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RoyGBiv wrote:

Teamless wrote:

recaffeination wrote:The interview was almost a formality.

Did you have to go to a NEXUS interview, near the Canadian border, or is there any locations down here that you are aware of?

http://usa.immigrationvisaforms.com/tra ... -locations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hmmm.. page does not allow me to copy/paste... Another government success...

DFW Terminal D, M-F 08:00 to 15:00, Phone 972-973-9972

Please keep us posted Pucker. I'm on the fence about the process re: cost, hassle vs. reward. If my international travel increases any, I'll probably do it. I must fit some profile. I get "randomly chosen" for secondary screening all too frequently.

I had my interview last week, all went smoothly until the officer asked if I had been arrested before....things came to a SCREECHING halt...he had sort of a deer-in-the-headlights look (as in - I can't believe we didn't find that). I gave him the honest answer, yes, explained it, that charges were not filed, everything was dropped, etc. He said "hold on a minute" and went into another room for a few minutes, came back, not sure if he tried to do a quick background check, talk to a supervisor, etc. He has very professional though and said "it's good that you told us that you have been arrested, this is a trusted traveler program. What I need from you is proof from the arresting agency or the county court showing the disposition of the case or that you are clear for that period time regarding charges, etc." He gave me 30 days and instructions where to send the proof once I get it. He said that if I needed an extension to let me know and that it shouldn't be a problem.

I contacted the arresting agency and talked to a very helpful person in the records department, she was able to pull up the arrest in her archives but said she would have to research it deeper in the records to get a disposition. She asked that I email her with my full info and she would provide this to me. I asked about cost, she said none. It will be a week tomorrow (Thursday), haven't heard back from her yet but I'll follow-up to see if she can provide what I need. If not, I'll contact the Tarrant County courthouse/clerk and get a background check.

PUCKER wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:

Teamless wrote:

recaffeination wrote:The interview was almost a formality.

Did you have to go to a NEXUS interview, near the Canadian border, or is there any locations down here that you are aware of?

http://usa.immigrationvisaforms.com/tra ... -locations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hmmm.. page does not allow me to copy/paste... Another government success...

DFW Terminal D, M-F 08:00 to 15:00, Phone 972-973-9972

Please keep us posted Pucker. I'm on the fence about the process re: cost, hassle vs. reward. If my international travel increases any, I'll probably do it. I must fit some profile. I get "randomly chosen" for secondary screening all too frequently.

I had my interview last week, all went smoothly until the officer asked if I had been arrested before....things came to a SCREECHING halt...he had sort of a deer-in-the-headlights look (as in - I can't believe we didn't find that). I gave him the honest answer, yes, explained it, that charges were not filed, everything was dropped, etc. He said "hold on a minute" and went into another room for a few minutes, came back, not sure if he tried to do a quick background check, talk to a supervisor, etc. He has very professional though and said "it's good that you told us that you have been arrested, this is a trusted traveler program. What I need from you is proof from the arresting agency or the county court showing the disposition of the case or that you are clear for that period time regarding charges, etc." He gave me 30 days and instructions where to send the proof once I get it. He said that if I needed an extension to let me know and that it shouldn't be a problem.

I contacted the arresting agency and talked to a very helpful person in the records department, she was able to pull up the arrest in her archives but said she would have to research it deeper in the records to get a disposition. She asked that I email her with my full info and she would provide this to me. I asked about cost, she said none. It will be a week tomorrow (Thursday), haven't heard back from her yet but I'll follow-up to see if she can provide what I need. If not, I'll contact the Tarrant County courthouse/clerk and get a background check.

Interesting. He asked me the same question like it was a routine question that he expected the answer to be "No" and when my reply was "Yes, in 1987" he whipped his head around toward me so fast I was sure he was going to have whiplash. His eyes were wide (literally) and he looked shocked. I then said "But the charges were dropped."

He then went to the NCIC and put in my info, after which he said "Well, you're not in the system. Your youthful indiscretion was apparently never reported. You're approved." He never left his desk.

Perhaps your info was in the NCIC. Mine apparently wasn't.

I received earlier this week, from the arresting agency, a certified document that said "we did not pursue charges for this arrest" and I sent this document to the Customs officer that I interviewed with. Received a call from the officer this morning that the info provided was not sufficient, which he said it would be during the interview, as I asked him *twice* about it during the interview. He said he needed a document from the county court showing disposition (or nothing showing, ie - that I am clear)...anyway...

I have since contacted the county court, they said they will provide a Criminal History Report and that if charges were dropped for the arrest then nothing would show up on my report. The county court clerk was very helpful, to do this I mailed them a letter (this morning) requesting a Criminal History Search and a check for $5 along with an address of where to mail the report (to me).

Reentry into one's own native country if one has no criminal background should be as easy as walking through a door.

Anygunanywhere

anygunanywhere wrote:if one has no criminal background should be as easy as walking through a door.

it is, except that there may be 500 people in line in front of you, that are being checked.
So the Global Entry / NEXUS lets us with NEXUS/GE bypass the long lines and go to a separate, much faster line - to prove who we are

My interview was mostly discussing various international trips I'd taken as the CBP officer flipped through my passport. After a couple minutes of that and then asking me if I had any questions about the Global Entry program, he took me over to show me how to use the kiosk.

I do remember the officer saying the trusted traveler program was effectively zero tolerance and any minor seeming thing could cause a revocation or denial, including failing to declare a piece of fruit brought back in a carry-on. So, I can see where the CBP might find it easier to deny or delay instead of clearing you. Any arrest makes it hard for them to quickly clear you, especially if the officer is a by the book kinda person.

i had my NEXUS interview Tuesday morning, in Montreal Canada.
I am not sure how they can call it an interview, as when I talked with Canadian Customs, it was "this is how the kiosk works" and "lets get your iris scan"
When I talked with the US Customs it was "follow the rules so you don't lose your priveledge" and "lets get your fingerprints", the only question interesting was "have you ever been fingerprinted, when I said "yes", she gave me a strange look, until I told her it was to obtain my CHL LOL.

As a matter of fact, I think the ONLY question asked by either US or Canada was if I had ever been printed before LOL.