Point of Entry

[melarnt 0]

Hello there, we just received our NOA2 and are stunned by how quickly it was approved. We are ecstatic and are getting all of the next paperwork ready.

I have searched and cant find anything on this (that related to this particular situation). Possibly, these questions are answered on the NOA2 form at I have not received yet. I apologize if this has been brought up before.

My fiance was planning on visiting the USA on July 5th...and purchased a ticket back in December (before I submitted the i129f. It is from Costa Rica to Detroit, but stopping in Atlanta. The layover is 1.5 hrs.

Will this be enough time to go through the customs process? Does he retrieve his baggage and go through customs? Or, does he get processed in Detroit?

I am worried he wont have enough time. Just trying to plan ahead. I dont believe all of this will be done before July 5th anyway...but, ya never know!

Thank you for your help!

Melanie

[KayDeeCee 4,892]

The POE is the first stop in the US, so if he lands in Atlanta first, then that is his POE. 1.5 hours might be enough, but Atlanta is a busy airport and you just never know. Immigration could hold him up longer than that. If he uses that ticket with the K-1, he should contact the airline and make sure he could get on a later connecting flight just in case his immigration processing takes longer than the layover time.

My husband went through Atlanta in far less than an hour, but it is really going to depend on the time of day and how many international flights are coming in at the same time as your fiancé's. Check the reviews for Atlanta here > http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=Atlanta&dfilter=0

[UK-USA-K1 128]

Completely agree with Jay-Kay....customs is a variable that just cannot be positively quantified. One person could sail through smoothly while another could be taken aside for review. My fiancee has been here multiple times and has cleared customs in various airports in plenty of time to catch connections ranging from an hour to 2 hours, but the last time she came over, her flight was late leaving so they'd already booked her on a flight for the next morning, so she had a long wait and customs did pull her aside for further screening on that trip. Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. You can plan the trip with that layover, but make sure you have a contingency plan for what to do if the flight is missed.

[fania&nelson 20]

I have been to the States 4 times on my B1/B2 visa, and everytime it's different, in Miami i missed flight connections 2 times cause i was pulled a side by security to open my bags and i Had a 3 hour layover in 1 of those flights, then in NYC i went smoothly, no problems at all the first time and the second time too, but the line was sooooooooooooooooooo long it took me over 2 hours to go through customs.

[melarnt 0]

Thank you, this is all very helpful and lets me know what we may be up against.

I read the POE reports for Atlanta, thanks for the link. Many of them sound promising...however, like you said, you never know.

Just in case, I checked to see if there was a later flight...there is, but the cost to change is $325! Since, we dont even know when the interview is yet, we are going to wait for now.

I am thankful to all of you for helping us out, greatly appreciate it.

[vbtwo 54]

In JFK they have a "fast lane" for people who have short connections where they let you through passport control without waiting in the long line, but you still need to get your luggage and then run through to checkin again (there is transit checkin right after you exit customs).

I don't know if they have a fast lane in Atlanta.

[BaBamSam 239]

In JFK they have a "fast lane" for people who have short connections where they let you through passport control without waiting in the long line, but you still need to get your luggage and then run through to checkin again (there is transit checkin right after you exit customs).

I don't know if they have a fast lane in Atlanta.

Nope they do not! I missed my connecting flight because of immigration in Atlanta two trips ago because immigration was taking so long (and I'm a US citizen!). They were good about rebooking me for a flight a few hours later into a different airport near-ish my destination.

[Shoot Em Straight 385]

What would a fast lane in JFK have to do with OP's question?

There is no fast track immigration lane arriving into the U.S.

Her fiance, though not stated if he already has a visitor visa, is not a U.S. citizen hence he would be not allowed into the U.S. without a visa, be it K1 which is way in their future or a B2.

From our experience, Atlana is a well run airport but this amount of time seems tight if he is "interesting" to customs...and yes I beleive he picks up his luggage and rechecks it. Then he jumps onto the people mover to his next concourse. It is an awesome international airport as far as organization.

[melarnt 0]

My fiance was planning on coming to USA with a Visa Waiver(if permitted), however, the K1 may be completed around that time. or, so we hope.

It is good to know that Atlanta has the people movers. That will be a huge help. Nothing like being the last gate in a terminal on the opposite side of the airport! He will have to decide if he wants to take the chance or not, I guess. And, if we end up having to change the dates...all of this will be moot. When I called the airline, they said it was a legal connection. Well, i would love to believe that. They make it seem so believable. Lol

I understand why the person brought up the fast lane...he was thinking that other airports may have the same thing and if so, it would make a difference. From what I read, Atlanta has this "tripod" area where they seem to take the K1's to...maybe this is similar to the fast lane?

Whatever the outcome...it will be an interesting experience to say the least! Just like the rest of this process!