What border officials know about you

[Aeryn]

Interesting article in todays SMH: More than basic details: What border officials know about you

Nothing is shared that I hadnt already assumed was, just some insight into the interplay between passport, PNR and APIS.

 

[Dmac59]

Interesting article in todays SMH: More than basic details: What border officials know about you

Nothing is shared that I hadnt already assumed was, just some insight into the interplay between passport, PNR and APIS.

Unfortunately behind SMH paywall

 

[Warragul]

A fair bit of it is incorrect for Australia.
Relatively few people see PNR data, access to it is heavily restricted by law/ regulation. Primary officers ( those who process non Smartgate people), don't see travel history either. They don't want the staff there having a mosey through various bits of data, time is of the essence generally at this point. Plenty of other people and ( more likely) systems available do that out of sight.

 

[kpc]

How are about TRS claims? Last Friday I claimed the GST back on a $1500+ camera in Mel. About 20 hours later I returned to Mel and ticked yes that I had duty free goods over my $900 limit...the officer asked what I was declaring, told him, he seemed surprised I declared it (bet you most don't declare), and he waved me through

 

[JohnK]

....he seemed surprised I declared it (bet you most don't declare), and he waived me through

I'd be very surprised if most declared. In fact I'd say very few declare.

Same goes for goods bought overseas duty free.

 

[Warragul]

How are about TRS claims? Last Friday I claimed the GST back on a $1500+ camera in Mel. About 20 hours later I returned to Mel and ticked yes that I had duty free goods over my $900 limit...the officer asked what I was declaring, told him, he seemed surprised I declared it (bet you most don't declare), and he waved me through

TRS data not seen at passport control. If you are of interest because of TRS or anything else you'll be added to a watch list, the system asks the officer to confirm or not the match. Others do the follow up action.

 

[RSD]

They are really trying hard in America -

 

[Dmac59]

They are really trying hard in America -
View attachment 459441

From time to time sometimes we inadvertently hit the incorrect response in our haste to complete the task.
I’d be intrigued to know the outcome if someone inadvertently selected the YES button.
Maybe something simple like an alarm and a very helpful staff member would come to assist.
Dare I consider alternatives.

 

[DC3]

They know what you did last summer

 

[AuSammy]

They are really trying hard in America -
View attachment 459441

In my haste and only skimming the text, I have inadvertently made the wrong selection when they ask about banned goods. Luckily the person doing intervention at the airport (in AU) was not fazed “happens a lot”.

 

[Seat0B]

In my haste and only skimming the text, I have inadvertently made the wrong selection when they ask about banned goods. Luckily the person doing intervention at the airport (in AU) was not fazed “happens a lot”.

Me too! I thought I was the only one. But the Aussie check in staff told me the same - apparently it happens a lot.

 

[Rhirhi]

Not so much what border officials know, but I was shocked last year when on an overseas trip to receive a message on MyGov telling me my childcare subsidy has been reduced to $0 as we weren’t in the country! I had no idea Centrelink was notified of departures.

 

[MARTINE]

Not so much what border officials know, but I was shocked last year when on an overseas trip to receive a message on MyGov telling me my childcare subsidy has been reduced to $0 as we weren’t in the country! I had no idea Centrelink was notified of departures.

I had a text message from Smart Traveller land as soon as I was in the air about staying safe whilst travelling…

 

[SYD]

They are really trying hard in America -
View attachment 459441

That’s basically one of the questions on the old physical I-94 form (replaced by ESTA).

The “gotcha” being a false declaration invokes more powerful rules and immediate consequences!

 

[RSD]

Speaking of Border Control and the like -

 

[jb747]

I'd be very surprised if most declared. In fact I'd say very few declare.

Same goes for goods bought overseas duty free.

They generally respond well to honesty. They have plenty who aren’t to target.

 

[CaptJCool]

Not so much what border officials know, but I was shocked last year when on an overseas trip to receive a message on MyGov telling me my childcare subsidy has been reduced to $0 as we weren’t in the country! I had no idea Centrelink was notified of departures.

Yes they do

Back in 2008
My kids and ex and I did a Disney trip
She got the dreaded Centrelink letter (she showed me) which said your kids didn’t come back so we cut off your Family Tax Benefit
She had to go to the C office with the kids to say “I’m pretty sure Immigration got that wrong!”

Earlier, one of the step-sons went to NZ, hadn’t told them and had his unemployment benefit summarily cut off!

So it’s been going on a LONG WHILE

 

[CaptJCool]

They are really trying hard in America -
View attachment 459441

The Americans hold a lot of convictions data on their Immigration system. Again from 2008, I know this as I declared a banana skin so got led over to the side area where the real old computer terminal was open… there was info about offenders

Id also expect in the modern times the Americans have access to all manner of personal social media accounts - well from those deported pretty sure they’re “big data” on all of us !

 

[RooFlyer]

I have been a visitor to Canada most of my life, both tourist and business. Once on a business trip in aby 2016 I was called aside for secondary interview.

They referred to a visit which I realised was on a prior passport. Got chatting and they showed me that they had linked all my passports, back to my fist visit in1976 - even though there was a 1 passport gap between that visit and the next. Not hard to do I guess based on DoB, nationality and name, but shows that time won't heal indiscretions or travels to/from the country of the past.