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Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Old Oct 14th 2002, 7:20 am
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Default Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the documents ?

I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between connecting flights.
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Old Oct 14th 2002, 7:44 am
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Originally posted by foolish501:
I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the documents ?

I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between connecting flights.
Hi,

I think your cutting it fine under normal circumstances but the good news is you don't have to go through the non US line you can go straight into the quick US line.

There is a website with POE experiences including times

http://www.k1poelist.com/

Good Luck

Patrick
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Old Oct 14th 2002, 11:09 pm
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

On Mon, 14 Oct 2002 07:20:00 +0000, foolish501
wrote:

    >I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to
    >minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How
    >long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the
    >documents ?
    >I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between
    >connecting flights.

Just my £0.02 worth but I've NEVER made a connecting flight in the USA
with that little time between flights. Personally I would be expecting
to catch a later flight to Des Moines.

Denis
 
Old Oct 14th 2002, 11:09 pm
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Originally posted by foolish501:
I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the documents ?

I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between connecting flights.
foolish, look at the answers I got a couple of days ago at http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hreadid=102704

Now I'm having doubts about my own plans; and I've got a 'bigger' window of time than you.

Hoping for any of you DCF I-130ers to chime in!!! Roger, i'm counting on your 60-75 minutes
mo
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Old Oct 14th 2002, 11:34 pm
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Originally posted by foolish501:
I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the documents ?

I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between connecting flights.
One hour is cutting it short. I'm a US citizen and I would n't make a connection that tight.

Also, winter can come early to Minneapolis/St. Paul. In any case, as these things go, HHH is not a bad airport to spend time in.
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Old Oct 14th 2002, 11:59 pm
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

foolish501 wrote:
    > I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to
    > minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How
    > long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the
    > documents ?
    > I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between
    > connecting flights.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Like said by many, the actual check up by the INS officer
does not take that long, most of the time. But the lines can
be long, many times I experienced (not at your POE, but lots
of others, waiting times of 30 to 45 minutes. And then try
to reach the gate in time?

One hour is a very tricky lay over, in any case, even as a
tourist coming from abroad.
I believe you have to be lucky or if you are not at ease,
try to change the schedule.
--
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Old Oct 15th 2002, 1:33 am
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Originally posted by foolish501:
I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the documents ?

I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between connecting flights.
I would change flights, just because you never know if your inbound plane will be late, factor in the INS check, I think they go through your mysterious brown envelope, so who knows how long that will take, and you'll be going from an international terminal to a domestic one. Never been to Minneapolis, but I think most airports have two different terminals. Either way, GOOD LUCK and CONGRATULATIONS !!!
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Old Oct 15th 2002, 1:48 am
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Originally posted by Patrick:


Hi,

I think your cutting it fine under normal circumstances but the good news is you don't have to go through the non US line you can go straight into the quick US line.

There is a website with POE experiences including times

http://www.k1poelist.com/

Good Luck

Patrick
Speaking as a travel agent and one who regularly travels back and forth to UK if you're coming into MSP as your point of entry an hour is a bit tighter than it should be when coming in on an international flight. Normal suggested connecting time is an hour and a half for those. My last trip to the UK in June, the flight was on time, and as a USC I breezed thru passport control, BUT luggage was another story-that took 40 minutes to show up and then I had to recheck it......AND I had to change terminals which meant another security check. It ended up with the security folks seperating those of us trying to make the flight to ATL and rushing us thru. I was lucky, I then only had to make it to another two gates. What I further didn't count on was weather..we sat on the ground, once I collapsed inside the plane, for an hour. I missed my final flight home. Since the delay was weather related the airline disclaimed responsibility and I had to pay for a hotel room that night....It was not one of my more enjoyable flights.....All in the name of love
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Old Oct 15th 2002, 2:22 am
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

I recently travelled from London to Atlanta and then on to our small airport in Florida. I had my my immigrant visa with me. It took about an hour and a half or so for them to process the visa (I had to wait with others who were being delayed, I assume it was so the INS could interrogate them!), stamp my passport with the I-551 and take my fingerprints for the Green Card. Luckily we had 2hrs between flight so we were okay, but I think 1 hour would be cutting it fine if your airport INS officials are anything like Atlanta!

Originally posted by cindyabs:

Speaking as a travel agent and one who regularly travels back and forth to UK if you're coming into MSP as your point of entry an hour is a bit tighter than it should be when coming in on an international flight. Normal suggested connecting time is an hour and a half for those. My last trip to the UK in June, the flight was on time, and as a USC I breezed thru passport control, BUT luggage was another story-that took 40 minutes to show up and then I had to recheck it......AND I had to change terminals which meant another security check. It ended up with the security folks seperating those of us trying to make the flight to ATL and rushing us thru. I was lucky, I then only had to make it to another two gates. What I further didn't count on was weather..we sat on the ground, once I collapsed inside the plane, for an hour. I missed my final flight home. Since the delay was weather related the airline disclaimed responsibility and I had to pay for a hotel room that night....It was not one of my more enjoyable flights.....All in the name of love
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Old Oct 15th 2002, 10:44 am
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Hi Foolish..
I would personally and from my USC's experience allow at least 2.5 hours at
the POE for the connecting flight..
Not only do you have to clear immigration, you then have to collect your
luggage, clear Customs and make it across airport to another terminal.. 1
hour is FAR too short a time. With 1.5 hours between flights, my USC made
it to Washington, only to be stopped by customs and only just made it to her
connecting flight..
Personally, I am hoping to enter at JFK, get a stamp, then from there to
Washington and then from there, on to my destination in Virginia.

