Hassled in Customs Every time

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Mar 15, 2004 | 12:11 pm

StuckinDTW

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2004

Location: New York, NY USA

Posts: 3

Hassled in Customs Every time

I have done a lot of travel internationally and never had any problems going through immigration/customs until I did a weekend mileage run to AMS. They pulled me aside in Customs and quizzed me for an hour. I ended up getting a full pat down, which was not pleasant to say the least.

Since then I have travelled internationally 4 times and been pulled aside everytime in customs.

My question is there any way to get off this automatic search list, or am I doomed to be searched for the rest of my life.

Thanks for the help.

Mar 15, 2004 | 12:19 pm

Kris Rao

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: LON, SFO, SYD

Posts: 409

Automatic Search List??? Is there any thing like that????

Mar 15, 2004 | 1:52 pm

SRQ Guy

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I just did a weekend MR to AMS. The customes guy seemed dubious about my reason for going to AMS and spending 6 hours there without even clearing immigration or customes there. However he just let me go. No interview, just a funny look.

Mar 15, 2004 | 1:59 pm

CrazyOne

Join Date: Jul 2001

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The only time I've ever been hassled by Customs (complete search of bag was all) was when I came directly from AMS. I just assumed they were looking for drugs.

Why they have continued to hassle you after that I do not know....

Mar 15, 2004 | 2:09 pm

Kris Rao

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: LON, SFO, SYD

Posts: 409

Quote:

Originally posted by CrazyOne:
The only time I've ever been hassled by Customs (complete search of bag was all) was when I came directly from AMS. I just assumed they were looking for drugs.

Why they have continued to hassle you after that I do not know....

I was pulled aside at Memphis last year when I flew in from AMS. The guy at the customs was more interested in knowing why I requested/pre booked a vegetarian meal. After a long explanation of my veggie and tree hugging principles, he let me go without even inspecting my bags. Since then I been to US several times but have never been stopped at Customs.

Mar 15, 2004 | 2:25 pm

Kiwi Flyer

Moderator, Hilton Honors

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I was hassled for about a month after returning from AMS. After that fine.

Mar 15, 2004 | 2:42 pm

akap16isme

Join Date: Oct 2002

Location: Washington, DC

Posts: 171

How on earth can they find out what special meals you booked? I have never heard of this before. Please advise!

Mar 15, 2004 | 2:49 pm

Kris Rao

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: LON, SFO, SYD

Posts: 409

Quote:

Originally posted by akap16isme:
How on earth can they find out what special meals you booked? I have never heard of this before. Please advise!

Have no idea. Did'nt dare to ask the customs officer either. I guess they get get passenger manifest before landing. The Immigration officer looked at the screen for a few seconds and then stamped my customs card on bottom and on the top right hand corner. Knew I was red flagged for customs.

Mar 15, 2004 | 11:14 pm

magexpect

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Quote:

The US authorities require from all carriers flying into the US an advanced manifest of all passenger records such as meal preferences, seat preferences, CC details, etc. It created quite an uproar in Europe as they also require new machine readable passports. The deadline to comply is set for October 1st. Some countries have difficulty in accepting the new rules as the new requirements conflict with different laws in the respective countries: privacy laws, data protection, etc.

The airlines have been threatened with being banned to fly into the US if not complying. Same for putting marshalls on board.

Mar 16, 2004 | 12:03 am

#10

jmscsc

Join Date: Oct 2003

Location: Connecticut

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Posts: 453

Ugh ... I'm leaving for AMS on Thursday. I hope I don't have the same problem with customs.

Mar 16, 2004 | 12:06 am

#11

WillTravel

Join Date: Nov 2002

Location: New York City

Posts: 4,024

Quote:

I'm speculating this might be because a terrorist would want a halal meal, and couldn't have a regular meat meal, but might order vegetarian. (Sounds silly if you think about it. I doubt getting proper sustenance is at the top of an in-flight terrorist wish list.)

Mar 16, 2004 | 9:08 am

#12

Pointfreak!

Join Date: Jun 2001

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Speaking of customs...when I enter through ATL, sometimes the immigration officer will put the number "1" on my customs card and circle it...other times not. I have never been stopped for inspection either way, so what does this mean? Just curious...

Mar 16, 2004 | 10:09 am

#13

GUWonder

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Quote:

Originally posted by WillTravel:
I'm speculating this might be because a terrorist would want a halal meal, and couldn't have a regular meat meal, but might order vegetarian. (Sounds silly if you think about it. I doubt getting proper sustenance is at the top of an in-flight terrorist wish list.)

I agree that it is silly -- by and large. Our American experience with the 9/11 hijackers indicates that they had a fondness for alcohol too. Not a very "halal" thing to order and pay for and imbibe.

Mar 16, 2004 | 10:13 am

#14

rkkwan

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Quote:

Originally posted by Pointfreak!:
Speaking of customs...when I enter through ATL, sometimes the immigration officer will put the number "1" on my customs card and circle it...other times not. I have never been stopped for inspection either way, so what does this mean? Just curious...

I believe that's just the number of people declaring together on the Customs form. I arrived back with my parents (who live with me) at IAH with one customs card, and the INS officer wrote a "3" with a circle around it.