confused regarding POE (split topic)

[Kuegs 5]

I'm confused. So, can the POE be LAX if you're planning on going to California, and are coming from Germany as in my case?

Or would I have to choose an airport on the east coast since that is closer to Germany?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I'm confused. So, can the POE be LAX if you're planning on going to California, and are coming from Germany as in my case?

Or would I have to choose an airport on the east coast since that is closer to Germany?

Your POE is the first place you land in the US (unless you get a preclearance airport which is another story, but rare). So if you get a direct flight from Germany to LAX then LAX is your POE. If you first stop in NYC, however, then NYC will be your POE. After that you will be "in" the US and move to a domestic flight to go on to LA.

For many people, there aren't any international airports near where they live, so their POE will certainly not be their final destination. Hope that clears it up.

Edited May 10, 2016 by Harpa Timsah

[NikLR 13,227]

Also to note if you transit through most Canadian aiports, likely you will hit preclearance and that will be your POE.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Posts split into separate thread as poster is asking their own question and not replying to the OP of the other thread. Please start your own thread with your own questions instead of hijacking threads started by other members.

[KierenHby 899]

POE will be the first US airport you land at after taking off from Frankfurt or Munich or Berlin.

unless you preclear at https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance

[Kuegs 5]

Posts split into separate thread as poster is asking their own question and not replying to the OP of the other thread. Please start your own thread with your own questions instead of hijacking threads started by other members.

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My apologies. I didn't mean to "hijack" anyone's thread.

I'll be more careful before asking questions now and return to mostly reading rather than posting.

Didn't mean to offend anyone or derail a thread or make this more work for you by having to turn it into it's own thread.

Thank you.

[Kuegs 5]

POE will be the first US airport you land at after taking off from Frankfurt or Munich or Berlin.

unless you preclear at https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance

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Thank tou very much!

I stupidly didn't realize that of course I'd have to get a direct flight from Germany (or any other country) to the US. Whoops.

(Usually my flights went through other countries first. It makes sense that that won't be an option.)

Your POE is the first place you land in the US (unless you get a preclearance airport which is another story, but rare). So if you get a direct flight from Germany to LAX then LAX is your POE. If you first stop in NYC, however, then NYC will be your POE. After that you will be "in" the US and move to a domestic flight to go on to LA.

For many people, there aren't any international airports near where they live, so their POE will certainly not be their final destination. Hope that clears it up.

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Thank you so much! This makes it a lot clearer!

[NikLR 13,227]

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My apologies. I didn't mean to "hijack" anyone's thread.

I'll be more careful before asking questions now and return to mostly reading rather than posting.

Didn't mean to offend anyone or derail a thread or make this more work for you by having to turn it into it's own thread.

Thank you.

It's really not a lot of effort. Generally speaking we like people to make their own posts on a subject, even if it's related to the original question; unless it's an obvious monthly filers thread or general chatting type. It just helps the original poster figure out what is related to them and what is not. have a nice day!

[B&Z 201]

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Thank tou very much!

I stupidly didn't realize that of course I'd have to get a direct flight from Germany (or any other country) to the US. Whoops.

(Usually my flights went through other countries first. It makes sense that that won't be an option.)

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Thank you so much! This makes it a lot clearer!

Flying through other countries to the US is an option, just depends on what flight you book. Even if you have a flight from Germany to France to Toronto to LAX, your POE would be Toronto because CBP does pre-clearance there. It doesn't matter how many flights you have. You can have a direct flight, or you can have 5 connections/layovers if you want, your POE will just simply be wherever you land FIRST in the US or at one of the pre-clearance locations on the list.

[KierenHby 899]

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Thank tou very much!

I stupidly didn't realize that of course I'd have to get a direct flight from Germany (or any other country) to the US. Whoops.

(Usually my flights went through other countries first. It makes sense that that won't be an option.)

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No, there is NO such requirement. You have the option to choose what works best for you.

1. Say you fly Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Los Angeles, then LAX will be your POE.

2. Or if you fly Munich to New York-JFK.. then to Los Angeles. In that scenario, your POE will be New York where you must clear Immigration and Customs. Only after that you get to take a domestic flight onwards to LAX.

[Kuegs 5]

Oh, I see! Thanks for the clarification and all the help.

Much appreciated.

So many things to consider beyond "just" getting the visa application on the way...

[Kuegs 5]

It's really not a lot of effort. Generally speaking we like people to make their own posts on a subject, even if it's related to the original question; unless it's an obvious monthly filers thread or general chatting type. It just helps the original poster figure out what is related to them and what is not. have a nice day!

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Thanks! I'll do better in the future.

I'm stil a complete novice to this forum and learning my way around.