The last 2 times that I have returned to the US I have had minor problems with immigration. In September the agent asked me some security questions (mothers maiden name, where I was born, SS number etc). Then she sent me to a room for another agent to review my record. Within a minute the other agent told me I was ok to proceed.

Yesterday, I returned from Brazil. The immigration officer pulled my (?) records up on the computer screen, and kept stating my birth year incorrectly, each time I corrected the person. Then I was asked if my height was 5'8" to which I replied that I had been 6 foot tall for 35 years. I asked the agent if the information in the computer was different than our discussion, and I was told yes. I commented that I would need to clear up the discrepancy. The agent told me that would be a good idea, and I was OK to proceed.

My question--who would I contact about verifying that the computer information the immigration officer sees is accurate?

I didn't quite know what to make of this situation. If their computer information does not match my passport, why was I allowed to proceed? Of course I didn't want to make a fuss when I was being allowed to return to the US, but it seems like a serious lapse in homeland security.

I was about to post the same question
when I saw this post...whenwe retnd form LHR this week , mr. squeakr had a similar experience - asked several questions like "did you ever live in mOntana" and a few others. Now mr. squeakr has VERY common first, middle and last names so it's not surprising thered be a lot of folks woth jhis name. But don;t thaty have any way to cross check by ss # or other ID? I honestly think if ther ehadn;t been an interruption during our screening ( a co worker came up to discuss dinner plans, so the worker and I got into a talk about how she had to work late, etc. ) , that the INS worker would have sent mr. squeakr to a private itnerview like the one above. What's the recourse if any to make sure this doesn't become a more serious problem?

You are not alone. I had the same problem many times in the past. No secondary questioning, though. I also encountered many INS officers curse at the machine for its lack of accurate information. One officer told me it had to do with US Customs and not INS. I haven't had any problems lately. I do about 18 international trips a year.

Another officer told me to submit a FOIA form to find out what was causing the flag.

Once my wife was heavily questioned because a person with a similar name was wanted by the IRS in NY. She never lived or workd in NY.

Go figure.

J.

my wife had her bag with passport stolen at Harrods food hall some years back - for 3 years she was pulled aside at immigration - and asked various questions - understandable - and was told that after a few years - the pull aside should stop - which it did.....however..... she is still (12+ years later) on occasion asked.... basically once in your record...it just takes time to be corrected..... not the best answer but one from experience.....however take a look at the post I'm putting up today on my own problems....

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Dance as if no one's watching, Sing as if no one's listening and live live everyday as if it were your last