Any American citizens here who've flown back recently?

Post this on the USA board.

I fly in and out yearly - never had a problem and I am not sure what an "APIS" is.

Maybe you are reading too much stuff on the internet! :-)

Just check in with your passport, go through the US Citizens line when you arrive and you will find it fast and easy.

Secure Flight does not go into effect till the 1st of November though tickets purchased September 15th onwards will require that the following info be collected by the airline:
____________________________________

TSA Secure Flight

The next phase in the Secure Flight program requires that beginning November 1, all passengers must have full Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) in their reservation at least 72 hours prior to departure for ticketed reservations made more than 72 hours in advance. If a reservation is made within 72 hours of flight departure, full Secure Flight Passenger Data must be provided when the reservation is ticketed.

In compliance with this mandate you will be required to provide Secure Flight Passenger Data:

* To purchase any ticket on or after September 15, 2010
* To travel November 1, 2010, or later regardless of purchase date

You will be unable to travel without providing the following information.

* Full Name (first, middle and last name, as it appears on the non-expired government-issued photo ID that you will use when traveling)
* Date of Birth
* Gender
* Redress Number (if applicable)

____________________________________

APIS is the info transmitted (PNR and passport info) before the flight leaves the ground.

So, unless you are flying in November, seems that there should be no issue on the US DHS end.

In compliance with this mandate you will be required to provide Secure Flight Passenger Data:
* To purchase any ticket on or after September 15, 2010
* To travel November 1, 2010, or later regardless of purchase date
You will be unable to travel without providing the following information.
* Full Name (first, middle and last name, as it appears on the non-expired government-issued photo ID that you will use when traveling)
* Date of Birth
* Gender
* Redress Number (if applicable)

And . . . really, if you can't provide the first three things you shouldn't be flying!

The last one - if you don't have one/it, you don't have one/it.

I don't have one and I am sure I will still fly.

I went back in 2008 and it was a horrible horrible horrible experience.
I'm an american citizen but work abroad. I always get hassled. They dumped my bag out
and broke my IPOD, asked me why I was coming back, and I had to give an address where I was staying. I think they asked me if I was working for work too. total joke.

This is not just an online story it happens. they have no idea to harass and don't apologize for anything.

I go to the States almost every year and have been living abroad since 1989. In all that time I ran into only one immigration officer that had a chip on her shoulder. The rest of them have always been fine. Never had my stuff gone through either.

But - from living abroad so long, I quite realize the need to dress and present myself reasonably and to treat the immigration authorities IN ANY COUNTRY politely and respectfully. That tends to solve about 98% of the problems.

Just my opinion.