Arriving first time on immigration visa.

[MichaelaH 1]

TL;DR: How much longer does it take for getting through immigration services as first-time arriving immigrant compared to ESTA visitor on arrival to the U.S. airport?

 

Me and my son finally got our immigration visas stamped into our passports and immigration packets handed to us from U.S. Embassy. I'm looking to book us a flight. We will arrive most probably to ORD (Chicago O'Hare) airport, which I know well. I need to book us a connecting flight to our destination, but I'm not sure how much time I need to keep for processing to enter the States when arriving on immigration visa?

 

When we flied on ESTA, we went through queques with all the arriving aliens, which took us typically about 1-2 hrs spent in the waiting lines and a couple minutes talk with immigration officer. I remember there being separate empty lines for Green Card holders - but I am not sure if we count as Green Card holders when we will get the green card mailed only after we arrive to the States? So it could go faster, if we go into Green Card holder line. But also, the immigration packages are kind of bulky, are they going to go through all that paperwork with us? It could go much slower if they do. All together, I may need 1 or 5+ hours for the layover, I have no clue. Any insight and own experiences on first time immigration visa arrival appreciated.

 

Thank you.  

Michaela

[Dashinka 24,649]

Technically you are not a green card holder (LPR) until you actually officially enter the US, so you still need to go through arriving aliens line (next time you can use the other line).  Honestly I would keep your layover 2hrs minimum and probably closer to 3hrs (I am fairly conservative when it come to travel) to get through particularly at O'Hare.  Another option is to look at flights closer to your final destination (we did this for my now wife when she arrived on her K1, flying through Beijing so she could take a direct flight to Detroit).

 

Good Luck!

[appleblossom 2,815]

You won’t be allowed in the green card holder/citizens line usually (we certainly weren’t, at Boston). So you’ll be in the same line as last time as you have a visa. 
 

Once you get seen though, it’s pretty quick. It was maybe 10 minutes for us? 
 

But I’d certainly allow as much time as possible just in case of a flight delay followed by a long wait for immigration. 
 

Good luck. 

[igoyougoduke 1,662]

2 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Technically you are not a green card holder (LPR) until you actually officially enter the US, so you still need to go through arriving aliens line (next time you can use the other line).  Honestly I would keep your layover 2hrs minimum and probably closer to 3hrs (I am fairly conservative when it come to travel) to get through particularly at O'Hare.  Another option is to look at flights closer to your final destination (we did this for my now wife when she arrived on her K1, flying through Beijing so she could take a direct flight to Detroit).

 

Good Luck!

immigrant visa folks can take the permanent resident line.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,471]

I would plan 4 hours.

 

Normal connections are 2 hours, to account for delays, luggage transfer, etc.  4 hours will give you that 2 hour delay window plus however long the immigration line might be.   Normally immigration is only about 10-20 minutes when my wife and I travel, but last July it took over an hour.  We were in the visitor line because we had our nephew with us, who was visiting on his B2.

[appleblossom 2,815]

1 hour ago, igoyougoduke said:

immigrant visa folks can take the permanent resident line.

 

We weren't, we did ask but had to join the visa line. 

[Dashinka 24,649]

24 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

We weren't, we did ask but had to join the visa line. 

Same in Detroit.  Our cousins came on DVs and they were directed to the visitor line.

1 hour ago, igoyougoduke said:

immigrant visa folks can take the permanent resident line.

YMMV unless you have something from CBP showing this.

 

[TexasRafael 135]

Whatever your experience was with Chicago to arrive at the Agent , (where you present your visa and package) was in your prior visits, it will be the same, then add at least one more hour when they take you to their offices, open the package and give you a brief interview, so your 4 hour window seems good.

[MichaelaH 1]

21 minutes ago, TexasRafael said:

Whatever your experience was with Chicago to arrive at the Agent , (where you present your visa and package) was in your prior visits, it will be the same, then add at least one more hour when they take you to their offices, open the package and give you a brief interview, so your 4 hour window seems good.

