2 EU passports with different names

[FATCA]

I can confirm this from personal experience, having had some encounters with customs in a few countries, including in the EU. Ever since the first run-ins, custom agents tend to notice me and check me the majority of the time. It seems to be country-specific though, as I’ve had this happen at multiple airports within the same country but not elsewhere in the EU.

Almost all customs agents are a hybrid of tax leeches and overzealous law enforcement with a burning desire to flex their authority at your expense. Armed with a Napoleon complex and too much free time, they’ll seize any excuse to make your trip miserable. Don’t give them a single reason to latch onto you.

Check how?

 

[daniels27]

Check how?

They check you luggage, your passport, your identity. It is like face control in a Russian night club, just that they have much more euphemistic names for the procedures, suggesting security for the people.

 

[Sols]

Check how?

1. Ask traveller for passport.
2. Scan passport (including biometric chip if available).
3. Wait a few seconds while searches are done in Schengen, Interpol, and various other databases.
4. Look at results. See nothing interesting (hopefully).
5. Look at visa (if necessary)
6. Stamp passport (if necessary).

The "various other databases" vary from country to country. It can include local criminal record, social media checks (especially easy if you provided an email address at some point), adverse media, PEP/sanctions checks, and more. Not saying all countries do this for everyone. But that's some of the information they may be able to access nearly instantaneously. Many of those checks are done by banks and financial institutions when you apply to open an account. All the API calls just take a few seconds.

Their job is to keep you out of the country unless you are qualified to enter.

Be normal.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

I can confirm this from personal experience, having had some encounters with customs in a few countries, including in the EU. Ever since the first run-ins, custom agents tend to notice me and check me the majority of the time. It seems to be country-specific though, as I’ve had this happen at multiple airports within the same country but not elsewhere in the EU.

Did you ever think about changing something in your look/behavior in order to appear less suspect?

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

Did you ever think about changing something in your look/behavior in order to appear less suspect?

Definitely stepped up my game. I’ve always been cautious while traveling, but looking back, the short stays within a four-week period, paired with a sporty outfit and a name-brand leather laptop bag, probably triggered the checks. It resulted in a fine for allegedly bringing in an undeclared item.

I’m assuming their system flags inbound passengers they've previously "milked," marking them as repeat targets for future cash grabs. Paraphrasing, but that's what it essentially is.

And while we talk about their databases, they don’t even bother registering whether you’ve already paid undue taxes or fines at the border. Instead, you get a flimsy paper receipt, and that’s your only proof per item. No central system where they can look it up. If they decide to hit you with the same fine again, the burden is on you to dig up those receipts and prove you already paid.

Now, I play it differently. I stick to smart casual, ditch any flashy or branded items, and slap barcodes on all my electronics to avoid any nonsense about their origin.

 

[FATCA]

They check you luggage, your passport, your identity. It is like face control in a Russian night club, just that they have much more euphemistic names for the procedures, suggesting security for the people.

1. Ask traveller for passport.
2. Scan passport (including biometric chip if available).
3. Wait a few seconds while searches are done in Schengen, Interpol, and various other databases.
4. Look at results. See nothing interesting (hopefully).
5. Look at visa (if necessary)
6. Stamp passport (if necessary).

The "various other databases" vary from country to country. It can include local criminal record, social media checks (especially easy if you provided an email address at some point), adverse media, PEP/sanctions checks, and more. Not saying all countries do this for everyone. But that's some of the information they may be able to access nearly instantaneously. Many of those checks are done by banks and financial institutions when you apply to open an account. All the API calls just take a few seconds.

Their job is to keep you out of the country unless you are qualified to enter.

Be normal.

Definitely stepped up my game. I’ve always been cautious while traveling, but looking back, the short stays within a four-week period, paired with a sporty outfit and a name-brand leather laptop bag, probably triggered the checks. It resulted in a fine for allegedly bringing in an undeclared item.

I’m assuming their system flags inbound passengers they've previously "milked," marking them as repeat targets for future cash grabs. Paraphrasing, but that's what it essentially is.

And while we talk about their databases, they don’t even bother registering whether you’ve already paid undue taxes or fines at the border. Instead, you get a flimsy paper receipt, and that’s your only proof per item. No central system where they can look it up. If they decide to hit you with the same fine again, the burden is on you to dig up those receipts and prove you already paid.

Now, I play it differently. I stick to smart casual, ditch any flashy or branded items, and slap barcodes on all my electronics to avoid any nonsense about their origin.

What the f**k are you guys talking about? This s**t is normal. Why are you mentioning it? Are you nigerian scammers or something? This makes no sense

@0xDEADBEEF, you are probably autistic and annoying that's why... they are doing their job

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

What the f**k are you guys talking about? This s**t is normal. Why are you mentioning it? Are you nigerian scammers or something? This makes no sense

@0xDEADBEEF, you are probably autistic and annoying that's why... they are doing their job

Your way of questioning, lack of insight, and overall attitude on this forum speak volumes about you. A reality check is bound to hit you sooner or later, just use the advice on OCT to make sure you’re ready when it does.

 

[Sols]

What the f**k are you guys talking about? This s**t is normal. Why are you mentioning it? Are you nigerian scammers or something? This makes no sense

I would recommend you take a moment to calm down a little before asking questions and trying to engage in a discussion. You have received a warning. If you keep this attitude up, the next one might be a ban. As long as you stick to a more constructive approach, you'll have nothing to worry about. You're welcome to disagree and voice disagreement. Just try to be a little more chill about it.

 

[daniels27]

Did you ever think about changing something in your look/behavior in order to appear less suspect?

Pro tip: wear a hoodie and you are almost sure to be checked in more details. If you bring card board boxes, you will get an additional bonus of having your luggage checked in details.

 

[HardRJones]

Just by reading some of the experiences relayed by people on this forum, you can see why they are wary of being burned again. I’ve had some minor brushes and know people who have experienced the worst, but nothing myself like what I’ve heard from others or read here. I’m under not too many illusions, though.

If I go to any nation of the GCC I am guaranteed to dance in my underwear at an airport checkpoint in Doha and be accosted on the street by a dozen people asking if I’m Iranian or making comments about Iran during my visit (I’m not Iranian and have no connection to Iran past an old ex-girlfriend). Many times going to the EU recently, you just turn your face to the camera and they don’t even look at your passport. I had that happen in Schiphol and Bologna most recently. I have stories about Chinese surveillance from twenty years ago that might (or might not) astonish you. A government of a somewhat developed nation, if interested, can find out quite a bit about anyone without too much trouble.

I have good relationships with bankers, attorneys, and governments, try to avoid making enemies, and go above and beyond in scrupulous adherence to laws which I believe helps to prevent problems, but there is no guarantee even in legal frameworks if you draw the wrong kind of attention.

There are some shady posts here, albeit the worst are usually called out immediately for what they are, and some of the things you read here seem strange, even though we in abstract know these things happen, but the paranoia and wisdom are at least an even mix if not better.