U.S. Immigration Preclearance Procedures - Canceled Flight?

[jayjayj 571]

There is now a U.S. preclearance facility at the Abu Dhabi, UAE airport. My family and I are taking a non-stop, direct flight from Abu Dhabi to an airport on the east coast. We will be able to take advantage of the preclearance services for our trip and this will be the POE trip for my wife and stepson.

I was thinking about how the preclearance process works, and from what I've read, you are stamped into the U.S. for both immigration and customs purposes, which means my wife and stepson's green cards would be activated at that point.

What happens if the flight gets canceled until the following day? I realize they would have to clear the preclearance again, but the process would be different because they would have already had their immigration packets taken.

Anyone ever experience this type of scenario?

[B & G 200]

I haven't been in that situation, but I wouldn't worry about it.

Your wife's and stepson's passports will be stamped with the temp green card stamp, the i-551, which is valid for a year from the date of them entering in the US. Even though they are still in the UAE, as soon as they go through US pre-clearance, it is as if they are standing on US soil, if that makes sense.

If the flight is cancelled, and they are placed on a flight that departs the next day for example, and they need to enter back into the UAE and then the next day have to go through US pre-clearance, they will be processed as permanent residents.

[jayjayj 571]

I haven't been in that situation, but I wouldn't worry about it.

Your wife's and stepson's passports will be stamped with the temp green card stamp, the i-551, which is valid for a year from the date of them entering in the US. Even though they are still in the UAE, as soon as they go through US pre-clearance, it is as if they are standing on US soil, if that makes sense.

If the flight is cancelled, and they are placed on a flight that departs the next day for example, and they need to enter back into the UAE and then the next day have to go through US pre-clearance, they will be processed as permanent residents.

That is also what I was thinking; I just wasn't sure about it.

So just hypothetical here, let's say that happened, but for whatever reason we decided to fly weeks or months later instead of the next day.

Our situation is an exception to the normal process, as we fall under the INA 319b. (Expedited Naturalization) because of my job overseas, which means all the physical presence time standards are waived. The rules are somewhat different if you fall under the INA 319b. guidelines. We can submit their N-400 almost immediately after POE - although I've a bit fuzzy on whether or not we have to wait until we receive their official Green Card in the mail.

According to the rules of the preclearance facilities, specifically that they have now gone through their POE and are by definition LPR's, I should be able to immediately file their naturalization petitions - all the immigration documents I've read seem to point to this being technically within the law.

That would be a strange but interesting situation.

[Stressed Out 81]

We went through preclearance before at Dublin. You go through normal security and US Customs will be before your gate section, so you'll go through preclearance whenever you're about to board the flight, no matter if it's postponed or not.

[jayjayj 571]

We went through preclearance before at Dublin. You go through normal security and US Customs will be before your gate section, so you'll go through preclearance whenever you're about to board the flight, no matter if it's postponed or not.

How do they manage to process everyone immediately before boarding the flight?

I doubt the flight would have more than maybe 10-15% of the seats filled with people with new immigration documents. Even with that minimal amount, it would still take quite awhile to process all those people, unless there is a seperate customs preclearance and immigration preclearance.

The airline advised us to arrive at the airport 4hrs prior to the flight, because the preclearance can sometimes take hours - similar to clearing immigration upon arrival at the U.S. POE.

[Stressed Out 81]

At Dublin it didn't take so long simply because of a vast majority of passengers being either USC's or travelling with ESTA's. You get off your plane in the US and go get your bags and leave the airport. All it is is you going through the US borders before boarding your flight. I personally found it so much easier and when it's time for my husband to emmigrate we're going to fly through Dublin again as it puts your mind at ease knowing you're already "in the US".

[Stressed Out 81]

Stupid thread won't let me edit. I was going ot add I'd definitely follow the advice of the UAE airport and get there extra early. I'm sure the preclearance customs there has a much, much higher number of passengers to check than in Dublin. (Many of those without ESTA's, which slows it down)