Entry to the USA - Update

[DMC]

Not sure if anyone has picked this up on another thread, but by way of an update, the info has been taken from the UK Passport Website :

As we know from October 2004 the US are proposing to make changes to the Passport requirements for Visitors, however as some of the country's affected by these changes, the UK included, can't produce the new Pasports in time, there are moves afoot in the US to get the deadline extened by 2 years.

There is a Paper going through Congress at the moment proposing this change.

In addition, as of the 30th of September 2004 anyone arrirving in the US, either with a Visa or under the Visa Waiver Scheme, will have a digital photo taken and have an 'inkless' scans taken of their index fingers.

This system has already in operation for Visa Visitors since January 2004 and US Immigration report that that there has been no significant delays in processing visitors.

Lets hope this is the case as Orlando International is not the quickest place to get through at the best of times.

[steph_goodrum]

DMC
It took us 8 mins to get through immigration a couple of weeks ago and that was from the time we joined the queue (2 family groups in front of us) until we had our passports stamped. Quickest time yet for us so no complaints about MCO from us this time. We used the visa waiver.

[chrisj]

Last year as we entered immigration, an officer opened up another line for us so not sure
how quick we got through but it must have been only a few minutes.

[DMC]

Steph

8 mins is great it has taken us over 45 mins in the past

You must have been almost first off the plane - guess you must have travelled First / Upper Class [)]

Lets hope its only 8 mins when we land this coming Friday afternoon.

[Carla]

I've been over twice now since Jan. 2004, using my Visa. First time he took my picture and scanned my index fingers. Second time, he just scanned one index finger and compared this to the one on file. Everything was very speedy.

[steph_goodrum]

"You must have been almost first off the plane - guess you must have travelled First / Upper Class "

We were right at the back in row 64 so couldn't have been any further back without sitting on the tail. It was a bit later than we usually arrive at about 5.25 so whether that helped I don't know as it may be we missed the usual 3/4 oclock landings.

[Kickstart]

We got through in about 5 minutes, our guy kept sending everyone to the back of the line because they hadn't filled in the final bit of the visa form - the bit at the bottom that looks like the official should fill in. Luckily my wife is so organised she'd filled all of these in, the immigration officer even had a joke with the kids!
Just as well as I was very worried about the very, very old arrest that I hadn't declared in advance, (I know, I know - after a bloke nearly knocked me off my motorbike I should never have kicked his car).

[ujpest doza]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Kickstart
We got through in about 5 minutes, our guy kept sending everyone to the back of the line because they hadn't filled in the final bit of the visa form - the bit at the bottom that looks like the official should fill in. Luckily my wife is so organised she'd filled all of these in, the immigration officer even had a joke with the kids!
Just as well as I was very worried about the very, very old arrest that I hadn't declared in advance, (I know, I know - after a bloke nearly knocked me off my motorbike I should never have kicked his car).
[/quote]

Exactly How old was that arrest?

[chrizzy100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
"You must have been almost first off the plane - guess you must have travelled First / Upper Class "

We were right at the back in row 64 so couldn't have been any further back without sitting on the tail. It was a bit later than we usually arrive at about 5.25 so whether that helped I don't know as it may be we missed the usual 3/4 oclock landings.


[/quote]

We get into Orlando at around 9:00 pm on May 20th....does anyone know if its busy then.....??

I know its very quiet in Boston at that time......

[chrisj]

Must admit those forms arnt very user friendly