Taffylola

Noorah101

Is there for sure a separate line for people holding non-immigrant visas (as opposed to people using ESTA)? If so, then seems to me you could use it.

Rene

wisygreen

I am not sure about LAX but the distribution of lines seems to change every time I travel. However the line for E2 has always been the longest one. Recently it seems ESTA's have a different line and E2 is lumped in with visa holders from every country. Go for Global Entry if you can.

scrubbedexpat099

Perhaps LAX is different, when I have come in there were just USC/LPR's and others.

Taffylola

sorry to be thick but what is USC and LPR?
I must have baby brain!

Rete

USC = United States Citizen

LPR = Legal Permanent Resident (green card holder)

USCIS = US Citizenship and Immigration Services

As your E2 visa has not been activated, are you even allowed to use Global entry? Although I travel a lot, I never bothered to apply for it. Don't mind standing on line as a USC in any worldwide airport's custom and border control area.

wisygreen

As far as I remember you do not need to "activate" an E2. But then the OP has not stated whether it is treaty investor or managerial visa, it may be different for managerial. E2 is a non immigrant visa and you have to go through the non immigrant visa channel. I have waited up to 4 hours in line although 1-2 hours is nearer the norm. I have missed many connecting flights over the years. Global entry has not been available for UK E2 visa holders for long and I understand from others is is a godsend. Lucky, lucky me I just received my green card last month (my daughter became a citizen through marriage) and I am in UK at the moment so next week will be my first entry without all that hassle (I hope!).

shiversaint

No, you don't need to "activate" an E2 visa, it's like any other non-immigrant visa that's active from issuance.

You cannot use the automated machines with an E2 (ESTA only). You go through the main non-immigrant queue with everyone else that has a visa. Don't bother following the crowds, just walk straight there and ask a rep for directions if you need to.

As far as I am aware, there are no restrictions on an E2 not being allowed access to Global Entry. There's nothing on cpb.gov that refers to this, and if you are personally eligible (no criminal records etc), then I would strongly suggest you go for it.

I am an E2 holder who travels through LAX regularly.

scrubbedexpat099

No difference to entering on say a B.

GeoffM

Which terminal at LAX? Virgin (for example, to name just one) use terminal 4 which IIRC has a different immigration setup to TBIT. In any case there were just two choices at TBIT last week: US citizens / Canadians, and everybody else.

One thing I hate about TBIT is the ever changing extendable barriers. You walk towards what you think is the next stage and they re-arrange the barriers around you, forcing you to work out where they want you to go instead!

Taffylola

Thanks guys

I have started my Global entry application process today and yes E2 visa is allowed through Global Entry.

This wont be done by the time we fly out Sat but as we have a 6 month old baby with us Im going to ask a friendly man or lady if there is a queue for families with young children and hope they wave us to a queue for just that!

Does anyone know do we still need to do those automated machines then or just go straight to the non immigrant queue?

Thanks

shiversaint

As I said, you cannot use the automated machines. You have to goto the non-immigrant queue.

T4 at LAX now has automated machines, as does T5. The setup is now effectively the same in every terminal, outside of the slightly different layouts.

My point is: E-2 = standard non-immigrant queue unless you're global entry.

OP, with a young child, they might allow you to use the disabled persons channel in the non-immigrant queue. I've seen it quite a few times.

Taffylola