Entering the US next week

[sasasasa 0]

Can anyone answer some questions about my arrival in the US.

I will be leaving Cairo and my first stop in the US will be in New York. I only have less than 2 hours before I take my next flight to Atlanta. Can anyone give me an idea of what will happen once I land in New York? I believe my luggage will go straight through to Atlanta so will I have to do anything other than go to the terminal to board the next flight?

I will not be here on a visit but to remain since I received my K1 Visa. I am just unsure if I will have enough time before my next flight out if I have to go through any immigration or customs in New York or if I would do that in Atlanta when I get my luggage.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Can anyone answer some questions about my arrival in the US.

I will be leaving Cairo and my first stop in the US will be in New York. I only have less than 2 hours before I take my next flight to Atlanta. Can anyone give me an idea of what will happen once I land in New York? I believe my luggage will go straight through to Atlanta so will I have to do anything other than go to the terminal to board the next flight?

I will not be here on a visit but to remain since I received my K1 Visa. I am just unsure if I will have enough time before my next flight out if I have to go through any immigration or customs in New York or if I would do that in Atlanta when I get my luggage.

OK, firstly your luggage will NOT go straight thru to Atlanta. NYC is your POE into the USA, and as such, you will have to reclaim your baggage there, and then re-check it onto your Atlanta flight.

Secondly, everything (customs, immigration, everything) gets done at your initial POE (in your case, NYC). Once you've been cleared, your Atlanta flight becomes a bog-standard internal flight that any USC would take. And unless you give the immigration officers any cause for concern (or unless they feel like being particularly #######) then it'll all be done and dusted in under 15 minutes, so don't stress.

Edited May 14, 2009 by Damian P

[sasasasa 0]

Ok, thanks that sounds simple enough and helps clear up what to expect.

Can anyone answer some questions about my arrival in the US.

I will be leaving Cairo and my first stop in the US will be in New York. I only have less than 2 hours before I take my next flight to Atlanta. Can anyone give me an idea of what will happen once I land in New York? I believe my luggage will go straight through to Atlanta so will I have to do anything other than go to the terminal to board the next flight?

I will not be here on a visit but to remain since I received my K1 Visa. I am just unsure if I will have enough time before my next flight out if I have to go through any immigration or customs in New York or if I would do that in Atlanta when I get my luggage.

OK, firstly your luggage will NOT go straight thru to Atlanta. NYC is your POE into the USA, and as such, you will have to reclaim your baggage there, and then re-check it onto your Atlanta flight.

Secondly, everything (customs, immigration, everything) gets done at your initial POE (in your case, NYC). Once you've been cleared, your Atlanta flight becomes a bog-standard internal flight that any USC would take. And unless you give the immigration officers any cause for concern (or unless they feel like being particularly #######) then it'll all be done and dusted in under 15 minutes, so don't stress.

[Jose Rizal 1]

Just review TSA guidelines on what you are allowed to bring to the US.

[Krikit 1,166]

OK, firstly your luggage will NOT go straight thru to Atlanta. NYC is your POE into the USA, and as such, you will have to reclaim your baggage there, and then re-check it onto your Atlanta flight.

It all depends on the airline and the flight arrangements. In most cases the baggage is automatically shuttled to the connecting flight. Best thing to do, Selvatorre, is to contact your airline and ask them directly.

Two hours is cutting it close, as you can never count on what delays you may encounter with arrival times and congestion, or the Immigration Officer's familiarity with visa processing. Worst case scenario if you miss your connecting flight is that you will get rescheduled onto another flight. Good luck, and have a great trip!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

In most cases the baggage is automatically shuttled to the connecting flight.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. I've done London - St Louis many, many times, with a variety of different POEs and airlines, and on EVERY occasion, I have had to collect my luggage from the POE baggage reclaim, and re-check it onto the connecting STL flight (no direct flights from the UK to STL). It's a very quick procedure (there is an "express" service waiting just after you've cleared customs, whereby waiting TSA staff simply take your bags from you and put them straight onto the conveyor belt) but that's how it's always been. Never once has this procedure not been adhered to, whatever the airline, or wherever the POE.

Edited May 14, 2009 by Damian P

[Krikit 1,166]

In most cases the baggage is automatically shuttled to the connecting flight.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. I've done London - St Louis many, many times, with a variety of different POEs and airlines, and on EVERY occasion, I have had to collect my luggage from the POE baggage reclaim, and re-check it onto the connecting STL flight (no direct flights from the UK to STL). It's a very quick procedure (there is an "express" service waiting just after you've cleared customs, whereby waiting TSA staff simply take your bags from you and put them straight onto the conveyor belt) but that's how it's always been. Never once has this procedure not been adhered to, whatever the airline, or wherever the POE.

Just because it did not happen in your experience does not mean it doesn't happen. I did not state that you were wrong (as you did). I stated that it was dependent upon a number of factors and it was best to contact the airline. Assumptions should not be made based on limited experience. Especially when that assumption is based on a completely different flightplan.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Just because it did not happen in your experience does not mean it doesn't happen.

It may happen periodically (although I've never heard of anyone making a transatlantic hop experiencing anything other than what I've been through, and I'm sure whatever the "flightplan" it makes not one jot of difference) but you said:

"In most cases the baggage is automatically shuttled to the connecting flight.."

And this is simply not the case.

Assumptions should not be made based on limited experience.

Limited??? OK then!!

It's getting late, but I am going to do some research on this tomorrow (God knows I've got nothing better to do) and return to this thread citing official sources.

And then my pwnage of you will be complete. B)

[LoveMyTico 999]

When you are traveling from a foreign country back to the US and you have a connecting flight when you get in the US you have to claim your bags and go threw Customs then RE-check them.

When I fly from Costa Rica threw Miami to Newark I have to claim my bags in Miami and then re-check them. ALWAYS. Same thing when I fly from Costa Rica to Houston to Newark.

[msnoob 3]

That is correct. All international flights must go through customs and reclaim bags at the first POE in the US. Once you land at the POE, you will go to the line for US Citizens and Legal Residents. You will give them your packet of information and they may take you to a room for another quite short interview. They should stamp your passport and send you on your way. You reclaim your bags and go through customs (again, they may decide to "check" your bags further delaying you) Once you are through customs, you recheck your bags and go back through security to the waiting area for your next flight.

Best of Luck to you!!

[Craneman 2]

At the initial point of entry, you collect your baggage clear Immigration and customes then recheck your baggage for the domestic flight.

you do not enter the airport proper without clearing immigration and your luggage does not go to a domestic flight without going through customs.

NY to ATL is a domestic flight.

That is correct. All international flights must go through customs and reclaim bags at the first POE in the US. Once you land at the POE, you will go to the line for US Citizens and Legal Residents. You will give them your packet of information and they may take you to a room for another quite short interview. They should stamp your passport and send you on your way. You reclaim your bags and go through customs (again, they may decide to "check" your bags further delaying you) Once you are through customs, you recheck your bags and go back through security to the waiting area for your next flight.

Best of Luck to you!!