K1 entry - Time with US Customs officer

[IanD 6]

Hey everyone.

 

From what I understood, once I enter the US, I'll have to deliver the sealed packet so they can review the documents for one last screening before I'm allowed in.

 

My question is how long does that usually take? I'm looking for plane tickets right now, and I wanted to know how far apart I should book the connecting flights.

 

The one I'm looking at currently has a 9h wait between connecting flights, so I was wondering if that would be enough.

 

Thanks in advance!

[SalishSea 17,833]

21 minutes ago, IanD said:

Hey everyone.

 

From what I understood, once I enter the US, I'll have to deliver the sealed packet so they can review the documents for one last screening before I'm allowed in.

 

My question is how long does that usually take? I'm looking for plane tickets right now, and I wanted to know how far apart I should book the connecting flights.

 

The one I'm looking at currently has a 9h wait between connecting flights, so I was wondering if that would be enough.

 

Thanks in advance!

LOL.  Yes, one would hope 9 hours would be enough.  Even half that, at most.  I think the K-1 processing at POE usually takes < one hour for most.  The unknown is the timeline of other connecting flights/TSA lines etc.

[mc962 55]

As mentioned, you should factor in the rest of the factors for Port of Entry (e.g., connecting at Atlanta, GA might just require more time to deal with distance/difficulties with the airport itself compared to a less-busy Port of Entry) .

 

I'd also just make sure you have enough time, in case there are a lot of people that need extra processing (K1 or otherwise), or they just decide to take longer for whatever reason. And of course, flights do get delayed at times, which could shorten your connection window.

I think 4 hours was a common recommendation in the past for a safe amount of connection time at most airports. Maybe add another hour for Covid (I haven't done international flights since then, but I imagine leaving some time for any new procedures around it wouldn't hurt). And if you plan to travel around the holidays (especially Christmas/New Year), then I'd take that into consideration as well.

 

So in conclusion, I think 9 hours should be enough time. But in the worst-case scenario, you just need to book another domestic flight/have the airline move you to a later flight.

[Lemonslice 4,843]

50 minutes ago, IanD said:

Hey everyone.

 

From what I understood, once I enter the US, I'll have to deliver the sealed packet so they can review the documents for one last screening before I'm allowed in.

 

My question is how long does that usually take? I'm looking for plane tickets right now, and I wanted to know how far apart I should book the connecting flights.

 

The one I'm looking at currently has a 9h wait between connecting flights, so I was wondering if that would be enough.

 

Thanks in advance!

Should be more than enough.  Splurge and get a pass to your airline lounge, or the minute suites - pack a change of clothes to refresh, shower and zzzz.  Bon voyage!

[Rocio0010 5,579]

9 hours should be more than enough. As @Lemonslicesuggested, go ahead and give yourself a treat with those “bedrooms “. I hate that airport, so I would! When I came to the US for the very first time, that was my connecting airport. I had about 2 hours until the next flight, was completely inexperienced in airports . Went through customs and saw that I have about 1 1/2 hours to my next flight. Good, I thought “I’m going to do some window shopping while I walk to the gate!” I didn’t know that you could take a Concorse to the gate! So then I se myself running towards the gate and crying because I knew I wasn’t going to make it. The worst part is that I had to be at a conference and my luggage was gone with the flight I was missing. I did see the signs for “concorse” but somehow I got confused with the word “concord” and so it got ignored. finally I made it to the gate about 1 hour after the plane had left, and I cried at the check in desk like no one can imagine 😂😂😂😂😂

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

Do u have to change airports?  like in NYC sometimes they want you to go from JFK to Newark or La Guardia and that means a long taxi ride?

In Atlanta now you have to wait for the shuttle to take u from international terminal to Domestic and that is a trip in itself

 

So.   naming the airport will come in on would help

 

Looking at your timeline it says Brazil so you probably looking at Miami 

after your landing time 20 minutes to taxi in

about 20 to get the stairs to u to onload

an hour (probably the most to go thru customs)

and then get to connecting flight 

all depends on weather

 

Ft Lauderdale is also an international airport and real easy to do customs

it has several buildings in semi circle to do plane changes and a free bus to take all people from one to another

Edited December 18, 2021 by JeanneAdil

[IanD 6]

5 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Do u have to change airports?  like in NYC sometimes they want you to go from JFK to Newark or La Guardia and that means a long taxi ride?

In Atlanta now you have to wait for the shuttle to take u from international terminal to Domestic and that is a trip in itself

 

So.   naming the airport will come in on would help

 

Looking at your timeline it says Brazil so you probably looking at Miami 

after your landing time 20 minutes to taxi in

about 20 to get the stairs to u to onload

an hour (probably the most to go thru customs)

and then get to connecting flight 

all depends on weather

 

Ft Lauderdale is also an international airport and real easy to do customs

it has several buildings in semi circle to do plane changes and a free bus to take all people from one to another

Hey there!
 

My POE at the US will be DFW in Texas. The connecting flight will be in the same airport as well.

 

There's a train line that takes you to different terminals there, so it shouldn't be an issue.

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

7 minutes ago, IanD said:

Hey there!
 

My POE at the US will be DFW in Texas. The connecting flight will be in the same airport as well.

 

There's a train line that takes you to different terminals there, so it shouldn't be an issue.

then no problem

and Congratulations

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

13 hours ago, IanD said:

Hey everyone.

 

From what I understood, once I enter the US, I'll have to deliver the sealed packet so they can review the documents for one last screening before I'm allowed in.

 

My question is how long does that usually take? I'm looking for plane tickets right now, and I wanted to know how far apart I should book the connecting flights.

 

The one I'm looking at currently has a 9h wait between connecting flights, so I was wondering if that would be enough.

 

Thanks in advance!

more than enough 

[P055UM 281]

14 hours ago, IanD said:

Hey everyone.

 

From what I understood, once I enter the US, I'll have to deliver the sealed packet so they can review the documents for one last screening before I'm allowed in.

 

My question is how long does that usually take? I'm looking for plane tickets right now, and I wanted to know how far apart I should book the connecting flights.

 

The one I'm looking at currently has a 9h wait between connecting flights, so I was wondering if that would be enough.

 

Thanks in advance!

The K1 entry doesn't take a materially longer amount of time than entering as a tourist. Maybe slightly longer as there is a little more paperwork, but we're talking a matter of mere minutes difference, rather than hours.

[Scandi 4,166]

The visa part of it is really quick, they take your fingerprints, ask you ~0-4 questions, look at your passport, stamp it and you hand over the envelope. It takes like 5 minutes for most people. 

 

What can take a lot of time is waiting in line, this all depends on how busy your particular airport is at the time you arrive there. Can't predict this.

[redsail 1]

I flew to her country for interview and took about 5 days to get yellow packet. Landed at Lax and told person directing traffic (showed her my US passport and told her GF had a K1 visa) She said just get i the US citizen lane. We did the ID machine and got a ticket and back to next line. When the officer waved US to his counter I informed him she had a K1-visa. hew processed me then asked for yellow packet and passport. It took 5-7 min and he welcomed her to the US. This was in 2019.