thats called winging it, you are in another country for work and that definition is your being paid.
Business visa in most countries covers that but not all.
Wings make flight much easier.
The only place I ever really worried about was Canada, they can be a real hassle. I thoroughly researched the process on their website and prepared documentation to support my visit.
Didn’t even get asked at the border when I drove across at Blaine, Washington enroute to Vancouver. I guess a cleanly dressed white guy driving a Tesla X doesn’t get bothered much. I wonder what would have happened if I was wearing a khaki shirt and driving a pickup with a tool box in the back.
3 Likes
I was joining a ship at Port Alfred, having flown to Montreal from New Orleans. Had a letter from the agent naming the ship I was joining etc.
At the Montreal airport they refused to understand/believe what I was telling them, and stuck me overnight in a house where unknowns were stowed. Fed me a lousy bologna sandwich for a meal.
The next day, when each of us were again being questioned, I told them once more that I was a mariner joining a ship, showing again the letter from the agent.
“Ah!” the woman said, “You are seaman!”.
Yes, I said, been telling y’all that for a day, now. Sheesh.
2 Likes
More than once at functions in Seattle someone would ask me what I do for a living.
“I’m a mariner.”
Person looks me up and down doubtfully. “Really? What year? What position did you play?”
[for foreign readers: American baseball reference].
5 Likes
Most people in the US have no idea what a mariner or seaman is so on flights when asked I would just say I work on ships. Once some smart ass replied,”You work on shit?!” I said ,Well the case could be made at times.” He turned out to be an exec for Waste Management and we still stay in touch.
5 Likes
“Mariner” is probably more used by American (those who know there is such thing as merchant ships and people that work on them)
“Seaman”, or “Seafarer” are more commonly understood in the rest of the world, even by immigration officers.
“Sailor” tend to be more used about people in the Navy, or “WIFIs”.
2 Likes
I had used the term “seaman” also with them. A suspicious bunch they were.
Most Americans, including seamen, incorrectly use “merchant marine” to describe individuals. A pet peeve.
4 Likes
When talking to people in the US who don’t live near the coast I find most to be ignorant of any term such as mariner or seaman. The US has traditionally not been a seafaring nation so that is understandable. The last time mariner or ‘merchant marine’ was used was 80 years ago. At some airport immigration offices in other countries I have said when asked my business, “I am in the shipping business, we move stuff around.” Like DHL? Yep.
Passport stamped and on to work
1 Like
Not legal even if US citizens absent the relevant license and inspections.
- this brings back memories of working for XXX and my buddy decided to ferry customers across Spa Creek to the boat show. He was quite stoned and t-boned the boat show dock with all our customers aboard the launch
I’d say you walked into that one… 
1 Like
When the lady I have now been married to for 52 years was told I would be home on leave if she would like to meet me, meddlesome matchmaking family members, 
after being told I was in the Coast Guard, she thought I was in a ‘rescue squad”.
1 Like
If you think this is a left vs. right issue I don’t buy it. They both do it depending on the argument being made.
The left is just a lot more polite about it while when the left does it it comes off a lot more crass.
I’m someone very much in the middle and find today’s political discourse to generally be pathetic depending on the topic so I’m not trying to defend either side.
How is it in California now? “Boss, I flipped burgers for an hour.” Boss: “Here’s twenty bucks.”