POE Question

[Shabz 0]

My fiance will be flying from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Houston, TX. If he has a stop over in Chicago (like a transit flight) where he will change flights, will Chicago be considered his POE. I am thinkin No since he wont have to go thru immigration since he wont be claiming his baggage until Houston. Please help me understand if Chicago will be his POE or not.

[Harsh_77 716]

Yes Chicago would be POE.

Later he would be flying on local flight and he will have to do his customs and immigration at Chicago and then later re check in at Chicago.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

My fiance will be flying from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Houston, TX. If he has a stop over in Chicago (like a transit flight) where he will change flights, will Chicago be considered his POE.

Yes it will

I am thinkin No since he wont have to go thru immigration since he wont be claiming his baggage until Houston. Please help me understand if Chicago will be his POE or not.

Unfortunately, this is wrong on both points.

1. He will have to clear immigration and customs upon landing in the US--which will be at ORD
2. he has to claim his bags, proceed through customs and immigration and then recheck them to his ongoing IAH flight

Try multilegging the flights through Europe (Frankfurt or Schipol) with nonstops to IAH from there (Europe).

[Shabz 0]

Who can i call to verify this. Like the state? NVC? USCIS?

[hamigirl710 112]

I have flow internationally several times with Chicago being the POE. He will have to clear customs and immigration in Chicago then proceed to get his luggage and recheck it for his flight to Houston. This will happen at the first American POE he lands at no matter which airport.

Edited August 23, 2010 by hamigirl710

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Who can i call to verify this. Like the state? NVC? USCIS?

They are right. First stop in the US is always where customs happens.

[HappyRs 8]

Who can i call to verify this. Like the state? NVC? USCIS?

The previous posters were correct. Chicago will be POE in this case and luggage will be claimed and re-checked. I was in the US last November and did exactly this; I will go again in September and that's exactly what I will do again...

[Penny Lane 8,159]

They are right. First stop in the US is always where customs happens.

Not always. I've never gone through customs in the US when flying from Canada. But maybe that's different..

[Desert Princess 0]

Congratulations! To answer your question, the first US state that you enter will be your Port of Entry (POE) and so that makes Chicago the POE in your case ... Goodluck!

[payxibka 10,044]

Not always. I've never gone through customs in the US when flying from Canada. But maybe that's different..

Most Canadian airports have pre-clearance facilities... so yes, Canada is different

moving thread

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

Who can i call to verify this. Like the state? NVC? USCIS?

You have been given the Correct replies here already. If you do not trust or believe then why ask here if you then want to call to verify....just call the airlines and do not waste your time asking here if you do not believe replies here.

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

POE is Point Of Entry to the USA...first place your feet hit the earth in the USA. That will be Chicago as you indicate. Mayube you can call the FBI or Department of Homeland Security and see if I am correct or not!

[Shabz 0]

POE is Point Of Entry to the USA...first place your feet hit the earth in the USA. That will be Chicago as you indicate. Mayube you can call the FBI or Department of Homeland Security and see if I am correct or not!

wow no need to be so rude.. i was just asking.. i asked here because i trust this website.. it has helped me alot.. an thank u for clearing up my question everyone!

[newlyweds2010 208]

Yes, he will go through immigration in Chicago, then he will have to claim his bags and go through customs. All subsequent flights will be domestic, therefore no more immigration/customs checks.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

They are right. First stop in the US is always where customs happens.

Not always:

• Canadians flying into US through one of the eight major airports clear US customs AND immigration prior to boarding (exactly as paybixha posted earlier)
• travellers flying from Dublin or Shannon to US clear immigration (but not customs) prior to boarding

Edited August 24, 2010 by Saddle Bronc