What do US customs see when they swipe passports?
#16
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Montreal
Programs: AP, AM, HH, HG, MR
Posts: 283
Actually asked that exact question when I went in for my Nexus interview here in YUL yesterday. The cheerful answer the two US agents gave me was that they would have to kill me if they told me
Seriously, they were some of the most friendly customs agents I've ever met. That being said, Uncle Sam and his henchmen had already prescreened me and they did extract a lot of information from me over the course of our conversation.
Seriously, they were some of the most friendly customs agents I've ever met. That being said, Uncle Sam and his henchmen had already prescreened me and they did extract a lot of information from me over the course of our conversation.
#17
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 3,770
They certainly don't pull up a travel history unless it relates solely to travel into the US (for me I guess it may come up with a list of my recent trips to the US). They can always just look up the passport stamps for this anyway. They can't access information from other countries and nor should they. Again the main reason is to confirm the passport is legit.
Oh and customs open your bags, its immigration that check your passport
Oh and customs open your bags, its immigration that check your passport
#18
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
This is attributed to Justin Oberman, a former senior official at the Transportation Security Administration
That passport scan transmits the information to Customs which it needs to perform watch list matching for international flights. Currently, there is nothing analogous in the domestic market. The reason thats a big deal is because the carriers last choice is to be required to collect this information during the reservations process. That remains a major hurdle.
and from another story about it where they had an immigration officer demonstrate what visitors from outside the US went through:
Quickly, firmly and yes, politely, an Immigration Officer welcomed this reporter by capturing her "biometric information" in a two-minute exchange.
She asked for my passport and entry document
She swiped the passport through a barcode reader
She told me where to place each index finger on a box-like camera
She asked me to pose for a digital photo
For the purposes of this demonstration, we were shown the results on a flat screen monitor. A passport scan reveals several details or "hits" that might alert an officer to order a secondary screening of the visa applicant. Additionally, the biometric information (digital fingerprint scans -- barely readable to this reporter -- and photo) are checked against various government databases and Watch Lists to turn up matches, either to verify the visa holder's identity or find "those who would do us harm," as US government representatives noted in a panel discussion afterwards.
That passport scan transmits the information to Customs which it needs to perform watch list matching for international flights. Currently, there is nothing analogous in the domestic market. The reason thats a big deal is because the carriers last choice is to be required to collect this information during the reservations process. That remains a major hurdle.
and from another story about it where they had an immigration officer demonstrate what visitors from outside the US went through:
Quickly, firmly and yes, politely, an Immigration Officer welcomed this reporter by capturing her "biometric information" in a two-minute exchange.
She asked for my passport and entry document
She swiped the passport through a barcode reader
She told me where to place each index finger on a box-like camera
She asked me to pose for a digital photo
For the purposes of this demonstration, we were shown the results on a flat screen monitor. A passport scan reveals several details or "hits" that might alert an officer to order a secondary screening of the visa applicant. Additionally, the biometric information (digital fingerprint scans -- barely readable to this reporter -- and photo) are checked against various government databases and Watch Lists to turn up matches, either to verify the visa holder's identity or find "those who would do us harm," as US government representatives noted in a panel discussion afterwards.
#19
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,246
A few things...
- I've never seen customs scan a passport but I've never had to declare anything either
- Immigration does check your name against some watch lists, etc but that is done automatically
- Immigration does not have access to one's criminal record...at least it isn't something that automatically comes up. They probably could find out the information if they really need it for some reason.
#22
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K/AS 100K Bonvoy Titanium..Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 1,108
They use a system derived from the legacy TECS (Treasury Enforcement Computer System) system. I Once the passport is scanned it check the person's biographical data, passport numbers, ect. against all law enforcement data bases. When a passenger checks in for their flight at a foreign destination, the air carrier transmit that information via APIS (Advanced passenger Information System) Basically, everyone on your aircraft is being checked even before your aircraft touches down in the U.S..
If there are "issues", you are sent to a Secondary Inspection Office so the Officer can fully look at records dealing with the issue. The Officers in the Booth only see your bio info and confirm you on the arriving flight. They cannot see how many parking tickets you had. And it's a BIG no no to show the arriving passengers the screen they are looking at.
If there are "issues", you are sent to a Secondary Inspection Office so the Officer can fully look at records dealing with the issue. The Officers in the Booth only see your bio info and confirm you on the arriving flight. They cannot see how many parking tickets you had. And it's a BIG no no to show the arriving passengers the screen they are looking at.
