entering the United States

[ANDRES_MARINEL 0]

I need to know how long does it takes go through inmigration? After you arrive to the United States and you are doing or taking another flight, making a coneccion. For example my fiancee would enter through the MIami international airport and then take another flight that would take her to Washington DC. I"m a little worry about taking her too long with inmigration and then having to loose her flight. Anybody have an idea how is that process once you go trhourgh customs.?

[payxibka 10,048]

Anybody have an idea how is that process once you go trhourgh customs.?

Once you clear customs it does not take much time at all. You must however clear immigration first. As with any airport it depends on how many international flights are being processed at the same time. In Miami you will land and typically arrive at Terminal A. Miami handles quite a few international flights and I have always cleared in less than 30 minutes. I would probably allow a couple of hours if you can.

All Domestic flights then depart out of Terminals C-H depending on the airline.

Edited November 17, 2006 by fwaguy

[YuAndDan 153]

The last time I flew home from China I came through Chicago, customs took about 1.5 hours. It is recommended to give your self plenty of time, at least a 3 hour layover, fortunately there should be several flights from Miami to Washington.

The last time I came home the layover was so tight that the airline actually re booked me while I was in the air, but I lucked out and just made it to my originally scheduled flight, though my bags did not, they ended up on the later flight home.

[William33 110]

Just leave sufficient time to clear immigration and customs. At least a 2-3 hour layover is advisable.

Always plan for success!!

[True Love at Last 15]

3 hours....better to be safe than sorry.....Good luck.

[Mike and Lily 13]

I would allow additional time to get through customs as your fiance comes from an area of the world that is well known for drug trafficking.

I need to know how long does it takes go through inmigration? After you arrive to the United States and you are doing or taking another flight, making a coneccion. For example my fiancee would enter through the MIami international airport and then take another flight that would take her to Washington DC. I"m a little worry about taking her too long with inmigration and then having to loose her flight. Anybody have an idea how is that process once you go trhourgh customs.?

[lucyrich 20]

When we came through Miami (also from Venezuela, epale) it took around 45 minutes to clear immigration. After that, we picked up the luggage and went through customs in a matter of a minute or two. But since the exit to customs dumps you into an "unsecure" area of the airport, we then had to get into the standard TSA screening lines just like anyone arriving from outside of the airport. That took 15-20 minutes. All of these times will vary.

We entered on a CR-1 immigrant visa. They sent us into a secondary inspection room, which seemed pretty understaffed at the time. I'm not sure whether the paperwork load is the same for the K visas, but I believe it is similar, as we ran into a K-1 couple in the secondary inspection room (we know they were K-1 because we overheard the officer reminding them that they have to get married within 90 days). Anyway, I imagine wait times will vary significantly depending on the workload and staffing.

We allowed something like 3 or 4 hours, and had a nice tour of the airport concourses and a good dinner before catching the next flight.

[heathius 0]

2 hours used to be plenty before 9-11, but now 2 hours will leave you short in most cases. The last few times that I made connections from international flights, 2 hours wasn't enough. Try to leave 3-4 hours just to be on the safe side. The worst that can happen is she will end-up sitting around for an hour or so. That's better than missing the flight.

[girlfrmoz 1]

My last trip took me 2 hours to clear customs.....

[payxibka 10,048]

My last trip took me 2 hours to clear customs.....

Two hours to clear customs? How long did it take you to clear immigration?

[zyggy 9]

I also recommend that you leave at least a 3 hour layover.

[Texas Bound 0]

Miami Airport is a nightmare on Sunday afternoons & evenings. I just left Jamaica & connected in Miami. The lines through security were excessively long over hundreds of people I even told the rep there my connection was boarding in 15 minutes (still on the far side of the airport) & to no avail it didnt get me through any faster. Landed Miami at 2:35 connection left @ 4 to Dallas. I made it but right on time. There were many other people behind me far behind me in line & believe me I was walking fast in between terminals & am comfortable/ knowledgeable with airport travel. Not sure if they made it. Anyway, I would give her 3 hours in between to be safe. Be selective of your travel days & times.

[motu 6]

I agree with Texasbound; allow 3 hours for the Miami airport. You can get away with less time if you do not travel on Friday-Sat-Sunday. Also if your fiacee isn't too comfortable with language/airline traveling - allow more time. Having said all this - I almost missed my flight on a trip from Costa Rica through Miami because of long delays - I had 2 hours between flights (I am a USC). When my fiancee came through Maimi last August - she was the first in line in Immigrationand was outside the customs area (done with everything) in 15 minutes! Good Luck

[Ana and Dan 0]

We're going to be going through Miami immigration on December 9th which is a Saturday evening. Not sure how bad it will be, but we've allowed 4.5 hours before our next flight to Orlando. In the off chance we wind up missing it somehow, we can simply wait for the next flight.

[ANDRES_MARINEL 0]

We're going to be going through Miami immigration on December 9th which is a Saturday evening. Not sure how bad it will be, but we've allowed 4.5 hours before our next flight to Orlando. In the off chance we wind up missing it somehow, we can simply wait for the next flight.

Thank you everybody for your recommendations, but I changed her reservation. She's now going through the JFK in NY and she's not making a conextion because I will be there and so I meet her anyways in NY then come to the Washington DC Area. Since I have to do some business there, I put her in another airplane. I hope this would better for her and not worry of loosing her flight and been nervous.