I promised you all some info on our POE. We flew into Atlanta from Moscow on Delta's flight 47. Everything was going well, and I had thought I had allowed enough extra time (4 1/2 hours) so we could go through whatever was necessary and then sit down for a dinner before our flight to FL.

Our flight was almost 1/2 hour late because of a little late departure and a head wind. OK, no problem...still 4 hours. Got into line with my girl in the foreigners line and waited as many of the people in front of us could not speak English. We were about the last ones from our flight to go through the first check point. That was easy and I had used this same guy once before. He asked a few simple questions and got the right and left index finger scans and a picture, asked us if we had our package, and told us to go down stairs and get our bags and someone would help us there. Then he said "welcome to the US".

We went down, picked up our bag and as we handed over our blue slip and I was explaining about the K-1 this guy grabs her passport, my passport, the package from the embassy and places it in a folder. He tells me to take it to the roped off area right and sit and wait. These guys processing all types of entry visas in Atlanta are....jerks. A## holes. They are rude and uncaring. There were 16 packages in front of ours and it took more than three hours for them to get to our documents. These guys were more interested in what their co-workers were having for dinner and what they were planning for the weekend. Lots of talking and walking around and very little work. When some people wuld go up to their desk and explaine they had a flight to catch these guys said...sit down, we don't care about your flight. You can take a later flight. Stop bothering us.

They finally made an announcement that they usually take 2 to 4 hours processing cases. At about the thired hour the guy grabs ours and bitches about a K-1. It really only took him about 10 minutes when he started working on it. Called us up and gave us our passports and said "you are all set". And that was it.

Got out of there and ran to get our next flight with little time to spare.

Those POE officers can sure be jerks at times. And I have experienced them not having much to do but talk as well. It's very frustrating.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience, but the main thing is you're home with your Sweetie.

Best wishes to you both.

Thats really bad treatment! These immigration officials seriously get a power trip out of being like that! Glad you managed to get to your second flight.

Thanks for sharing the information! Although, I am really sorry you had to go through the apparently needless delay. Now, I’m wondering if there are some Ports of Entry, which are better to use for when my spouse arrives from Russia. I had assumed Atlanta would be better than JFK, based on what I have witnessed by some of the U.S. Customs officers in JFK. And maybe Atlanta would be better during an earlier arrival time.... This subject has gotten my attention.

thats rude there should be cell or their sup where you can tell them about their rude behaviour...

Al

Glad to hear you made it home safe and sound but that was horrible wait at the POE. Seems like it could be addressed and someone informed about the rude officers working at this office.

Thanks everyone. I thought about complaining but didn't know who to complain to and didn't want to make things worse while we were waiting. After that I just wanted to make our next connection.

A friend came in through Chicago bringing in his girl on a K-1 about a month ago and he said it was great there. Took him a half an hour from the time they got to the customs officer 'till they were in the parking lot ready to go home. If you can do it that sounds like the place to enter.

Sorry to hear about your experience.
But at best all we can do is keep track of such experiences. Putting together data showing a strong consistency in poor behavior at a particular POE or by a particular POE officer will make it easier for anyone who wants to bring a strong case in terms of complaining.
Unfortunately the experiences at every stage of this process vary greatly.
For example, at LAX we got through in under 30 minutes, with 25 of those minutes spent standing in the long queue along with everyone else.

I've found Detroit and Boston to both be very good (short lines). Atlanta, O'Hare and JFK are probably the worst, as they are very big and very busy (usually long lines too). Miami, Minneapolis, Philidelphia, Seattle, and Tampa have all been okay for me - I don't remember anything unusual.

JFK is probably still the best choice all around, though. You still can get an EAD at the airport, which is convenient for things other than working. Lines aren't too bad. They are familiar with K-1 Visas. Lots of flights from pretty much everywhere in the world (including Moscow). Not needing to stop in a third country on the way here is a plus. Missing a flight in JFK isn't the end of the world, your chances of getting on another one are pretty good. Worst case, you get to spend a night in NYC, which is kind of fun.

Cost wise, you probably get the best deal on a cheap one-way Aeroflot flight SVO to JFK, and then a one-way on Jet Blue to most of the US. Most flights I've booked on Jet Blue from JFK have been cheaper than my cab to the airport.

