US PRE-CLEARANCE FACILITY

[anz 1]

Hello everyone

I have a question for those that have traveled to the US on immigrant visa . Some airports have US pre-clearance facility where you have to check-in before boarding.

Anyone who's gone through this process please share!

Thanks & Regards

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Not done it personally but know someone who did it in Abu dhabi. All it means is you do all the immigration stuff before you board rather than after you land. Procedures are the same and it is USCIS officials who do it. Can't see that it makes much difference, other than probably a shorter queue.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Toronto always pre-clears for its US bound passengers. I found it much better as when I got off in Atlanta I could go right to my husband

good luck

[amkhan 108]

You can get Pre Clarence from Abu Dhabi Airport, ONLY Etihad Airlines and only selected flights will get you through CBP, But another issue is that Etihad tickets are expensive then other airlines. If you are traveling from Pakistan better go through QATAR AIR WAYS cheap and Best services, but if you can afford the cost of Etihad then go for it.

[NikLR 13,220]

If you go through a pre clearance airport, then that is your POE point and you will need to hand over your immigration package at that time. You will go to secondary where they take your signature and fingerprint for the hard copy green card. Make sure your passport is stamped beside the visa. It can take a few hours to get through so leave 3-4 hours between flights if a pre clearance airport is one of your layovers.

[Naumanxenon 38]

My wife had her pre-clearance done in Abu Dhabi. It's the same as if you were in the US. You hand over your envelope and you're done..

[usmsbow 795]

You can get Pre Clarence from Abu Dhabi Airport, ONLY Etihad Airlines and only selected flights will get you through CBP, But another issue is that Etihad tickets are expensive then other airlines. If you are traveling from Pakistan better go through QATAR AIR WAYS cheap and Best services, but if you can afford the cost of Etihad then go for it.

Eh, I don't know if that's always true. While I haven't ever been to Pakistan, the last time I went to India Etihad was clearly the cheapest. Conversely, last winter when flying from Indonesia, Qatar Air was about $100 cheaper. The one that is consistent is Emirates (at least from DC). It is never the cheapest!

Anyway, OP, as others have said, pre-clearance is basically getting everything out of the way when you depart instead of arrive. My one experience in AUH wasn't that great and certainly no better than what I've had to deal with when arriving here in the USA (just was slow and took awhile. And sorry, I'm a US citizen, can't speak about the IV experience). It was soon after AUH began doing pre-clearance though, maybe it has improved. I have heard that it works very well in Canada and Ireland.

Edited March 24, 2015 by usmsbow

[anz 1]

Thanks to all !

So we plan to move to US last week of May-2015. I bought the ticket of Etihad airline ticket EY 151 for Chicago, so my question either we have to go for pre-clearance with whole luggage or just with hand carry.Thanks and good luck.

[amkhan 108]

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Terminal 3 is a purpose-built facility that allows passengers on certain flights to the U.S. to undertake all immigration, customs and agriculture inspections in Abu Dhabi prior to departure. Having cleared CBP, passengers can check-through their baggage to their final destination in the United States. On reaching the U.S., passengers will be treated as domestic arrivals, which allows for faster processing at their arrival airport.

The CBP is currently in use for passengers flying to the U.S. on Etihad Airways flight EY101 to New York (but not EY103), flight EY131 to Washington D.C. and flight EY151 to Chicago.

Before arriving at the airport, passengers must ensure that they either have a valid visa or have applied for authorization to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Programme. This can be done by visiting http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/ where full details on the process, as well as eligible countries, can be obtained. The application must be submitted no less than 72 hours before travelling.

Any passenger whose application under the Visa Waiver Programme is rejected must obtain a non-immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before travelling to the U.S.

Passengers using the CBP must also:

• Provide Advanced Passenger Information up to one hour before check-in;

• Know the regulations regarding which merchandise can or cannot be taken into the U.S. This information can be found by visitinghttp://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml

• Hold an individual machine readable passport and a confirmed return or onward ticket (or e-ticket) for departure from the United States within 90 days; and

• Complete a suitable Customs Declaration form on the day of departure

After arrival and check-in at Abu Dhabi International Airport, passengers on the above flights should follow the airport signage for the U.S. Pre-Clearance facility.

