US Transit

[turtlemichael]

I'll be transiting through DFW for 3 hours later this week on the way from Mexico to Canada. I understand I have to fill out (another ) I-94W .

As to destination address do I put my Canadian hotel or "in transit"? Logic tells me its the latter but I have a sneaking recollection of some discussion on this which I now can't find and I do not want to upset those lovely US immigration folk. :shock:

 

[v8Statesman]

God love the american folk (No one else does!)

Why can't air-side in transit be delt with just like any other country!

 

[N860CR]

I did it a few weeks ago. The correct wording is "In Transit to Vancouver, Canada" (or whatever). That's what I was told and it worked for me.

Still didn't stop the stupid questions: "What are you doing in the UK?", "Why did you pick this route?", "Why do you have an Indonesian Visa here?", "What are you doing in China?", "Why have you been to Bangkok three times?"

Sorry to post in a post, but does anyone have any experience with how many times the US will issue a visa waiver before getting a bit unhappy about it? I had one issued in April when I was in HNL for a week, another a few weeks ago on a transit, there will be another in November when I go to SFO then another a few days later when I go to YVR and then reenter the states. Likely to cause a problem or is 4 in a year ok?

 

[MelUser]

I have a relative who lives part of the year in the US and part of the year in Australia and he says each time you simply subject yourself to more and more questioning (dependent on the person). I don't think there is a limit for entries into USA.

3 years ago I was in Canada which meant 1 form to Canada via LAX - 1 form to visit Alaska - 1 form to visit nth west and 1 form back to Australia via SFO and this didn't cause concerns. They did want money where it wasn't prepaid as part of plane ticket although I got this waived into Alaska.

I was told that if I tell the departing airline that I'm coming back in a few days time and to please leave the green stub stapled in passport that I wouldn't have to do the whole procedure again on reentry - ie that if I only let airline remove after final exit from US I don't have to keep redoing it. I never got to try this out.

Also, I have had relatives travelling to Australia who have been questioned for 1 hour by our inbound passport control. It seems that Australia's obsession with keeping people out who might be looking for clandestine work is far greater than that of the USA.

 

[simongr]

I am averaging 3 trips to/through the US a year for the past three years. I have had no issues with the I94 nor with questioning on arrival. Most of teh time I am on business and the most extensive questioning was:

Purpose of visit
Who do you work for
What do you do
Why do you need to come to the US

My most recent trip was for a vacation with mrssimongr and again no immigration issues - in fact as we were very quick off the aircraft we only queued for 5 mins (max) to get through immigration.

 

[turtlemichael]

I was told that if I tell the departing airline that I'm coming back in a few days time and to please leave the green stub stapled in passport that I wouldn't have to do the whole procedure again on reentry - ie that if I only let airline remove after final exit from US I don't have to keep redoing it. I never got to try this out.

To get to Mexico I travelled SFO-DFW-MEX, DFW being a transit. On check-in in SFO the AAgent told me the same thing. He left the green stub in my passport. However, on boarding in DFW the FA was having none of that. She told me I was leaving the country albeit for just a few days, but she had to take the stub. So if what you suggest is true, a lot don't know it.

My plan takes me in and out of the US 3 times in 11 days so I guess I'll find out how amenable they are. Ahh, the delights of a DONE4.

Thanks to danielribo on the I-94W wording.

 

[simongr]

To get to Mexico I travelled SFO-DFW-MEX, DFW being a transit. On check-in in SFO the AAgent told me the same thing. He left the green stub in my passport. However, on boarding in DFW the FA was having none of that. She told me I was leaving the country albeit for just a few days, but she had to take the stub. So if what you suggest is true, a lot don't know it.

I would advise just filling the form in multiple times - you are going to have to go through immigration every time and the last thing you want is some immigration agent taking issue with you not having recorded your last departure.

The form takes about 2 mins to fill in on board your flight so why not just take teh path of least resistance?

 

[comint]

Last month I crossed the US-Canada border, and then returned a few days later Canada-US. The I-94W stub was not removed from my passport.

On re-entering the US, my processing time was comparatively simplified as I was not re-photographed, finger printed nor "stamp, stamp, stamp"ed, plus I didn't need to fill out a new I-94W.

The only form I received was after processing, asking me to rate my experience with US customs/border formalities and the staff I had encountered. Very professional I thought.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

I did it a few weeks ago. The correct wording is "In Transit to Vancouver, Canada" (or whatever). That's what I was told and it worked for me.

Still didn't stop the stupid questions: "What are you doing in the UK?", "Why did you pick this route?", "Why do you have an Indonesian Visa here?", "What are you doing in China?", "Why have you been to Bangkok three times?"

Sorry to post in a post, but does anyone have any experience with how many times the US will issue a visa waiver before getting a bit unhappy about it? I had one issued in April when I was in HNL for a week, another a few weeks ago on a transit, there will be another in November when I go to SFO then another a few days later when I go to YVR and then reenter the states. Likely to cause a problem or is 4 in a year ok?

I've had several entries to the US in one week, they don't seem to mind. Never mentioned the frequency of my visits.

On the issue of a short transit, an immigration officer once told me to also write the exit flight no on the I94W. Doesn't do any harm.

As for going to Canada from the US, I have walked across the bridge at Niagara Falls a few times. No probs with keeping the green slip in my passport. Everyone seemed happy with this. Also the same when I flew LAX-YVR-LAX a couple of times.

Unless you have some other problems, everything should be fine.

 

[MelUser]

I think though that if you are flying out briefly it is a matter of convincing the airline employee to leave the green stub in passport.

If their brain is embedded with "the green sub must be removed from all passports" then you will have difficulty convincing them otherwise.

I am flying to US on Saturday and have obtained on line authorisation. NB - in one of our party (me!) this was instant - for the other travellers it came back with "Authorisation Pending" - the authorisation came through on these 48 hours later.

Whilst at this stage I will still have to fill out the I94W, apparently from sometime next year, the form may disappear or be abbreviated (as all details have been entered into the pre approval website).