Cracking the Code

[rebeccajo 14]

Here's a description of Soundex, the system used by the FBI to run clearance on all petitioners for AOS and NATZ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundex

Edited January 15, 2007 by rebeccajo

[hanster 0]

Here's a description of Soundex, the system used by the FBI to run clearance on all petitioners for AOS and NATZ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundex

Soundex is really not a system, it is a function (or algorithm) used. This really nothing especial and it really is not what the FBI uses for the clearance. I personally am a computer programmer and I have used soundex in the past, and alot of websites out there use it or use something similar to it. for example, if you search on google for "Wikipidia" (which is spelled wrong in this case), google will know that the word "Wikipedia" sounds the same way and will return that for you.

sorry to disappoint you, but soundex is definitely not a system used by the FBI for name checks.

[rebeccajo 14]

sorry to disappoint you, but soundex is definitely not a system used by the FBI for name checks.

Why would you say that?

[Boiler 46,209]

Some of the systems available to them ... a hit on your name or similar anywhere ..will cause delays ....

CLASS (Consular Lookout and Support System) DOS

- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) makes entries into this database.

- NCIC (see below) is now integrated into CLASS

CCD (Consolidated Consular Database)

- contains SEVIS (see below) data for consulars to access.

NCIC (National Crime Information Center)

- contains criminal record information for police to check when they stop or arrest someone.

- NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System)

- above systems contain more than 7 million names, including information from state/local law enforcement agencies (including charges such as "shoplifting," DWI, etc.)

NAILS II (National Automated Immigration Lookout System II) DHS

- NIIS (Nonimmigrant Information System), containing nonimmigrant visa denial information, arrival/departure/overstay (I-94) information.

IBIS (Interagency Border Inspection System)

- ADIS (Arrival Departure Information System)

TECS (US Customs' Treasury Enforcement Communications Systems)

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)

NSEERS (National Security Entry Exit Registration System)

APIS (Advanced Passenger Information System)

ADIS (Arrival Departure Information System)

IBIS (Interagency Border Inspection System)

IDENT (Automated Biometric Identification System)

CLAIMS 3 (Computer Linked Application Information Management System)

CHIMERA

US VISIT

TAL (Technological Alert List)

[hanster 0]

sorry to disappoint you, but soundex is definitely not a system used by the FBI for name checks.

Why would you say that?

cause soundex is not a system, it is a function.

example:

SELECT SOUNDEX ('katy'), SOUNDEX ('katie');

this would return a number specific to the pronunciation of katy and a number associated with the pronunciation of katie. in this case each would return "K300" which basically indicates that the two's pronunciation is close.

Now soundex is not a system, it is just an algorithm that compares two strings and their associated characters to a pre-assigned values.

Now, even though an FBI system might use this function in it, soundex would be a minute part of a system and is really unmentionable.

i use soundex in almost every website that i design, and it really is not that big of a thing.

I just wanted to make this clarification

[rebeccajo 14]

Right Boiler. That makes sense.

I'm saying that Soundex is the system or algorithm used to develop the names run through this check.

[hanster 0]

Right Boiler. That makes sense.

I'm saying that Soundex is the system or algorithm used to develop the names run through this check.

yup, you are absolutely right.

[rebeccajo 14]

sorry to disappoint you, but soundex is definitely not a system used by the FBI for name checks.

Why would you say that?

cause soundex is not a system, it is a function.

example:

SELECT SOUNDEX ('katy'), SOUNDEX ('katie');

this would return a number specific to the pronunciation of katy and a number associated with the pronunciation of katie. in this case each would return "K300" which basically indicates that the two's pronunciation is close.

Now soundex is not a system, it is just an algorithm that compares two strings and their associated characters to a pre-assigned values.

Now, even though an FBI system might use this function in it, soundex would be a minute part of a system and is really unmentionable.

i use soundex in almost every website that i design, and it really is not that big of a thing.

I just wanted to make this clarification

Ok, fair enough. Except for the 'unmentionable' part.

As Soundex can actually change the name being searched.

My husband's last name yields 6 other surnames, two of which are VERY uncommon and four of which are VERY common. And one of these surnames, combined with his given name, give him the name of a famous actor.

So it's VERY mentionable if FBI is searching records for not only someone with your same name, but for people with DIFFERENT names.

[hanster 0]

what i meant by "unmentionable" is that it is such a small part (code wise) of of whatever system they use.

