International Travel 2023

My reply to “Mot” who asked a question in the “General Comments” section:
@ Mot: In 2022, I got off Florida’s Registry and, last month, got off California’s Registry. I have submitted an expedited request for a new unmarked US passport. I included a letter notifying the US Department of State’s Passport Service that I am no longer required to have an IML unique identifier on my passport. I also included the two court orders removing me from those Registries.
Fingers crossed that I will receive my new passport prior to my departure date. News reports say they are currently backlogged with passport requests and processing is very slow.
🤷🏻‍♂️
I am curious how I will be treated* by US Customs upon my return from Europe. 🤔
(*Probably kisses 😘, flowers💐 and champagne🥂🍾 as usual! 😄)

What are the requirements for your passport number on an airline reservation? I know that it has to be on the reservation at some point. I am asking because I recently made two international flight reservations and have not reached the 21 day notice time yet. I didn’t even realize that I wasn’t prompted for the passport number because it was one of those travel sites where all of my details are stored, so I just click an autofill box and everything gets filled in from previous domestic reservations. When I checked later, I noticed that my passport number was not there. Does it matter when I add the passport number to my flight reservation?

I posted a few weeks back after returning home from an international trip in May. I was harassed and sent to secondary. I informed them I would be filling a complaint at the time and did so while waiting for my connecting flight.

The response from their investigation was that “they can neither confirm nor deny the reason for my trip interruptions due to that information being specific to their procedures” but they stated they corrected some items on my file and I received a letter in the mail from the Department of State referencing my complaint to confirm that. They said that I should not expect future delays at the border. I was issued a redress number and told if I do encounter any additional issues to follow up with them.

We are traveling to Europe this fall so we shall see. At a minimum, I wasted time for multiple agencies and tax dollars. Push back every time the government harasses you.

Has anyone not listed on or removed from the Registries been able to enter Great Britain (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales)??
Asking for a friend…. who wants me to visit Ireland with her.

Or does an unmarked passport and being off the Registry not matter, still banned? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Hello,
sorry this not only an international question but a domestic one. It was said you have to register in Porto Rico upon arrival. When you leave, is your information taken off the registry? Same question for states a registrant visits. Many states require registrants to register after 3 days. Are our names taken off after we leave? Thanks.

Well, this answers some questions…

I received a registered letter from the State Department today. Last time I got one of these, it was to tell me my passport had been revoked, so I was a bit concerned.

However, it was kind of good news, and they kind of even apologized. According to the letter, when they revoked my passport 4+ years ago, they kept my name in their system to check for “improper use of my revoked passport”, and therefore, every time I returned to the U.S., the agent was instructed to send me to Secondary for “verification”. The letter says that they have now removed my name from their system, so that as long as I use my current passport and passport card, I will not be sent to Secondary, unless it is something unrelated like a random screening, or setting off the metal detector or something like that.

So, if your passport was revoked, your name will be in their system, if it wasn’t already. I don’t know if this affects anyone with a marked passport, but if you get a new unmarked passport (David🔱, steve, etc.) and you still get pulled into Secondary like I was, you should be able to request (demand?) that the State Department remove you from their “automatic Secondary” system.

Wow. A reply to my DOJ FOIA Request Appeal. Who knew?? 🤷🏻‍♂️

I received a reply to a Privacy Act/FOIA Request I submitted regarding my travels to France last year. The DOJ’s reply contained numerous redactions which I appealed. In response to that appeal, the DOJ’s letter notes the following:

“USMS properly withheld certain information because it is protected from disclosure under the FOIA pursuant to:

• 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(F), which concerns records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes the release of which could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or personal safety of an individual.”

🤔 Oh, they must mean it could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or personal safety of….
…. ME!!! 😡

Post-Relief (California) Travel To Mexico

I live in California and successfully petitioned for removal from the registry last year (Nov ’22) and traveled internationally for the first time subsequent to obtaining relief. (Federal charge, possession, 2004)

We often travel to Mexico (TJ, Rosarito, Ensanada) and always by car (there is no checking by Mexican authorities as you cross; USA does scan license plates and take photos). Coming back I am ALWAYS sent to secondary.

Finally, this last trip I presented my passport card (I actually have both the card and the booklet), was asked a few questions about my trip, bringing anything back, etc) and was sent on my way. I hope this continues and others experience similar success.

Here’s a silly question that I’m sure will get some folks panties in a twist. I’ve been talking to a woman in Russia and I have been invited to her family’s home. Has anyone here EVER been to Russia and if so how? Also, if you’ve TRIED to go there before and were either successful or were turned away, can you please tell me your story? Yeah I know all the BS with Ukraine and all that, but she lives very far from all that mess. Any help would be great. I’m a tier 1(lowest) in NV going on my 8th year here. Thanks in advance!! God bless!!

Hi All,

First, thank you all for the feedback and information you have shared on this site. Immensely helpful!

My wife and I traveling to France this fall, I am off probation, on the Reg. for 20 more years in NY, I have my passport with the SO designation, tickets purchased and reservations at three Airbnbs, so basically we’re all set.

I know I need to submit to my NY SORA office in Albany a letter outlining the trip. So I called them this week and they said send it as far in advance as necessary, but it needed to be in their hands 21 days before we leave, which I knew.

She also said: “…include the countries you’re traveling, the dates you will be there…” She did not say, “and give us the address of where you’e staying”, which I used to have to do with probation here in Westchester when I traveled out of the county.

I am inclined NOT to include any addresses of the three Airbnb’s we’re staying in. We are registered through my wife account because I cannot get an Airbnb account. I don’t want to mess anything up for my wife’s account, I don’t want any last minute complications with the hosts, etc.

My question: Do folks agree that I do not need to include the addresses of the Airbnb’s? Has anyone had their SORA office require that for international travel?

Many thanks!

David

Well, I’ve spoken to a couple of you privately, I still really don’t have a good grasp on what “harassment” means in secondary when returning to the United States.

Can any of you share exactly what that means or detail the types of questions or the type of harassment that we face in secondary?

I’m traveling from Europe to the United States next week, and I honestly have no idea what it means when people say they were harassed or interrogated or question in secondary.