Travel to/thru Turkey and SSSS
May 28, 2018, 12:29 am
#91
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 59
OP, you had to go through TSA twice? I don't really get that part. Why was a second BP issued at the UC?
In general, don't route through the US on an international-to-international connection. There is no bypass of US Immigration and Customs. As to what would have happened if you had been denied entry, most likely they would have put you on a plane back to Tokyo. I doubt if they would have put you on your flight to Mexico. Sounds weird, but I believe that is the procedure.
In general, don't route through the US on an international-to-international connection. There is no bypass of US Immigration and Customs. As to what would have happened if you had been denied entry, most likely they would have put you on a plane back to Tokyo. I doubt if they would have put you on your flight to Mexico. Sounds weird, but I believe that is the procedure.
I agree with what you said in the responses though that its only the second security screening being pulled off the flight that was really annoying. Actually after reading this thread (thanks admin for moving my post btw!) I realized how problematic traveling through Turkey is for the US authorities - I think I just didn't realize the extent of this before... Will be more aware in future!
May 28, 2018, 10:53 am
#92
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The protocol is that you go back to your last point of origin, e.g. NRT in this case. I suppose it is possible that if Mexican authorities expressly agreed in advance to admit the passenger, CBP might route the passenger onward, but an extremely unlikely scenario.
As to the second BP, I presume that there must have been a note on the record which appeared when the UC scanned OP in. Better at the UC than the gate, but the UC dropped the ball on not sending OP back to the checkpoint.
As to the second BP, I presume that there must have been a note on the record which appeared when the UC scanned OP in. Better at the UC than the gate, but the UC dropped the ball on not sending OP back to the checkpoint.
May 28, 2018, 2:54 pm
#93
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Usually yes, but not always. I’ve seen people sent to take an onward flight sometimes, even as it’s more common to see people returned to prior flight’s origin.
Jun 4, 2018, 9:47 am
#94
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Did he happen to note where he worked? National Targeting Center or Regional Carrier Liaison Group, perhaps? It seems very odd to me that they would do an interview by phone from NRT, as there is definitely an Immigration Advisory presence on the ground there (and it looks like they're actually hiring). IAP isn't discussed often on this forum and they've been kind enough to give me a break for the past couple of years, but it's interesting that they would do the interview by phone when there was almost certainly someone who could have been called over to clear (or bounce) you in person.
I asked an IAP agent (officer?) about what would have happened if I had chosen to broken-travel out of Turkey through an airport without IAP, and he basically shrugged and indicated that I'd probably just get the same hard secondary I always got upon repatriation. If pre-embarkation phone interviews are a thing now, that may no longer be true.
Jun 4, 2018, 10:48 am
#95
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It's disappointing to hear that the obsession with Turkey continues, even as Turkish internal security tightens considerably. I recently boarded a TK flight from the US without any sort of outbound CBP presence whatsoever, so I was hoping that some of the paranoia might be starting to subside.
Did he happen to note where he worked? National Targeting Center or Regional Carrier Liaison Group, perhaps? It seems very odd to me that they would do an interview by phone from NRT, as there is definitely an Immigration Advisory presence on the ground there (and it looks like they're actually hiring). IAP isn't discussed often on this forum and they've been kind enough to give me a break for the past couple of years, but it's interesting that they would do the interview by phone when there was almost certainly someone who could have been called over to clear (or bounce) you in person.
I asked an IAP agent (officer?) about what would have happened if I had chosen to broken-travel out of Turkey through an airport without IAP, and he basically shrugged and indicated that I'd probably just get the same hard secondary I always got upon repatriation. If pre-embarkation phone interviews are a thing now, that may no longer be true.
Did he happen to note where he worked? National Targeting Center or Regional Carrier Liaison Group, perhaps? It seems very odd to me that they would do an interview by phone from NRT, as there is definitely an Immigration Advisory presence on the ground there (and it looks like they're actually hiring). IAP isn't discussed often on this forum and they've been kind enough to give me a break for the past couple of years, but it's interesting that they would do the interview by phone when there was almost certainly someone who could have been called over to clear (or bounce) you in person.
I asked an IAP agent (officer?) about what would have happened if I had chosen to broken-travel out of Turkey through an airport without IAP, and he basically shrugged and indicated that I'd probably just get the same hard secondary I always got upon repatriation. If pre-embarkation phone interviews are a thing now, that may no longer be true.
Jun 4, 2018, 4:34 pm
#96
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 59
Apologies for a delay in response, I had to be offline for some time visiting one of the least internet connected countries which happens to be not too far from Cancun :-).
