Having the word "Farm" in your address

As many of you will know, we live at Forest Farm in the UK. It's not a farm anymore but is surrounded by working farmland which is arable and not livestock.

Anyway, getting to the point of this post, the US customs seem to have picked up on the word Farm in the address as we got pulled over by the customs people you pass after you pass through immigration and collect your luggage. The guy as much as admitted this is why we were stopped.

They were very nice about things and basically had a quick chat and then went through our white customs form asking us questions to back up the answers we'd put on the form. All was obviously ok as we have not had any connection with livestock or been near any but just thought others with the word Farm in their UK address could be forewarned they might be in for questions too.

That's very interesting,definitely worth bearing in mind.
We are also surrounded by farmland in fact the whole area is agricultural
but again not livestock.
Our house was built 9 years ago as a replacement dwelling the house and land was called Moss Bank Farm .we changed the name when we built our house.
Glad we did if not could have caused us hassle.
[msnwink][msnwink]

Thanks for the information, John. We are in the same position as yourselves. Do you think that it is a USA national directive or just the airport you arrived at. We have a couple of guests with 'Farm' in their address also, so I think a explanatory warning to them is in order.

Mike and Kath.

Thanks John for the info. It's worth knowing that as any one of us could forewarn our guests who have the word "farm" in their address to make it easier for them through immigration.

Many thanks for pointing that detail our John. [msnsmile] Will bare in mind for future guests.

We live in "Woodlands" so does that mean we'll be checked for squirreling away a squirrel?[msnsmile2]

You'll have the RSPCA on to you for doing that to a squirrel :D:D:D
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wilfy
We live in "Woodlands" so does that mean we'll be checked for squirreling away a squirrel?[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk
You'll have the RSPCA on to you for doing that to a squirrel :D:D:D
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wilfy
We live in "Woodlands" so does that mean we'll be checked for squirreling away a squirrel?[msnsmile2]
[/quote]
[/quote]

[msneek] The mind boggles !!!

I never put an address on our luggage at all, just our name and mobile No.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
I never put an address on our luggage at all, just our name and mobile No.[/quote]But you have to put it on your API...

Perhaps they'd think I live near a castle as I live in The Moat. The road I live in is called The Street (someone had obviously no imagination) and one of the houses must be owned by someone with a warped sense of humour asd his house is called Halfway Up.:D Wonder what the Americans would think of that?

Jacqui

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
I never put an address on our luggage at all, just our name and mobile No.[/quote]But you have to put it on your API...[/quote]............not your UK address tho, just the address of where you are going to be staying in USA.....maybe I am doing it wrong [msnoo]

Good point! :) I can't believe that US Customs check out all the luggage labels of every suitcase? They've never even glanced at ours.

Part of our address is Ash Green Farm, but we dropped this several years ago, thank goodness.

Your address is in your passport, the address will be flagged before you even land in the usa.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
I never put an address on our luggage at all, just our name and mobile No.[/quote]But you have to put it on your API...[/quote]............not your UK address tho, just the address of where you are going to be staying in USA.....maybe I am doing it wrong [msnoo]
[/quote]

My address is one of the few things that isn't in my passport.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by florida4sun
Your address is in your passport, the address will be flagged before you even land in the usa.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
I never put an address on our luggage at all, just our name and mobile No.[/quote]But you have to put it on your visa waiver form and your US customs form...
[/quote]


............not your UK address tho, just the address of where you are going to be staying in USA.....maybe I am doing it wrong [msnoo]
[/quote]
[/quote]

No addresses in any of our passports![msnwink]

I have an Irish Passport and we have no address in that either. At the Aiport they take the name of where you plan to stay in USA, not where you live in UK.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
I have an Irish Passport and we have no address in that either. At the Aiport they take the name of where you plan to stay in USA, not where you live in UK.


[/quote]

Tricia, My wife and children are all entitled to Irish passports as my wifes Dad is Irish. Do you believe you get slightly different treatment being Irish. I wonder because i know that if you fly via Shannon your US immigration is done in Ireland not the US so its a walk thru when you get there.I ask because a few Brits with Uk passports have had over zealous immigration officers grilling them.

sorry should clarify, if you have a passport they will know your address. They pulled us to one side as we had not change dour address and it showed on the computer system. So they wanted to know why we had one address on one form and a diferent signed to the passport.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
My address is one of the few things that isn't in my passport.
[/quote]

I doubt very much if they have my address! It's often very amusing to see the IO struggle to understand why I have a UK passport, but have travelled direct from Germany to USA and haven't been to UK in over a year.

Well they dont have my address Martin, I was not living at this address when I got it, I cant understand how they knew you had moved or what kind of passport you have that has your address in it.

Brazamor, I live in the UK so dont fly from Ireland, but it is great flying from Ireland as you have done the emmigration bit before you arrive in USA. I dont know if having an Irish Passport does help, but the Emmigration Officials have always been very nice to us so far.[msnsmile2]

The information was obtained electronicly. As I undertood they had my address info on the computer screen and pulled us to one side as it it did not match the address I gave when quizzed at the counter. This was in the bahamas, coming back into the usa.



<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
Well they dont have my address Martin, I was not living at this address when I got it, I cant understand how they knew you had moved or what kind of passport you have that has your address in it.

Brazamor, I live in the UK so dont fly from Ireland, but it is great flying from Ireland as you have done the emmigration bit before you arrive in USA. I dont know if having an Irish Passport does help, but the Emmigration Officials have always been very nice to us so far.[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

They can also get the address via the airlines or the credit card you used to pay for your ticket as far as I understand

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyD
They can also get the address via the airlines or the credit card you used to pay for your ticket as far as I understand
[/quote]
Yes they can, and they probably do. But the question was whether they can cross-reference this with an address on your passport. My passport doesn't have an address on it, and even if they could get my address somehow from the UK passport office (which I doubt), that wouldn't be correct either.

We`ve moved home at least twice since getting the passport we use just now but never been questioned on a different address so far. We could also confuse immigration as part of our address is Pitreavie Castle but we don`t live in a castle.
Hannah.

I have "farm" in my address.

Does this mean if anyone has contact with farm animals, if they are a farmer, will they not be allowed in the US?

I'm almost certain you're asked on the US Customs form if you live on or have visited a farm recently? I think you just get some extra questions about F & M.

You are correct, Blott. It asks if you have visited a farm or been in contact with farm animals. You will be questioned, usually very politely, and may have all footwear disinfected and usually takes about 15 minutes.

Mike and Kath.

Hi All

I live on a farm and went to Florida during the Foot and Mouth outbreak. We dutifully filled in the form where we had to say we had been on a farm in the last whatever days and so on arrival were sent to a special desk. I have to admit they were polte asked us a few questions and sent us on our way, no probs what so ever!!

Mel

Brazamor,

we live in the Uk, and we all have Irish passports. We haven't found that we get any particular treatment in the US. In fact, we may get more of the wrong kind of attention. On both of our previous visit, we have been taken aside, thoroughly searched, asked to remove our shoes and questioned for some minutes. Even our 12 year old! They were polite about it, but they didn't encourage conversation. I don't know why this may have happened, they said it was a random selection but I think that one of our names must flag up somewhere.

However, we find that when we travel elsewhere, particularly France, we do get different treatment from the locals when they realise we are Irish. I don't know why, but it definitely makes a difference. Also, I know that when the children are older, and hopefully travelling the world by themselves!!, that I would feel happier if they were travelling on Irish passports. Probably stupid, but we all have our quirks!!