Further to my New York-London round trip last week (and my NyLon column), I thought I should note my impressions of the journey, given that there is so much controversy at the moment in New York about whether US immigration and security measures are putting off visitors.

Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s mayor, regularly expresses concern that the country does not give a warm enough welcome to people visiting, or wanting to come and work in, New York. Justin Fox of Time argued the other day that, although he ranks New York a better city to live in, immigration officials here ought to be friendlier.

So here is my off-the-cuff comparison:

First, New York is cheaper to get to. Hardly a surprise this one, given the insane dollar-sterling exchange rate at the moment, which makes London a stratospherically expensive city for those paid in dollars. But travel to the airport is indeed far cheaper on the initial leg of a New York-London trip than on the second. Here are the figures for the trip I mentioned in my column.

1. F Train from 57th Street to 34th Street. $2 (£1).

2. Round-trip Long Island Rail Road fare from Penn Station to Jamaica. $14 (£7)

3. Air Train from Jamaica to JFK Terminal 3. $5 (£2.50)

Total for New York travel: $21 (£10.50)

4. Return Heathrow Express fare from Terminal 3 to Paddington. $58 (£29)

5. Tube fare from Paddington to London Bridge $3.20 (£1.60)

Total for London travel: $61.20 (£30.60)

Conclusion: London is three times as expensive as New York.

Second, New York seemed to me to be welcoming foreign visitors more quickly and efficiently that London, at least since London immigration arrangements have been tightened up in a way that is reminiscent of the arrival of Homeland Security in the US after 911. When I arrived in London, I got through the queue for UK and European citizens very fast but there was an enormous snaking line that did not seem to be moving at all for Americans and others.

In contrast, when I got back to JFK, it only took about 20 minutes to get through immigration and I got a smile and a "have a nice day" not only from the immigration official but the customs officer.

For what it is worth, these things seem to go in cycles. A couple of years ago, the line at JFK tended to be very long and the greeting from immigration officials monosyllabic and frosty. But they seem to have smartened up their act just as London is going in the opposite direction.

Of course, none of this tells you anything about how easy it is for foreigners to get work permits for the UK or the US. Anecdotally, and from the anguished protests by US employers, it seems that the US has shot itself in the foot by tightening up so sharply on legal immigration by people who only want to work in the country, not blow it up. Felix Salmon has posted on this point.

What is your experience?

October 28th, 2007 in Finance | Permalink