Secondary Questioning at Customs

[Frank_kay 0]

Hi,

I arrived in the US a few days ago and was questioned for a while at customs then my passport was taken and i was sent to "secondary questioning" which was very scary! I was let in after answering the questions honestly and showing some paper work.

Has anyone else had any experience with secondary questioning and will the fact I was sent to secondary questioning make it harder for me to visit again (eg: is it on my record that i was sent there?)

Thanks for any help

Frankie

[Casprd 167]

Sure it will be on the record. Whether that has an impact on later visits is questionable. What is your situation? do you have a pending K-1 or CR-1 visa? What did they ask in secondary questioning? Have you been to the US before and what kind of visa did you enter this time? All of these are relevent to understanding what happened and what the future impact will be.

[san diego 407]

I have not experienced it but I read a lot that people that have K1 or CR1 pending and come to US on visa waiver or any other visa for visiting routinely undergo secondary questioning. This is normal from what I read. I am not sure about the record.

[Team Katman 9]

Hi,

I arrived in the US a few days ago and was questioned for a while at customs then my passport was taken and i was sent to "secondary questioning" which was very scary! I was let in after answering the questions honestly and showing some paper work.

Has anyone else had any experience with secondary questioning and will the fact I was sent to secondary questioning make it harder for me to visit again (eg: is it on my record that i was sent there?)

Thanks for any help

Frankie

I don't know if it's on your record, but I have travelled to the US maybe nearly 100 times in my life and have been sent to "secondary questioning" three times (once when I was on my US work visa, and twice when I was just visiting). I didn't have any problems entering the US after those instances, which were years apart. Hope this helps to ease your mind!

[san diego 407]

I don't know if it's on your record, but I have travelled to the US maybe nearly 100 times in my life and have been sent to "secondary questioning" three times (once when I was on my US work visa, and twice when I was just visiting). I didn't have any problems entering the US after those instances, which were years apart. Hope this helps to ease your mind!

I traveled to Canada on business 2 years ago once a month for 1 year. I was pulled for 2ndary questioning twice...

[Frank_kay 0]

Thanks for your responses.

I entered on the VWP and last time I was in the states was just under 3 months departing in march 2011 so that could be a possible reason.

The first guy asked me heaps of questions like why didn't I stay longer in the U.S the first time, (I said cause you can't on visa waiver) what I did for work and if I had any business cards on me (i said no) he did not ask if I had family in the US then sent me to secondary.

The second guy asked if I had relatives in the U.S and I told him my husband who is a LPR, he asked if he had filed for me and I told him yes. then a bunch of other questions and i showed my ticket to Canada (as I am going there on the working holiday program) then he gave me back my passport and let me in, which was a relief! the next time I return will not be till December for the holidays as my husband will just visit me in Canada. SO fingers crossed that I'm ok!

[san diego 407]

Thanks for your responses.

I entered on the VWP and last time I was in the states was just under 3 months departing in march 2011 so that could be a possible reason.

The first guy asked me heaps of questions like why didn't I stay longer in the U.S the first time, (I said cause you can't on visa waiver) what I did for work and if I had any business cards on me (i said no) he did not ask if I had family in the US then sent me to secondary.

The second guy asked if I had relatives in the U.S and I told him my husband who is a LPR, he asked if he had filed for me and I told him yes. then a bunch of other questions and i showed my ticket to Canada (as I am going there on the working holiday program) then he gave me back my passport and let me in, which was a relief! the next time I return will not be till December for the holidays as my husband will just visit me in Canada. SO fingers crossed that I'm ok!

If you filed for CR1 you will undergo 2ndary questioning every time you enter US no matter what.. automatic..

[Harsh_77 716]

Thanks for your responses.

I entered on the VWP and last time I was in the states was just under 3 months departing in march 2011 so that could be a possible reason.

The first guy asked me heaps of questions like why didn't I stay longer in the U.S the first time, (I said cause you can't on visa waiver) what I did for work and if I had any business cards on me (i said no) he did not ask if I had family in the US then sent me to secondary.

The second guy asked if I had relatives in the U.S and I told him my husband who is a LPR, he asked if he had filed for me and I told him yes. then a bunch of other questions and i showed my ticket to Canada (as I am going there on the working holiday program) then he gave me back my passport and let me in, which was a relief! the next time I return will not be till December for the holidays as my husband will just visit me in Canada. SO fingers crossed that I'm ok!

There you go – that answers why you were sent to secondary inspection.

1. I am sure the first officer asked you the purpose of your visit, since that their canned first question. - I am assuming you answered business.

2. Second thing he asked for the business card. – To which you replied no ting ding…. RED FLAG.

(most ppl traveling for business would carry the business card, you did not have one)

3. Third at same time he saw there is an immigrant application for you in the system ting ding… another RED FLAG.

(you have a husband who is LPR and has filed immigration paper work for you, since everyone is aware spouse of a LPR has to wait lot longer outside the country before they can enter US – they could assume it was your attempt to circumvent the process and get in the country.)

I believe the only thing that saved you was your flight ticket continuing to Canada and in secondary interview officer concluded you were traveling for business and he let you enter.

[Frank_kay 0]

No he asked if I was travelling for business and I said I was visiting friends and family.

[KLS2010 30]

If you filed for CR1 you will undergo 2ndary questioning every time you enter US no matter what.. automatic..

Secondary questioning is not automatic, just because you have a pending IR-1/CR-1.

I have 3 friends who have IR-1/CR-1 pending and have entered the US to visit in the last two months...NONE of them were pulled into secondary questioning. They all told the CBP officer at POE that they were there to visit their spouse.

I'm not saying that it doesn't happen...I'm just saying it doesn't happen automatically.

[san diego 407]

I have a friend from Canada who goers through similar process. He get pulled for 2ndary every time without exceptions.

[Frank_kay 0]

Yeah well seeing as he's an LPR and it's a wait of a while guess I might get pulled in a few more times!

[san diego 407]

Yeah well seeing as he's an LPR and it's a wait of a while guess I might get pulled in a few more times!

You most likely will. Just take it as normal. They just want to make sure that you will not stay until approval.

[Frank_kay 0]

You most likely will. Just take it as normal. They just want to make sure that you will not stay until approval.

I will. That room is nerve wracking when you think you might be denied entry fingers crossed they keep letting me through!

[Mrs O. 29]

If you filed for CR1 you will undergo 2ndary questioning every time you enter US no matter what.. automatic..

I travelled MANY times to see my husband during the CR1 process, I always tell the officer that I am visiting my husband and we have the CR1 process going and I have NEVER been pulled into secondary. SO its not automatic. I'm sure that he could see on his screen that I dont stay for 89days out of the 90 allowed and then return a week later. I visit at a reasonable frequency and I dont think I've stayed longer than 3 weeks at any one time.