Can I stand in US citizens line

[Dante & Geor 36]

Hello,

I have been told by a few persons that I should make the line for US Citizens at my arrival to JFK since my son has his american passport. But I'm really not sure about it, would it get me into trouble or something?? Is my first flight abroad, and I'm kinda freaking out for everything

Can I put myself in the US Citizens line?? I've been told this line is ALWAYS shorter than the other one

[amyandjorge 76]

When my husband came through POE ATL with his CR1 we went waited in the citizen/perm resident line. Then they moved us over to a 'special cases' line (where there was no line actually) specifically for spousal and fiance visas. I have US passport and I accompanied him the whole way through.

It's not always shorter.

[R&RM 11]

When my husband came through POE ATL with his CR1 we went waited in the citizen/perm resident line. Then they moved us over to a 'special cases' line (where there was no line actually) specifically for spousal and fiance visas. I have US passport and I accompanied him the whole way through.

It's not always shorter.

Yeah, I have not gone through POE with a fiancee visa as yet so don't know if it would get you into trouble or not but when I did go to the US last year with my fiance, we made separate lines and it did not feel like the lines represented a significantly longer wait (this was at the San Francisco airport), the questioning took a few minutes but it isn't the lining up that took a long time. But then again, I was there on a tourist visa so it was very important for me to not look like an intending immigrant so even physical separation from my fiance was helpful for me actually. I'm sure you will get further feedback from others who have first-hand experience. What I have also read is that the US citizen is allowed to go on any line and can queue with his non-citizen fiance(e).

[SapphireDreams 71]

I would go into the non-US citizens line if you are not yet a permanent resident.

When I used to travel with my husband before I got my visa, we used to use the non-us citizen line together, even though he is a US citizen line.

You can ask the person at the start of the line when you get there as well.

[TimeTravel 78]

Hello,

I have been told by a few persons that I should make the line for US Citizens at my arrival to JFK since my son has his american passport. But I'm really not sure about it, would it get me into trouble or something?? Is my first flight abroad, and I'm kinda freaking out for everything

Can I put myself in the US Citizens line?? I've been told this line is ALWAYS shorter than the other one

I will say - Go thru Visitor Line.

At JFK, it may take extra 10-20 min compare to US Citizen/Resident line. That is it.

For my case, few days back, visitor line waiting was around 20-25 min, and immigration process was 3-5 minutes. That is it.

[Dante & Geor 36]

I will say - Go thru Visitor Line.

At JFK, it may take extra 10-20 min compare to US Citizen/Resident line. That is it.

For my case, few days back, visitor line waiting was around 20-25 min, and immigration process was 3-5 minutes. That is it.

Ok, thanks! I guess if there's no harm on putting in one line or another, I will first watch which line is shorter, so I go with that one

It also depends of the hour right? My flight will arrive at 10.30 at night on a weekend... I really don't how many people pass trough immigration at that particular hour...

Edited April 6, 2012 by Dante & Geor

[missicy 87]

Ok, thanks! I guess if there's no harm on putting in one line or another, I will first watch which line is shorter, so I go with that one

No, you can't just pick and stand in the line that is shorter at the time. If it didn't matter then they wouldn't have separate lines for citizens and non-citizens. You are not a citizen so you can't stand in USC line, unless instructed so by a CBP employee (or when a USC line is also a US resident line). Saving a little time by standing in the line you're not supposed to be standing in is really not worth the trouble, imo.

[Darnell 8,478]

Hello,

I have been told by a few persons that I should make the line for US Citizens at my arrival to JFK since my son has his american passport. But I'm really not sure about it, would it get me into trouble or something?? Is my first flight abroad, and I'm kinda freaking out for everything

Can I put myself in the US Citizens line?? I've been told this line is ALWAYS shorter than the other one

Yes. Stay with your son. Families are not to be seperated in the line, regardless of the 'line sorter' human , who has no clue on immigrant visas.

When you get to the desk, tell the Officer you are immigrating, pass over the big packet yer carrying, and give him/her yer passport.

Good Luck !

No, you can't just pick and stand in the line that is shorter at the time. If it didn't matter then they wouldn't have separate lines for citizens and non-citizens. You are not a citizen so you can't stand in USC line, unless instructed so by a CBP employee (or when a USC line is also a US resident line). Saving a little time by standing in the line you're not supposed to be standing in is really not worth the trouble, imo.

wrong answer, alas.

For those folk IMMIGRATING into the USA, on a SPOUSAL VISA, 'which line to be in' does not matter.

I would go into the non-US citizens line if you are not yet a permanent resident.

When I used to travel with my husband before I got my visa, we used to use the non-us citizen line together, even though he is a US citizen line.

You can ask the person at the start of the line when you get there as well.

The Line Sorter Human is Useless, alas.

Also, this person, the OP, is coming in on an Immigrant Visa, so it doesn't matter which line they get in, at all.

I'm not discounting YOUR experience - only to mention it's NOT the same category that you've used when you 'come across the border', at all.

[Dante & Geor 36]

No, you can't just pick and stand in the line that is shorter at the time. If it didn't matter then they wouldn't have separate lines for citizens and non-citizens. You are not a citizen so you can't stand in USC line, unless instructed so by a CBP employee (or when a USC line is also a US resident line). Saving a little time by standing in the line you're not supposed to be standing in is really not worth the trouble, imo.

I don't want to pick any line, my son IS A USC so I can stand in line with him (my fiance also told me this) My son is 4yrs old, and I guess you can assume he won't be doing the line by himself

Yes. Stay with your son. Families are not to be seperated in the line, regardless of the 'line sorter' human , who has no clue on immigrant visas.

When you get to the desk, tell the Officer you are immigrating, pass over the big packet yer carrying, and give him/her yer passport.

Good Luck !

Thank you! that's what I'm going to do

[Leatherneck 693]

By all means, it's ok to get in USC line with your son.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Agree with the others. Stay with your son. USC line is fine. I stood in the "USC/Permanent resident" line at LAX when I POE'd. No issues.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

The line doesn't matter because you are going to go to secondary anyway, there is no seperate lines in secondary. You will be waiting until they process you in. There is a bunch of chairs or lack of chairs in secondary where you sit to wait to be processed in.

Edited April 7, 2012 by LIFE'SJOURNEY

[Dante & Geor 36]

The line doesn't matter because you are going to go to secondary anyway, there is no seperate lines in secondary. You will be waiting until they process you in. There is a bunch of chairs or lack of chairs in secondary where you sit to wait to be processed in.

Thanks for the info, I was kinda expecting it, but since I'm pregnant and w/a 4yr old probably sleeping on my arms by that hour... I really really hope I can go hassle free

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Thanks for the info, I was kinda expecting it, but since I'm pregnant and w/a 4yr old probably sleeping on my arms by that hour... I really really hope I can go hassle free

You will need a stroller, how are you going to transport your luggage between international to dosmetic with a sleeping child in your arms. This will be very hard to do.

[Dante & Geor 36]

You will need a stroller, how are you going to transport your luggage between international to dosmetic with a sleeping child in your arms. This will be very hard to do.

No need to worry about that, JFK is my POE and also my final destination, going to live in NYC. Thanks for the advice anyway, I appreciate it :thumbs: