I did not collect my bags on my entry to the US from international flight. They said I violated federal law and it will be put in my passport.

[tamhanepd 0]

I was traveling from India to Huntsville AL, and I had a connecting flight at Dallas, which was the first port of entry to the US for me. I assumed that my checked bag will be delivered to the final destination, so I went straight to the connecting flights area, cleared immigration and waited for my next flight. After about 1.5 hours I got a call from Americal Airlines and they said I had to collect my bag and check in again to clear customs and that by not doing that I violated federal law and it will be reported in my passport. I was unaware of this. I requested them that I'll go back to the baggage claim area to collect my bag but they said I cannot go there now and my bag will be delivered to the final destination after being cleared by the customs officer in a few days and I can collect it from there. But next time, they will make a note of it in my passport. Will it affect my future visa extension applications or different vissa applications? What can I do to mitigate any effects of this situation?

 

Thanks.

[Timona 3,941]

Nobody will note anything. 

 

One time, this lady told me she's going to put a note on airport system to warn other airlines that I arrived late. 😂

[OldUser 4,820]

39 minutes ago, tamhanepd said:

But next time, they will make a note of it in my passport.

I'm not sure whether you violated a law or not, but I think nobody can make any notes or stamps in your passport other than CBP / immigration in various countries.

 

Airlines cannot put any stamps or notes in your passport. As far as I know, neither they have a right to do this, nor your passport would be valid after unauthorized stamps etc.

[JeanneAdil 6,203]

ur passport was with u 

how would they mark it?

usually we are directed where to go and can't go elsewhere /u have to follow the line to do what CBP  wants so not sure how u were able to bypass the system

 

the officer will probably make a computer note that says "make sure this person goes thru additional baggage check when flying into the US next trip/no big deal /now u know what to do

[jackiegringa 349]

3 hours ago, tamhanepd said:

But next time, they will make a note of it in my passport.

No way, and I know this because they said next time - if you had actually violated any federal law you would be talking to the cpb/actually police now. Don't do it again, that works for any country, first port of entry you need to re check your bags. It's fine.

[NorthByNorthwest 216]

14 hours ago, jackiegringa said:

No way, and I know this because they said next time - if you had actually violated any federal law you would be talking to the cpb/actually police now. Don't do it again, that works for any country, first port of entry you need to re check your bags. It's fine.

 

Within Europe/Schengen your checked luggage always goes to your final destination regardless of point of entry into Schengen. You pass immigration at first point of entry but you only clear customs at destination.

[Dashinka 23,251]

15 hours ago, jackiegringa said:

No way, and I know this because they said next time - if you had actually violated any federal law you would be talking to the cpb/actually police now. Don't do it again, that works for any country, first port of entry you need to re check your bags. It's fine.

This is not correct, not every country requires you to collect your luggage for a connecting flight at the first entry airport.  I remember flying to Russia many times, and my bags were routed to my final destination after arrival in Moscow.

[Rocio0010 5,565]

39 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

This is not correct, not every country requires you to collect your luggage for a connecting flight at the first entry airport.  I remember flying to Russia many times, and my bags were routed to my final destination after arrival in Moscow.

Same in Argentina.

[Crazy Cat 39,267]

20 hours ago, tamhanepd said:

I assumed that my checked bag will be delivered to the final destination,

Did you change airlines? 

[tamhanepd 0]

Thank you everyone for your replies. My bag was transported in the same flight in which I was traveling and my i94 record also doesn't show any record of not collecting baggage or breaking the law. I guess they were trying to scare me to not do it next time? Just five months ago I travelled to Huntsville from outside USA with a layover at Houston. At that time, my checked bags arrived at the final destination without any issue. But looking up on google shows that since 6/20/2023, all international passengers have to collect their checked bags and check in again at the port of entry before taking the connecting domestic flight.

 

I did change airlines which could have caused problems. The last flight was operated by American and the first flight was by Qatar airways.

Edited February 2 by tamhanepd
Additional info

[Crazy Cat 39,267]

19 minutes ago, tamhanepd said:

I did change airlines which could have caused problems. The last flight was operated by American and the first flight was by Qatar airways.

I believe that was the reason for re-checking baggage.

Edited February 2 by Crazy Cat

[GEOntificator 271]

18 hours ago, jackiegringa said:

No way, and I know this because they said next time - if you had actually violated any federal law you would be talking to the cpb/actually police now. Don't do it again, that works for any country, first port of entry you need to re check your bags. It's fine.

This is incorrect. I cleared customs in Schengen many times to rest at the hotel and never claimed my bags. They went to the final destination as told.

[jackiegringa 349]

Thanks for the 7 warnings! 😂