Tips to ease the way at the border

Thanks for your helpful Travel Insider on Nov. 28 (“It Takes More Than a Passport to Speed You on Your Way”). Here are a few things I’ve learned, especially about getting through customs and immigration when returning to the U.S.

I have one of the most common last names in the English-speaking world, and officials are often looking for someone with a similar name. I have been detained long enough to miss a connection. A friendly immigration officer gave me a few tips:

* If you have a recently issued passport, carry your old passport as well; this helps give longevity to your identity.

* Carry some proof of employment to verify your work. For example, I work for a weekly newspaper and officials asked to see a copy of the publication.

George Drury Smith

Los Angeles