.
Keep going Adam. I like your lessons, and the your method to explaine.
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.
very helpful thank you!
Very useful information!👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you so much for teaching us this very useful information
You are my favorite teacher
I do appreciate you, Adam, you are a good teacher
A Nice Educative & a Helpful Video! Thanks!
Thank you Adam, very helpful and easy lesson
Thanks! Very interesting lesson!!!
thanks for the lesson i always have a problem with us customs in NY when i flew from casablanca, thanks.
thank you so much Adam .
It''s important information for travelers.Thanks a lot.
If you have nothing to hide, they have nothing to find!! This lesson made me want to go to US!!! Thank you Adam!
Thank you for the tips. Very useful. Congrats!
going to USA in 3 months. this is helpful❤ hope everything turs good!
@Xxnfsu
3 жыл бұрын
How did it go?
Omg this is the best vids i have ever seen:) thank you, Adam;)
Very usefull video Adam. Thanks for sharing.
@soykatmia6174
6 жыл бұрын
The tense solve us
Thank you so much for your videos, i've been watching them for half a day and can't stop))))
Adam you're the best teacher thanks a lot
Very helpful.Thanks Adam!
Excellent teacher. Thanks
Thank for your classes and videos.
Very useful info ...many thanks
thank you for this video.
Really usefull lesson,Adam! Thank You
Extremely helpful tips
Very important lesson thanks
Very useful vedio, Thank you Adam
your explanations are very clear
Thank you so much for this video!
Thank you this is helpful and your channel is amazing
@ktymxbr59
9 жыл бұрын
Thank u Adam. It's really helpful!
Thanks! I like the way of your lessons.
Thank for your lessons!
I was so happy I got the visa but now this.. thanks a lot Adam mate :)
Very good tips man! It was a lot helpful for me. Thanks so much
That's a great lesson. I hope to use it soon.
Excellent lesson!
Thank you Mr AD it is very clear voice and very good topic
thank you so much.. you are a good teacher and great tips.
Very good explain thank you
An excellent video. Thank you.
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.
@johnmarks714
4 жыл бұрын
I felt the same way returning back to the US as a US citizen
Nice lesson, it's gonna help me, your teaching style is nice Adam.
I respect you my big brother ... continue
Thanks alot for great information 💐💐💐💐
very good , thanks Adam
Great material, thanks a lot
Thanks so much Adam!
More tips for traveller please! :)
very informative in clear and understandable accent. Well done
thanks for this video! very good!
Excellent teacher!
Thank you, Adam.
Thank you for teaching me.
Thank you, very important information....
Very good! what a great teacher! Thank you!🌷🌷🌷
Thanks Mr Adam.
Thanks for lesson Go in July to London on vacation for 10days from SA My first visited and am alone .
Excellent video Adam!