USC not truthful during secondary screening - impact?

[Loose_Implement 0]

In 2020 me and my then to be wife travelled to the US on the same flight from her home country and were married two days later in the US on a prescheduled appointment. We travelled separately and I used the USC line while she used the travel line for foreigners on a visit visa. 

 

I was taken into secondary screening and was asked about my dating/relationship status and I told the officer that I was not seeing anyone at that time. She asked me why and I said I wasn't really looking to date at that time. We stayed in the US for a month and then returned back to her home country where we had our proper wedding and have been living here ever since.

 

I'm curious if this could cause issues for us down the line? My wife didn't have secondary screening and was asked for the purpose of her visit at the counter and she said it was for shopping and visiting family. Our marriage in the US was more of just a procedure as I didn't want to have a foreign marriage certificate that had to be translated etc and was done via zoom. Our main wedding with family and friends was held later in her home country. 

 

We eventually plan on moving back to the US via CR1/IR1. Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,432]

Were you a USC at that time (2020)?

 

That line of questioning is highly unusual.  What made CBP suspect or even ask about your relationship status?  Did they inspect your phone?  Did you have any petitions submitted (Fiance)?

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

1. i suspect it showed on computers that u bought her ticket and she was on the same flight
2. if u apply later for spouse visa,  the interview will have her CBP info not yours,  so  how did she answer the questions?

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

5 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Were you a USC at that time (2020)?

 

That line of questioning is highly unusual.  What made CBP suspect or even ask about your relationship status?  Did they inspect your phone?  Did you have any petitions submitted (Fiance)?

He used the USC line at the airport and referred to himself as USC on the title, so everything indicates he was. 

 

Agreed that it is odd for a citizen to be sent to secondary inspection.

[Boiler 45,451]

4 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

He used the USC line at the airport and referred to himself as USC on the title, so everything indicates he was. 

 

Agreed that it is odd for a citizen to be sent to secondary inspection.

Happened to Johnny Depp, he was coming back from S America, he had a bag of white protein powder in his luggage, they though they had hit the mother lode.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Happened to Johnny Depp, he was coming back from S America, he had a bag of white protein powder in his luggage, they though they had hit the mother lode.

Well, I guess he was already flagged by CBP as a powder enthusiast. 

 

We now need OP to share with us why would CBP flag him. 

Edited May 5, 2023 by Allaboutwaiting

[Boiler 45,451]

1 minute ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Well, I guess he was already flagged by CBP as a powder enthusiast. 

 

We now need OP to share with us why would CBP flag him. 

Seems they slay thought he was a latex enthusiast 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Seems they slay thought he was a latex enthusiast 

Assuming OP was a latex enthusiast? How risqué of you @Boiler

[Loose_Implement 0]

I was selected for secondary screening as I'm brown, was traveling alone to a muslim country high on the so called terror list, and had stayed there for two months. From my experience this is common for USC who look like me and spend longer time periods in certain countries in the middle east. They asked me what I did for work, what i was doing in that country for two months, asked me questions about my family members, personal life etc etc. It was quite annoying actually and I didn't respond honestly as I felt that it was none of their business but just now realized that it could possibly cause trouble for us in the future. 

 

She didn't have to go through secondary screening only I had to. 

Edited May 5, 2023 by Loose_Implement

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

20 minutes ago, Loose_Implement said:

I was selected for secondary screening as I'm brown, was traveling alone to a muslim country high on the so called terror list, and had stayed there for two months. From my experience this is common for USC who look like me and spend longer time periods in certain countries in the middle east. They asked me what I did for work, what i was doing in that country for two months, asked me questions about my family members, personal life etc etc. It was quite annoying actually and I didn't respond honestly as I felt that it was none of their business but just now realized that it could possibly cause trouble for us in the future. 

 

She didn't have to go through secondary screening only I had to. 

The skin color has nothing to do with it, but the fact that you stayed a good amount of time in a listed MENA country. 

 

Misrepresentation is an issue IF the false statement was made to procure an immigration benefit, which was not the case. 

 

An important note: you both lied to CBP as you both traveled to the US to marry -which was not in itself an issue-.

 

Just curious: Do you have family in said country or just your then fiancée? Are you a US citizen by birth or naturalization? 

 

[TBoneTX 45,260]

You wouldn't have to be worrying about this if you'd told the truth.

 

CBP thrives on the truth.  If they flag you for a lie of any kind, you'll be pulled to Secondary on every trip, probably at least until you renew your U.S. passport.

 

Remember that CBP agents are on edge as it is, often in a foul humor and looking to nail somebody.  The current situation at the Mexico border doesn't help their moods at all.

 

1.  Were you on record as having filed any USCIS petition, for your fiancee or for yourself?

2.  What country are you from originally?

3.  If you naturalized, when was it?

[pushbrk 12,870]

Probably no impact on your future immigration plans, but there is no way to know.  Get all ideas of lying out of your thought process going forward, as the next lie by either of you can have severe consequences.

[Loose_Implement 0]

4 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

The skin color has nothing to do with it, but the fact that you stayed a good amount of time in a listed MENA country. 

 

Misrepresentation is an issue IF the false statement was made to procure an immigration benefit, which was not the case. 

 

An important note: you both lied to CBP as you both traveled to the US to marry -which was not in itself an issue-.

 

Just curious: Do you have family in said country or just your then fiancée? Are you a US citizen by birth or naturalization? 

 

No family in the country just my fiancee. I am also not a Muslim which is kinda obvious from my name but I was born in a different Muslim country by chance and that is listed on my passport. I am a naturalized US Citizen.

 

[Mike E 11,739]

7 hours ago, Loose_Implement said:

didn't respond honestly as I felt that it was none of their business

It is better to say: “I am done answering your questions” than to lie.

 

To answer your original question, 

 

18 hours ago, Loose_Implement said:

I'm curious if this could cause issues for us down the line?

More secondaries if someone in DHS connects the dots. Denial of global entry or NEXUS if DHS or CBSA connects the dots

[milimelo 4,475]

Turkmenistan is not a MENA country.