Atlanta Airport - Returning GC Holder and visiting sister

[Shari 6]

Hello all. My step-son (Daryl, age 20), who is a green card holder, is flying back into the country on Friday after visiting his family in England. His sister, (Cherie, age 17) is on the same flight coming for a one month visit (she still lives with her mother in England). When they arrive in the Atlanta airport will he go through one line and she go through another? Cherie has never flown before and will be nervous enough, so I wanted to find out too if Daryl can still see her or not from where he will be. I assume his entry will go quicker than hers, and I am wondering if he can wait on her. Surely he can wait near the exit. Anyone know about this? Thanks!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Yes, he will go through resident/citizen line, and she in line.

And it is ok to wait near exit.

(for future reference--you DO know about the PFI's @ Dublin and Shannon?)

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

I don't know a reason he can't stand with her in the visitors line, we were told we could do this through Cinci.

[lucyrich 20]

This question comes up often when spouses travel together with different immigration statuses (e. g. US Citizen and alien entering on K-3 or CR-1 visa).

Different airports may have lines separated differently (and they may change the configuration at different times of the day depending on the load). It's very common to have one set of lines for citizens and permanent residents, and another for visitors. They'd be in separate categories if that's the way the lines are segregated, and if they followed the signs.

But they'll nearly always let citizens or permanent residents "downgrade" to the visitors line if that's what the entering person prefers. If they want to stay together, they almost certainly can. There's usually someone helping to direct people to the right line, or perhaps an information desk before you get to the lines. If there's some doubt, they could ask at that point which line is appropriate for them. Or they could just wait together in the visitor's line. The worst possible outcome is that the GC holder will be redirected to wait in the other line, but I really don't think that's likely.

If they do get separated at immigration, they can meet up at the baggage claim in customs. The usual sequence is to go through immigration, where the people are inspected, and then exit immigration to go to baggage claim, to pick up any checked bags, and then to go through customs, where the luggage is inspected (or waved through). After customs, they're fully inside the US. Just beyond the customs exit, there'll be a station to re-check bags that are continuing on connecting flights. That's another potential place for them to meet up.

[Shari 6]

Thanks to everyone that replied. And CherryXS, Delta has a nonstop from Manchester to Atlanta so this was the best route/price for us. But thanks for the info.