From what I recall, your man on the phone in NRT told me he is a bit far from the check in area now and it's easier to do just a quick chat on the phone rather than holding me until he gets there. Again from what I recall, he just said he works for the US government without giving more details.
From what I recall, your man on the phone in NRT told me he is a bit far from the check in area now and it's easier to do just a quick chat on the phone rather than holding me until he gets there. Again from what I recall, he just said he works for the US government without giving more details.
Jun 4, 2018, 6:39 pm
#97
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Apologies for a delay in response, I had to be offline for some time visiting one of the least internet connected countries which happens to be not too far from Cancun :-).
From what I recall, your man on the phone in NRT told me he is a bit far from the check in area now and it's easier to do just a quick chat on the phone rather than holding me until he gets there. Again from what I recall, he just said he works for the US government without giving more details.
From what I recall, your man on the phone in NRT told me he is a bit far from the check in area now and it's easier to do just a quick chat on the phone rather than holding me until he gets there. Again from what I recall, he just said he works for the US government without giving more details.
Sep 15, 2018, 4:27 am
#98
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I have been lucky with no issues following a recent Turkey visit, but now am concerned about an upcoming trip to Cairo. Is repeated SSSS a thing for occasional travelers to Egypt now?
Sep 21, 2018, 9:54 pm
#99
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
As an aside, my Egyptair CAI-JFK BP in Cairo read SSSS. I was pretty peeved about it, until I looked around and realized that *every* passenger's BP read SSSS
Oct 31, 2020, 11:16 am
#101
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One FlyerTalker recently reported getting SSSSed on domestic flights after traveling to Turkey. There may have been more to it than just travel to Turkey, though.
The discussion starts with this post:
The discussion starts with this post:
Dec 24, 2020, 9:25 am
#102
Join Date: Jul 2017
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I spent 2 weeks in Istanbul in September and then 2 weeks in Dubrovnik, Croatia for vacation (no SSSS on any flight to/from) and just took my first domestic flight since returning (ONT-DEN RT) and got SSSS with a 1 hour long inspection with a bomb expert. Was wondering what was going on until I found this thread. Wonder how long this will go on for. Interestingly, after 5 years of flying, weekly, this is my first time getting SSSS.
Last edited by seigex; Dec 24, 2020 at 9:40 am
Dec 27, 2020, 8:41 am
#103
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My return flight tonight, I'm unable to do OLCI, so I'm certain it'll be another SSSS. Looks like this is my travel life for the foreseeable future.
For a data point, I book award flights as one-ways to make any last-minute trip changes easier. So my flight itin was like this:
LAX-DFW-LHR-IST (one way award, AA/BA) 2 weeks in IST
IST-FRA-DBV (one way, Turkish Airlines and Croatian Airlines using United miles) 2 weeks in Dubrovnik
DBV-LHR-LAX (one way, Croatian airlines, AA) return home
For a data point, I book award flights as one-ways to make any last-minute trip changes easier. So my flight itin was like this:
LAX-DFW-LHR-IST (one way award, AA/BA) 2 weeks in IST
IST-FRA-DBV (one way, Turkish Airlines and Croatian Airlines using United miles) 2 weeks in Dubrovnik
DBV-LHR-LAX (one way, Croatian airlines, AA) return home
Last edited by seigex; Dec 27, 2020 at 8:50 am
Dec 28, 2020, 5:20 am
#104
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For those for whom being in Turkey ends up being an issue that gives rise to SSSS hits (even on US domestic flights too on wholly-US itineraries), it's mostly an issue when Turkish airports are the origin/destination on flight ticket coupons that come to the attention of the USG; it's way less frequently an issue when IST/Turkey is just a transit/X on the flight ticket coupons. [Most US persons with Turkish O&D travel don't get ESLed, as it's a minority experience.]
The potential ESLing that seigex may be facing for a few months (before it drops off) is most probably a consequence of the factor of having Turkish airports as O/D on the flight ticket coupons (instead of merely as an X on the flight ticket coupons).
The potential ESLing that seigex may be facing for a few months (before it drops off) is most probably a consequence of the factor of having Turkish airports as O/D on the flight ticket coupons (instead of merely as an X on the flight ticket coupons).
May 22, 2022, 8:21 pm
#105
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 579
Is SSSS for itineraries relating to Turkey still an issue? I am planning some travel to Europe this summer and I wanted to see whether I need to avoid Turkish Airlines. I am glad to know that transit in Turkey brings about the issue less frequently but it makes me concerned about what happens if there are IRROPS., which could prolong the stay in Turkey. I actually have wanted to visit Istanbul at some point as I have heard amazing things about it, but it has not been worth the risk of SSSS.