Actually.. there is a question for everyone.. as my POE is JFK, and then I
fly to Washington, I wont have to go thru the INS queues again will I?
Am looking at all sorts of ways for doing this..
Priceline.co.uk is pretty fixed as far as itinerary is concerned, BUT I have
found a couple of others..
www.travelselect.com
http://www.travelocity.co.uk/

The latter seems to be one of the few that allows you to book an internal US
flight from the UK .. Perhaps cos they have a US site too

Pete


"foolish501" wrote in message
news:442979.1034580000@britishexpats-
.com
...
    > I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to
    > minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How
    > long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the
    > documents ?
    > I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between
    > connecting flights.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com
 
Old Oct 15th 2002, 11:04 am
  #11  
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

Originally posted by Pete:
Hi Foolish..
I would personally and from my USC's experience allow at least 2.5 hours at
the POE for the connecting flight..
Not only do you have to clear immigration, you then have to collect your
luggage, clear Customs and make it across airport to another terminal.. 1
hour is FAR too short a time. With 1.5 hours between flights, my USC made
it to Washington, only to be stopped by customs and only just made it to her
connecting flight..
Personally, I am hoping to enter at JFK, get a stamp, then from there to
Washington and then from there, on to my destination in Virginia.

Actually.. there is a question for everyone.. as my POE is JFK, and then I
fly to Washington, I wont have to go thru the INS queues again will I?
Am looking at all sorts of ways for doing this..
Priceline.co.uk is pretty fixed as far as itinerary is concerned, BUT I have
found a couple of others..
www.travelselect.com
http://www.travelocity.co.uk/

The latter seems to be one of the few that allows you to book an internal US
flight from the UK .. Perhaps cos they have a US site too

Pete


"foolish501" wrote in message
news:442979.1034580000@britishexpats-
.com
...
    > I've got my visa, and am travelling next month from the UK to
    > minneapolis, and then onto Des Moines with a connecting flight. How
    > long does it normally take immigration to check the visa, and issue the
    > documents ?
    > I've only got about an hour (if the plane is in on time) between
    > connecting flights.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com
No you only clear INS once at your POE - internal flights are not subject to INS checks.

Try these flight sites

www.opodo.co.uk

www.cheapestflights.co.uk

I always seem to find cheapish flights on these two.

Good Luck

Patrick
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Old Oct 15th 2002, 3:05 pm
  #12  
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

I was worrying about the same thing. I was planning to fly from Europe
to Chicago and then on to Dayton, OH or Columbus, OH but I got a
better deal at the travel agency, flying directly from Paris to
Cincinnati, OH.
Anyways an hour time might even do if you weren't going through
immigration and didn't have to collect your laguage and check in for
your next flight, but I think that's what you usually have to do. If I
was to catch a connecting flight I'd plan for 2 hours at least. I've
had friends missing their connecting flights due to not enough time;
what they usually do is put you on the next one and if you're smart
you'll avoid paying for it.
 
Old Oct 15th 2002, 4:01 pm
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

well i've just checked, i've got 1hr 35 minutes between landing and boarding the next flight, that's if my flight gets in on time. My bags will go automatically to my final destination, so i don't have to worry about that. I can't get another flight if i miss it, as i'm on a bulk ticket. The carrier only has one flight to des moines each day, so if i miss the flight i have no option but to make my own way to des moines. I got my flight for £268, which is around £150 cheaper than other places, so i just hope they can get everything sorted in time.
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Old Oct 15th 2002, 6:18 pm
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?

In general your bags WILL NOT "go automatically" to your final destination -
Customs has to clear them at the first POE.
Someone here will correct me if I'm wrong.
Ron

"foolish501" wrote in message
news:444387.1034697701@britishexpats-
.com
...
    > well i've just checked, i've got 1hr 35 minutes between landing and
    > boarding the next flight, that's if my flight gets in on time. My bags
    > will go automatically to my final destination, so i don't have to worry
    > about that. I can't get another flight if i miss it, as i'm on a bulk
    > ticket. The carrier only has one flight to des moines each day, so if
    > i miss the flight i have no option but to make my own way to des moines.
    > I got my flight for £268, which is around £150 cheaper than other
    > places, so i just hope they can get everything sorted in time.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com
 
Old Oct 15th 2002, 7:11 pm
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Default Re: Point Of Entry - How long does it take ?


In general your bags WILL NOT "go automatically" to your final destination -
Customs has to clear them at the first POE.
Someone here will correct me if I'm wrong.
Ron
This is correct. In the US, you have to clear immigration and customs where your plane from abroad lands in the US, even if it is not your final destination (N.B: it is the opposite from Europe, where you clear everything at your final destination).

Therefore after landing in the US, you first go through immigration, then pick your bags, and go through customs. After that, there is usually a place where you can recheck your bags to your final destination for your domestic flight.

Caroline
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