Question about immigration and customs processing at POE

[Aiydee 17]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about my spouse's arrival. He has a connecting flight that will be 2 hours after his flight arrives at the POE (Atlanta). 

What is the immigration processing like (he has electronic processing)?

Does it take a long time? (will he likely be done to catch his connecting flight)?

Does he have to go through customs also?

Will he have to get his luggage and check in again? (It's the same airline)

Thanks in advance!

[wbeem 568]

is this your spouse's US entry on his CR1 visa?  Congrats and best wishes!  

Yes, he will have to clear customs at his first port of entry in the US, so he needs to clear customs in Atlanta.  As far as i know the immigrant visa check is not done electronically so it really depends how busy the line is for other people waiting to be processed or see someone in secondary. 

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

He will go through visas line -> they will walk him to a room where they will process him. Then custom is the last for him to deal with. After custom, he can drop off the luggages to connect another flight. At this moment of chaos, he can expect longer wait at processing phase. If he can't make it for connecting flight, they will rebook him another one, no worry. Good luck.

Edited March 20, 2020 by NancyNguyen

[Aiydee 17]

Thanks for your replies, but I also wanted to know if the 2 hour layover is sufficient to get this accomplished before he gets on the next flight?

And if he would have to get his luggage and check back in

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

5 minutes ago, Aiydee said:

Thanks for your replies, but I also wanted to know if the 2 hour layover is sufficient to get this accomplished before he gets on the next flight?

And if he would have to get his luggage and check back in

Can't tell due to health screening and shorted staffs because of this pandemic. And yes, he will have to pick his luggages to clear at custom before dropping them off again for connecting flight.

 

1. Visa line

2. Processing room

3. Pick up luggages

4. Clear Custom

5. Drop off luggages for connecting flight

Edited March 20, 2020 by NancyNguyen

[Aiydee 17]

2 minutes ago, NancyNguyen said:

Can't tell due to health screening and shorted staffs because of this pandemic. And yes, he will have to pick his luggages to clear at custom before dropping them off again for connecting flight.

Oh wow, there's a lot going on so we can only hope! Thanks for clarifying,

2 hours may not be sufficient time to get all that done then.

[NOR2020 10]

The 2 hour layover is not sufficient to get this accomplished before he gets on the next flight. If  it is his lucky day then may be otherwise  2 hours are not enough. Good luck.

 

[SorrowL 138]

It took me a total combined wait of 20 minutes, including waiting in line and secondary processing when I entered on CR1. 10 minutes of which was waiting in line. This was about a month ago.

 

considering the coronavirus, it may or may not take longer. Generally it is suggested to have 2-3 hours for initial entry via CR1.

Edited March 20, 2020 by SorrowL

[pushbrk 12,883]

2 hours ago, Aiydee said:

Thanks for your replies, but I also wanted to know if the 2 hour layover is sufficient to get this accomplished before he gets on the next flight?

And if he would have to get his luggage and check back in

It probably is not.  I would never schedule a connection that slow at a POE even as a US Citizen with Global Entry, UNLESS, there is a later flight the same day, that I can catch if I miss the short connection.  On the other hand, with things as they are now, ANYTHING could happen.  What is his date of travel and routing?

[Aiydee 17]

10 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

It probably is not.  I would never schedule a connection that slow at a POE even as a US Citizen with Global Entry, UNLESS, there is a later flight the same day, that I can catch if I miss the short connection.  On the other hand, with things as they are now, ANYTHING could happen.  What is his date of travel and routing?

Thank you for your response. Flight options are not numerous right now, we had to cancel and move his flight forward because of the Europe and UK restrictions and so have had to chose the flight that was available and those were the layover options. This new flight is in May.

 

Someone said that the airlines are aware of the potential delays in immigration processing and customs and that if he misses his flight, they can put him on the next available one.

 

I sure hope so.

[Aiydee 17]

2 hours ago, SorrowL said:

It took me a total combined wait of 20 minutes, including waiting in line and secondary processing when I entered on CR1. 10 minutes of which was waiting in line. This was about a month ago.

 

considering the coronavirus, it may or may not take longer. Generally it is suggested to have 2-3 hours for initial entry via CR1.

Did you have a connecting flight?

Someone said that the airlines are aware of the potential delays in immigration processing and customs and that if he misses his flight, they can put him on the next available one. I sure hope so.

[SorrowL 138]

1 minute ago, Aiydee said:

Did you have a connecting flight?

Someone said that the airlines are aware of the potential delays in immigration processing and customs and that if he misses his flight, they can put him on the next available one. I sure hope so.

I had a connecting flight. It was 4 hour layover in Detroit (DTW). Spent 3 hours idling at my gate feeling good as a newly admitted resident

[NOR2020 10]

I just talk to some one who landed yesterday at Atlanta airport and he told me that normal waiting time was between 15 to 45 minutes. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

[Aiydee 17]

2 minutes ago, NOR2020 said:

I just talk to some one who landed yesterday at Atlanta airport and he told me that normal waiting time was between 15 to 45 minutes. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Ok, I will . Thanks a lot for your input!

[pushbrk 12,883]

42 minutes ago, Aiydee said:

Thank you for your response. Flight options are not numerous right now, we had to cancel and move his flight forward because of the Europe and UK restrictions and so have had to chose the flight that was available and those were the layover options. This new flight is in May.

 

Someone said that the airlines are aware of the potential delays in immigration processing and customs and that if he misses his flight, they can put him on the next available one.

 

I sure hope so.

Of course they will put him on the next available flight, but it might be the next day.  Usually, they'll take care of the hotel, but the delay is just as real.  With acceptable layovers, I've spent three nights in hotels because of missed international connections.  Sounds like you've done the best you can.  If he misses his connection, it will be dealt with.  Nothing you can do about it in advance now.