 

Awesome, thanks!

So, alien line, +1 hour for opening package and in office interview. Good!

[ineedadisplayname 501]

16 hours ago, MichaelaH said:

TL;DR: How much longer does it take for getting through immigration services as first-time arriving immigrant compared to ESTA visitor on arrival to the U.S. airport?

 

Me and my son finally got our immigration visas stamped into our passports and immigration packets handed to us from U.S. Embassy. I'm looking to book us a flight. We will arrive most probably to ORD (Chicago O'Hare) airport, which I know well. I need to book us a connecting flight to our destination, but I'm not sure how much time I need to keep for processing to enter the States when arriving on immigration visa?

 

When we flied on ESTA, we went through queques with all the arriving aliens, which took us typically about 1-2 hrs spent in the waiting lines and a couple minutes talk with immigration officer. I remember there being separate empty lines for Green Card holders - but I am not sure if we count as Green Card holders when we will get the green card mailed only after we arrive to the States? So it could go faster, if we go into Green Card holder line. But also, the immigration packages are kind of bulky, are they going to go through all that paperwork with us? It could go much slower if they do. All together, I may need 1 or 5+ hours for the layover, I have no clue. Any insight and own experiences on first time immigration visa arrival appreciated.

 

Thank you.  

Michaela

Chicago used to have a K visa/other immigrant visa line, but that was a long time ago.

For K1 personal experience it took like 20 minutes. I would say it depends on the officer too. They do open the package, go through some stuff. but nothing major.

It depends on arrival time too.

 

Quote

took us typically about 1-2 hrs spent

Wow, that is a long wait time. When was your last time you entered through Chicago? Even on ESTA I never waited an hour, not even 30 minutes.

 

l am so glad to have global entry. Worth all the money even if I use it once a year.  As a GC holder you can get TSA Pre + Global entry for a $100 that is available for 5 years.

 

[MichaelaH 1]

7 hours ago, ineedadisplayname said:

Chicago used to have a K visa/other immigrant visa line, but that was a long time ago.

For K1 personal experience it took like 20 minutes. I would say it depends on the officer too. They do open the package, go through some stuff. but nothing major.

It depends on arrival time too.

 

Wow, that is a long wait time. When was your last time you entered through Chicago? Even on ESTA I never waited an hour, not even 30 minutes.

 

l am so glad to have global entry. Worth all the money even if I use it once a year.  As a GC holder you can get TSA Pre + Global entry for a $100 that is available for 5 years.

 

 

My arrival time to Chicago falls into afternoon. I'd pick less busy time but my travel takes 2-3 layovers so got to work with what I got. Five times in last 2 years, last time two months ago on the photo. Its always super packed with people. 

 

Global entry sounds cool, I'll find info on that. I'll be flying a lot across atlantic in next several years anyway.  

[Dashinka 24,649]

2 hours ago, MichaelaH said:

 

My arrival time to Chicago falls into afternoon. I'd pick less busy time but my travel takes 2-3 layovers so got to work with what I got. Five times in last 2 years, last time two months ago on the photo. Its always super packed with people. 

 

Global entry sounds cool, I'll find info on that. I'll be flying a lot across atlantic in next several years anyway.  

You show Belleville Ill in your profile.  Does Lufthansa still fly direct to St. Louis from Frankfurt?  Personally I always try my best to avoid Chicago and the NYC area airports when I can.

[MichaelaH 1]

On 10/30/2024 at 11:11 AM, Dashinka said:

You show Belleville Ill in your profile.  Does Lufthansa still fly direct to St. Louis from Frankfurt?  Personally I always try my best to avoid Chicago and the NYC area airports when I can.

 

Wow! Great idea. I found direct flight from Frankfurt to St.Louis 😁 That means St.Louis will be my point of entry and and I don't have to worry about keeping enough time to change flights. Thanks a lot!