Entering via LAX or Ontario International Airport

[Zoeeeeeee 795]

1 hour ago, Scottie D. Luffy said:

Ontario International Airport is actually based in Ontario, LA.

 

Not the one in Canada 🤣 Sorry got you confused.

Imagine it’s more expensive to fly through though, as it’s a smaller airport (I know Bob Hope always costs more on domestic flights)?

 

I’ve flown to LAX about 10 times in the last 2 years, all using a B12 visa - once, when it was insanely busy, it took me an hour to get through - generally less than 20 minutes though (not sure if there’s a separate immigrant visa line)...

Edited August 2, 2019 by Zoeeeeeee

[Dashinka 23,234]

7 hours ago, laylalex said:

Former Valley girl here. You need to ask yourself this question: is less time and aggravation at Ontario (potentially) than at LAX worth more than driving from Ontario to LA if that's your final destination? If your flight gets in around rush hour, the 10 West can be a total parking lot. (Not to mention having to drive there to pick up the inbound passenger...) You may end up spending more time driving back to LA than it would have taken you to fly to LAX and drive from there. 

 

Just a thought!

I agree with this ^^^^^.  If LA is your final destination, who cares how long the lines are at CBP?  The wait times at immigration generally only cause an issue if trying to catch an outbound connecting flight.

[JFH 12,189]

*~*~*POE question moved to “moving to the US” to be among similar topics*~*~*

[The_Empyrean 733]

7 hours ago, laylalex said:

Former Valley girl here. You need to ask yourself this question: is less time and aggravation at Ontario (potentially) than at LAX worth more than driving from Ontario to LA if that's your final destination? If your flight gets in around rush hour, the 10 West can be a total parking lot. (Not to mention having to drive there to pick up the inbound passenger...) You may end up spending more time driving back to LA than it would have taken you to fly to LAX and drive from there. 

 

Just a thought!

it's just an hour of a drive, lets say 1.30. Not too bad. I live in NJ and had to go to JFK couple times... That was an.. attraction on its own.. lol friday 2pm, dropped off my parents, by the time i got home, my parents were almost over Greenland lol 6(!!!!!!!!!!!!!) hour to drive ~30ish miles for a hundred bucks cheaper tix, never again...

It depends on the person though. Some don't mind sitting in traffic or having an extra 1hr drive, vs some rather stay in line at the border. I have 0 patience when driving, so i'd rather wait in line (just not JFK. Never going there again).

On the other hand, you never know whats happening at the airport, if they have system maintenance, even in Ontario you could get stuck for a while. It's like planning when USCIS is gonna approve your case. 

[KartineeKartoons 434]

1 minute ago, Scandi said:

"It's just an hour drive, let's say 1,5" says someone who apparently doesn't know that an hour drive easily can turn into 3 or even 4 hours in L.A. traffic depending on roadwork, accidents and what time of the day it is.

It all depends where is the destination after ONT international airport and what time of the day. If you arrive morning and your destination is towards LA city, Burbank, Pasadena, ALtadena, etc.... traffic is bad. Most people coming from Rancho Cucamonga, ONT and other San bernardino county cities are driving to go to work in the morning. 

I’ve always arrived at LAX every 8-8:30PM LA time and drive up to Pasadena. There is traffic but not that bad. 

If you don’t mind, which exact city is your final destination? They might also be confused of LA city and LA county.

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[Carpe Vinum 2,310]

Actually LAX was not that bad as a K-1 arrival (I was with my fiance/wife). But it sucks as an airport....

[Scottie D. Luffy 22]

4 hours ago, Kartinee23 said:

It all depends where is the destination after ONT international airport and what time of the day. If you arrive morning and your destination is towards LA city, Burbank, Pasadena, ALtadena, etc.... traffic is bad. Most people coming from Rancho Cucamonga, ONT and other San bernardino county cities are driving to go to work in the morning. 

I’ve always arrived at LAX every 8-8:30PM LA time and drive up to Pasadena. There is traffic but not that bad. 

If you don’t mind, which exact city is your final destination? They might also be confused of LA city and LA county.

My final destination is in Arcadia, which is like between LAX and ONT.

 

[KartineeKartoons 434]

27 minutes ago, Scottie D. Luffy said:

My final destination is in Arcadia, which is like between LAX and ONT.

 

Ok so we are close! Yay! Now the only thing is, will you be able to get a direct flight from Thailand to ONT? I was checking  BKK-ONT and I only see flighs with one or two stops. which keans yor first stop (idk which state or airport) will be your POE. 

 

Ooops sorry didn’t see Taiwan. Let me check

Edited August 2, 2019 by Kartinee23

[KartineeKartoons 434]

29 minutes ago, Scottie D. Luffy said:

My final destination is in Arcadia, which is like between LAX and ONT.

 

I tried Taipei to ONT and you have direct flight! I’m sure you are good. If you will arrive afternoon or evening ONT and drive to Arcadia, traffic isn’t bad. If you arrive morning, there will be traffic and gps will show red and yellow but actually it is NOT that bad. I personally like ONT more than LAX. 🤗 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,078]

15 hours ago, payxibka said:

Direct flight to Taipei,  I was shocked 

It's literally the only commercial flight from an LA area airport other than LAX to somewhere outside of North America, which I was shocked to see (was wishfully looking around back when I was meeting Anastasia in international destinations, because there aren't many flights to outside North America from San Diego, and Ontario or Orange County would be more convenient than LAX). Most cities that size will have a random flight to Europe or two from a secondary airport.

[KartineeKartoons 434]

1 hour ago, Scottie D. Luffy said:

I see ONT airport on the list though.

Which airport are you planning to land? LAX or ONT?

Lol sorry I missed it! I need glasses! 🤣

we good! Will do ONT for sure! 

[AstroCanada 206]

I would also think of this a different way.  At LAX, they are used to processing tons of people arriving on immigrant visas every day.  At Ontario, that might be so rare that they take a lot longer to do it or need to call for help.  There could even be a higher risk of a mistake arriving through a POE that infrequently processes immigrant visas.  So, the length of the line might not be the only factor to consider.

[TBoneTX 43,043]

On 8/2/2019 at 4:11 PM, AstroCanada said:

I would also think of this a different way.  At LAX, they are used to processing tons of people arriving on immigrant visas every day.  At Ontario, that might be so rare that they take a lot longer to do it or need to call for help.  There could even be a higher risk of a mistake arriving through a POE that infrequently processes immigrant visas.  So, the length of the line might not be the only factor to consider.

The way to deal with this very real prospect is to call ahead to the POE a few days ahead, ask for the shift supervisor, explain the situation, and politely ask if the appropriate personnel will be on duty.  CBP will appreciate your courtesy in tipping them off.

 

Brings back memories of when I took Mrs. T-B. across a land POE from a Mexico day-trip, with her first use of Advance Parole.  The CBP agents knew what AP was but had obviously never processed one.  It became comical at a couple of stages.  Fortunately, the port wasn't overwhelmed with other entrants at that time.