[rebeccajo 14]

what i meant by "unmentionable" is that it is such a small part (code wise) of of whatever system they use.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL......You're letting the 'developer' side of your brain interfere with the discussion!

PS....I just figured out that the famous actor whose Soundex code matches my husband's has been previously arrested for carrying fake passports as well as tax evasion. At airports.

Oh Goody.

Yello, FBI....check my husband's bank account! He is NOT this dude.

I need a drink.

Edited January 15, 2007 by rebeccajo

[hanster 0]

what i meant by "unmentionable" is that it is such a small part (code wise) of of whatever system they use.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL......You're letting the 'developer' side of your brain interfere with the discussion!

PS....I just figured out that the famous actor whose Soundex code matches my husband's has been previously arrested for carrying fake passports as well as tax evasion. At airports.

Oh Goody.

I am not gonna worry about that because i have an arabic name (being from lebanon) and i know my first name and my last name will be red flagging right and left even though I personally have never done anything illegal here or overseas. I imagine that my name check is gonna be one of those that take a year or more to finish.

I have said that in a previous post, but I have always told my parents that they should have named me a good old english name which have made my life easier.

[rebeccajo 14]

what i meant by "unmentionable" is that it is such a small part (code wise) of of whatever system they use.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL......You're letting the 'developer' side of your brain interfere with the discussion!

PS....I just figured out that the famous actor whose Soundex code matches my husband's has been previously arrested for carrying fake passports as well as tax evasion. At airports.

Oh Goody.

I am not gonna worry about that because i have an arabic name (being from lebanon) and i know my first name and my last name will be red flagging right and left even though I personally have never done anything illegal here or overseas. I imagine that my name check is gonna be one of those that take a year or more to finish.

I have said that in a previous post, but I have always told my parents that they should have named me a good old english name which have made my life easier.

Well, the fact is it appears that indeed, a good many with arabic and hindi names get caught in the check. An understanding of this phonetic 'system' now explains, at least to me, why this happens.

And for whatever its worth, my husband has a good old english name. Very english. So nothing is certain.

[hanster 0]

what i meant by "unmentionable" is that it is such a small part (code wise) of of whatever system they use.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL......You're letting the 'developer' side of your brain interfere with the discussion!

PS....I just figured out that the famous actor whose Soundex code matches my husband's has been previously arrested for carrying fake passports as well as tax evasion. At airports.

Oh Goody.

I am not gonna worry about that because i have an arabic name (being from lebanon) and i know my first name and my last name will be red flagging right and left even though I personally have never done anything illegal here or overseas. I imagine that my name check is gonna be one of those that take a year or more to finish.

I have said that in a previous post, but I have always told my parents that they should have named me a good old english name which have made my life easier.

Well, the fact is it appears that indeed, a good many with arabic and hindi names get caught in the check. An understanding of this phonetic 'system' now explains, at least to me, why this happens.

And for whatever its worth, my husband has a good old english name. Very english. So nothing is certain.

Ok, maybe they should have given me a good old "French" name??

[amwo 0]

Thank you, Boiler. This is great info.

Thank you, Hanster, for the clarifiaction.

The original post was a shocker when I read it. Sounded to simplistic and misleading.

Some of the systems available to them ... a hit on your name or similar anywhere ..will cause delays ....

CLASS (Consular Lookout and Support System) DOS

- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) makes entries into this database.

. . .

TAL (Technological Alert List)

[rebeccajo 14]

Thank you, Boiler. This is great info.

Thank you, Hanster, for the clarifiaction.

The original post was a shocker when I read it. Sounded to simplistic and misleading.

Some of the systems available to them ... a hit on your name or similar anywhere ..will cause delays ....

CLASS (Consular Lookout and Support System) DOS

- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) makes entries into this database.

. . .

TAL (Technological Alert List)

Yes, these are great points on the thread and I'm ever so grateful these guys added to the discussion.

I'm not sure I follow what you mean though about my original post being simplistic and misleading. We all go through the namecheck process. Fortunately, not everybody gets stuck in it. I would think knowing that your name gets put through all these databases, PLUS completely different versions of your name, would be helpful in understanding the process. No?

Perhaps I should have elaborated further in my post. We've been caught in this process for a good while and I make the mistake of assuming that all comers to the forum already are at the same stage of the learning curve as we are. My apologies.