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kpelo

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

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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

 

 

 

 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
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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.”

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Myanmar
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22 minutes ago, kpelo said:

Is that a normal procedure?

Not normal, but once you travel enough, inevitable.

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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
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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
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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

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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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!"

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Filed: Other Timeline
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.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Kenya
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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.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
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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

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
Timeline

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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3 hours ago, Timona said:

Let's not even get started on SSSS, which I last encountered 3 weeks ago.

What is that?

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