Adam18290

Hi all,

Is anyone able to shed light on the queues available at JFK for those holding an E2 Visa?

I recently obtained the visa and will be travelling to JFK in the next week knowing that my previous 2 visits without the E2 visa has resulted me in queuing for 2+ hours at each time.

I understand there is a queue for USC's and then one for non-USC's, does that mean with an E2 that I need to use the same queue as if I didn't have the E2 at all (i.e. non-USC)?

Thanks,
Adam.

A I

You will not be able to use the US Citizen queue with an E-2 visa.

Noorah101

Yes.

Rene

Adam18290

Interesting, I just heard from a friend that there is a queue for non national residents which he has used with his L1B...wonder if that applies for me...

ian-mstm

Perhaps you should consider flying into a different airport!


Yes.

Ian

ian-mstm

Perhaps you can ask your friend what he means by "non national resident"... since it's a mangled version of several terms. There may be a separate line for permanent residents (= those with a green card). At any rate, this probably doesn't apply to you - at least, not the first time you enter the US... since until your visa is processed at the POE, you haven't actually got any sort of status.

Ian

civilservant

Im not even sure what one of those is - but if you mean non-USC resident then it does not and will not, since on the E2 you are not a PR.

RICH

It's the people behind you I feel sorry for. No doubt you, with a visa, will take far more time to get through than the average VWP traveller.

A I

That's an interesting thought. I figured people with a Visa have been at the consulate and got a good poke and prod by the consulate staff. With VWP, they might have never had interaction with any type of review... as an agent I would be more wary of VWP travelers, specially who have never before been admitted vs. Visa holder.

Just a thought. As a citizen (and with kids making travel less frequent in my household) I am not experiencing the joy of immigration lines much anymore.

civilservant

There is additional paperwork to be completed at the border when entering on anything other than a B1/2 visa. That's what RICH was referring to. Nothing to do with them being questioned.

Adam18290

Something I can fill out on the plane or literally once I arrive at the immigration officers desk?

I was informed that there was a non national citizen line which was separate to the citizen line and the generic everyone else line.

Apparently I could use the non national citizen line if I held some sort of existing visa... that's what a friend of mine who has a L1B said anyway...

rpjs

As both paper I-94 (for visa holders) and I-94W (for VWP visitors) have now been phased out, all you have to fill out on the plane is the customs form, and everyone including USCs has to do that. Any other paperwork that you as an E-2 holder may have to fill out will be done at CBP inspection, quite possibly in secondary if extra processing is required.

At JFK in my experience there are usually separate lanes for USCs, LPRs and everyone else. I don't see why you wouldn't fall into the "everyone else" category. However, it's always worth asking the person at the start of the lanes who helps direct people to the correct one whether you can use the LPR lane with an E-2. The worst that could happen is that they say no.

Adam18290

Am I going to go through further examination on my first entry with the E2 to the States then? Something I should prepare for?

hungryhorace

And what line is that, exactly?

Rete

And the line for US Citizens is just as long and just as slow as the non-USC line. Heck coming into Newark's Liberty Airport from Switzerland this fall took me nearly 45 minutes.