The entrance to the U.S. Pre-Clearance facility is adjacent to gates 58-61. Please proceed to the facility not later than 90 minutes before Departure.

Etihad passengers travelling to the U.S. can also obtain further information by visitinghttp://www.etihad.com/en/before-you-fly/us-preclearance/service-requirements

[Póg mo 1,749]

I have done it in Ireland a couple of times and I really like it. Once you're done, you're done. No having to collect, and then recheck your baggage between lay overs. And a interview with an immigration officer is even less fun after a long flight.

[NikLR 13,220]

I have done it in Ireland a couple of times and I really like it. Once you're done, you're done. No having to collect, and then recheck your baggage between lay overs. And a interview with an immigration officer is even less fun after a long flight.

Agreed. I've only ever done pre-clearance. I wouldn't have a clue how to go about not doing pre-clearance! LOL

[Jenn_iFly 0]

Hi.

 

Does anybody know if a round-trip or onward ticket is requested by the airline at check-in when you are trying to do your FIRST TIME IMMIGRANT ENTRY at a PRE-CLEARANCE facility (Aruba in my case)?.

 

I understand that I have to go to the airline check-in desk and leave my suitcases there and pick them up again at a different place and head to the pre-clearance facility building with them and after going through CBP and having my temporary Legal Permanent Residence stamp placed on my passport is when I am officially a Legal Permanent Residence, which will happen AFTER I go to the check-in desk at the airline counter.

 

I have read on several different websites, including the official website of the airline I am intending to use, the official US CBP and the official travel.state.gov websites and apparently you need a round-trip ticket or onward ticket at the moment of check-in unless you have a Green Card on your possession or you are a Citizen of the USA which is not going to be my case until after the CBP officials clear me when I go through CBP Pre-Clearance facility in Aruba. 

 

I also called the Airline and as I expected, they do not know with certainty about this case. They say that if I had a valid visa at the moment of check-in I was not going to be required a round-trip ticket or onward-ticket, but a Tourist Visa is a valid visa and they do require a round-trip or onward ticket in those situations PRIOR to checking-in your suitcases, Lol. The guy hesitated a lot, didn't understand my particular case, asked me for reservation confirmation number to check the info on the reservation, put me on hold and asked the manager and came back with a not too convincing answer, which I totally expected.

 

NOBODY on the internet, that I know of, has mentioned about the possibility or not of a one-way ticked in this particular case.

 

Does anybody has experienced this particular thing?

 

 

Help!

[TBoneTX 43,048]

A one-way ticket is almost certainly OK, but:

 

From this website,

https://www.cbp.gov/employees/eeo/dcr-contacts

 

I found this CBP official, who's apparently in charge of preclearance ports, including Aruba:

 

Johnathan Walker
DCR Officer
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Room 3.3D
Washington, D.C. 20229
(202) 344-1696
Johnathan.Walker@cbp.dhs.gov

 

Depending on the urgency, you might call him rather than use e-mail.  Maybe someone in his office can advise you, if he's not in.  Just get the name and phone number of whoever you talk to.

[TBoneTX 43,048]

Perhaps just as good, or better:

 

https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance

 

Scroll down to Caribbean, and call the number for Aruba.

CBP has a toll-free information line in the U.S., but in my experience it's impossible to get through, and the agents are typically rather gruff.  Don't even bother with their informational e-mail inquiry process.

[mindthegap 2,521]

On 7/23/2017 at 0:47 AM, Jenn_iFly said:

They say that if I had a valid visa at the moment of check-in I was not going to be required a round-trip ticket or onward-ticket, but a Tourist Visa is a valid visa and they do require a round-trip or onward ticket in those situations PRIOR to checking-in your suitcases,

If you are travelling visa-free (ie, on the VWP/ESTA) then you do require onward or return travel. A B1/B2 (non-immigrant) visa does not require a round trip ticket.

 

However, as you are travelling on a valid immigrant visa (very different from a non-immigrant visa) you should have no issues having a one way ticket.