Any way to find out what US Customs & Border Protection has in their database on me?
I travel from the US to Canada occasionally (about once per year on average) with my family. We are all US citizens and travel with US passports. Every time we re-enter the United States, I am given extra scrutiny.
Most recently, we used an automated check-in procedure at the airport. These are terminals where you scan your passport & fill out a customs declaration online and it prints a receipt which you take to the customs agent. When I got my receipt, it had a big "X" printed on it and we were directed to a line to talk to an agent.
In the past, I've had questions directed at me or my family: "Have you ever been to New York?", "Do you own any firearms?", and once "Where is your daddy?" directed at my then 4 year old son. The agents also seem to examine my photo & my face more closely than the other members of my family.
We get through customs OK, but it gives me a some anxiety. I suspect that there's someone out there with the same name (I have a pretty common name) who is on a "no fly" list or something.
My question is this: is there any way to find out what they're looking for when they scan my passport & see my name? Like a Freedom of Information request or something? I know I could/should ask when I'm in the line, but as I said, it makes me pretty anxious.
Best Answer
It might be very difficult to get off one of those lists though. There's a very recent court ruling, regarding a case where someone was placed on a nofly list by accident and wanted to get off that list, which was way more complicated then it sounds. The court file may hold some leads for you. Also see this news article discussing up the problems.
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How do I find my border crossing record?
Accessing the database and pulling up your border crossing history is simple. All you have to do is visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection I-94 request page, and input your full name, date of birth and passport number. You'll be able to see a history of your US ins and outs.What can CBP see?
What Types of Information Can a Customs Officer See?- Your name.
- Date of birth.
- Citizenship.
- Address.
- Mode of travel.
- Purpose of travel.
- Value of goods purchased abroad.
How can I check my travel history?
Students may view their U.S. travel history online through the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Website (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94). (Please note that the travel history is different from the I-94 record used to provide proof of legal entry to the U.S.)Why is my I-94 travel history not found?
If you're still not able to locate your I-94, please contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Traveler Communications Center (TCC) by clicking on the "Ask Us A Question" tab below. Select the correct topic for your issue as well as any related issues. We will attempt to respond to you within 72 hours.How to fill out US Customs Forms | Arriving in USA in 2021
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Images: Enric Cruz López, Charles Parker, Pixabay, Dziana Hasanbekava