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.

Mike G, Ghost respect to you both.
Beware of wolves in sheep clothing. He sounds EXACTLY like the DHS official who was at the embassy.

Hi! Anyone have insight or experience with visiting Grenada?

Does anyone live in a country where there isn’t a registry for SO? I live in an EU country, we don’t have a registry, but I’ve always traveled inside the EU. Will I have any problem traveling to countries where I don’t need a visa and I don’t need to declare anything in any form? Just for context: I have a suspended sentence and I’ve already got a valid passport which is not stamped.

I am planning a trip to Iceland. The best pricing has me flying through JFK. There s an option to fly through MSP but it costs a bit more and it’s a longer layover. Is JFK tougher to get through on my return trip than MSP?

I’ve traveled quite a bit internationally and now avoid Miami like the plague. I will only fly through Atlanta. Any help would be appreciated

I have a marked passport and, since my experience is a little different than some of the others posted, thought I would share it with everyone.
In late July I flew from LAX through Frankfurt to Milan, Italy. After a delayed departure, we arrived in FRA with 35 minutes to get to our next flight. We literally ran from one terminal to the next. Found no EES lines but were both (other person has never been on the registry) were sent to “the booth” for additional questions. For me the person asked “where are you going?”, “how long will you be there?”, and “are you traveling alone?” When he asked the last question, I pointed out the person I was travelling with at the next booth, and that seemed to satisfy him. He stamped the passport and sent me on my way. My initial thought was that this was easy. Arrival in Milan and our further travels to Rome etc, and a day excursion into Switzerland met with no problems as there are not border controls.
When departing Italy was easy, our return through Frankfurt, and to the US, was a totally different story. On arrival in Frankfurt, the flight attendants announced that there would be a passport check as we exited the ramp. At the ramp, there were two Polizei, checking passports, and as I thought, they were looking for me. They pulled me aside and stopped checking anyone else. My travel partner was ahead of me and continued on aways. The Polizei asked why I was arriving in FRA, where I was going, read my special identifier on the passport, wanted to know what I was doing in Milan and Italy, where I went while I was there, and then asked if I was travelling with anyone. I pointed out that person, and they asked me to have her come over. She did. They asked her the same questions that they asked me and got the same answers. Then they talked in German between themselves. They asked if I had any pictures on my phone to prove where I had gone. I did and showed them the various venues we visited. They talked some more in German and decided we could go to the terminal. This all took about 10 minutes. I think they were debating on either holding me in a Secondary room, or letting me use their terminal. When going through the EES in FRA for departure, after doing the EES process it sent me to the woman in the booth. She took my passport, and then started reading the screen. After a big sigh, she asked where I was coming from and where I was going. Then she asked, after another big sigh, if I was travelling with anyone. I thought that would clear the way, but she scrolled down her screen, sighed some more, read some more and more sighs. Finally, she just stared at me for about 5 seconds, and decided to stamp the passport. Not sure if they would, in the future, let me into their country.
While I knew that arrival in the US would be unpleasant, it certainly was more than expected. At Customs, when I took my picture, it gave a red X rather than the green check mark. It did this twice, so I had to go to the man at the booth. He scanned my passport, and made a call. A Customs officer came right away and asked me to go with him. He took me to secondary. Two other officers joined him, one took my bag and one my phone. The primary officer proceeded to ask me questions about where I went, where I stayed and the purpose of the trip. If I had been stopped by any law enforcement, I mentioned the Polizei in FRA. He then asked about the person I was travelling with, their relationship to me, and why I travelled overseas after not travelling since I was 17 (I am now nearly 70). He also asked why I had as much money as I did (a couple of $100, and 300 Euros. I explained that I was carrying hers and my money. He then asked about my criminal history wanting to know about the convictions and when it occurred (they are all misdemeanors, and from over 24 years ago. (Note: I am a tier 2) He then asked where I got my money (was I retired, was I working). What I did, where I worked since getting out of college (that was 1984!) and what colleges I attended.  He wanted to know each place I lived in the US including street addresses. I should mention he was writing most of this down. Of course some of the addresses, I could not remember. In the end, they found nothing of concern in my phone or my carryon and they let me go. All in all, it took 30 minutes. Not sure what to think of all of this. Certainly wasn’t “just a few questions” I keep reading on this site and not sure why I was singled out.
Just thought I would share.