Comments on: Persona non grata at immigration? Can you get off the list

By: Dalit

Dalit — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:25:48 +0000

WOW. THANK YOU. I always get checked at the immigration room, and actually I know why.. I hold two passports (I have dual citizenship) and I hold two US visas, one tourist and one student from a few years ago. It is so annoying and time consuming to go through this double check, especially since I know there is no real reason for them to check me, I am far from being a terrorist, and not interested in staying in the US ilegally or anything like that!
I have filed a form and hope they can help me, at least it is good to have some kind of point of contact.
Thank you very much for posting this!

By: Wu Ming

Wu Ming — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:48:16 +0000

It *is* possible to get off the list. My husband had the same name as someone on the watch list and was stopped and searched every single time he entered the U.S. (he’s American too). He had to fill out many forms and prove who he was multiple times, but it worked and he is no longer on the list.

I also believe that regardless of whether or not you are on the watch list, they have an eye out for single American females traveling transatlantic. For whatever reason, that is the demographic that gets pulled over. So don’t be surprised if it keeps on happening even after you get off the list.

By: Karen Fawcett

Karen Fawcett — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:40:23 +0000

Since I am a French resident, Americans living Abroad aren’t represented in Congress (yet). We’re supposedly going to have a shadow representative. BUT that may be an appropriate title.

Someone suggested I contact the head of Consular Affairs at the US Embassy in Paris. If I am unable to obtain satisfaction via the normal route, I will do that.

That office is overworked and understaffed. I hope not to have to take the time to become cleared!

By: Joel Wechsler

Joel Wechsler — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:08:19 +0000

Your Senator or Congressman can usually help with this sort of thing. It worked for me in the pre-DHS days when I was on some sort of Customs list.

By: Nick Ciriello

Nick Ciriello — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:25:13 +0000

An absoliutley invaluable and time saving bit of information for those unfortuanate enough to have lost a document !!! An incredible bit of sleuthing !