Problems when entering the US with GC

[AtlFalcons 3]

I would appeal to the DHS and acquire a redress number. If you are always being stopped at secondary screening you can do this.  Heres some information regarding this. 

Redress number is for see below and good luck

• situations where travelers believe they have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding or identified for additional screening at our nation’s transportation hubs. 

https://www.dhs.gov/one-stop-travelers-redress-process

[moosy 139]

Which country did you come in from both ways?

My USC husband has been pulled aside twice when he flew in from Amsterdam to Atlanta for a shorter visit (to visit me back then). They put him in a separate room as well, two times, while they ran his name through the system. One time, they called in the drug dogs, so even when they said nothing about the reason, it was quite clear for him why they were going for him. He is a white male, around 40, but dressed in hoodies and anxious about flying, plus the short visits, so I can see from their point of view why he would fit the profile of weed-trafficker haha.

 

Perhaps it is something similar with the country you just came from? And that you in combination with the city/country you just came from, just raises some flags?

In that case, you could just set aside some extra time for that in the future when you go there again.

[PA2DR 140]

20 hours ago, cd37 said:

Do you generally get “SSSS” on your boarding pass when you fly ?

What does that mean??? I got it twice already. I’m American but visit my fiancé often!!! 

[jskibo 588]

50 minutes ago, PA2DR said:

What does that mean??? I got it twice already. I’m American but visit my fiancé often!!! 

It means you get the extra screening, usually at the gate. 

 

I'm a US Citizen and have global entry but I cover the middle East and north Africa for work for a large defense firm.  

 

I get SSSS every trip returning from Cairo and Morroco

[zoom123 7]

This happened to me every time I come to US. At JFK I did my own US passport scan then with 'X' mark I went to immigration officer, he took me to secondary inspection. Where I sat for 15 to 20 minutes then the officer called and gave my passport back.

It's happening to me regardless of vising Country. I came from UK, Amsterdam, India, KSA and recent visit from Ghana.

This start happening to me once I got my GC. Earlier I was on H1B I had no issues. So now I prepare my self that I have to go secondary.

After this trip I applied for Global Entry but the application is still in review.

I never had an Issue at TSA or boarding plane etc.

Edited October 31, 2018 by zoom123

[Chewbacca 18]

1 hour ago, moosy said:

Which country did you come in from both ways?

My USC husband has been pulled aside twice when he flew in from Amsterdam to Atlanta for a shorter visit (to visit me back then). They put him in a separate room as well, two times, while they ran his name through the system. One time, they called in the drug dogs, so even when they said nothing about the reason, it was quite clear for him why they were going for him. He is a white male, around 40, but dressed in hoodies and anxious about flying, plus the short visits, so I can see from their point of view why he would fit the profile of weed-trafficker haha.

 

Perhaps it is something similar with the country you just came from? And that you in combination with the city/country you just came from, just raises some flags?

In that case, you could just set aside some extra time for that in the future when you go there again.

I was flying from London in both occasions and I'm an EU citizen. I was just sent to secondary but they didn't search my bags, so I believe it was not a drug related concern. 

 

My plan is to buy tickets with longer connection time (last time I had 2,5 hours between flights but apparently that wasn't enough). Thanks for the reply! 

 

[Chewbacca 18]

31 minutes ago, zoom123 said:

This happened to me every time I come to US. At JFK I did my own US passport scan then with 'X' mark I went to immigration officer, he took me to secondary inspection. Where I sat for 15 to 20 minutes then the officer called and gave my passport back.

It's happening to me regardless of vising Country. I came from UK, Amsterdam, India, KSA and recent visit from Ghana.

This start happening to me once I got my GC. Earlier I was on H1B I had no issues. So now I prepare my self that I have to go secondary.

After this trip I applied for Global Entry but the application is still in review.

I never had an Issue at TSA or boarding plane etc.

Sorry the same it's happening to you. I agree Global Entry might be the best option, and I'm already working on the application. Hopefully that will fix the problem!

[Chewbacca 18]

3 hours ago, visaqueries said:

My husband had this problem.  Originally he was fine, but we drove (in our own car) over the border to Canada once.  When we returned, the officer sent us to secondary.  From that point on, my husband was always pulled aside when returning to the US...Japan, Australia, the Bahamas.  At the Bahamas, both of us were led to the secondary inspection.  From what we gathered from the side talks is that they struggled because my husband had such a long name (four last names to be exact) and that caused problems.  We always listed his first name as his first name and his other names as his last name (the way they do names in Egypt don't exactly match the way we do it here), and it appeared somewhere in their system his first name was listed with the first 4 names and his last name was the last one.  So, his name didn't match to them...even though all the names were the exact same.  He is away on his first trip as a US Citizen, so we imagine things will go much smoother on Friday when he returns (he legally shortened his name which should help).

