Canadian citizen, on US no-fly list. What can I do in order to be allowed on flights which go through US airspace?
My father and I, both Canadian citizens, were denied to board a direct Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Toronto non-stop without any prior warning or information. Literally, at the gate, we were told that we were put on a no-fly list by Homeland Security because my father and I own a cargo business together located in eastern Turkey. Apparently, the area was suddenly declared a red zone (danger zone) and all business owners in the district were put on a no-fly list.
The only way we were able to make it back to Canada was via Scandinavian northern routes flying close to the Arctic. Cost thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours and months in moral and mental pain. We even had an issue sending my 1-year-old daughter on a flight with her mother to visit Turkey after that. I was told my one-year-old daughter's name was put on a no-fly list; when I heard this, I just felt like fainting and was holding myself not to cry in front of all these people.
On top of all of this even when we are able to fly back and forth via 2-3 stop northern routes to Canada we are now getting interrogated for 4-5 hour periods at our own airports by our own Canadian customs agents every single time. Life has been horrible with this issue handicapping us to live our normal lives. We are honest business people that have nothing to do with any illegal acts we have always been law-abiding citizens and will continue to do so.
Can anyone Help with this issue, or has anyone ever had any similar experience? Any resolution?
Best Answer
As you've discovered, US regulations apply not just to flights to or from the US, but also to flights that pass over the US. Before such flights the airline will send APIS data (basically the details of the everyone on the flight) to the US Government, who can flag certain passengers as appears to have happened here.
Your only real recourse is to apply to the US Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP). This will trigger the DHS to investigate you specifically, and if they determine that you should not have been blocked from boarding (which could be as simply as them confusing you with someone else, poor data on their behalf, etc) then they will remedy this.
As a part of the TRIP process you will be given a "Redress number" which can be used on future bookings, and will allow the government to match up your TRIP application and determination with your flight.
Of course, it's very possible that the DHS will determine that you are on a blacklist, and that fact is justified, in which case there's really nothing more that can be done.
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Can people on the No Fly List travel?
The TSC's No Fly List is a list of people who are prohibited from boarding commercial aircraft for travel within, into, or out of the United States. This list has also been used to divert aircraft away from U.S. airspace that do not have start- or end-point destinations within the United States.Can you get off the No Fly List?
When it comes to the no-fly list specifically, U.S. citizens and permanent residents can now go through a legal process to remove themselves from the list.Can TSA put you on a No Fly List?
TSA is among the U.S. government agencies that screen individuals using information from the Terrorist Screening Database. TSA implements the No Fly List through its Secure Flight program. Individuals on the No Fly List are prevented from boarding an aircraft when flying within, to, from and over the United States.Does Air Canada have a No Fly List?
Canada's No Fly List is officially known as the Passenger Protect Program (PPP). It is a highly secretive passenger-screening program that came into force on June 18, 2007, and was modified in 2015 with the adoption of the Secure Air Travel Act through Bill C-51.CHANGES TO US TRAVEL SYSTEM FOR US CITIZENS AND NON-US CITIZENS | JUNE 27
More answers regarding canadian citizen, on US no-fly list. What can I do in order to be allowed on flights which go through US airspace?
Answer 2
Unfortunately if you’re on a USA no fly list, and you’re not a citizen or permanent resident, you have very little recourse.
Who Can Challenge the No-Fly List?
In 2014, the American Civil Liberties Union obtained a federal court ruling that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents were entitled to know if they were on the list and potentially know what got them there. Baz’s case, if successful, could extend that right to foreign nationals.
Even if this case is successful, in your case you’re not someone who has been coming to the U.S. and has a long history of coming to the United States and has significant ties to the United States.
Answer 3
Go through the Canadian embassy if you haven't already; if they can't help contact as many Canadian media as you can to raise awareness. If you make a big enough stink they might help you.
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