Flight to the US via Dublin on immigration visa - US preclearance there?

[hashtagme 29]

Hello

i have my immigration visa and we’re flying to the US end of September. We booked our flights and have a short layover in Dublin.

Now the airline emailed us that US customs and immigration will be done in Dublin since it’s one of the rare airports outside of US that do US preclearance. 

 

We didn’t know this and we have only a short layover there. Will that be a problem? Will they do the whole immigration process/stamp etc right there then? Ill have the package to give to them from the embassy with me of course but I’m afraid it’s gonna take so long that we will miss our connecting flight 

 

[amdublin14 51]

18 minutes ago, hashtagme said:

Hello

i have my immigration visa and we’re flying to the US end of September. We booked our flights and have a short layover in Dublin.

Now the airline emailed us that US customs and immigration will be done in Dublin since it’s one of the rare airports outside of US that do US preclearance. 

 

We didn’t know this and we have only a short layover there. Will that be a problem? Will they do the whole immigration process/stamp etc right there then? Ill have the package to give to them from the embassy with me of course but I’m afraid it’s gonna take so long that we will miss our connecting flight 

 

Interesting, and what airline are you flying with? Yes, if you're going through pre-clearance in Dublin, they will be taking all of your immigration info (x-ray, visa). This way, when you land in the US, you proceed without having to clear customs again.

 

I've never gone through Dublin pre-clearance for a layover flight, only when Dublin was my original departure airport. How long is your layover? US Pre-clearance is typically much faster than normal customs lines (I'm thinking of Heathrow and the nightmare passport control experiences I've had while trying to make a connection). Overall, I don't think it should cause undue delay (hard to predict) but you can always mention this to the airline when you get your boarding class, as well as to your flight attendants, so they know your situation and may help you deplane first.

[hashtagme 29]

1 minute ago, amdublin14 said:

Interesting, and what airline are you flying with? Yes, if you're going through pre-clearance in Dublin, they will be taking all of your immigration info (x-ray, visa). This way, when you land in the US, you proceed without having to clear customs again.

 

I've never gone through Dublin pre-clearance for a layover flight, only when Dublin was my original departure airport. How long is your layover? US Pre-clearance is typically much faster than normal customs lines (I'm thinking of Heathrow and the nightmare passport control experiences I've had while trying to make a connection). Overall, I don't think it should cause undue delay (hard to predict) but you can always mention this to the airline when you get your boarding class, as well as to your flight attendants, so they know your situation and may help you deplane first.

Thank you

we are flying with Aer Lingus from Brussels to Dublin and then to Washington. I hope the 1:20 layover is enough but I will talk to everyone and explain the situation. We didn’t know about Dublin doing this.. but we also didn’t ask, so, our mistake. 

[amdublin14 51]

2 minutes ago, hashtagme said:

Thank you

we are flying with Aer Lingus from Brussels to Dublin and then to Washington. I hope the 1:20 layover is enough but I will talk to everyone and explain the situation. We didn’t know about Dublin doing this.. but we also didn’t ask, so, our mistake. 

Ah, yes, I actually think Aer Lingus is the only airline at Dublin to use the US Preclearance (not Ryanair, WOWair, etc...). If your bags are being forwarded and all you need to do is go through preclearance, I think 1:20 is enough time as long as nothing is delayed (the big issue). Definitely alerting the Aer Lingus staff both at the gate and on board is your best option, explaining that your case may take long at CBP. Best of luck, and welcome to the US!

[hashtagme 29]

1 minute ago, amdublin14 said:

Ah, yes, I actually think Aer Lingus is the only airline at Dublin to use the US Preclearance (not Ryanair, WOWair, etc...). If your bags are being forwarded and all you need to do is go through preclearance, I think 1:20 is enough time as long as nothing is delayed (the big issue). Definitely alerting the Aer Lingus staff both at the gate and on board is your best option, explaining that your case may take long at CBP. Best of luck, and welcome to the US!

Thank you!

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

Just to add (and not to scare)..

 

Someone I know very well just flew LHR to DUB to WAS recently via Aer Lingus. They missed their DUB to WAS flight because of couple of issues (gate too far, preclearance confusion, elderly). 

[hashtagme 29]

Just now, WeGuyGal said:

Just to add (and not to scare)..

 

Someone I know very well just flew LHR to DUB to WAS recently via Aer Lingus. They missed their DUB to WAS flight because of couple of issues (gate too far, preclearance confusion, elderly). 

