I fly internationally about 5 times per year, so I made about 30 to 40 trips in the past 6 years to the same country. I have a business visa in Colombia, and have had it for 6 years now.

I have been stopped by security before (once 3 times in the same trip), and they usually go through my bags real quick and that is it.

This time (yesterday) was much different.

I went through the automated system where they ask you some questions and print out a form. I did not bring anything into the country, no money, and I checked "NO" to everything like being around livestock, and always do pretty much the same.

I always am traveling to the same address in NY, coming from the same country (Colombia). I am a US citizen.

I have had the same business, and been in the same line of work for almost 20 years.

This time, I got the printed form, and it had a big X on it, but the agent wrote HSB and INL on it. I was then sent for additional screening (I was in Chicago at the time).

They went through all of my suitcases and bags, and interrogated me, and were a little rude to me, and the process lasted about 20 minutes to 30 minutes. They read every piece of paper, looked at photos on my camera, asked for all of my hotel receipts, wanted to know who I spoke to in Colombia, thoroughly checked everything. He even read my handwritten notes in my notebooks, read my prescription, asked my why I had a portable heater (because of the cold weather obviously). he wanted to know why I had 20 packets of vitamins, which he thought was excessive. stupid stuff like that.

I was told I couldn't put my hand in my pockets, I could not stand near him during the process, and I could not touch anything.

I am curious if anyone knows what HSB or INL means, which were written on the forms. I was directed to additional screening because the officer saw it written on my form.

Usually I have no problems and am curious as to why suddenly they need to go through all of my stuff.

thankyou

Welcome to FlyerTalk, David Tiberio.

I'll request the Moderators move your query, linked to a referral link here, to the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues Forum in the Travel Safety and Security fora; that's where you'll find knowledgeable members who can tell you a lot more.

(I'd suggest you contact our Community Director, SanDiego1K, and get your "handle" (nickname) changed to something more protective of your privacy: read the wiki at the top of the page for this thread: Can I / How do I change my user name / username / handle?.)

I suspect that you mean CBP, not TSA and infer that this is all on arrival into the USA from Colombia.

That being the case, you got flagged for one reason or another. It could have been random, it could have been that the number of trips triggered some alarm and it could have been that your name is close to that of someone on a watch list or CBP had information that a person fitting your description was on your flight and was carrying drugs, other contraband or records of some crime. Perhaps you were flagged by Colombian authorities on departure. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

Bottom line is that it's in the past. If it happens the next time, you will know that you are on a watch list. If it doesn't, it was anywhere from random to some other factor not present usually.

I'm sure you're right; the PTSSI forum is still the best to handle that, IMO.

The only INL I'm aware of is the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau of the U. S. State Department; if it's that, someone suspected drugs or narcotics. Could be a same name or other situation. That might not go away if the OP has future travel to / from Colombia planned.

One thing for sure - I'd apply for Global Entry (any anomalies would surely surface) and it would expedite those waiting times at USCBP.

If you are a US citizen and travel internationally that much why have you not applied for Global entry. Seems that would assist in avoiding all the hassles

HSB, officially, is the CBP code for Harrisburg, PA
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/88037.pdf

My guess, in this case, is that HSB is a local code for "Hand search baggage."

Right or wrong, those coming Columbia, especially those traveling often are suspected of transporting drugs.

It is CBP officer not TSA that did this. I had even worse experience. CBP officer standing near boarding gate during an outbound flight to Seoul stopped us ( family of 3). There were hundreds btw but us, asked all kinds of personal questions and ransacked EVERYTHING we have including stroller, diaper bags. Even made us declare the $300 in cash we had with us & our signatures on a piece of paper. Maybe she felt suspicious because we are 2 young asian american couple ( minority) with a baby. She was so unhappy and upset after not finding any accessive cash, she copied my passport info. When we came back, I was subjected to TSA's SSSS watchlist.

INL = narcotics

HSB? Dunno. There is a Dutch company named HSB that is a vendor of biometric (photo & fingerprint) ID systems used by various border/immigration agencies.

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Seems like a case where they figured you were a possible drug mule and/or otherwise involved in the drug trade (in other words, they thought they had a "Big Catch (tm)").

I also got the HSB on my CBP receipt while returning to the US in Chicago ORD.

I have Global Entry, but got an X on my receipt (it might've been because the unclear photo at a bad angle taken by the machine), which required that I visit a CBP booth (still through the expedited Global Entry lane, yay). The CBP officer thought I appeared really sick (I had a minor cold), and wanted to get the CDC check me out, but they had left for the day. He then requested his supervisor, who asked me if I had been through Kenya. The supervisor told the officer that I looked normal for someone with a cold and to just let me through. As the officer handed me my passport and receipt, he urged me to see a doctor ASAP, to which I replied OK with a furtive eye-roll. He noticed my insolence and immediately pulled the receipt out my hands, angrily scribbled out whatever he initially wrote, replacing it with HSB, asked me about the duration of my trip and my occupation, typed something into his computer, and then dismissed me with a blank look of self satisfaction. At the exit podium, another CBP officer saw the HSB notice on the receipt and sent me to secondary screening, where two other officers took my passport, looked something up on the computer, questioned me, and went through my luggage, which all took about 15 minutes. I'm glad it was relatively quick and that the secondary officers were at least friendly.

Welcome to FlyerTalk.

Thanks for the bump.

Just don't Post and Run like the OP.