Tampa US Port of Entry Reviews
Average Rating: 4.8
/ 5
12 Review(s)
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| Tampa |  Review #17394. Entry: 2023-05-01 |
AneB
Rating: 
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Topic: Port of Entry Review
Everything was very smooth for me at the Tampa airport. My fiance was with me and I brought my cat.
We had a connection flight at Panama and there was an extra security check there. I believe that's why the security at Tampa was very fast, with no lines. I don't know if it's the same when you come from other places.
We got to the airport and a lady speaking in english and spanish directed us for the non-citizen passport control line, which was really short. It was arround 5 minutes waiting only.
The first officer checked my passport, took a picture of me, asked for the address where I'm going to leave in the US and got my visa packet. She was very nice and laughed saying my packet was huge hahahah Then she gave my fiance's passport back to him and told me to follow her to a separated room. She told my fiance that he could go get out baggage and then come back to meet me in that room. I asked if my cat could go in with me, she said yes, told me to take a seat and handed my documents to another officer. There were two officers in that room, both very nice too, and a few other people (something arround 5). Apparently only I was there with a k1 visa, but I think it's their standard procedure for that type, because nothing seemed wrong to me at anytime.
My fiance couldn't get the baggage at that moment for some reason and came back to wait with me. We waited arround 20 minutes and the officer called me by my name. He asked if I could speak english, where I was comming from, If I had an address in the US to provide and If I was aware that if I didn't get married to my fiance in 90 my visa would be revoked. I responde everything and then he asked if he could speak to my fiance. I called him and, since he's asian, the officer asked me if he could speak english. So the officer asked him if he had a drivers licence and checked it, typed something on his computer and stamped my passport. In the meanwhile, some ladies that work in the airport arrived with some suitcases for us to see if ours were there, and they were.
Then the officer told us to pick it up and follow him to a separated area in the same room for security. He kept my packet and gave my passport to the security officer. This last officer said our luggage have been through x-ray before and he didn't need to check our carry-ons. He asked about my cat's documents, gave me my passport and said we could go home 😊
That's it! The whole process took less than 40 minutes and I was treated very well all the time.
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| Tampa | Review #16924. Entry: 2019-05-25 |
EAH
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Topic: Port of Entry Review
All quite straightforward. As usual in Tampa several flights arrive simultaneously so there was a big queue in the Customs hall.
Once in the thick of the queue I approached a woman who seemed to be assessing the queues and explained I did not have an ESTA so could not be processed through the regular photo machines, she said 'Oh great - I am looking for people like you' and directed me to a different , much shorter line. Initial officer was extremely friendly, he went out of his way to make me laugh and relax. He took the scans of fingerprints and eyes and held on to my passport and white envelope. He then asked me if I had any luggage, he instructed me to collect it and then let him know. I did that and he finished the person he was processing and took me into secondary. This was a pretty slow-motion few minutes. Maybe 15 or so waiting to be called up. Much more serious look on the second officers' face. No laughing.
Asked how me and my fiancé met. When we were planning to get married. Asked me about a denial of entry I had at the Canadian border in 2018. Reminded me of the 90 day rule. That was it.
Reunited.
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| Tampa | Review #16914. Entry: 2019-05-23 |
Tara & Rohit
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Topic: Port of Entry Review
**Written on behalf of my Fiancé**
Flew into Tampa at 6 pm. Immigration took about 3-5 mins from start to finish. Approached the desk and was asked two questions: "When are you getting married" and "Do you understand the next steps?" Officer took the packet and stamped the visa. Very easy and quick!
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| Tampa | Review #16312. Entry: 2017-02-28 |
Kat&Jon
Rating: 
Click here if you found this review helpful | Topic: Port of Entry Review
So overall the process took about an hour and 45 minutes. It may have gone faster and smoother if the person directing traffic sent me to the correct line first. They originally sent me through the line that would have me use a Kiosk to check in, instead of going to a person. If you were not aware, on your k-1 Visa you CAN NOT check in using the kiosk!!!
I was moved after the kiosk issue to the back of the regular line and had to wait again. >< Once I got through this line everything was fine. I was asked to wait to the side as my case would need further review by the officer. He just had to wait for someone to take his place which was about 5 mins or so and then he reviewed my packet.
I was with this officer for about 3 mins while he looked at my packet. He asked me my fiance's name and I told him her short name and not her full legal name so he proceeded to ask me whats her full name... what is her middle name... and then jokingly asked me to spell it backwards O.O After he had a little laugh at my expense he said thank you and welcome to the US and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
The whole process may have been a bit faster if the first person didn't put me in the wrong line and that is the only reason why I gave Tampa a 1 for POE instead of 0. All in all it was smooth and a great POE!
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| Tampa | Review #16281. Entry: 2016-09-27 |
Empress200735
Rating:
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Rating only
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