POE and layover times

[vibgyor1111 2]

Just looking at booking tickets for the my family as we relocate back to the states.  My wife will be entering for the first time since getting her visa approved.  Just wondering how long the process is at the POE as I want to make sure that I allow enough time for us to complete the standard procedures without worrying about missing a connecting flight.  TIA

[TNJ17 1,329]

There’s no way of knowing. If you have a layover flight, give it at least 3 hours. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

I think at least 4 hours is best.  Depending on how busy they are it might just take an hour but it is better to be safe and get the most time between flights.  My recollection is that she has to go thru secondary inspection the first time.

 

What POE are you arriving at?

[vibgyor1111 2]

Unsure, but usually we fly through Chicago.  Are any POEs considered better/faster than others.  

[pushbrk 12,822]

15 minutes ago, vibgyor1111 said:

Unsure, but usually we fly through Chicago.  Are any POEs considered better/faster than others.  

No, not really.  It just depends on if a couple wide bodies arrived at the same time.  I like 4 hours but will take 3 if I have to.  No less, UNLESS there is a later flight to the next destination.  The issue is not so much how long the POE will take but that many incoming flights to the US leave/arrive late.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

15 minutes ago, vibgyor1111 said:

Unsure, but usually we fly through Chicago.  Are any POEs considered better/faster than others.  

One POE can vary hugely throughout the day depending on time of day, number of flights arriving etc.

 

bear in mind that apart from immigration, your wife will have to collect her baggage, go through customs,  recheck baggage and probably go through security again..as well as possibly changing terminals. 

 

I’d agree at least 3 hours. Rather risk an hour of surfing free WiFi than risk hassling trying to rebook a missed connection. 

[vibgyor1111 2]

Thanks everyone.  

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

My wife had 3 hours in Miami and just barely caught her connecting flight after running to the gate. She was almost 2 hrs in secondary so that was out of the ordinary.

[redvines 57]

Coming in at the wrong time I've spent about an hour and a half in the queue at SFO just after they changed so that all e-passport holders went through (US citizens or not) the same line, with no secondary. 

 

Then again I've gone through SFO in less than 20 mins (obviously no secondary) after getting off the plane quickly and lucking it so the prior flight arriving had almost completely cleared the queue.