Anyone visited the US recently

[Eccentric_Rich]

I'm thinking about going on holiday to the States next month but I'm a bit concerned about the delays at Immigration.

Is it as bad as the newspapers report as I don't fancy queuing for two to three hours in the airport on arrival after an eight hour flight.

Thanks,

Richard.

[gregh]

depends where you go, I've had 2-3 hours in Houston and Boston,but very little in NYC. I do tend to sprint off the plane and get near the front of the queue, flying business means you get off before most people if that is an option!

[ACW]

not too bad at Dulles th last few times Ive been over this year. It really depends on time of day and carrier. I always fly over with a US carrier so that way you get less people in the Non-US queue (+ sad to say but UA beats BA now days). That said a couple of trips ago we got into immigration just after a Korean Air 747. Even then it was only an hour and a quarter delay.

[DickieB]

As I understand it you also have to submit an itinerary for your visit saying where you are going to be staying every night etc....

[Major Stare]

If you want to bye-pass queue's and get in front of people....................strap a few granades to your belt........they'll run out of your way.

     

[jonlewis]

I was in Florida on business last week and the delays were minimal if you get off the plane first. Upto 1.5 Hours I would guess if you are towards the back. Boston and Chicago have always been bad. Problem tends to be they have about 4/5 gates open and upto 450 passengers off a 747.....

[S8ight]

I'm thinking about going on holiday to the States next month.....

dont want to upset you but the place is full of bl**** americans  

[Guest]

A fair number of visits this year.  I do not think it is too bad.  Reports always focus on the worst.  I try to avoid the peak times and the biggest aircraft.

John

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Does having a visa, albeit in an old passport, help. The fact that it's in an expired passport never used to be a problem 'cos it's an "indefinite" visa. Maybe you can go around some checks?  

[ACW]

motco - The will stamp over your visa invalidating it. Apparantly indefinite has a different meaning in the US. Oh and them make you fill in a Visa waiver.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

OK, thanks. I haven't used it for some time and it worked OK last time but that was quite a while ago - '86 IIRC. So long, in fact, that People Express was still flying!

[Stuart]

Go on Aer Lingus via Ireland and you can clear immigration in Dublin or Shannon.  If you aren't near London this can even save time (and the hell that is Heathrow) as you can fly from your local airport.  They've had some good deals on recently, too.

Other than that, I think it depends on what flights arrive at similar time as yours.  I have been to Chicago 4 times in the last six months; 3 times I sailed through and the last was 1.5 hours.  Ditto NYC.  Atlanta usually quick.  

I wouldn't let the newspaper reports put you off.

[david.c]

We went to Florida (Sanford Airport) in August last year and was through in under 1/2 hour.        

David