POE Immigration Houston? 5-hour layover enough??

[NatPatBen 3]

POE in Houston took my husband about 30 minutes in the processing room. It wasn't a particulary busy time in the immigration arrival hall so he got to that point pretty quickly...

Appreciate the detail, Nich-Nick, as my fiance will be coming to Houston next month. I hope ours takes the 30 minutes yours took instead of the 2.5 hrs it took for the other poster on this thread.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Another stupid question: does he have to have a boarding pass in order to check his bag? Because his connecting flight will be on a different airline-- he will probably have a boarding pass, but his bag won't have a sticker on it to the final destination. I guess if they need that, he'd have to go out and re-check-in at the counters.. I'm just worried it won't be enough time!

I think that's what "bag re-check" is. They get your bag routed/stickered to the right place for your connection, and you too without going into the general lobby. I've never connected in Houston as it's my final destination, so can't tell you specifics of bag re-check other than where it is and how it looks from the big hallway.

[EasyRider 3]

I'm sorry for hijacking the thread but it seemed silly to post a whole new topic for a similar question. Does anybody have any information on O'Hare (Chicago) as POE? Anybody know how long it would approximately take? We're also looking into booking a flight and need some info. Thanks.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Does anybody have any information on O'Hare (Chicago) as POE? Anybody know how long it would approximately take?

You can look up O'Hare in the POE reviews. People tell their experiences and often say how long it took. In the thin blue menu bar, over on the right under the photos, click on POE.

[Marcela&Marc 1]

Another stupid question: does he have to have a boarding pass in order to check his bag? Because his connecting flight will be on a different airline-- he will probably have a boarding pass, but his bag won't have a sticker on it to the final destination. I guess if they need that, he'd have to go out and re-check-in at the counters.. I'm just worried it won't be enough time!

Once you pass out of Imigration it is easy to recheck your baggage. Usually it is directly outside where he clears Imigration. My only advice is avoid Miami at all cost. I am a pilot and have traveled frequently through New York, Miami and Houston. Miami will always hold you up the most. They are also more rude then other imigration offices that I have been through. Good luck.

[lizandpat 0]

I also wanted to say thank you to all who took the time to give such detailed information. My fiance was just approved for his visa on Tuesday and we're planning his POE to be Houston as well. I'll be driving there from San Antonio to pick him up so he won't have to go through the process of rechecking bags and such but just having an idea of how long it could possibly take helps. Now I'll not start to panic if he doesn't come through to the arrivals hall as soon as I think he should..LOL!

THANKS AGAIN!