Hi,

I'd like some advice from people who might have experienced similar problems with US customs.

I travel on a Canadian passport and I recently came back from a trip in Colombia, Panama and Mexico. On my return trip, I transited through Chicago and of course I had to go through US customs and Immigration.

I honestly filled the customs declaration card specifying that I'm return from a trip to Panama, Colombia and Mexico. The first officer I spoke to asked me only one or two questions (where are you coming from, where are you going to... ), handed me back my passport and wrote a big "1" on my custom declaration card... which I think is normal.

When exiting the customs area, I handed my customs declaration card, looked at it and indicated the secondary screening area. Then 2 officers "greeted" me and inspected my luggage and asked me all sort of questions very intensively during 15-20 minutes. They were takings notes while interrogating me. At some point I thought I would never get out of there. 15-20 minutes look very long when you're challenged this way. They never mentioned the word "drug" to me even if I know that is what they were looking for. They even asked for the name of my spouse and some unrelated personal stuff.

Finally they let me go, they didn't finger printed me nor photographed me. I checked in my passport and they did not write anything next to the stamp. So I think I'm fine, but...

My main concern is to know if I'm likely to be flagged and to have further problems every time I want to cross to US ? I usually fly to US 2-3 times per year.

Thanks for your advices.