Eligibility/Experiences with immigration kiosks at US airports

[anna2103]

Am flying into the US in the next few weeks at one of the airports where they have the kiosks. I have read ( I think) somewhere that Aus visitors can use these kiosks if they have an ETSA and been to the US before - which of course you need.

This sounds a bit too good to be true - any knowledge, previous experience? Thanks

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Automated Passport Control (APC) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

 

[Dr_Fliptop]

Interesting - I'm going through LAX in a couple of weeks & meet the criteria - will give it a try.

 

[serfty]

Just make sure you keep your fingers together when doing the print scan (not tightly).

 

[Denali]

We used the kiosks about 3 weeks ago - the staff at the machines asked us if we had entered the US with our current passport previously, I said yes so she said use the kiosks.

Our next trip I will have a new passport so Im guessing I have to go old school and use the counter.

BTW. Considering both hubby and I had fingerprint issues with the machine and we were one of the firsts off the plane, it would have been faster to use the counter.

 

[opusman]

The website doesn't say it had to be the same passport - just that you must have entered the US at least once since 2008 (presumably when they started capturing biometrics).

 

[JMFK]

The queues are still pretty knarly!

Doesn't really seem that much quicker to me. And you still get questioned at the exit which makes me ask what the point is?

 

[Per_Travels]

Agreed - I went through DFW a couple of days ago. There was no queue for a kiosk (but then I've never had much queing there in the past), then all the ESTA people were directed to a set of immigration officials after baggage collection who asked the usual questions and stamped our passports. As you say, not sure what the point is.

 

[Denali]

Doesn't really seem that much quicker to me. And you still get questioned at the exit which makes me ask what the point is?

Yes, totally agree.

Although it was interesting being given a Bruce Lee questionnaire (Seattle/our next stop related) before being allowed to enter the country (Bruce Lee's first training centre opened in Seattle and he and his son is buried there). The guy was very serious about his "Who is buried in Seattle" question as our answer of Jimi Hendrix was not the answer he wanted and he told us to try again.

 

[get me outta here]

I was first off the plane at LAX about 24 hours ago and went straight to the kiosk and went through that OK, but had a big cross on the reciept so had to queue up in the normal queue anyway to have the finger scan and photo done again. Moral, is that if you are first off and there's no one waiting, go straight to the person and not the kiosk.

 

[JMFK]

Yes, totally agree.

Although it was interesting being given a Bruce Lee questionnaire (Seattle/our next stop related) before being allowed to enter the country (Bruce Lee's first training centre opened in Seattle and he and his son is buried there). The guy was very serious about his "Who is buried in Seattle" question as our answer of Jimi Hendrix was not the answer he wanted and he told us to try again.

I always take the soup naz_ approach.

Better safe than shot.

 

[juddles]

I am very surprised with the experiences shared here. Last month I arrived at Miami and went via the counter (due to ignorance of existence of kiosks). The queue took 55 minutes. A week later I went through and used the kiosk - less than 10 minutes plane to curbside!! I love the kiosks.

 

[TheRealTMA]

We used the kiosks about 3 weeks ago - the staff at the machines asked us if we had entered the US with our current passport previously, I said yes so she said use the kiosks.

Our next trip I will have a new passport so Im guessing I have to go old school and use the counter.

BTW. Considering both hubby and I had fingerprint issues with the machine and we were one of the firsts off the plane, it would have been faster to use the counter.

In Seattle this week we used the kiosks since we had same passport and ESDA used previously. Signs said if new passport or new ESDA go to manual clearance queue.

 

[JMFK]

I am very surprised with the experiences shared here. Last month I arrived at Miami and went via the counter (due to ignorance of existence of kiosks). The queue took 55 minutes. A week later I went through and used the kiosk - less than 10 minutes plane to curbside!! I love the kiosks.

I've not flown through MIA, but LAX with those 3 or 4 Qantas flights arriving at pretty much the same time was tough!

 

[Denali]

I've not flown through MIA, but LAX with those 3 or 4 Qantas flights arriving at pretty much the same time was tough!

Yep. We got there just before the crush but soon noticed the incoming swarm as we were struggling with the fingerprint issue. Longest wait was for luggage, we were curb side in approx. 20mins.

Cant be any worse than Guam about 10yr ago - people were fainting in the queues while waiting.

 

[Jonesaus]

Was at lax last week, I went to the booths, my friend went the other line, he got out a few minutes before me...

 

[RooFlyer]

Agreed - I went through DFW a couple of days ago. There was no queue for a kiosk (but then I've never had much queing there in the past), then all the ESTA people were directed to a set of immigration officials after baggage collection who asked the usual questions and stamped our passports. As you say, not sure what the point is.

I did Dallas (so to speak) a few months ago. Kiosk no problem; no queues (I was in J) - I didn't realise when the photo was being taken, so it had me looking down. Went to baggage and customs - non US citizen queue (ESTA) much shorter than US one, handed form in, no problems, straight through. No stamp.

 

[mannej]

I did Dallas (so to speak) a few months ago. Kiosk no problem; no queues (I was in J) - I didn't realise when the photo was being taken, so it had me looking down. Went to baggage and customs - non US citizen queue (ESTA) much shorter than US one, handed form in, no problems, straight through. No stamp.

Glad your name isn't Debbie!

 

[anna2103]

SO the issue seems to be whether you are allowed to use it if you have been to the US since 2008, but this is a new ETSA you are travelling on. Urghh. might just use the normal queue - flying into Houston so hopefully not too many flights at 6.30pm

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yep. We got there just before the crush but soon noticed the incoming swarm as we were struggling with the fingerprint issue. Longest wait was for luggage, we were curb side in approx. 20mins.

Cant be any worse than Guam about 10yr ago - people were fainting in the queues while waiting.

I've been through Customs in Guam twice which would have to be the quickest US Customs anywhere. There is an ESTA queue which hardly anyone uses as the majority of tourists from Japan, Korea & Taiwan use the non-ESTA lanes.

Used the APC system at Oranjestad Airport as you pre-clear US Customs in Aruba (like you do when flying Canada to the US).

I looked at my trip notes that day which went as follows:

1400 Arrive Oranjestad Airport
1405 Complete checkin at AA
1406 Arrive at Aruba Customs queue
1417 Customs agent checks docs
1418 Line up in passport control queue
1425 Customs agent processes us
1427 AUA security
1431 Arr USA pre-clear area got bag
1434 Used automated pp machines
1438 Lined up for processing
1440 CBP official saw us & loved the Aussie ppts
1441 Dropped off bag on AA belt
1442 TSA girl stamped b/pass chkd pp
1445 Finished TSA screening
1450 Arrive VIP Lounge opp gate 8