arrival in USA airport

[speleopower 1]

I am have been looking for an answer to an easy question but have not found a definitive answer.

 

My fiancee has her visa and unopened visa package.  We are buying airline tickets for her to arrive in the USA very soon.  This is a flight from China-Seoul-then first landing in USA is Atlanta for a short layover before the flight to Orlando.

 

My question is will she go through the entry process at Atlanta during the short layover or will she go through the entry process at Orlando (i.e. final destination)?

 

I am assuming she will be going through the final entry process in Orlando since that is where she will actually enter into the United States (i.e. leave the airline terminal).

 

Thanks-Scott

[payxibka 10,045]

5 minutes ago, speleopower said:

I am have been looking for an answer to an easy question but have not found a definitive answer.

 

My fiancee has her visa and unopened visa package.  We are buying airline tickets for her to arrive in the USA very soon.  This is a flight from China-Seoul-then first landing in USA is Atlanta for a short layover before the flight to Orlando.

 

My question is will she go through the entry process at Atlanta during the short layover or will she go through the entry process at Orlando (i.e. final destination)?

 

I am assuming she will be going through the final entry process in Orlando since that is where she will actually enter into the United States (i.e. leave the airline terminal).

 

Thanks-Scott

First us airport.  It’s not about leaving the terminal.  The USA does not have international transit areas like other countries.her second flight is domestic and she would get mixed in with other domestic passengers 

Edited May 17, 2018 by payxibka

[geowrian 22,337]

She will go through immigration first thing when she lands in Atlanta.

Not all final destination airports even have immigration or international flights.

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

She will process through immigration in Atlanta.  I would recommend a few hours layover before her flight to Orlando.  Atlanta is a busy airport.

[Enigma11561 336]

Everything will take place in Atlanta. That is your port of entry. As above, after that it is a domestic flight to Orlando. You said a short layover. How short? Make sure you give yourself enough time to be processed..Took my wife about one hour. but it could take longer if many people are arriving at the same time.

[Paul & Marina 53]

Have you thought about just driving to ATL, it's about a 6 hour drive.

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

Upon my wife's point of entry (POE), she had a 3.5 hour layover in Miami before her next flight to Dallas. The initial inspection took 3 hours and 10 minutes and she barely had enough time to make it to the gate for her next flight. Give yourself plenty of time. Also consider the suggestion above about driving to Atlanta to pick her up, especially as a back up plan.

 

Also, is she proficient in English? If not, wandering around a huge airport like Atlanta can be pretty overwhelming.

[Alabamak1 688]

21 minutes ago, Russ&Caro said:

Upon my wife's point of entry (POE), she had a 3.5 hour layover in Miami before her next flight to Dallas. The initial inspection took 3 hours and 10 minutes and she barely had enough time to make it to the gate for her next flight. Give yourself plenty of time. Also consider the suggestion above about driving to Atlanta to pick her up, especially as a back up plan.

 

Also, is she proficient in English? If not, wandering around a huge airport like Atlanta can be pretty overwhelming.

I gave a phone to my fiance with a international SIM. Yes, ATL is a nightmare on its own. Gave her specific instructions, since i know the airport. She can still get lost, because she is not a native english speaking person. For all the good things and bad things, that can and will happen. I am driving the 4 hours to pick her up. Period. 

 

[speleopower 1]

Ok.  Maybe I should make the drive to Atlanta.  Yes, she speaks and reads English quite well and has travelled overseas a few times.  The layover is about 2 hour 40 minutes with an arrival time of about 7:00pm.

[Alabamak1 688]

Just now, speleopower said:

Ok.  Maybe I should make the drive to Atlanta.  Yes, she speaks and reads English quite well and has travelled overseas a few times.  The layover is about 2 hour 40 minutes with an arrival time of about 7:00pm.

check what flights land the day she gets here, but it is almost summer and people are traveling from many places into the US. I would say drive to ATL and pick her up.

[speleopower 1]

I was planning on going to Shenzhen for vacation this summer and fly back with her.  Unfortuantely my father had a major medical issue last week and I have cancelled all travel plans for the next 6 months/year. (agressive brain cancer)

She will have to find her way through the airport....;-)

I did find a set of tickets that would land her at Los Angles at about 5pm on a Monday.  With a 4 hour 40 minute layover before catching the flight to Orlando.  Plus there is many people speaking Mandarin at the LA airport.

  

Would 4 hours 40 minutes be enough time in LA?

[geowrian 22,337]

That sounds perfectly fine. Obviously there's no guarantee, but 4+ hours is usually reasonable for your entry on an immigrant visa or K-1.

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from "K-1 fiancé visa process and procedures" to "moving to the USA" - question about POE procedures*~*~*

[Loren Y 2,755]

I would go for LAX as the point of entry. Atlanta has the most flight traffic of any airport in the USA, but the majority of it is domestic flights. Yes they do some international, but I doubt anywhere near as many as LAX. Plus like you said, next to San Fransisco LAX will have the most Mandarin speaking employees on the west coast. Also the fact that they have probably 10 times the K1 visas come thru LAX than Atlanta, the CBP is probably very experienced in handling K1 visas. The only downside is you wouldn't be able to meet her at POE, unless you fly to meet her. LAX is a big airport too, and it will involve changing terminals, but that will be the same case at Atlanta. Either airport is about the same in difficulty in navigation, but I would lean towards LAX as POE. That is where I will bring my Fiancee thru when we get our visa in the next year if lucky the way things are processing...LOL.

Edited May 18, 2018 by Loren Y

[bakphx1 789]

I recently arrived with my husband in LAX and they made me go through the non citizen line with him.  It took three hours and that's with him having a green card and no questions.  I would just plan to leave the next day.