US immigration

[boo-yeh]

Its our first visit back to the States since the 9/11 disaster and I would be interested to hear how much more difficult our arrival in the country is likely to be due to increased security measures.

Is it that noticeable, does it take a lot longer, that sort of thing...

thanks

[Nostromo]

I would say that the entire process takes a lot longer now. When we went last month, it was our first post 9/11 visit (5th overall). At immigration, everyone is photographed and fingerprinted; The 'Land Side' checks took over an hour with everyone searched individually with scanners and what not.

[chrisj]

What makes me laugh

If you think with this age of technology etc, You board a plan sit on it for over 9 hours
and then have a piccie etc taken when you get off. Surely this could be done our end and
the info sent on, It has 9 hours to get there.

Im sure something could be done to make it easier

[boo-yeh]

Oh dear... are my worst fears being confirmed?

I can think of little worse that a 9 hour flight, a desire to get cracking on the holiday and then being faced with a drawn out procedure.[msnsad]

Be interesting to read other people's experiences.

[chrisj]

Last July we seemed to be lucky, we landed went straight through immigration/customs etc
got the car and was at the Villa all with an hour and 45 minutes from landing

Would be nice if this July is the same

[Carla]

I've been twice this year, so far. Into Tampa and Sanford. No delays, everything really quick. They have an "eye" which photographs you and a scanner for your index fingers. While this is happening the computers are whirring away checking you out too.

A lot depends on which flight you're on into Orlando and how many other "Brit" flights land at roughly the same time. At weekends, 4 jumbos (or near equivalent) land at Orlando within a relatively short space of time, so if the first causes a backlog, maybe by being a bit late on landing, then that is going to have a knock on effect for the others, in the immigration hall. It's always been like that though.

[Nostromo]

I wondered whether we were put through the wringer because we are from a certain part of the world? I have heard that that sort of thing happened at US airports after 9/11, but cannot be sure even now.

[emm]

When we flew into Sanford at the end of April this year we did not have photos, or finger prints taken. Is it to do with which kind of passport you have? We have the new machine-readable ones.

[Carla]

Nostromo, did your party have visas or were you travelling on visa waivers? All visa holders are now photographed and index fingers scanned, no matter where they come from. I haven't noticed them doing this with visa waiver entrants.

[steph_goodrum]

"I would say that the entire process takes a lot longer now. When we went last month, it was our first post 9/11 visit (5th overall). At immigration, everyone is photographed and fingerprinted; The 'Land Side' checks took over an hour with everyone searched individually with scanners and what not."

At present as Carla said it is only those with Visa who are being photographed and fingerprinted, proposals are in place to bring it in for all entries afrter Sept/Oct this year not sure of exact date.

We went in April to MCO, 2 families in front of us in queue at immigration and from the time we joined the queue to having our I94 (visa waiver) stamped was exactly 8 mins, no searches or anything. It's the quickest we've ever been through. We've been to US about 6 times since 9/11 and have never had a a problem.