Australian Passport issue - detain at LAX

[Simsy85]

Hi Folks,

Long time since i've posted, but that's because we've been away!

Had an interesting incident when we flew into LAX from SYD on United last month. Landed at TBIT and proceeded through customs - both my partner and I had ETSA's and headed to the machine. Scanned all good then to the CBP staff. They stamped me through and then there was an issue with SWMBO passport - first time she's ever been overseas, and first time travelling on that passport. They said the ETSA wasn't there (despite the fact we had printed copies) and that she'd have to 'come with us'. They took her to the rooms at the top of the escalators and told me that I had to go down stairs.

I protested a bit at not wanting to be separated from my partner, but they refused to budge. I waited at the bottom of the stairs for any result. About 45 minutes later she came downstairs, red eyes and crying. She told me that they sat her down with about 15 other Australian's and refused to answer any questions about why they had been detained (can't be bothered not the Australian's). One by one they handed the passports back without saying anything and waived them away.

SWMBO pushed the issue with them a bit, who finally stated that there was a batch of Australian passports that had a glitch and that they had been flagged by the Australian Government - that it was a straight forward process, but it just needed to be checked. Fast forward to today and there are no more issues. All good.

Has anyone ever heard of this or been through it?

Cheers

Simsy

 

[juddles]

I can not say I understand the details in this case, but I think that international travel is so easy these days that we forget that it is a serious matter. We all feel that we should be able to flit between countries without restraint. It is obviously concerning during the moments, but travel is really SO SO easy now.

I have been locked up in squalid conditions during border crossings - so things are actually improving in leaps and bounds

 

[kpc]

Hi Folks,

Long time since i've posted, but that's because we've been away!

Had an interesting incident when we flew into LAX from SYD on United last month. Landed at TBIT and proceeded through customs - both my partner and I had ETSA's and headed to the machine. Scanned all good then to the CBP staff. They stamped me through and then there was an issue with SWMBO passport - first time she's ever been overseas, and first time travelling on that passport. They said the ETSA wasn't there (despite the fact we had printed copies) and that she'd have to 'come with us'. They took her to the rooms at the top of the escalators and told me that I had to go down stairs.

I protested a bit at not wanting to be separated from my partner, but they refused to budge. I waited at the bottom of the stairs for any result. About 45 minutes later she came downstairs, red eyes and crying. She told me that they sat her down with about 15 other Australian's and refused to answer any questions about why they had been detained (can't be bothered not the Australian's). One by one they handed the passports back without saying anything and waived them away.

SWMBO pushed the issue with them a bit, who finally stated that there was a batch of Australian passports that had a glitch and that they had been flagged by the Australian Government - that it was a straight forward process, but it just needed to be checked. Fast forward to today and there are no more issues. All good.

Has anyone ever heard of this or been through it?

Cheers

Simsy

I think cove's wife had similar issues at Lax!

 

[MarcB]

We had a similar issue arriving into DFW in December. We had traveled to the USA many, many times, but these were new passports. We used a kiosk, but our slips were printed with a big black cross over them. When we got to the desk, the guy explained we needed to go through some "further processing" and took us to a room. He did tell us there was no issue with entry and we would get through - just some extra steps. We sat there about 20-25 minutes (a few other pax from our plane joined us over the time), and eventually our passports were handed back and we were sent on our way. Thought it bizarre. A few days later we came back to LAX from Mexico and there were no issues.

 

[Denali]

Out of curiosity, because both hubby and I have new passports, what was the month/year the passport was created?

 

[MarcB]

For us...November 2016 - both of them.

 

[ozjuice]

Similar issue with my wife's passport in August last year. I sailed through and she was detained. Took 20 minutes and a whole new series of photos and fingerprints, the 30 questions and a few stern looks and we were on our way. She had a new passport.

 

[Denali]

For us...November 2016 - both of them.

cough. Will let you know if 2 weeks if we have the same issue. Have a 2.5hr transit, thankfully to Atlanta so lots of options.

 

[YSSY]

I hold B1/B2 and C1-D visas and whenever I entered the US through an airport border using the B1/B2 (or prior to that VWP) I had absolutely no issues, however every time I entered the US using the C1-D I would be sent for enhanced screening. The enhanced screening is quite frustrating because you are seen in order, you are not allowed to approach the desk to ask any question's and eventually when seen would only be a moment before being admitted, all seemed quite pointless. I missed connections twice because of this.

 

[kevinkhchan]

Yes. Had the same issue with my wife's passport. She was told that it had something to do with a batch of new passports issued towards the end of last year / early this year. Transit through TBIT was on 26 January - Qantas held the plane for us as we bolted for the gate led by ground staff. Caught up with another 6 pax (2 separate groups) who had at least one member with the same issue - and this time each member of that group was being subjected to a "thorough" drug check. CSM was trying to help my wife calm down after we made it to the plane and she said that there were pax caught up every day - and they would personally enter through DFW or SFO if they could choose.

 

[serfty]

May be directly relevant, but it is generally* a good idea to have your old expired passport with you the first few times going through with a replacement passport.

* unless it has a stamp from one of those "special" places.

 

[Simsy85]

Her passport was from November 2016, and it was her first one ever

 

[kevinkhchan]

May be directly relevant, but it is generally* a good idea to have your old expired passport with you the first few times going through with a replacement passport.

* unless it has a stamp from one of those "special" places.

In this particular case it wouldn't have made a difference. As has been mentioned by OP, my wife was also told that they (US Immigration) was working on a list of passport numbers supplied by Australia government (or whichever responsible department). We (or in my case me) were told to not worry if we missed the plane as they would put us onto another flight to JFK.

 

[serfty]

Her passport was from November 2016, and it was her first one ever

Yeah, no problems.

It was just general advice.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

As has been mentioned by OP, my wife was also told that they (US Immigration) was working on a list of passport numbers supplied by Australia government (or whichever responsible department).

Too much to hope that affected passport holders would have been sent a letter advising them of the known issue and the possible complications when entering the US. Then again if they admitted they issued faulty passports they might be held liable to replace them.

Hopefully those affected won't also experience difficulties entering other countries.

 

[Cynicor]

Too much to hope that affected passport holders would have been sent a letter advising them of the known issue and the possible complications when entering the US. Then again if they admitted they issued faulty passports they might be held liable to replace them.

Hopefully those affected won't also experience difficulties entering other countries.

I'm wondering if this issue caused my recent odd experience. I was checking in at PER for a PER-SYD-TBU trip. She said there was an issue with my passport and they had to call immigration?! It was issued late October 2016 and has been overseas to Japan in that time with no hassles.

I'm due to visit the states early in April so will see if I get detained then. I have 6.5 hours in LAX to kill anyway, so I'm not overly worried.

 

[turnip666]

I am pleased that no one here has gone the press and blamed the new US administration.

 

[Simo]

My parents had problems getting out LAX due to a error on there behalf...

They got the finger prints mixed up between them both.

Lucky they left the country at the same time

 

[vandy]

There was a man interviewed on radio about this issue recently. They told him of a glitch between the US and Australian government, and that everyone on his flight who was using a new Australian passport was taken into a holding room while they investigated if the passports were legitimate or not.

 

[slinky123]

This is really interesting, I have a recently issued passport 27/1/17 and recently applied for ESTA and was declined eventhough I ticked no to everything. I have since applied for a B2 visa and have been put on admin processing. I wonder if something is wrong with my passport, I have had it checked in the passport office to make sure chip works ( suggested by ESTA help line) but now I do wonder if the passport is on the list that someone has mentioned. I do hope this is cleared up.