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How long does it take at US Customs when first entering the US?

By lite in General Immigration-Related Discussion

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lite Rookie

lite   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Japan
 Timeline
Posted

Hello,

My wife and I are planning to buy her airplane ticket but are unsure how long we should plan her layover to be so that she can catch her next flight without any issues when she first enters the US with her visa. Could someone help us out?

Thanks in advance!

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A_& T_ Enthusiast

A_& T_   3

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

it depends on the line. it took me 3 hours.good luck


iahv9liyt17.png

TIMELINE
12-28-2010 - Met
07-17-2012 - Married
CR1
09-07-2012 - I-130 sent
11-06-2012 - I-130 approved
02-20-2013 - Interview date
02-22-2013 - Visa received
02-26-2013 - US entry
03-27-2013 - Received two years conditional green card
ROC
12-13-2014 -Sent packet via UPS
12-17-2014 - NOA received w/ one year extension
01-07-2015 - Biometric appointment
05-18-2015 - I-751 approved
05-22-2015 - Received 10 years green card

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StrawberryKiss Collaborator

StrawberryKiss   170

Posted
Country: Germany
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I just went through Dallas-Fort Worth as my POE a week ago. Immigration took 10-15 mins and customs another 10 mins (no lines anywhere) -- in case you're considering DFW since I see you're from Austin. However, my flight was also delayed due to weather conditions and other things, but as A_&T_ already mentioned, it really depends on the line.

Plan accordingly and keep possible delays that can shorten the layover in mind as well as the line for immigration/customs. I'd say she should at least have 3 hours as a layover even if she then spends most of her time sitting around and waiting for the next boarding. Better be safe than sorry ;)

Edited by StrawberryKiss

 

 
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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,790

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Ms Hogan Proficient

Ms Hogan   295

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Took me about 3 hours at a driving POE. There is no way to know for sure since you could get stuck like me with someone taking their dinner break in the middle of the process! Or you could breeze right through. The task isn't lengthy, it just depends on what else is going on and who is taking care of it.

USCIS - 40 DAYS
2012-10-30: FedEx delivered I-130 to Chicago Lockbox Mail Room
2012-11-01: NOA1 by email - MSC
2012-11-02: $420 (x3) debited from our account
2012-11-05: NOA1 hard copies received, Priority Date 2012-10-30
2012-12-11: NOA2

NVC - 26 DAYS
2013-01-02: Rec'd case#, IIN, BIN & OPTIN emails for EP sent
2013-01-03: Submitted DS-261 (x3)
2013-01-07: AOS bills invoiced and paid & OPTIN for EP accepted for each of us
2013-01-08: AOS bills appear as paid & AOS packages sent by email
2013-01-08: IV bill invoiced & paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV bill appears as paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (kids only)
2013-01-11: AOS received -notified by email
2013-01-11: IV bill invoiced & paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV bill appears as paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV Supporting Docs received for kids - notified by email
2013-01-14: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (me only)
2013-01-18: IV Supporting Docs received for me - notified by email
2013-01-18: Son#1 CASE COMPLETE - Son#2 checklist - saying $ on I-864 don't match tax return (but they do)-resubmitted
2013-01-23: AOS 2nd submission for Son #2 received - notified by email
2013-01-25: My CASE COMPLETE
2013-01-28: ALL 3 OF OUR CASES ARE NOW COMPLETE
2013-02-06: Packet 4 Received by email

MEDICAL ~ CONSULATE ~ POE REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS - 160 DAYS NATURALIZATION
2013-02-13: Medicals 2014-12-17: Delivered to California Lockbox 2015-12-15: Delivered to Phoenix Lockbox
2013-03-06: Interview 2014-12-19: 1 I-751 + 3 Biometrics Fees debited from our account 2015-12-16: Fees charged to Credit Card
2013-03-08: Visas in-hand 2014-12-22: Received NOA1 by mail. Receipt Date: 2014-12-17 2015-12-17: NOA
2013-03-12: Paid USCIS Immigrant Fee 2014-12-24: Received Biometrics Appointment Letter 2016-01-02: Biometrics Letter 2016-01-11: Biometrics
2013-03-14: POE 2015-01-06: Biometrics 2016-02-15: In Line for Interview 2016-02-19: Letter
2013-03-25: SSNs arrived 2015-05-27: Approved 2016-03-22: Interview
2013-04-01: Green Cards arrived 2015-06-03: New Green Cards arrived 2016-04-15: Oath Ceremony

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ExPatty Proficient

ExPatty   502

Posted
Filed: Other Country: England
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Pretty sure my first ever TN took under an hour, but really you cannot know. It's very dependent upon what you're doing, time of day, and the location. Driving into the US @ Thousand Islands on a Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM I bet it takes you five minutes. A big north eastern airport around Christmas I'd want to make sure I had hours.

Edited by ExPatty

Good luck!

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Pitaya Grand Master

Pitaya   2,576

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Took my wife and stepson over two hours to go through their first US POE. There had been several international flight arrivals at the same time.

YMMV.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Completed: K1/K2 (271 days) - AOS/EAD/AP (134 days) - ROC (279 days)

"Si vis amari, ama" - Seneca

 

 

 

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