Interrogated at POE!

[newlyweds2010 208]

I don't understand what the problem is with being questioned by officers who are doing their job. And I understand even less the brilliant idea to answer in a non responsive manner, basically provoking them. Each of us knows to be an intimately good, law abiding person. they don't. and their job is exactly the one of finding those who are not. asking questions is one of the ways to find them. I don't see anything strange in being asked questions, if they didn't, they wouldn't be doing their job. what they look for is not only those who pose a serious threaten to national security, but also those who smuggle food and other prohibited items into the country, just because they don't want to pay customs or because they think to be smart.

they ask you where you're going, and this being the land of the free they're not supposed to? who cares. tell them where you're going and then be free to leave. "none of your f. business" is a good answer only if the idea of being searched "in depth" sounds appealing.

I never had any problems whatsoever, they asked questions, I answered courteously and straight to the point, said the truth, and "have a good day".

[Lancelotte25 1]

The only thing I see here, is that, they are suspecting you for human trafficking.

The period of your travels may ignite a suspicion that something is not right even though

you know you are not doing anything wrong.

[Shenzhen 34]

I don't understand what the problem is with being questioned by officers who are doing their job. And I understand even less the brilliant idea to answer in a non responsive manner, basically provoking them. Each of us knows to be an intimately good, law abiding person. they don't. and their job is exactly the one of finding those who are not. asking questions is one of the ways to find them. I don't see anything strange in being asked questions, if they didn't, they wouldn't be doing their job. what they look for is not only those who pose a serious threaten to national security, but also those who smuggle food and other prohibited items into the country, just because they don't want to pay customs or because they think to be smart.

they ask you where you're going, and this being the land of the free they're not supposed to? who cares. tell them where you're going and then be free to leave. "none of your f. business" is a good answer only if the idea of being searched "in depth" sounds appealing.

I never had any problems whatsoever, they asked questions, I answered courteously and straight to the point, said the truth, and "have a good day".

My question was had this happened to anyone else? Was it because of a petition? What I was trying to find out was this directly related to filing a CR1? I believe it does now. Like I said they knew about my 2 previous fiancee petitions 1 in 06 and the other in 09. Both were withdrawn because after filing and waiting, communication stopped except for asking me for money.

[newlyweds2010 208]

My question was had this happened to anyone else? Was it because of a petition? What I was trying to find out was this directly related to filing a CR1? I believe it does now. Like I said they knew about my 2 previous fiancee petitions 1 in 06 and the other in 09. Both were withdrawn because after filing and waiting, communication stopped except for asking me for money.

well, if you withdrew 2 petitions in 3 years and now are going for a third one, I guess the CBP officers see a pop-up on their computer screen when they scan your passport at the POE.

they may be suspecting human trafficking, immigration fraud, and what not. as to my previous comment, I just replied to the other comments according to which the govt is tracking good citizens etc. I think you have to get used to this kind of treatment. or do you really think it's odd?

Edited December 30, 2010 by newlyweds2010

[Shenzhen 34]

well, if you withdrew 2 petitions in 3 years and now are going for a third one, I guess the CBP officers see a pop-up on their computer screen when they scan your passport at the POE.

they may be suspecting human trafficking, immigration fraud, and what not. as to my previous comment, I just replied to the other comments according to which the govt is tracking good citizens etc. I think you have to get used to this kind of treatment. or do you really think it's odd?

I don't think it's odd what I find odd is if the woman doesn't communicate and is only interested in MONEY then I am out of there! Which I explained to the ICE officials. After I explained the previous petitions they changed the questions. At that point he said we are just looking for fraud. I said OK. Since I don't have anything to hide I went along with them what else can you do? Anything else would be suspect. I will not be traveling out of the country for a while unless I am with my wife. I am now waiting for her interview. I only made the 3rd trip because I wanted to cement the fact that we are married and are a couple. I read 2x trips to see your SO is so so. I also did the EOR and signed it at the GUANGZHOU consulate and paid 50 bucks for a notary. So 3 trips to the same place once to get married and 2x to see her would help me, not hurt me. Are the NVC and customs computers tied together?

Edited December 30, 2010 by Shenzhen

[newlyweds2010 208]

Your right why go out and look for illegals when you can sit there and search innocent people. Reminds me of the cops, why bust the dope dealers and the real criminals? They go after law abiding citizens because they can. Most are idiots with badges like the TSA agents. How many terrorists have they caught since 2001 NONE! The shoe bomber got through! The underwear bomber got through! We have paid an enormous sum of money for this. Billion's of tax dollars. Well we are able to fly safer now. I am glad I didn't have my laptop. I was wondering if they were going to check my video cam? The one officer seen the camera bag, but he was not near as bad as the other guy. Guess they had a slow day needed to justify their jobs. The airport was almost empty being the Sunday after Christmas.

the CBP has the task, as its name says, to protect customs and borders. they don't care that you went to China to see your wife and have a stronger case for when she goes to the interview, because she can prove that you two met several times in her country. this is Embassy stuff, USCIS stuff. What they care about is that no illegal goods are smuggled into the country, that if you import legal stuff in excess to the set threshold you pay import taxes, that you do not traffic in human beings etc.

