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So roughly in the last two years, whenever I leave or arrive into Australia (as a Citizen with Australian passport) the Smart gate machines direct me to the 'Assistance Desk' for manual processing or the red light appears on the pedestal machine. This occurs more often than not (~75% of the time) and is indifferent between the basic smart gates and the combined machines with bio-metrics. In either case, I have to line up again in another queue for a physical person to process my movements. Sometimes the additional delay is 1 minute, others >20 minutes which can be very annoying after long flights or tight connections etc.
I've spoken with DFAT, CBP and FOI, all of whom have exhausted what they can do for me. WRT the FOI team specifically, they can only offer general advice, but ultimately I expect that if I did pursue that avenue I'd get a wad of info that tells me exactly everything I already know about myself. But more importantly, not the possible reason why I'm being flagged for sensitivity/security reasons.
Some insights that I offered the agencies for their consideration and advice (to no avail):
Does anyone have a similar experience or advice for this increasingly frustrated traveller?
I've spoken with DFAT, CBP and FOI, all of whom have exhausted what they can do for me. WRT the FOI team specifically, they can only offer general advice, but ultimately I expect that if I did pursue that avenue I'd get a wad of info that tells me exactly everything I already know about myself. But more importantly, not the possible reason why I'm being flagged for sensitivity/security reasons.
Some insights that I offered the agencies for their consideration and advice (to no avail):
- I've checked that the passport is fully functional in person with DFAT in their Melbourne office. It's not a passport issue; this is CBP flagging me for some reason.
- In the last two years I have travelled quite a lot to Europe, North America, Asia and to a lesser extent Central America. None of the countries I have visited stand out to me as something likely to trigger a red flag in the system that warrants manual processing. But if there was, the worst in terms of risk might be considered as Costa Rica, Mexico and Russia - hardly the likes of Syria etc.
- On most occasions I ask why I am being processed manually. Me: 'Is there a red flag or something in my profile causing this?'. CBP agent: 'Nope, not that I can see. Maybe try calling DFAT to check your passport etc'.
- I claim TRS on most of my trips. I have never been asked to show my luggage contents to check if I'm bringing claimed goods back into country or anything like that.
- I have a stash of the yellow inbound immigration forms that I always pre-fill before I leave so that upon my return I don't have to fill it out on the plane or airport to save time/hassle. As of my last arrival a week ago I was told that these were now out of date - apparently a minor change to tobacco language on the new forms. I do not submit any outbound departing passenger cards, which I understand are optional nowadays anyway.
- I usually register my travels with Smart Traveller.
- I do not have a criminal record or anything like that (this might change if my frustration boils over next trip!).
- In the last two years I have travelled quite a lot to Europe, North America, Asia and to a lesser extent Central America. None of the countries I have visited stand out to me as something likely to trigger a red flag in the system that warrants manual processing. But if there was, the worst in terms of risk might be considered as Costa Rica, Mexico and Russia - hardly the likes of Syria etc.
- On most occasions I ask why I am being processed manually. Me: 'Is there a red flag or something in my profile causing this?'. CBP agent: 'Nope, not that I can see. Maybe try calling DFAT to check your passport etc'.
- I claim TRS on most of my trips. I have never been asked to show my luggage contents to check if I'm bringing claimed goods back into country or anything like that.
- I have a stash of the yellow inbound immigration forms that I always pre-fill before I leave so that upon my return I don't have to fill it out on the plane or airport to save time/hassle. As of my last arrival a week ago I was told that these were now out of date - apparently a minor change to tobacco language on the new forms. I do not submit any outbound departing passenger cards, which I understand are optional nowadays anyway.
- I usually register my travels with Smart Traveller.
- I do not have a criminal record or anything like that (this might change if my frustration boils over next trip!).
Does anyone have a similar experience or advice for this increasingly frustrated traveller?
