International Travel 2026

Just arrived in Frankfurt from South East Asia yesterday, no problems

We took the Eurostar train through the Chunnel from Paris to London. Interestingly, you clear UK immigration while in the train station in France. Since we had UKETA attached to our passports, we had no trouble at all clearing. Took less than a minute. We have been touring around the UK and Ireland for the last 16 days, but we fly home tomorrow. We have a direct flight from Heathrow to Phoenix. Any one with experience clearing immigration in Phoenix?

I just returned from a 3-week trip to Europe, which started with a flight from the East Coast USA to Paris France. My entry into Paris was wonderfully uneventful. I cleared Customs using their automated system, and it took no time at all.

I spent 4 days in Paris, saw the sights, and then took a train to Zurich where I stayed 6 wonderful days exploring the country of Switzerland. I initially stayed in Interlaken 4 days and then spent 3 in Weggis. Switzerland is a dream destination.

There was no Customs to deal with going into Zurich but curiously a train attendant wanted to see my passport when she asked to see my ticket, but she glanced at it for half a second before handing it back to me. .

From Zurich I took a plane to Malaga Spain, where I spent a whole week. Spain too is a wonderful place. I visited Marbella, hiked incredible mountains that rivaled the Swiss mountains I had seen, and ate a lot of tapas. Again, the transport over to Malaga from Zurich, although by plane, was Customs-free since Spain, like France and Switzerland, belongs to the EU/Schengen. I didn’t have to clear customs.

from Spain I flew to Portugal (Lisbon) and then to Madeira island (a Portuguese possession) with no problem at all. Portugal too was phenomenal, especially Madeira island. What a place!!

coming back …..I returned to Paris from Portugal and stayed one night at a hotel right near CDG airport before using the hotel shuttle to get to the airport. Didn’t have any issues whatsoever at CDG, everything went smoothly.

Upon arrival back in the good ol USA I didn’t know quite what to expect – I am now, as of last month, off all registries because I was removed from the only registry that listed me, and for 25 years: Florida’s. I never had to register in my home state because my Florida offense isn’t a covered offense in my state. But Florida kept my name and picture on its website for 25 years, with no updates from me in all that time. But that meant that for 25 years I was on the “National” registry … and that meant that under IML AW Could send Notices alerting of my travels to foreign countries.

Just to be sure I didnt have to provide a notice of travel or even carry a marked passport, last year I contacted AW/DHS to ask if I needed to provide the Advance Notice of International Travel or have a marked passport, given my particulars, and the answer came back saying “NO” to both: I didn’t need a marking on my passport nor to provide the notice (under IML merely being listed in a registry doesn’t render you “subject” to the “registration program” of a state). Under the Federal law you must either live or work or study in a jurisdiction to actually be subject to their registration requirements and laws.

So, heading home on the airplane I felt both little anxious but also confident at the same time -they couldn’t deny me entry, and being harassed by cops, while not pleasant, is not worth stressing about. But I had a little plan to reduce my embarrassment in case I had to go through Secondary -I waited until almost everyone went through Customs and got in line almost last.

at the airport where I cleared Customs (Dulles in dc) they have a semi-automated system where first you pose in front of a camera and it takes a photo and then flashes a green light to proceed to see an officer at various stations behind the camera post, who then asks perfunctory questions and lets you enter. Well. When I posed for the photo the light that flashed wasn’t green -it was blue. I nervously stared at the officer manning the camera post and she politely signaled me to one of the stations behind the camera, where I was greeted by a female customs officer who swiped my passport, looked at her screen, and then politely asked how I was doing. She then asked if I had purchased and brought back anything of value from my travels and also asked me to repeat my full name. That was it. She sent me on my way.

I felt relieved at how quickly and painlessly it had gone, and stepped just outside of the Customs area to retrieve my bags. But then I got to thinking -what had just happened? I didn’t get a green light, and instead I got a blue light. But it seemed like the actual handling of my case was no different from anybody else’s. So I decided to pick up my backpack and walk back to the Customs area to see if I could get somebody’s attention (there was a sign above the glass doors that said “do not enter”). Fortunately there was an officer -a female officer- right near the door inside the Customs area who saw me and sternly asked what I needed. And I got right to the point-what does the blue light mean? Was my screening the equivalent of Secondary? At that point she smirked slightly and said “no, you would’ve known if you had been sent to secondary.” she said that even small changes in appearance (like graying hair) can throw off the photo matching system and that when that happens they take a closer look to ensure I was the person on the passport photo.

I felt relieved to hear that, but then on my way out of the baggage claim area I saw another Customs agent and decided to ask him the same question. He said that if I had gone through Secondary I would’ve been escorted to a room and that I probably would’ve had to wait some time before an officer could come and process me.

Right now as I type this message I feel exhausted from all the travel but happy that I got to go. I would’ve taken the trip even if I was still listed in Florida, because life is too short to be intimidated into not traveling. So my advice to you is -go for it. Travel and see the world.

although …. In the back of my mind I still wonder why I didn’t get a green light. It’ll be interesting to see what happens when I return from my next trip.