Hello

Could anyone tell me how long it takes to go through immigration at the airport when you arrive in the US. I have my Visa etc.

Cheers
JimBo

Anything from 10 minutes to 4 hours, and that's assuming it goes smoothly (which I hope it will).

Some airports seem to have much longer, slower lines than others. Also, if you arrive at the same time as a stack of other international flights, it will take longer.

Remember to be nice to the immigration officer, you have to be "yes sir, no sir" with them, it's the uniform.

It took me 2 hours in JFK.

-tom

And don't make any jokes of any kind to anyone in any kind of uniform.

Yeah, it all depends on which airport, time of day extra....Boston, that took me 2.5hrs of queues, but the actual process, maybe 15mins...mostly because they had 4 international flights arrive at the same time and 2 desks open, no a/c, the heater was stuck on at 80, the place stank of fresh paint, the water fountains and firehoses were disconnected as well as fire alarms and the queue for the bogs was another nightmare that the whole process did feel like it was a lot longer...so bring a good book

The best flight of all is British Airways flight no. 185 from Heathrow (LHR) to Newark, New Jersey (EWR)(15 miles from Manhatten).

I do voluntary work on Thursdays at EWR - indeed I'm here right now - and the first international flight of the day is the BA185 which arrives at approx 11.35am but often arrives 30 mins earlier depending on the wind.....this flight often has a light passenger load except at really busy times (BA has two later daily flights and Virgin has daily flights too. Continental flies into its own terminal - which is a little busier)

The airport arrivals hall is empty in EWR right now, save a few drivers waiting to meet and greet - yet the BA flight has just landed!. The passengers in Club Class without checked baggage are through from the plane to the taxi rank in 5-10 minutes.

It's an absolute breeze to get through immigration and customs as the next flight is the Air France AF 004 which arrives around 50 mins later. Through my own experience flying into Newark and going through immigration and baggage retrieval is a doddle compared to the usual nightmare of JFK where there are many more incoming international flights (and higher passengers loads with more 747 jumbo jets flying into JFK).

Obviously there are loads of connecting flights to the rest of the USA if you're not going to have the New York area as your final destination.

The amount of time it will take you can vary a lot, depending what side of the bed the immigration officer got out of that morning, as well as other incoming flights. I think the Boston lot went to nasty school to learn being nasty if they weren't already that way. Only answer their questions as basically as possible, like, why are you here in the USA. Answer, I'm on holiday or I'm visiting family/friends. most others you can get away with yes or no answers. It has got a bit easier for us now that we have our green cards though.

The one that dealt with me must have got out of the wrong side... he managed to have me shaking, in tears and had me thinking I was being deported all because he couldn't read the info properly any how it took me over 2 hours entering detroit on a K1 visa.

Ash

sorry to hear that Ash.
I have had nothing but good experiences myself when coming through Metro.

I was off the plane and out the door in about 45 minutes in Newark, and that was with an 11 year old as well. They seemed well organised and polite throughout.

As far as nightmares at immigration goes, I avoid Atlanta like the plague. I'm coming back next week and had to take a more expensive flight via Chicago to avoid entering into Atlanta. They are really nit picky and rude there, in my experience.


alex.

Took me 5 minutes in total through immigration at Dulles. All you need is a barking pooch that makes enough noise to warrant the speedy service !

We will be flying into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, in Texas. I have my permament resident Visa as my wife is a US citizen and my daughter has dual citzenship. Here's hoping we get somebody that has got out of bed the right side then to welcome us in immigration. Fingers crossed. Do you think getting our five year old daughter to throw a wobbly would get us through quicker

Thanks for all of your replies.

Jim

You shouldn't talk about your child like that!





NC Penguin

Hi NC Penguin

My daughter is a born actress and quite the drama queen. Believe me, she would relish the role, (she's had enough practice ).

Jim