I was asked to go to the secondary inspection - will I get flagged from now on?

[special k10 5]

5 minutes ago, AW1704 said:

I had a similar warning at Dublin, after getting grilled for a bit and eventually allowed to enter ‘don’t even think about working, because if you do, we’ll know.’ I had a mountain of things in my bag proving my ties to home that the officer wasn’t interested in seeing. 
 

I have had tougher experiences at Dublin than anywhere else. I have wondered before whether they go tougher there as they are worried about it becoming an easy back door to try without having to fly to the American continent (purely conjecture on my part). 

OMG! Yesterday they told me the same about working! But I'm not at all interested in working in USA and I found it rather odd they mentioned it to me. Then it's probably just what they do, common practice and not specific to you or me

Edited December 11, 2022 by special k10
Clarification

[P055UM 259]

2 minutes ago, special k10 said:

OMG! Yesterday they told me the same about working! But I'm not at all interested in working in USA and I found it rather odd they mentioned it to me. Then it's probably just what they do, common practice and not specific to you or me

I think you’re right. That comment always annoyed me because the officer didn’t ask me any questions about my job or home life or anything and the was like ‘don’t work’. But it doesn’t matter now, for either of us

 

Good luck!  

[special k10 5]

Just now, AW1704 said:

I think you’re right. That comment always annoyed me because the officer didn’t ask me any questions about my job or home life or anything and the was like ‘don’t work’. But it doesn’t matter now, for either of us

 

Good luck!  

Thank you so much, wishing you all the best!!!

[Crazy Cat 39,630]

2 hours ago, special k10 said:

but I think many people on VJ are ready to cast judgement at incredible speeds and make this space for discussion harder to have.

Many people? Judgement?  Personally, I see none at all in this thread. Good luck.

I'm out

[special k10 5]

Just now, Crazy Cat said:

Many people? Judgement?  Personally, I see none at all in this thread. Good luck.

I'm out

Thank you! All the best to you @Crazy Cat

[MaxP22 169]

I have an EE EU passport with a B2 visa that I have used to travel to the US probably 10+ times without issues, and also acquired British citizenship not too long ago. If I travel to the US again then for sure I will still use my EU passport until the B2 expires. No need to use my British passport just to show off like you seem to have.

 

Regardless, it always up to CBP whether to allow entry or not. With a US husband you are an instant overstay risk, so its no surprise they grilled you to make sure you do things the right way, otherwise they wouldn't be doing their job.

[iwannaplay54 985]

11 hours ago, special k10 said:

Thank you for the advice. 

 

I'm worried now since you're the second person to say it was a warning - a warning for what? What did I do wrong exactly? 🙁

 

I guess I should've just used my first passport like I have before... If I'd done that, I probably wouldn't have had to deal with such a stressful situation.

You did not do anything wrong.  The warning is that by law the IO has to assume every entering passenger has immigrant intent and by law the burden of proof is to demonstrate that you do not.  As a spouse of a USC you automatically qualify for immediate immigration benefits that the vast majority of visitors/tourists do not qualify for making you a higher risk.  The IO was explaining what you have to do IF you are intending to immigrate to be with your spouse.  Be careful that your travel patterns, etc don’t make it look like you are using the ESTA program to “live” with your spouse and it’s a good habit to carry ties to your home country (employment records, etc) with you when you enter.

 

[powerpuff 5,977]

3 hours ago, special k10 said:

Hi, @powerpuff. Before gaining British citizenship in Oct of this year, I actually had my Eastern European (EE) passport which does not have an ESTA - I did not "easily forget" that using the VWP is a privilege!!! But it's easy to jump to conclusions and assume the worst about someone since we're online, not face to face.

Not to mention you are treated differently (read that as seen as being of a higher risk) if you are from EE, but that's a whole different topic of its own. I've had my share of judgement cast on me simply because of the country where I was born, so I'd appreciate you not casting any further judgement, thanks.

 

It was the first time I have ever used the ESTA because it was also the first time I had ever used my UK passport. Previously, I have gone with my EE passport to the US embassy for different non-immigrant visas and I was approved each time.

 

I appreciate your advice and I'm sorry that you think that I am one of the VWP untouchables who take the programme for granted. 

Not sure where you got the idea that I'm so privileged - probably a knee jerk reaction? I have a b1 visa valid for 10 years in my EE passport, so, if anything, I should know how much of a privilege IT ISN'T to go through the arduous process of simply visiting and the amount of paperwork needed just for non-immigrant visas🤷🏻‍♀️

I go with whatever information is presented in front of me. If you don’t want to be what you call “judged” (completely inaccurate but ok) then please present the whole picture and all the possible details. My point still stands about those who have ESTA/VWP. It is true and factual and has nothing to do with “casting judgement” or a “knee jerk reaction “. I see it very often here on VJ hence why I say it. Anyway, I think you got all the answers you were looking for in this thread ; good luck in your journey and future visits to the US, I’m also out.

[iwannaplay54 985]

6 hours ago, special k10 said:

Sorry for my ignorance, but better to be a fool once and ask for clarification than to never ask and be a fool forever - what's the difference between a secondary inspection and a customs referral? I didn't know there were 2 different inspections, was only aware of the secondary inspection being a thing. 

 

Many thanks.

Immigration and customs are two different groups.  We (USC’s) can be pulled into customs if they wish where immigration has no jurisdiction (none, zero) once US citizenship is established.  They can dig around into our baggage etc back in customs if something interests them.  Secondary is usually immigration (customs enthusiastically digs around anyway sometimes) but secondary is where your entry is determined or decided.

A USC who for example loses a passport on a flight would have citizenship confirmed back in secondary but would normally never experience anything like that.