The reason the officer made small talk is the same reason why the CBP does small talk too. When a officer scan the passport in the
SIS, it takes a while for a response to come back, if the line is slow or the system overloaded. CBP has the same problem. Officers usually ask pertinent questions to pass the time while the computer query is running.
Data Stored in SIS
The Schengen Convention limits the personal data that may be collected to data on:
* persons wanted for arrest for extradition purposes (Article 95 of the Schengen Convention),
* persons, not nationals of a member state, on whom an alert has been issued for the purposes of refusing entry into Schengen territory (Article 96 of the Schengen Convention),
* missing persons or persons who need to be placed under protection, in particular minors (Article 97 of the Schengen Convention),
* witnesses or persons summoned to appear before the judicial authorities in connection with criminal proceedings or are to be served with a criminal judgment or a custodial sentence (Article 98 of the Schengen Convention),
* persons under discreet surveillance or specific checks (Article 99 of the Schengen Convention).