What to do if…
you receive a notice that your name is on an official watchlist or database and you cannot correct it quickly

What to do now

1. Check whether the notice is real through an independent route.

   • Use the agency’s official website, not the links or phone number in the notice, to find a contact route.
   • Ask: “Can you confirm whether this notice and reference number are genuine, and where should I send identity documents securely?”
   • If the sender cannot be verified, treat it as a possible scam and do not provide more personal information.

2. Preserve the notice and make a short incident log.

   • Save the notice, envelope, email headers, attachments, screenshots, reference numbers, and any delivery information.
   • Write a brief timeline with dates, locations, what happened, who contacted you, and what exact wording was used.
   • Keep copies of what you submit and note the date and method of submission.

3. If this is about repeated airport, airline, or border screening, use DHS TRIP.

   • DHS TRIP is the U.S. government redress route for travelers who have screening or inspection problems, including some name-match problems.
   • Submit one clear inquiry with the documents requested by the DHS TRIP system.
   • Keep the confirmation and Redress Control Number, and use that number consistently in future travel bookings where a redress number field is provided.
   • Do not expect the process to confirm whether you are on a watchlist; some systems may not disclose that.

4. If this is about a criminal-history or background-check record, get the official record before disputing it.

   • Request your FBI Identity History Summary if the issue appears to involve federal criminal-history information.
   • If the FBI record is inaccurate or incomplete, use the FBI challenge process and include clear supporting documents.
   • If the problem came from a court, police agency, or state repository, you may also need that source to correct what it sent.

5. If this is about another federal agency record, ask for the agency’s Privacy Act route.

   • Ask which office handles Privacy Act access and amendment requests for the record named in the notice.
   • Label the request clearly as a Privacy Act amendment or correction request, if the agency says that is the correct route.
   • Identify the specific record, the correction you seek, and the documents that support it.
   • Some records are exempt or not amendable, so ask what can be reviewed while the issue is pending.

6. Ask for a narrow temporary mitigation while review is pending.

   • If the issue is causing missed travel, a delayed job start, a paused clearance step, or a blocked benefit, ask whether there is a case number, note, or identifier you can show during review.
   • Keep the request short: “I am trying to reduce repeated false matches while the correction request is pending.”
   • Ask for any response in writing or note the name, date, and office of the person who answered.

7. Slow down if the situation turns into questioning about conduct.

   • If an administrative correction becomes an interview about alleged conduct, stop trying to explain everything immediately.
   • Say that you want legal advice before making statements.
   • If you are detained or feel unsafe, focus on getting to a safer pause and contacting a lawyer.