I think every time I enter the European Union as a citizen (crossing the border in Denmark, Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands or Spain) I've either not interacted with anyone (electronic border gate), or said nothing more than "hello" and "thank you".

Speaking to a customs official is very rare, I've only had that happen once.

Do most Americans get questioned at their own border? I do, but I'd assumed that was only for "aliens".

As an American entering the EU, I wasn't asked anything either. Just handed my passport, stamped, on my way.

Similar thing although with a few more questions entering Canada. Usually it's just, do you have anything to declare - which seems like a perfectly acceptable thing to ask.

As a Canadian, I get questioned on entry to Canada every time. I assume it is the same for Americans; the borders are configured very similarly.

Canadian borders make american ones seem tame. I recently visited, and 2 of our party were denied at the border for non-crime information associated with them. We all turned back, but were hasled for doing so. It was not a welcoming or comfortable experince. I will hesitate to return.

I am a US citizen and I've traveled to 20+ countries. By far the most intensive and invasive border crossings have been entering Canada followed by entering the US.

The only conversation I've ever had when going through passport control in the EU was in Rome. I was around 25 with a full beard and my passport photo was taken when I was a clean-shaven 17/18 year old. The conversation went:

'Is this really you?'

'Yes'

'Okay, thanks.'

I can't stand the "electronic border gate" either, it's so orwellian

> The last few times I've returned to the states I haven't even had to talk to a customs agent - but signing up for Global Entry might be too much of a violation of privacy by some standards.

You have to hand your receipt from the machines to an agent who may or may not decide to question you at that point. After baggage claim, you may or may not get stopped by a CBP agent who decides to question you based on their "discretion". (At some airports, these two checks are consolidated and done once, after baggage claim).

Some people are stopped for these checks more frequently than others.

Fair enough. I (20s white guy, mostly asleep) probably don't fit the 'needs to be questioned' profile all that much. (And I'm not certain I'd have remembered answering a basic question like 'why were you travelling' anyways...)

A 20s male is probably pretty high on the list of people to question. I would guess that if you're a US citizen, as they're only concerned with what you're bringing in rather than what you're planning to do or how long you're staying, not looking like a stereotypical foreign terrorist probably doesn't help much.

As a 20s non-white guy I'm never bothered, so maybe I'm just off-base here.

When I was a 20-something white guy (this was pre-9/11), I could count on getting pulled out of line, questioned, and swabbed down in certain airports. I always wrote it off to the fact that I had very long hair and dressed like I was poor, but carried a high-end briefcase.

That stopped happening when I reached my 40s.

I think the 'mostly asleep' might have a good bit to do with it, too - what kind of smuggler isn't at least slightly nervous when crossing customs?

That applies to intentional smuggling, but I'm sure a lot more CBP seizures (by number, if not quantity) are from enforcing agricultural and IP laws that travelers unknowingly or carelessly attempted to violate.

Bringing a citrus fruit from most countries, various other fresh foods, counterfeit goods, etc.