Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Typical: the usual blah blah turning a simple question into a cess pit of paranoia and panic. It doesn't matter which line your son goes into but she will have to go into the visitors' line. She has an ESTA and a return ticket and so does he. All she has to do is say I am here with my boyfriend who is there behind me in the line/waiting for me over there for me to visit his family for Christmas. Done.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I would concur.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I have unsubscribed from several threads in TIO in the last 48 hours for the sake of my sanity. Life is too short!

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

OMG. I've been dealing with so many new arrivals lately that I agree, I am completely paranoid. If they can eff it up, they will. CBP attitudes seem to be getting pissier by the week.
I blame trump.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

If you are coming to the US for a short holiday, how can you f it up!? And if you do, you should probably not be allowed to travel further than the local supermarket.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Let's take it waaaayyyyy over the top there shall we sherbert? Can I interest you in a Christmas sherry?

Better to be safe than sorry and all that old chap. In principal I agree with you, but we all know that we have to cater to the lowest common denominator,

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I guess it depends on the airport/officer then but I come in/out a lot and people are always being screamed at for accompanying non-spouse to the desk and told to go back to the line. Have them go to the desk together and see what happens: she's not going to get denied for approaching the desk in the wrong manner. Gah.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

It's unnecessary and not helpful to the OP. How can entering for a short holiday on an ESTA turn into a rant on potential overstay and upsetting immigration officials in such a short space of time.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I'm talking about the border guards.

BTW the really great thing about this forum is that people get a range of opinions. It's up to them which route to go. No point throwing your toys out of the pram because there isn't a consensus that agrees with you.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I wasn't aware that I was ranting, and I don't think being cautious and aware that your words and actions can have negative consequences is a bad thing. Perhaps you need a break from BE,

Hell no!!! By God his way is the only way! :rofl:

OP - Ultimately it isn't going to affect me if your sons's girlfriend comes to visit or not, or gets bounced or not, but the question was asked and answered. Sherbert aside every one else has given you good options.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Isn't Chicago fully automated now so he'll go through the US kiosks with his US passport and I believe ESTA people still have to see an agent.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Whoa, I didn't mean to start a bun fight. Thank you for the advice everyone. It seems we don't have to be too worried, and the main thing is not to have her in the US citizens line. She will probably be less nervous if my son is in the line with her, since she has not travelled internationally before except once to Europe when she was little, and in my experience not being nervous around border guards is important.

I don't remember about the kiosks at O'Hare, you may be right. We've been returning via Dublin for a while now and because you do all the pre-clearance there you don't do it at all in Chicago. But I suppose you don't have to use the kiosks if you don't want to.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Oh god Chicago.
Either they have hired a bunch of newbie CBP guards there or they are deliberating effing things up. See post about i94. issues.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

IIRC from what I have seen at Chicago O'Hare first time ESTA users have to go to a CBP desk, subsequent entries using the same passport and ESTA can use the kiosks and hand over the slip to a CBP officer. However, the system seems to keep on changing.