Dublin pre-clearance

[Amy and Nick 37]

Hey guys

Trying to look into flights going from London via Dublin for the preclearance, ending up in either Denver or Albuquerque, whatevers cheapest!

However, I cant find a flight less than a couple of thousand! This seems outrageous when I get get a flight for £400 straight there. I know a lot of people have flown this route so anyone got any tips im missing, or did people just sacrifice and pay the higher price?

Also if anyone could clear up how the trip would work too. ie, if i clear Dublin, am I GUARENTEED entry into the US, and if so, how do you bypass custom when you arrive?!

Thanks!

[jkelly07 120]

when you arrive at the poe there is no guarentee thay check all your papers and ask questions , if things are not right thay make you take a return trip back home, and no you can not bipass customs, all international flights you HAVE TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS,

[Boiler 46,270]

London to Denver, BA is easiest, direct.

United may be slightly cheaper, through Washington or Chicago.

Why do you want to go through Dublin?

[amykathleen2005 441]

They want to go through Dublin because the POE is done there, so if they are denied they don't have to foot the bill for a plane all the way back across the ocean.

OP: Once you are through the POE in Dublin you should be fine.

[Boiler 46,270]

I have heard people with dodgy cases doing it with visitor visa's, but not Immigranbt visa's.

[Amy and Nick 37]

As far as im aware its perfectly fine to go through Dublin and clear immigration there.

The reason I want to do it is i dont want to spend 10 hours travelling, be feet away from my hubby and my denied entry, and have to turn around and come all the way back.

I know there is a risk visiting while the visa is processing, but as far as im aware it makes no difference to your case if you are denied.

I am sure all will be fine as ill take proof of ties to England, im just wondering if people know of a cheap way to do it, and i wanna check out the facts because i dont want to pay extra money to fly through Dublin/Shannon if there's still a chance they can turn me away at the other end!

Anyone else got any more personal experiences?

Thanks guys!

[Mrs O. 29]

OP, dont think you should bother with the Dublin route. I just returned from a trip to spend thanksgiving with hubby in the States.I travelled with Air France so no pre-clearance. At POE (LAX), I answered every question truthfully: here to visit hubby, staying for a week, case at NVC etc. I wasnt asked for further proof and was granted entry.

[pushbrk 13,176]

Hey guys

Trying to look into flights going from London via Dublin for the preclearance, ending up in either Denver or Albuquerque, whatevers cheapest!

However, I cant find a flight less than a couple of thousand! This seems outrageous when I get get a flight for £400 straight there. I know a lot of people have flown this route so anyone got any tips im missing, or did people just sacrifice and pay the higher price?

Also if anyone could clear up how the trip would work too. ie, if i clear Dublin, am I GUARENTEED entry into the US, and if so, how do you bypass custom when you arrive?!

Thanks!

If you clear Dublin, effectively you are already IN the USA. You'll land at a domestic terminal in the USA and have no further clearance to deal with.

Are you visiting or talking about a CR1 visa entry? For CR1 entry, there's no advantage to going through Dublin. For a visit, you weigh your options and decide what's best for you.

Edited November 29, 2010 by pushbrk

[Amy and Nick 37]

Im talking about for a visit.

Thanks for the input!

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Im talking about for a visit.

Thanks for the input!

How are you pricing the flight? Are you pricing from the mainland to Denver?

You should be pricing fares directly from Dublin to your destination in the US. You can take a budget airline from your local airport to Dublin. And not all passengers flying out of Dublin will clear immigration there. I know that passengers on American and United do.

Regardless, if you clear immigration in Dublin, you are through. Unless there is a problem when you clear customs in the US (which is rare).

If you clear Dublin, effectively you are already IN the USA. You'll land at a domestic terminal in the USA and have no further clearance to deal with.

Are you visiting or talking about a CR1 visa entry? For CR1 entry, there's no advantage to going through Dublin. For a visit, you weigh your options and decide what's best for you.

Usually the lines are a lot shorter at Dublin. Officers are generally more friendly as well. Not a bad idea for immigrant visa clearance, if it's not out of the way for the alien.

[Amy and Nick 37]

My only worry about pricing from Dublin, is that if my flight was somehow delayed from London, or secondary took too long, i may miss the next flight and then i assume they wouldnt put me on a replacement flight?

Pricing from Dublin was pretty rough too though!

[CanadaLove 16]

My only worry about pricing from Dublin, is that if my flight was somehow delayed from London, or secondary took too long, i may miss the next flight and then i assume they wouldnt put me on a replacement flight?

Pricing from Dublin was pretty rough too though!

That's pretty much true for any flight if you can't get a direct flight, isn't it?

[Amy and Nick 37]

Well as far as im aware (correct me if i wrong!!)

That if you miss your flight due to immigration when you have flown on two seperate flights, you would have to pay for a new flight.

However, if you are on a layover and miss your flight due to immigration, they are obliged to get you on the next available flight!

I hope im wrong?!

[Boiler 46,270]

That is the way it has always worked for me.

[CanadaLove 16]

@AmyandNick - I honestly don't have a clue, as I have only heard horror stories of say, flights being cancelled and the mad rush of people to either the phones or the gate agent to get rebooked. I have no personal first-hand experience. (and now I say that, watch me scramble when I fly out to Edmonton for Christmas! *crosses fingers, knocks on wood loudly to scare any jinxes, tricksy elves, or Murphy off..*