 

What We Did:  First name: John  Last Name: Smith Jones Carpenter Lewis

What They Had In the System:  First Name:  John Smith Jones Carpenter  Last Name: Lewis

 

My husband was never interviewed.  He just sat and waited for them to clear him.  The reason we felt this was the issue was because the Bahamas CBP said, "Yes, it's fine.  It's the same."  The original officer just didn't want to make the call to clear us.

 

 

Thank you everyone for the replies!  

 

I think the long name might be the issue. I have 4 last names as well (no middle names), and I had problems in the past because they listed 3 of my last names as a middle name in my social security card, and I had to get it replaced. Reading your husband experience, it seems like a very similar situation. No interview, just a long wait in the room.

 

I will apply for Global Entry and hopefully they can identify the issue and fix it. 

 

 

[TM92 527]

10 hours ago, Amisharjil said:

What does a SSSS mean on the the boarding pass?

2 hours ago, PA2DR said:

What does that mean??? I got it twice already. I’m American but visit my fiancé often!!! 

Statement from TSA, https://www.businessinsider.com/what-ssss-on-boarding-pass-means-tsa-2017-9:

Quote

"Secure Flight is a risk-based passenger pre-screening program that enhances security by identifying low and high-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport by matching their names against trusted traveler lists and watchlists"

[PA2DR 140]

31 minutes ago, TM92 said:

Statement from TSA, https://www.businessinsider.com/what-ssss-on-boarding-pass-means-tsa-2017-9:

Interesting!!! Thank you 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

6 hours ago, zoom123 said:

 

After this trip I applied for Global Entry but the application is still in review.

I never had an Issue at TSA or boarding plane etc.

When you say in review - before or after the interview?

[zoom123 7]

18 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

When you say in review - before or after the interview?

Once you submit the application after payment it will take a week or month to complete the initial review then if an interview is required they will post that at Dash board. After logged in you can see the notification.

If an interview is required then you go ahead and schedule an interview. If interview is not required they will approve your application send a card.

[Chewbacca 18]

On 10/31/2018 at 7:18 AM, AtlFalcons said:

I would appeal to the DHS and acquire a redress number. If you are always being stopped at secondary screening you can do this.  Heres some information regarding this. 

Redress number is for see below and good luck

• situations where travelers believe they have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding or identified for additional screening at our nation’s transportation hubs. 

https://www.dhs.gov/one-stop-travelers-redress-process

I remember that I've applied for a redress number in the past, after a trip to the US because it wasn't registered that I exit the country in my travel history. I sent them my passport and boarding passes to prove that I left the country, and I had no problems entering after that. Do you know if this redress number is something that you need to apply after each trip that you have problems, or should I use the number that I assigned to me in the past when booking my next trip? Thanks!

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

3 hours ago, zoom123 said:

Once you submit the application after payment it will take a week or month to complete the initial review then if an interview is required they will post that at Dash board. After logged in you can see the notification.

If an interview is required then you go ahead and schedule an interview. If interview is not required they will approve your application send a card.

I wonder if it's changed, when we applied (approx 2 years ago) an in-person interview was a requirement for a first application. (I seem to recall they took our biometrics at the appointment as well as part of the required process - they definitely took a photo, which is on the physical GE card, i am almost certain fingerprints too.)  

 

Edit: ah, this is what the CBP website says. 

After accepting your completed application and fee, CBP will review your application. If your application is conditionally approved, then your TTP account will instruct you to schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Each applicant must schedule a separate interview.

So I guess you are still waiting for conditional approval. If you get that you will have to have an interview.

Edited November 1, 2018 by SusieQQQ

[zoom123 7]

On 11/1/2018 at 2:05 PM, SusieQQQ said:

I wonder if it's changed, when we applied (approx 2 years ago) an in-person interview was a requirement for a first application. (I seem to recall they took our biometrics at the appointment as well as part of the required process - they definitely took a photo, which is on the physical GE card, i am almost certain fingerprints too.)  

 

Edit: ah, this is what the CBP website says. 

After accepting your completed application and fee, CBP will review your application. If your application is conditionally approved, then your TTP account will instruct you to schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Each applicant must schedule a separate interview.

So I guess you are still waiting for conditional approval. If you get that you will have to have an interview.

Yes, once appliation is conditioanally approved then they will ask to schedule an interview. I recently submitted and waiting for conditional approval.