For me here (Tampa) it is often difficult to get non stop flights. I usually try to change at Heathrow. This gives you the advantage of staying on one airline (BA), having a stop that is generally halfway through the trip, and being in an airport with reasonable facilities (plenty of restaurants, bars, shopping, etc).

One hint if you are staying in the UK, flying into Heathrow. Most International flights arrive in Terminals 3 and 4. Long, long lines. You can go between terminals before clearing immigration, though. If you don't have bags checked, go to Terminal 1 (domestic UK arrivals, mostly). I've found that even with the 20 minute bus trip, this saves me at least an hour in line).

Wow, sorry for your experience. Claudeth's was most pleasent when she went through LAX.

Sorry to hear you had a terrible experience with Atlanta as your POE. As I wrote before, Natalia took about 2 and half hours from the time she landed. Since I was not with her I am not certain if her delay was based on the number of people in line or laziness of the Customs personnel. But based on your e-mail I am sure it was the latter. But for us Atlanta was the best POE for our situation since I was driving from Florida.

Sorry I have not written much more on our experiences but since she has been her I seldom even log on to the computer. Before her arrival I was on Visa Journey 2 or 3 hours a day reading as much as possible to make the process easier. Now I find myself on the AOS forum more often. But I will check this forum more often to see if I can offer others any advice. Usually many others have already offered advice.

But I will say this experience has been well worth the effort and we are very happy.

Warren

We were going to POE Atlanta but after reading many bad reports on these forums we went with Dallas instead and had no problems at all.

Sorry to hear of that experience, but at least it is over and done with now and one definitely positive thing to come from your experience it is letting all of us who have yet to fly, don't go to that airport

Hope things are settling with you both now

grr, Neon, I'm sorry to read that you had a crappy experience.. please tell your fiance:

Welcome to America! regardless of her first entry

I just also always wanted to tell her how cute that photo is!

I can not recall the procedure but it is possible to to complain about poor treatment by Customs and immigration officials. Believe is or not it does make a difference also. Generally the information the want
it the date and time. Name or discription of the official that was the assH Etc.

I have only had 2 bad experiences with customs people. The 2nd time I asked the guy his name. When he asked why I wanted it I told him I didn't spend a year overseas after being activated by the reserves to have him treat me the way he was and it was my intention to make a complaint. This actually brought an apology and 180 degree attitude change.

Glad to hear detroit is a good POE whew

Hi neonred,

Sorry to hear your bad experience in POE (Atlanta). NOw.... im getting scared actually, my POE is in Atlanta as well on Apr. 25th .... but i have no choice at all ..... thats my destination ... my fiance is from Georgia.

Do you have any tips of directions or wat i need to go or go thru?? so i wont be getting lost??? im entering ATL with my 4 yr old son and 3 big luggages with us.... that will be really scarry to me though my fiance tried to flew with me, but it happened that he needs to come back early to Georgia without me and my son.

any advices?? thanks so much

-rebelheart-

I think most people will be helpful and you won't get lost...just ask someone. Your first stop will be easy, and that man/woman will look at all your documents and direct you to baggage. Just follow the crowd. You will then pick up your baggage (carts are available to place your luggage on) and then you will head to the exit area. There a man will take your blue customs slip and passport and direct you to the WAITING are. Be prepaired to wait up to 4 hours, but I have to believe it can't always take so long. Since you will not have to make a connecting flight your fiance will be the one worrying. Tell him to be very patient. Might be a good idea to have something to keep your young son busy.

You will be fine.

Neon, sounds like you're "over it" now and just glad that you survived your unnecessary ordeal at Atlanta. Actually encouraging others to use this POE!!!

No matter what happens, it is worth it! I think that's the lesson here. Just a little venting on the 4 hour wait, but looking back.... that was the first 4 hours you guys spent together in the US. Wasn't it great? Just you and her and the punk@$$ customs guys?

OK. Enough sarcasm for one day. But really, you did get to spend a little time together and maybe even got to deal with a little stress together. Valuable tools for starting a marriage. I can't wait for my POE fiasco! (Seriously, enough of the sarcasm now.)

So, Detroit is a good POE. Great. Glad to hear Detroit is good for something!!!!

OK.... I'M DONE!!!