Originally Posted by
Often1
There seem to be a small list of questions and on a random basis, a few questions asked. I have never perceived a pattern or seen anyone taking notes of the answers.
There is usually an unclassified answer to questions which might call for information which might be classified. If CBP let you hang out at that choke point at IAD, you might be surprised to learn that 92% of the people coming through on official passports work in IT or are engineers !
My experience has been that I get asked these kinds of questions at immigration rather than at the end of the line leaving the customs area. Most of the time, the questions are a result of the brown passport. If there isn't much of a line, or especially at pre-clearance airports such as YOW, you can engage in a conversation. I remember once at YOW asking the guy if his job was considered an "overseas" tour, how long was the assignment, could he extend, how competitive were these jobs, etc. Another time, the agent complimented my agency in a way I didn't expect.