Going on inrenational business trip
Lesson 8
Getting trough Immigration and Customs
1. DIALOGUE Ω disk 1-23
Listen to the dialogue and note the numbered expressions.
(passing through immigration)
Immigration Agent: Next...passport please.
Passenger: Here you are.
Immigration Agent: What is the purpose of your visit?70
Passenger: Business.... I am attending a conference...but also I plan to do some sightseeing.71
Immigration Agent: How long are you going to stay here?
Passenger: Five days.
Immigration Agent: Where are you staying?72
Passenger: I have a reservation at the Garden Plaza Hotel in downtown Cincinnati.
Immigration Agent: Here's your passport. Enjoy your stay.73
(passing through customs)
Customs Agent: Do you have anything to declare?74
Passanger: No, I don't.
Customs Agent: Are you carrying any food, fish or meat?75
Passanger: No, I'm not.
Customs Agent: Do you have on your person76 or in your baggage US currency77 or its equivalent of $10,000 or more?
Passanger: No, I don't.
Customs Agent: OK, you're clear to go through the duty-free line.78
70 What is the purpose of your visit? = Why do you wish to enter the United States (Canada, etc)? This is asked by the immigration agent to know the reason why you are traveling to the country. Possible answers are: business, sightseeing, visiting friends, etc.
71 The passenger made it clear that the purpose of the visit is two-fold - to attend a business-related function and also to do some sightseeing.
72 Where are you staying? = This question is asked to make sure that the person entering the country has enough money and a place to stay.
73 Enjoy your stay. = Some agents will offer a departure greeting, but not always. It is best not to expect any niceties in the conversation when going through immigration.
74 Do you have anything to declare? = Passengers must declare any items that are dutiable (taxed). It is necessary to declare these items voluntarily.
75 This question is asked to find out whether a passenger is bringing in prohibited items. Due to health concerns, it is illegal to bring in raw foodstuffs like fish, meat, or fruit.
76...on your person = on your body or with you. [e.g. Do you have any identification on your person?]
77 currency = money
73 duty-free line = non-duty line; in the United States, an agent will usually interview you as you are making your way to the exit. After a short interview, he/she will decide whether to have you go through the "duty" line to be checked further, or to allow you to pass directly through to the exit.
2. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
Answer the following questions with short answers from the dialogue.
1. What is the purpose of the passenger's visit?
2. How long will the passenger be in the country?
3. Where is the person staying?
4. Does the person have anything to declare?
5. What line is the person instructed to pass through?
3. MATCHING
Match the best combination of sentences from Column A and B.
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COLUMN A |
COLUMN B |
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• What is the purpose of your visit? • Have you traveled here before? • Are you here on business? |
- Sightseeing. |
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- How long are you planning to stay here? |
• My first trip. • Just two days. • At a hotel. |
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• Do you know where my hotel is located? • Do you need to see inside my bags? • How do I get to customs? |
- No, that's fine. Enjoy your stay. |
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- Do you have anything to declare? |
• No, I have a hotel. • No, I don't. • No, I'm traveling alone. |
4. MINI-DIALOGUES Ω disk 1-24
Listen and fill in the blanks and then role-play the dialogues with a partner.
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A: ( )...passport please. B: Yes. ( ) you are. A: What is the ( ) of your stay? B: ( ). I'll also be doing some ( ). A: How long is your ( )? B: Two ( ), in total. A: Have you ( ) the United States before? B: Yes. I came here to visit ( ) as a college student. A: Here's your ( ). Enjoy your stay.
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A: Please ( ) behind the line and ( ) for the next available ( ). B: Certainly. A: ( ), please. Passport? B: Here you ( ). A: What is the ( ) of your ( )? B: Business. I'm ( ) a conference. A: ( ) are you staying? B: At a friend's ( ).
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A: Do you have ( ) to declare? B: No, I don’t. A: Do you have any ( ), ( ) or ( ) with you today? B: No, ( ), I don’t. A: Are you carrying ( ) or its equivalent in excess of $10,000? B: No, I’m not. A: Please proceed to the exit. ( ) your ( ).
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5. PAIRWORK-PRACTICE
Rearrange the sentences to make a conversation, then practice the conversation with a partner.
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Conversation A |
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– Here's your passport back, ma'am. Have a nice stay. – I have a reservation at the Park Central Hotel in the city. – While on business, where will you be staying? – Business and some sightseeing. – What is the purpose of your visit? – Here you are. – Next...passport please.
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Conversation B |
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– Besides the alcohol, are you carrying any food, fish or meat today? – Sir, do you have anything to declare? – No, I'm not. – Yes, I do. I'm carrying several bottles of alcohol. – All right. – OK, please proceed to the "duty" line, located to the right.
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6. READING. AMERICAN BUSINESS CULTURE
Going through Immigration and Customs Ω disk 1-25
Perhaps the most anxious portion of a trip for passengers traveling abroad is going through immigration and customs. This process is a necessary part of traveling internationally and is not nearly as scary as many people imagine.
Often, immigration sections are in the basements of major airports and are quite a distance from the plane. In order to keep the area secure, passengers have to walk through a maze of hallways and concourses to reach immigration, the baggage area, and finally, customs.
Always follow the verbal directions of the uniformed personnel in the vicinity of the immigration area. Be sure to read all of the signs very carefully and go to the proper line (it is usually clearly marked as "non-US citizens" or "non-residents"). It is important that you have your paperwork completely filled out and in your hand ready to give to the agent. Also, have your passport out and ready. With so many thousands of people coming and going into major airports everyday, agents get very frustrated with passengers who reach the head of the line and are not prepared, can't find their passports, or have mislaid the necessary forms. Organize yourself and your things before getting into the line.
After completing the immigration process, you will immediately proceed to the baggage area to retrieve your suitcases. Once you have all of your bags, you must then proceed to "customs." Each airport is arranged differently, so it is important to follow the signs and the directions of the agents in the area.
An agent will most likely interview you. At this time it will be decided whether you need to have your bags checked further, or will be allowed to go directly to the exit. The customs' form you filled out on the plane will be collected at this point. In addition, there may also be custom agents walking around with trained dogs sniffing for prohibited items (i.e. food, drugs, fruits, meats, fish, etc.) among the passengers. Do not try to pet these dogs; they are hard at work and do not need any unnecessary distractions. Always conduct yourself in a courteous manner. Answer questions in a concise but polite way. Never make jokes with immigration or custom agents.
Answer the following questions using information found in the essay.
1. Where is immigration usually located in airports?
2. After passing through immigration, where do passengers go next?
3. What types of prohibited items are the dogs looking for?
UNIT 3