The mail came early this morning. “Looks like I got a response from the Department of Homeland Security,” I told Jenny as I opened the envelope.

I had submitted a Traveler Redress Inquiry Form to the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program back in February when I learned I had been placed on the No-Fly Watch List. (See No Fly Watch List: Part 3, posted February 15, 2010).

For most of February and March, traveling was a hassle. I couldn’t print my boarding pass in advance. I waited in lines at the airport while the airline staff completed the No-Fly Watch List paperwork. I’d often get stopped for extra screening. I generally tried to have a good attitude about it, but flying as often as I do, I needed a long-term solution so I filed my paperwork with the Department of Homeland Security to try to get my name off the list. Sometime around late March I was able to print my boarding pass from home, which made me think the system was working. I filed my paperwork, and I am off the list. Hooray. But according to the letter I received, that may or may not be the case.

“What does the letter say?” Jenny asked.

“It says they have researched and completed review of my case.”

And then the letter goes on to say, “Security procedures and legal concerns mandate that we can neither confirm nor deny any information about you which may be within federal watchlists or reveal any law enforcement sensitive information.” That is so not helpful.

They also suggest I provide my redress control number when booking travel. “This information will assist new technologies being introduced in 2009-10 to help prevent misidentifications.”

And after all these not so helpful explanations, the letter concludes, “Despite these positive efforts, we cannot ensure your travel will be delay-free.” Thanks a lot.

I can only hope that the Department of Homeland Security may or may not have communicated this information to the Transportation Security Administration because for the past couple of months I have been able to print boarding passes out in advance and breeze through security. Have I triggered a new watch list status? Or did filing my paperwork actually help? Hard to tell.