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This happened to me at CBP... is that normal?

By kpelo in Working & Traveling During US Immigration

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kpelo Rookie

kpelo   0

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Posted

 

Hello guys,

 

So I just wanna share what happened to me at the Boston airport, and ask you guys if you think this is normal.

 

I entered the US many times with the GC + extension letter....and half of the times they send me to the secondary office, check my passport, letter and I always get in with no problems...

sometimes they don't even send me to secondary , they just say Welcome!

 

My extension letter expired....so it was my FIRST TIME traveling with the Stamp in my passport

 

So when I entered the US they sent me to the secondary office.... ( I was coming from a 7 day trip to Barcelona ) ....I wait for like 1 hour or more...

and they made me open my carry on, checked bag...everything...they checked everything inside my bag.....my backpack... they even asked me to turn on my macbook :S

 

Is that a normal procedure? I need to travel abroad soon and Im afraid that's gonna happen again ( but now I have a 48 month extension letter...t I did not have on my last trip )

It was really embarrassing having my bags opened in front of other people waiting.... like I was a criminal or something

 

thank you

 

 

 

 

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   45,788

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
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Posted

Not normal

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

kpelo Rookie

kpelo   0

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1 hour ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

It seems you were flagged for secondary customs inspection. 

like a one time thing or you think that will happen again?

 

I arrived via Houston and they just welcomed in, 2 months later that happens in Boston.....

Verrou Proficient

Verrou   1,962

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Timeline
Posted (edited)

if it happened once, I will prepare for the worst and think it might happen again ( you never know). My friend has greencard from L1 visa, from Ireland, she said she always got questioned hard everytime she got back from overseas. she gave up and file for citizenship last year. 

Edited by Misscloud
Scandi Mentor

Scandi   4,173

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
 Timeline
Posted

It's normal, just not common. They can do this to anyone, you just happened to be picked that day. It happens. 

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   41,985

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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Posted (edited)

CBP always has the option to do search everything.  Maybe it was just a random selection....or an officer thought the OP looked suspicious.  That is all they need.

Edited by Crazy Cat

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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SteveInBostonI130 Experienced

SteveInBostonI130   3,471

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
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Posted (edited)

People here focus on the immigration and visa side of CBP, per the nature of this website 

 

The first letter of the acronym is Customs.  The people walking around baggage claim and watch arriving passengers collect their luggage and sometimes question them are also CBP.  A major portion of their work is to spot and investigate customs violations.

 

EDIT: Everyone is subject to the above, even citizens.

Edited by SteveInBostonI130
Imperium Enthusiast

Imperium   81

Posted
Filed: Other Timeline
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10 hours ago, kpelo said:

 

Hello guys,

 

So I just wanna share what happened to me at the Boston airport, and ask you guys if you think this is normal.

 

I entered the US many times with the GC + extension letter....and half of the times they send me to the secondary office, check my passport, letter and I always get in with no problems...

sometimes they don't even send me to secondary , they just say Welcome!

 

My extension letter expired....so it was my FIRST TIME traveling with the Stamp in my passport

 

So when I entered the US they sent me to the secondary office.... ( I was coming from a 7 day trip to Barcelona ) ....I wait for like 1 hour or more...

and they made me open my carry on, checked bag...everything...they checked everything inside my bag.....my backpack... they even asked me to turn on my macbook :S

 

Is that a normal procedure? I need to travel abroad soon and Im afraid that's gonna happen again ( but now I have a 48 month extension letter...t I did not have on my last trip )

It was really embarrassing having my bags opened in front of other people waiting.... like I was a criminal or something

 

thank you

 

 

 

 

Can you see quad on your boarding pass "SSSS?"

That may also be a reason.

Timona Experienced

Timona   4,208

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Kenya
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Normal. I have gone through random bag search at IAH.

 

Let's not even get started on SSSS, which I last encountered 3 weeks ago. My carry on was ripped open at the boarding gate and they searched. 

 

In my numerous travels, I've missed SSSS 3 or 4 times. Infact, it's not a day in the office if I don't get it. 

Edited by Timona

Immigration journey is not: fast, for the faint at heart, easy, cheap, for the impatient nor right away. If more than 50% of this applies to you, best get off the bus.

Scandi Mentor

Scandi   4,173

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
 Timeline
Posted

On my second trip ever on an ESTA, I was checked for explosives before boarding the plane to the US. That was fun too. Had to get a lot of stuff out of my bags, get the laptop up and they swabbed everything and put it into that machine that can detect explosives. Not a big deal or anything, but a little surprising at the time I guess. 

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,668

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

Thread is moved from an AOS forum to the Working & Traveling forum.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

 
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