Hi I know that what I am asking is probably "how long is a piece of string" we (my husband and 2 kids) have booked flights for July 10th to move to the States, before you all scream "book I big mistake, don't book till you have the visa" if I have to stay here, because my visa is not approved by then (we just sent the I864 the affidavit of support) that is fine and my husband and kids can go ahead of me (they are all USC's) now to get the price on flights we did we have a stop over we are flying from Heathrow-Miami where I am assuming that is the port of entry and that's where I will go into secondary customs? We then have a 2 and a half hour lay over before we fly onto our new home in North Carolina. I am worried that I will probably miss that flight so I wanted to see what is the average time people have to wait? Is it another interview? Again if I get delayed I will sort myself and send my family on the connecting flight but it would be nice to arrive all together as a family.
We are going to try and get seats on the front of the plane to hopefully speed things up.

And last question I think I may have asked this in the past what line will I go to? Can I go through with my family or is there a specific line for immigrant visas?

Thanks in advance, your help is priceless.

Kelly

It really is a piece of string.

From your itinerary described it does sound like Miami will be your POE.

For me it took about 1 minute... I walked into secondary at Charlotte and was immediately given my passport back and waved into the US.

I have also heard horror stories of the process taking hours.

Personally I would have left about 4 hours.

Thank you :-) Oh I agree I wish I could change the layover but doing so is not cheap and the cost of changing the flights now I may as well just buy a ticket if needed.

What line did you go through??

Yes.


There's simply no way to know. It depends on how many other international flights arrived before yours or at the same time and how many people on those flights need to be sent to secondary. Miami is a huge international airport... you could be there for several hours! Given all the unknowns in your equation, I wouldn't have worried so much about cost... because all the changes you may require could offset any savings!


No. The flight to NC is domestic therefore no immigration.



Yes! Which is to say you'll find out when you arrive.

Ian

Not that I want them too but just curious are my family allowed to come into secondary with me??

Yes I know but weighing up the pros and cons I th I think this may work out cheaper still. Let's just hope that it's not a busy day!

TY again

I went through the WWP/Visa line. However, this varies per airport. Just go with what line is marked or where directed by an attendant.

I am the USC and was allowed to wait with my K-1 fiance in secondary...but he also needed me to translate. This was at JFK (major airport), And as I recall the room for secondary was not very big, just one row of chairs and a long counter. Depending how busy they are and how big the waiting room is, they might not have room for 3 extra people to sit.

Rene

If you miss the connection they put you on the next one, I have never seen family in Secondary.

Do they normally charge do you know??

Probably not since it wouldn't be your fault.

Rene

Not normally, no. But... to clarify, it's not always the next flight. It's the next flight that has an available seat. That could be several hours, or it could be the next day! There's no way to know in advance.

Ian

I have never been charged, United.

I came in through Miami in 2011. It didn't take too long and my family was allowed in the room to wait with me. Some guy went to fetch our bags from the carousel which was very nice. Good luck!

Thank you! Fingers crossed the same happens for us.