now, one day a guy that goes under the nickname "Shenzen" comes back from Shenzen, PRC, for the third time in one year and wants to go home to the US. the IOs at the POE scan his passport, and what pops up is a warning in red capital letters saying something like "DOUBLE CHECK THIS DUDE", be it for his previous trips to China or for his two previous petitions in favor of a foreign fiancee. or for the two things combined.

telling them that you withdrew because it was a scam (this is basically what you're stating) obviously didn't help, because they may think that your current marriage is another scam. obviously I'm not saying that you had to lie, of course you had to tell the truth: what I'm saying is that the facts are not in your favor.

we say something like "there is no 2 without a 3". I don't know if there is a similar saying in the English language. that's why they wanted to see pics and solid proof that you two are married for real.

and here comes my question: do you think it's odd that they double check? do you think they are overreacting?

it has nothing to do with the underwear bomber or the shoe bomber not being checked and "we the good people" being stopped and questioned. you had already landed, so any security check should have been done before boarding. this was an immigration check.

this said, I don't know what computer systems are connected and what are not, of course there must be something that triggers their attention because you can be stopped once by chance, but twice in a row is surely not casual.

I don't even know how many people have withdrawn 2 fiancee visa applications in 3 years and then married a foreigner and applied for the CR-1.

I'm just giving my ideas based on what you said and on some commonsense.

Edited December 31, 2010 by newlyweds2010

[Shenzhen 34]

the CBP has the task, as its name says, to protect customs and borders. they don't care that you went to China to see your wife and have a stronger case for when she goes to the interview, because she can prove that you two met several times in her country. this is Embassy stuff, USCIS stuff. What they care about is that no illegal goods are smuggled into the country, that if you import legal stuff in excess to the set threshold you pay import taxes, that you do not traffic in human beings etc.

now, one day a guy that goes under the nickname "Shenzen" comes back from Shenzen, PRC, for the third time in one year and wants to go home to the US. the IOs at the POE scan his passport, and what pops up is a warning in red capital letters saying something like "DOUBLE CHECK THIS DUDE", be it for his previous trips to China or for his two previous petitions in favor of a foreign fiancee. or for the two things combined.

telling them that you withdrew because it was a scam (this is basically what you're stating) obviously didn't help, because they may think that your current marriage is another scam. obviously I'm not saying that you had to lie, of course you had to tell the truth: what I'm saying is that the facts are not in your favor.

we say something like "there is no 2 without a 3". I don't know if there is a similar saying in the English language. that's why they wanted to see pics and solid proof that you two are married for real.

and here comes my question: do you think it's odd that they double check? do you think they are overreacting?

it has nothing to do with the underwear bomber or the shoe bomber not being checked and "we the good people" being stopped and questioned. you had already landed, so any security check should have been done before boarding. this was an immigration check.

this said, I don't know what computer systems are connected and what are not, of course there must be something that triggers their attention because you can be stopped once by chance, but twice in a row is surely not casual.

I don't even know how many people have withdrawn 2 fiancee visa applications in 3 years and then married a foreigner and applied for the CR-1.

I'm just giving my ideas based on what you said and on some commonsense.

I have read way worse things that happened to people on here than filing and withdrawing a petition. Anyhow I am not complaining about the questioning. I am more concerned is this going to happen every time I come back from vacation someplace with my new wife. Say we go to Canada for a weekend or to Paris, London what then? How long does this BS last? How about missing connecting flights? Let's set the record straight filed the first petition Jan. 06, that will be 5 years next month. The 2nd one was in Feb 09 started withdraw process in Aug. 09. DUE TO NO COMMUNICATION AND like clock work came text me need more money. Well after 6 months I realized, fault me for being slow, I decided she was only after money. Now I File a MARRIAGE VISA in FEB 10. Your right it looks bad. But how many people have I brought to the USA? That's right a big fat ZERO!

Edited December 31, 2010 by Shenzhen

[newlyweds2010 208]

I have read way worse things that happened to people on here than filing and withdrawing a petition. Anyhow I am not complaining about the questioning. I am more concerned is this going to happen every time I come back from vacation someplace with my new wife. Say we go to Canada for a weekend or to Paris, London what then?

Maybe same treatment, maybe not. who are we to know how the gov't works.

How long does this BS last?

Same as above. we don't know how long it takes to be delisted from the "suspected bad guys" list, provided that you are in one. you could just be very unlucky.

How about missing connecting flights?

They don't give a damn. In fact they tell you to allow plenty of time between your connecting flights, so that if something happens (a delay, long line at POE, etc.) you will still make it. And don't try to complain expecting that they will be understanding, because they surely won't.

Let's set the record straight filed the first petition Jan. 06, that will be 5 years next month. The 2nd one was in Feb 09 started withdraw process in Aug. 09. DUE TO NO COMMUNICATION AND like clock work came text me need more money. Well after 6 months I realized, fault me for being slow, I decided she was only after money. Now I File a MARRIAGE VISA in FEB 10. Your right it looks bad. But how many people have I brought to the USA? That's right a big fat ZERO!

You don't need to convince me that your case is good. I got it that you didn't bring anybody to the US and that now you are married and you just want to be with your wife.

Edited December 31, 2010 by newlyweds2010