US Customs: How long?

bufalo says on Apr 5, 2005, 10:52:

dependhs on the line at the airport mostly. When my wife and I got to Newark, she was married to me and had her permanent resident (I guess thats what its called). What we didn´t know is that the first time she enters, she had to get some special paperwork done that they give to first-timers. We waited a few hours (with an infant) but I think that was mostly because the person in front of us had a lot of problems. My wife went into the office for only 5 minutes. Whenever we go back she just passes through like everyone else.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Apr 5, 2005, 11:01:

Depends on the airport I have used all of the entrance airports into the US from Colombia except for Fort Lauderdale. Miami is the pits, the queues can be for more than one hour just for inmigration depending on the airline and hour you arrive in. American is the worst their inmigration area is usually the most crowded. Customs is just crowded but usually not bad to go through, I personally have never been stopped in the US customs but I have heard many horror stories from others so it just depends on luck. Houston is very good, quite quick less than half an hour and your are out. Newark depends on the time of day, but arriving from Bogotá inmigration around half an hour but then bags are usually never out, their sniffer dogs I guess are not as efficient. Kennedy can be really bad, and they tend not to like Avianca as it seems there is usually an overflow of immigration and customs agents at the door, something that is more occassional at the other airports. Atlanta is fine, they seem to be happier people and therefor things seems to go easier and quicker just like Houston. It must be the Southern hospitality.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte says on Apr 5, 2005, 11:17:

to be honest... u.s. customs can be a walk in the park, or it can be the bad dream from hell. it is totally dependent on the person interviewing. we have dealt with all of it over 15 years. from bull shit and hassles to breeze throughs with courtesy.

miami, for all it's chaos, can also be one of the easiest. the folks there are the most familiar. it can also be a complete find f**k.

los angeles can be easy and then again it can be a pain. like the poster above said, your first visit usually is the longest. but don't be too worried--unless you're sneaking in a kilo of coke--the time will pass and you'll be on your way.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sandramoreno80 says on Apr 5, 2005, 11:18:

It does seem to be a really lengthy process now that everyone has to go through the US-VISIT scheme, where both index fingers are registered and you have to look at a camera. This infomation is the compared to the data already on the database gathered on the first time that you entered the US under these new rules.

Everyone has to do it, even those who enter the US under the visa waiver sytem. I travelled through Atlanta (when the new system wasn't applicable to me yet) on the way to Bogota and then back to UK this summer and the wait was around forty minutes to go through immigration and customs was quick because I didn't have to collect any luggage. But then you have to go through xray machines and pass your hand luggage.

This December and Jan. we travelled through Miami airport and that was a nightmare, it took us at least an hour and a bit to get through each time, even though they had loads of counters open. You get families and that takes a lond time, then you get those needing translators so that takes time calling them, then there are those who haven't filled in the forms properly and they send them away to do it again. But basically its just that certain airports are busy and that is definately Miami. But on a positive note your luggage will be there waiting for you at the carrusel!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sarahann says on Apr 6, 2005, 19:12:

houston careful traveling through houston. They will search your stuff and take anything that looks bootlegged - cd's, dvd's, toys, etc.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Condorlisa Arroz says on Apr 6, 2005, 22:11:

Dont go to the US. There are much nicer places than the US. I find the USA always a bit hostile towards non-US citizens. CA Montañas de Colombia

CA Montañas de Colombia

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Apr 7, 2005, 12:56:

Thanks. Maybe you could pass this along to the other 600,000 Colombians who are living here. Of course my wife never encounters any hostility. The last time she went for a day trip to Mexico she came back through US immigration and ended up having a long conversation with the immigration officer who had lived in Medellin for several years.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.