Occupation at the border

[OcelotNat]

I'm in this situation to get from Lebanon into Syria, but it's a universal kind of thing so I'm putting this here. What do you say at a border when people ask your occupation, when blatantly one in this sort of position almost certainly doesn't have one? Last time I got into Syria from Turkey by just saying student, then of course they asked what I was studying, and I said International Relations, which was probably not a good idea. Is it best to say something non-threatening like artist or postal employee.

Anyway, I doubt they have any practically traceable records of me, but I just wanted some hints and other peoples experiences on the subject. Has anyone ever said I'm unemployed?

Just trying to ensure a smooth crossing here.

[Lightfoot]

try professional fire-eater.

[Tadaa]

i say i work labor jobs.. tell em i work enough to save up for the trip i am doing at the time
usually i tell em my last job i did.. doesnt matter if you quit that one long time ago and only work for a couple weeks.. at least your not lying and they dont really care..

[MrTweek]

I hardly believe that anyone really cares about that, if you are just a traveller. I think there are some special cases, where these are important.

Example: A journalist wants to do some research about something that the government does not like (corruption, violation of human rights, whatever). So if he tells the true, they don't let him in. If he lies, they have a reason to throw him in jail, in case they find out.

So just put anything that nobody cares about. Lawyer, journalist, politician, unemployed aren't smart choices, I guess.

[themodernnomad]

I usually just put 'writer.' Sometimes I have fun with it and put things like 'Olympic Triathlete' or 'NASA Astronaut.' Like they really give a hoot...lol

[Tadaa]

you got a us passport i assume.. so maybe for you its not a big deal to cross into the usa.. they can be a pain in the ass. and once you get denied access your [EDIT] forever..

[themodernnomad]

[quote:bd6fd00857="Tadaa"]you got a us passport i assume.. so maybe for you its not a big deal to cross into the usa.. they can be a pain in the ass. and once you get denied access your [EDIT] forever..[/quote:bd6fd00857]

Sure I have a U.S. Passport, and yes I can get into the States in a jiffy. But I really [i:bd6fd00857]wish [/i:bd6fd00857]I had a Canadian Passport. And anyways the topic was referring to Lebanon and Syria.

Yeah yeah I know the U.S. has stupid strict rules about everything, and I hate it just as much as everybody else cause my friends from down here can't make a trip Stateside with me because Uncle [EDIT] Sam wants them to pay a small fortune and sign a promise in blood that says they won't stay there to live or work. You know for Brazilians to get an American visa they have to prove that they have something to go back to in Brazil, like, a house, and cars, and family? Trust me Tadaa, I hate the U.S. Immigration Laws just as much as any foriegner. And yeah, I have fun on my Chilean Visa card sometimes because, like I said, they don't give a hoot.

-MN