Jump to content
robrl

K1 Approved! how long will I need in airport to get through immigration

 Share

13 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

Hey everyone,

So I got approved for the visa and received everything back! The forum has been a great help!
Now I'm just looking for flights to the states :)

Question is how long does it usually take to go through immigration/customs at the airport when using a K1 Visa? I'll be entering the us from Vancouver airport.

I seem to only have 2 flight options. One having a 3 hour layover and the other is 10 hours...obviously id love to take the 3 hour one but is that going to be enough time? I know the airport fairly well so assuming the flight lands on time I would have around 2.5 hours once I get to the immigration line to wait in line, talk to them and find my gate.

Not sure if this would effect anything but I have been denied entry at that port and was able to withdraw my application to enter. This was 7 months ago and the reason for being denied was for having spent too much time in the states (with my fiancée) over the past 1.5 years. I assume this will delay the process a bit but 3 hours worth?

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Colombia
Timeline

Hey everyone,

So I got approved for the visa and received everything back! The forum has been a great help!

Now I'm just looking for flights to the states :)

Question is how long does it usually take to go through immigration/customs at the airport when using a K1 Visa? I'll be entering the us from Vancouver airport.

I seem to only have 2 flight options. One having a 3 hour layover and the other is 10 hours...obviously id love to take the 3 hour one but is that going to be enough time? I know the airport fairly well so assuming the flight lands on time I would have around 2.5 hours once I get to the immigration line to wait in line, talk to them and find my gate.

Not sure if this would effect anything but I have been denied entry at that port and was able to withdraw my application to enter. This was 7 months ago and the reason for being denied was for having spent too much time in the states (with my fiancée) over the past 1.5 years. I assume this will delay the process a bit but 3 hours worth?

Thanks

3 hours should be sufficient. The worst case is you'll miss your flight and be put on the next. I don't think the earlier denials will cause any delay longer than a question/comment.

N-400

Feb. 12, 2016 - Sent N-400 to USCIS (3-year rule)

Feb. 19, 2016 - NOA1

Mar. 14, 2016 - Biometrics

June 2, 2016 - Interview - Recommended for Approval

.

.

.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This can vary greatly depending on airport, times ...etc. Its a gamble....with your history you could perhaps suspect more of a hiccup as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Kenya
Timeline

3 hours should be fine. Usually it takes about 1 hour.

Phil (Lockport, near Chicago) and Alla (Lobnya, near Moscow)

As of Dec 7, 2009, now Zero miles apart (literally)!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had 3 hours at Charlotte, it was plenty of time, the queues weren't long but I had to wait around 30 mins in a waiting room while someone processed the package. Then it was all sorted and I was on my way. I'd go for the 3 hour layover, worst that happens is you miss the connection and get bumped to the later one.

Edited by Limey

--- k1 visa ---
Texas Service Center (Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here)
I-129F sent: 12 Aug 2014
I-129F NOA1: 15 Aug 2014
I-129F NOA2: 2 Mar 2015 (199 days from NOA1) **No RFEs!**
NVC Received: 19 Mar 2015
Case#, IIN, BIN assigned: 19 Mar 2015
NVC Left: 20 Mar 2015
Consultate Received: 23 Mar 2015
Package 3 Received: 26 Mar 2015
Medical: 10 Apr 2015
Packet 3 Sent: 10 Apr 2015
Packet 4 Received: 23 Apr 2015
Interview Date: 8 May 2015 (Approved!!!)
Visa Issued: 14 May 2015
Visa in Hand: 19 May 2015
Entry to USA: 5 Jun 2015
Married: 21 Jun 2015

---Adjustment of Status---
Sent I-485, I-131 and I-765: 7 Jul 2015
NOA1 for I-485, I-131 and I-765: 14 Jul 2015
Email notification that I-765 was approved: 12 Sep 2015
Email notification that I-131 was approved: 15 Sep 2015
Email notification that EAD/AP combo card was mailed: 15 Sep 2015
EAD and AP combo card received: 18 Sep 2015
Green Card Received: 3 Dec 2015 [ :)] Previous letter stated interview requirement was likely to be waived

