us immigration

[kay9jess]

hi guys,i fly out on the 16th with bmi via dulles washington to tampa.my travel agents are telling me that there have been delays clearing customs of about 2hours due to the finger prints and photo`s.does any one have any upto date info as my connecting flight is 2hours after we land and we may miss it .thanks bernard

[Ray&Sarah]

Ray has been flying in and out of the States a number of times recently and hasn't reported long delays and he has had to dash to make connecting flights a couple of times. Would imagine it depends on the time of day and how many planes have planes have landed.[msnsmile]

[CarolAnn]

I am only guessing, but I suspect your travel agent is giving you a polite warning just in case? As you are not travelling with the masses of summer holiday makers, or seasonally travellers, fingers crossed it will be barable :)

[kay9jess]

thanks ray&sarah,its only since weds of this week that they have been fingerprinting and photo`s of people with machine readable passports

[Snapper]

Hi Bernard,

If you have a short changeover it's worth mentioning this to the cabin staff once you are within range of Dulles. Airlines sometimes have 'meeters and greeters' at the gates to help you get to your connection.

As long as your onward flights are on the same ticket it is the airline's responsibility to get you to your destination so it is in their interests to help you get your connecting flight.

[walmsley_family]

Hi
WE came over here on THursday...the first day of the finger print / photo.
We were far quicker than usual mainly due to :-
...so many being on duty at the customs
...mainly concentrating on the new proceedures rather than the questions
...someone checking forms were completed correctly before people were going to the counter

The fingerprint / photo is very quick..both index fingers are fingerprinted and then your phot taken..details are then looked at on the screen

However we were still the chosen ones to have the random checks after this point!!

Jo