#24
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 819
Haha I have had customs scanning my passport once while I was crossing via land from Ukraine over to Poland. Before the passport control to enter Poland there were customs officers wanting to see your passport. They scanned it on a machine they had and wanted to see into my backpack etc. After that was the actual passport control. I am a Norwegian citizen so I went with the EU/EEA line. I have never seen such strict measures at any European border (yeah I know Poland is EU and Schengen while Ukraine is not) so they are probably after smugglers and illegal immigrants I guess. Eastern part of Poland and western part of Ukraine both have very harsh economic conditions. In the Polish border area many folks sell booze, cigarettes etc all smuggled over from Ukraine (booze is cheap in Poland, but even cheaper in Ukraine).
#25
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K/AS 100K Bonvoy Titanium..Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 1,108
Me too. In the early 1990s, i was flying in from Bangkok to KIX. I had not shaved in four days, wearing a t-shirt and raggy jeans. I remember the Customs officer pulling out a book with pictures of marijuana, white powder stuff (probably cocaine) and other intersting things. I was escorted into a back room and my luggage was searched completely. Nice thing is they repacked everything and wished me a good day... good times.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
As a Canadian, I usually enter the USA at the transborder pre-clearance area at YVR. I've never 'seen the screen' but based on the questions I've been asked I can hazard a guess that amongst everything else it displays -
- My previous trips and destinations
- My job title (I watched an officer type this in once)
- My previous trips and destinations
- My job title (I watched an officer type this in once)
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,098
They can see your flight, and check your customs slip against it. I am sure it is also checked against a no-fly/watch list by HSA, and a criminal database to see if you have drug convictions or standing warrants. I would imagine, although I do not know, that it checks against previous swipes to see if you have been searched or pulled aside in the past. I think it also verifies the validity of the passport itself.
They still manually look though it to check your visas for the countries you have visited.
They still manually look though it to check your visas for the countries you have visited.
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,098
Me too. In the early 1990s, i was flying in from Bangkok to KIX. I had not shaved in four days, wearing a t-shirt and raggy jeans. I remember the Customs officer pulling out a book with pictures of marijuana, white powder stuff (probably cocaine) and other intersting things. I was escorted into a back room and my luggage was searched completely. Nice thing is they repacked everything and wished me a good day... good times.
#29
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: PR Premier Elite
Posts: 1,950
I have been secondaried by Customs 4 times. 3 at LAX and 1 at IAH. In all of those cases they scanned my passport and spent an inordinate amount of time looking at the computer. Often followed by comments about my travel patterns. One time at LAX the Customs agent also made a comment showing more detailed specific knowledge of the IAH secondary beyond just that it happened. The IAH secondary was uneventful and found nothing but the LAX agents made some benign comments that led me to believe he read a somewhat detailed report of the IAH search on his computer.
#30
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Gold, DL Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, too many cruise programs to list
Posts: 655
I have reason to believe they also can input data beyond the basics. A few years back, was coming through immigration in DEN. Had been out of the country in the past 30 days, so had to declare everything. However, this trip was for a friend's wedding, and literally the only thing I was bringing back was a pair of maracas from the wedding, total value $2.
I'd stopped in the restrooms on the way down, and was literally the last person going through immigration. The CSP officer took a look at my declaration form and said "WHAT?" - I mimed shaking maracas, said I had to declare them as I'd used my exemption in the last 30 days. He burst out laughing and waved me out, stating "get out of here!" As I left, he started typing furiously.
Ever since then, most of the time I come through immigration, the CSP officials read my data and then start chatting about what I do, but usually very light hearted and with a smile. A couple have chuckled while looking at the screen. I'm convinced that the DEN CSP put something in my record to indicate I'm need only the lowest level of scruitiny.
Of course, now that I have Global Entry, don't get to watch the expression change anymore when I go through, but I will say my GE application was mighty expedited as well.
I'd stopped in the restrooms on the way down, and was literally the last person going through immigration. The CSP officer took a look at my declaration form and said "WHAT?" - I mimed shaking maracas, said I had to declare them as I'd used my exemption in the last 30 days. He burst out laughing and waved me out, stating "get out of here!" As I left, he started typing furiously.
Ever since then, most of the time I come through immigration, the CSP officials read my data and then start chatting about what I do, but usually very light hearted and with a smile. A couple have chuckled while looking at the screen. I'm convinced that the DEN CSP put something in my record to indicate I'm need only the lowest level of scruitiny.
Of course, now that I have Global Entry, don't get to watch the expression change anymore when I go through, but I will say my GE application was mighty expedited as well.