 

---Removal of Conditions---
Sent I-751: 13 Oct 2017
NOA1 for I-751: 23 Oct 2017

Biometrics: 20 Nov 2017
Approved: 20 Dec 2018

Green Card Received: 2 Jan 2019

 

-- Citizenship --
Filed Online: 21 Feb 2020
NOA1 (Online): 22 Feb 2020
Biometrics: 10 Mar 2020

Interview: 29 Jul 2020 (Approved - Oath taken immediately due to covid19)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

Vancouver has customs anyways, you will be processed before you actually leave the country then free to transfer flights once you get there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awesome, thanks for the replies everyone! Just booked the 3 hour layover! :)

Fingers crossed!

I'm assuming your layover is in Vancouver?

That day you can also check the customs lines before you go. If it was winter, I'd say get the 10 hr layover, but it's spring and it's Vancouver.

Edited by NLR

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Sweden
Timeline

Hey everyone,

So I got approved for the visa and received everything back! The forum has been a great help!

Now I'm just looking for flights to the states :)

Question is how long does it usually take to go through immigration/customs at the airport when using a K1 Visa? I'll be entering the us from Vancouver airport.

I seem to only have 2 flight options. One having a 3 hour layover and the other is 10 hours...obviously id love to take the 3 hour one but is that going to be enough time? I know the airport fairly well so assuming the flight lands on time I would have around 2.5 hours once I get to the immigration line to wait in line, talk to them and find my gate.

Not sure if this would effect anything but I have been denied entry at that port and was able to withdraw my application to enter. This was 7 months ago and the reason for being denied was for having spent too much time in the states (with my fiancée) over the past 1.5 years. I assume this will delay the process a bit but 3 hours worth?

Thanks

It all greatly depends on what time of day you're arriving and how big the airport is. Airports, just like traffic, has rush hour, which is when the majority of international flights arrive. At least at Dulles International, which is a pretty busy airport, that rush hour is around midday. There's an amazing amount of flights in customs at the same time and you can be stuck for more than an hour. So I usually try to arrive in the evening when there's usually only 2 flights in customs, sometimes only mine depending on when Lufthansa arrive.

Remember that when you arrive in the US you will have to get your luggage, go through customs and then check into your domestic flight. You will have to be checked in an hour before your flight. If you're arriving in rush hour you might want to consider the 10 hour layover. If you're not arriving in rush hour you should have plenty of time with 3 hours. But again, this depends on how busy the airport is. I'm not familiar with Vancouver.





Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vancouver is the only airport where I saw no queue at all. I came round the corner expecting to see hundreds of people in a line all waiting and saw a row of desks with officers looking very bored waiting for something to do. I went to the first desk and he was obviously so used to stamping Canadian passports that he stamped mine for 6 months, closed it, saw it was a UK passport and quickly crossed out the stamp and re-did it for 90 days. Nobody else came to the desks in the whole time I was there,

It was a Thursday afternoon in June, if that helps.

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

I'm assuming your layover is in Vancouver?

That day you can also check the customs lines before you go. If it was winter, I'd say get the 10 hr layover, but it's spring and it's Vancouver.

Yeah I have a direct flight to Vancouver and then the 3 hour layover. How and where can I check the customs line before I go? Also what exactly would checking do to help me out?

Absolutely agree I wouldn't of risked flights being on time in winter hahah.

Vancouver is the only airport where I saw no queue at all. I came round the corner expecting to see hundreds of people in a line all waiting and saw a row of desks with officers looking very bored waiting for something to do. I went to the first desk and he was obviously so used to stamping Canadian passports that he stamped mine for 6 months, closed it, saw it was a UK passport and quickly crossed out the stamp and re-did it for 90 days. Nobody else came to the desks in the whole time I was there,

It was a Thursday afternoon in June, if that helps.

Actually the only other time I had to go through Vancouver US immigration was on a Monday at 2pm and the same thing happened to me, entered the room and saw 1 other person waiting to go through the line. I'll be getting in Vancouver around that time again on a Tuesday, so hoping for the best!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...