   L & R
|
Los Angeles |
2014-07-23 |
No |
Yes |
 - High |
I've included some information regarding my experience pre- and post-POE as those coming from the UK, particularly via Heathrow, might find it useful.
*** Pre-flight ***
Booked a return ticket with British Airways LHR-LAX a week beforehand at approximately 1200 pounds. This time of year, it is the high season and the beginning of the school holidays, so I expected prices to be a bit steep. I also booked a return because it was cheaper than a one-way and I have tentative plans to head back to visit my family in the UK around Christmas/New Year, pending Advance Parole.
Waited an hour for the baggage drop to open. Had wanted to get to the airport early because I was worried about a longer security check, but this wasn't necessary in the end. I ended up checking in a very large suitcase and a large expedition-style rucksack with a smaller business-style rucksack as my carry on. I paid approximately 100 pounds for the excess weight suitcase and an excess baggage fee for my large rucksack. For reference, a seat upgrade would have cost an extra 200-300 pounds.
There were signs that they'd implemented extra security screening for some passengers but if you are a fairly experienced flyer, it's not much of an additional hassle. During the week of my POE, they had implemented the extra scrutiny for electronic devices, particularly smartphones and tablets and in particular Apple and Samsung items. It was reported in the press that items could not be brought onto the plane if they could not be switched on (if requested) or show a full charge, with the warning that passengers might miss their flight and have to re-book.
I brought quite a few electronic items with me. I packed my electric toothbrush in my checked baggage. I took my Samsung 7 inch tablet, Motorola smartphone, small external battery and Buffalo Ministation (external hard drive) along with associated cables in my carry on. I put the tablet, smartphone and external hard drive in the grey security trays, though left the hard drive in its carrying case. I also took off my shoes and put my clear plastic baggy with my makeup in the trays. I did have to wait a little longer than usual as I'd joined the "family" screening line with various parents and their kids, but otherwise, no issues or comments from the security personnel and I didn't set off the alarms when walking through the security gate, so no pat down. I was not asked to switch on any of my devices or show if they had a full charge. Nor did they ask me to open up the case containing the hard drive.
The last time I was at Terminal 5, it felt nice and airy with lots of space. But with the summer holiday crowd, it seemed just as rowdy and fraught as Terminal 2. Though one highlight is that, while I was taking a breather, Samantha Cameron (British Prime Minster's wife) walked past me with one of her aides. Unless you're at one of the departure gates, there aren't very many seating options in the post-security shopping areas of Terminal 5, so a few of us had to improvise using the metal footrails around the glass partitions enclosing the escalators.
The queuing at the departure gate was very haphazard. I thought I'd reached the gate in good time given that I took the shuttle only few minutes after the gate number had been announced. However, when I arrived at the gate, it was already full of passengers and the electronic notice boards were asking passengers to wait for their seat rows to be called, suggesting that they hadn't started boarding yet. Confusingly, a few minutes later, they announced general boarding, which meant that everyone descended like locusts into the tiny queuing area.
Two flight attendants checked that the passenger surname for the boarding pass and passport matched. One flight attendant called out the surname on the boarding pass and the other flight attendant responded with the surname on the passport.
In the corridors just before boarding the plane, I saw quite a few passengers being "picked off" for extra screening. From what I could tell, they'd been asked to empty their carry one items onto a table so they could be screened further.
*** Flight ***
Despite being a small woman and able to fit into most places without feeling claustrophobic, this flight experience was not comfortable. Chose a window seat at the back of the plane (A380) on the upper deck. Very small overhead bins but access to shallow window bins next to the window seats in this section. Unfortunately, the space underneath the seat in front was also limited due to two (IDE) boxes on either side of the seat "legs". The wall of the airplane next to my seat was also very low. Reaching down to get something from underneath the seat in front meant that my face was very close to the seat in front. The passenger next to me had brought a small wheely cabin bag and was not able to fit it into the overhead bins above our seats. The flight attendant ended up putting his bag in one of the overhead bins above the middle seats above the aisle.
We only had two services during the flight, an evening meal (about 2-3 hours into the flight) and a lunch/sandwich meal (about an hour before landing). Our section was one of the last to be served as they started service at the front of the plane.
I also managed to catch a feverish headachey cold from one of the passengers. A family (from Egypt) had been coughing and sneezing throughout the flight and by the end of it, I could hear about five of us in that section coughing and sneezing.
With hindsight, I probably overpaid and will most likely go back to Virgin Atlantic for my next set of flights as I don't think the famous British Airways experience is up to scratch anymore.