Ok.. we will have to see how it works out.. flights are booked and we can’t change them -we will try our best. Knowing about it now gives us a little time to prepare best and inform everyone that needs to be informed 

[hashtagme 29]

So, if I understand that right they will stamp my passport in Dublin already with which is basically the green card (before plastic one arrives) right?

[amdublin14 51]

15 minutes ago, hashtagme said:

Ok.. we will have to see how it works out.. flights are booked and we can’t change them -we will try our best. Knowing about it now gives us a little time to prepare best and inform everyone that needs to be informed 

Just spoke with my husband who went through preclearance in April and he said it "took ages" (he means about an hour). If you are unable to change your flights, then it really is a case of hoping the staff can help and getting you off the plane asap.

 

From my understanding, yes, they will stamp your passport in Dublin--it is exactly like going through customs in the US, so once you're through Dublin, you're in the clear.

[hashtagme 29]

Just now, amdublin14 said:

Just spoke with my husband who went through preclearance in April and he said it "took ages" (he means about an hour). If you are unable to change your flights, then it really is a case of hoping the staff can help and getting you off the plane asap.

 

From my understanding, yes, they will stamp your passport in Dublin--it is exactly like going through customs in the US, so once you're through Dublin, you're in the clear.

Ok thank you - we can only hope 

[StuBear65 68]

I am pre clearing through Dublin at the beginning of October, but I am staying in Dublin for a couple of days beforehand. It'll be interesting to hear how you get on.

 

I hope it goes well for you.

[hashtagme 29]

Just now, StuBear65 said:

I am pre clearing through Dublin at the beginning of October, but I am staying in Dublin for a couple of days beforehand. It'll be interesting to hear how you get on.

 

I hope it goes well for you.

Thank you! Same for you and I will be reporting how it went

[Mr&Mrs G. 903]

I will be heading out on the 18th September flying into Dulles. I phoned them today and they said I would just have to talk to a border officer for about 15 minutes to go through my immigration packet. Three days currently packing our apartment up, our household stuff is going by cargo ship. 

 

I live in Dublin and regularly use preclearence at Dublin airport. It is in the newer terminal 2 which is really nice with plenty of shopping and bars/places to eat. When it gets near your flight time you will see it up on the board to proceed to US preclearence. You will go through the whole take your shoes off baggage check a second time but they move you along very quickly. Not much after preclearence, maybe one shop for coffee or a sandwich so don't head down too early expecting a big waiting area, they try to bring people down according to their flight time. If you feel you are running late let them know and show your immigration packet and they will move you through quicker.

 

It is much better to enter the US through Dublin, staff much more relaxed than the crazy busy airports in the US. They just seem to enjoy their jobs more and are generally in a really good mood. 

[hashtagme 29]

1 minute ago, Mr&Mrs G. said:

I will be heading out on the 18th September flying into Dulles. I phoned them today and they said I would just have to talk to a border officer for about 15 minutes to go through my immigration packet. Three days currently packing our apartment up, our household stuff is going by cargo ship. 

 

I live in Dublin and regularly use preclearence at Dublin airport. It is in the newer terminal 2 which is really nice with plenty of shopping and bars/places to eat. When it gets near your flight time you will see it up on the board to proceed to US preclearence. You will go through the whole take your shoes off baggage check a second time but they move you along very quickly. Not much after preclearence, maybe one shop for coffee or a sandwich so don't head down too early expecting a big waiting area, they try to bring people down according to their flight time. If you feel you are running late let them know and show your immigration packet and they will move you through quicker.

 

It is much better to enter the US through Dublin, staff much more relaxed than the crazy busy airports in the US. They just seem to enjoy their jobs more and are generally in a really good mood. 

Thank you so much! We will see how everything goes.. staying positive  

Good luck to you!

[JFH 12,191]

16 hours ago, amdublin14 said:

Ah, yes, I actually think Aer Lingus is the only airline at Dublin to use the US Preclearance (not Ryanair, WOWair, etc...). If your bags are being forwarded and all you need to do is go through preclearance, I think 1:20 is enough time as long as nothing is delayed (the big issue). Definitely alerting the Aer Lingus staff both at the gate and on board is your best option, explaining that your case may take long at CBP. Best of luck, and welcome to the US!

Not true that it’s only Aer Lingus. All US-bound flights from Dublin use pre-clearance - Delta, United and American as well as Aer Lingus. 

 

If the flights are on a through ticket then you will be fine. I would only be concerned if you had two separate tickets. People do the BRU - DUB - IAD with Aer Lingus every day with that same connection. It wouldn’t be offered if it wasn’t possible. 

 

I’ve used DUB pre-clearance many times. Always been a breeze.