*** Arrival in the US ***
Arrived mid-evening in LAX. Arrivals hall was busy (the line was longer than the barriers) but it moved very quickly. I waited approximately 15-20 minutes in the visitors line before I got to a POE officer.
The POE officer was friendly and jovial. As soon as I slapped my file and passport on his desk, he asked me if I was, "here to immigrate." He then looked at the line and said we would be here all day. When I asked him if processing me would take a while and if I'd have to go into secondary processing, he said that would only happen if there were mistakes in my file. And he said that the hall was busy for that time of day. But when I asked if I'd arrived at a bad time, he said that I'd arrived at a great time!
He asked me what kind of visa I had then went through the spiel about getting married within 90 days and that he recommended not leaving it to the last minute. He also made a joke that if I decided my intended and I were not in love, then that would be another story. I stated that I was hoping to get married within the first month after my arrival.
While he was looking through my file, I asked him what kind of mistakes he was looking for. He mentioned that the file had to have the right kind of stamps and that it's good if my intended and I have met previously as he's seen some cases where they haven't met and it makes it more difficult for him to let them through. We joked about my multiple previous visits.
He also asked me if I wanted to keep any of the envelopes that came with my file. Otherwise, they had a special place to dispose of all of the extraneous packaging.
He asked me if I had brought any money with me. I didn't mention money on my customs form and just put "Household Goods" and a value of $0. I stated that I hadn't brought any US money with me as I plan to use my credit card and I also managed to open a US bank account from the UK, so would be using that to withdraw money for daily spending. He probed a bit further and I mentioned that I had about 100 British pounds in cash with me. I also said that I'd be looking for a job once my employment authorisation comes through, and the sooner I get married, the sooner I can apply for AOS/AP/EAD and also potentially visit my family in the UK. He shushed me and said that I shouldn't say that as I should want to stay in the US forever! I also had my fingerprints and photograph taken, as per previous visits.
I was with him for about 10-15 minutes. He never asked for my chest X-ray or any other documents, just the sealed packet from the US embassy in London and my passport and customs form. He returned my passport and customs form to me, showed me where he'd stamped the edge of my visa with the entry stamp and written the deadline for marriage (90 days). He also welcomed me to the US.
Initially, I was worried because I saw him processing the previous person and it seemed to take a while. However, throughout my "interview" I had a huge grin on my face because of the POE officer's banter - I couldn't have wished for a more pleasant POE experience.
Afterwards, I collected my bags from the luggage carousel (waited about 5 minutes) and then handed my customs form to the customs officer. I then entered the arrivals hall, a bit like a "deer in headlights" because it's a circular arena and passengers are like gladiators entering the coliseum with those waiting for them standing behind the barriers.
When I got home with my fiance, I opened up my suitcase and rucksack to see if my checked bags had been searched; the vacuum bags I'd used were still intact, so that was a relief.
*** SSN ***
About a week an a half after my POE, my fiance and I went to our local SSA office. We arrived a few minutes after they'd opened and there was already a small queue outside and some people had made it inside. We waited about 15 minutes before we could enter the building. My handbag was checked - they asked me to open it while they poked at the contents. My fiance was asked to empty his pockets. For those who are not familiar with this, my fiance tells me that security checks are standard for all federal buildings.
I had completed and printed off form SS-5, the memo stating that K-1 visa holders are authorised to work and my electronic I-94 (last entry). I'd also brought my passport (with visa) and a certified copy of my birth certificate (same one I used for my K-1 visa).
After security, we selected our query from an electronic kiosk and received a printed ticket number. We waited about an hour before we were seen. The process is pretty much similar to the experience at the US embassy in London where you wait for your ticket number to be called on the screens and go to the designated window. They also have different prefixes so that you're seen by someone who can deal with your query.
I told the SSA officer that I'd come over on a K-1 visa and that I was there to apply for an SSN. After I handed over my documents, the SSA officer asked me if I had the original birth certificate. In the US, I think they are used to seeing a raised seal for official documents, but my certified copy direct from the local authority where I was born didn't have a raised seal - the original birth certificate is held by the local authority. She also asked me if I'm authorised to work and if I'd ever applied for an SSN before - I said "no" to both. She spent quite a bit of time typing on her PCto enter the information that was on my SS-5. Finally, she gave me a printout of the information that would be submitted and asked me to check it for errors. When I gave it back to her and said that everything was in order, she gave me a letter/receipt that confirmed my application for an SSN and that I should receive my card within 2 weeks.
After reading some of the experiences on VJ about SSA officers turning away K-1 visa holders, I was prepared for a bit of a fight. But, in the end, I didn't have to bring out the memo about work authorisation. For reference, we went to an SSA in SoCal. |
2014-11-18 |
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