Entry to USA

[_TheTraveller_]

Well I know that for a fact that you can be on both a VWP and Visa at the same time. However, it is at the discretion of the officer to determine what is the purpose of your visit and allow you on either methods. I was reading in another sub-forum on AFF, apparently there is a 'Australian' at immigration, is this correct?

 

[RooFlyer]

Well I know that for a fact that you be on both a VWP and Visa at the same time. However, it is at the discretion of the officer to determine what is the purpose of your visit and allow you on either methods. I was reading in another sub-forum on AFF, apparently there is a 'Australian' at immigration, is this correct?

I noted that at US immigration pre-clearance in Calgary, last week, I got an (American) chap who put on his best Aussie accent for me and encouraged me to say 'I hate Fosters' when having my picture taken ... if that's what you are talking about.

 

[FlyboyAl]

OK, here is yesterdays experience after arriving on QF11 into LAX
We came off the flight and arrived into the immigration area with lots of staff calling "ESTA this way". So we went "that way". It put us into a queue (sorry, a line!). While in the line, a guy kept calling for anyone with a "new passport" to come forward. This was clarified with a question if the passenger had ever been to the US before. They were sent in another direction to the normal immigration checkpoint. We waited in the line and were both directed to one kiosk ("please use one kiosk per family"). So we did that - put in the passport, answered all the questions with NO, then did the finger prints,then did the other passport with the same responses - probably took 3 minutes per passport. So far all is good.
The kiosk put out 2 tickets with our photos on it, so we headed for the EXIT line, only to be met by a woman who looked at our tickets, said "ESTA", and pointed us to ANOTHER bloody line.
We then waited here for another 6-8 minutes to be processed through a normal immigration checkpoint with fingerprints, photo, questions etc, and then we were sent on our way.
Total bloody waste of time using the kiosk, yet we could see others going straight out the exit line from the kiosks.
I'd also say that the woman who "processed" us was the most unhappy, miserable, sour individual we have EVER had on arrival into LAX.
On the upside, our rental buss arrived just as we arrived to the pickup area, so that was something good.

In hindsight, all I can say is that the new system is just an excuse to have MORE staff wandering around looking like they are doing something, but they are actually doing bugger all.

Others may have different experiences, but ours was NOT a positive one!

 

[_TheTraveller_]

OK, here is yesterdays experience after arriving on QF11 into LAX
We came off the flight and arrived into the immigration area with lots of staff calling "ESTA this way". So we went "that way". It put us into a queue (sorry, a line!). While in the line, a guy kept calling for anyone with a "new passport" to come forward. This was clarified with a question if the passenger had ever been to the US before. They were sent in another direction to the normal immigration checkpoint. We waited in the line and were both directed to one kiosk ("please use one kiosk per family"). So we did that - put in the passport, answered all the questions with NO, then did the finger prints,then did the other passport with the same responses - probably took 3 minutes per passport. So far all is good.
The kiosk put out 2 tickets with our photos on it, so we headed for the EXIT line, only to be met by a woman who looked at our tickets, said "ESTA", and pointed us to ANOTHER bloody line.
We then waited here for another 6-8 minutes to be processed through a normal immigration checkpoint with fingerprints, photo, questions etc, and then we were sent on our way.
Total bloody waste of time using the kiosk, yet we could see others going straight out the exit line from the kiosks.
I'd also say that the woman who "processed" us was the most unhappy, miserable, sour individual we have EVER had on arrival into LAX.
On the upside, our rental buss arrived just as we arrived to the pickup area, so that was something good.

In hindsight, all I can say is that the new system is just an excuse to have MORE staff wandering around looking like they are doing something, but they are actually doing bugger all.

Others may have different experiences, but ours was NOT a positive one!

Interesting, 1 kiosk per family. If my Mrs wasn't an Australian and has a traditional visa, I guess its back to the good ole' long queues?

 

[Kendall Roy]

Is it safe to assume no passport stamps when using the kiosks?

 

[blackcat20]

Is it safe to assume no passport stamps when using the kiosks?

The kiosk gives you a slip to present to an officer who stamps your passport as usual.

 

[Warks]

The kiosk gives you a slip to present to an officer who stamps your passport as usual.

With a gawd-awful photo on it.

 

[blackcat20]

With a gawd-awful photo on it.

It's definitely not the most flattering after 14 hours of travel...

 

[FlyboyAl]

If you only do the kiosk, then no stamp. But if you talk to one of the lovely CBP staff, they reward you with a stamp. And YES, the photo is woeful.

 

[blackcat20]

If you only do the kiosk, then no stamp. But if you talk to one of the lovely CBP staff, they reward you with a stamp. And YES, the photo is woeful.

We got sent with our photo slip to an officer who stamped our passports...

 

[SamR]

OK, here is yesterdays experience after arriving on QF11 into LAX ...

Yikes. Good to know. I'm on QF11 tomorrow. I'll let you know if it's any different for us.

Just out of interest, what class were you flying?

 

[JohnM]

We got sent with our photo slip to an officer who stamped our passports...

Yes, you definitely get your PP stamped. It all went so smoothly for me at DFW that I don't remember just when it was stamped, but it was. Must have been just after the kiosk before collecting my bag.

 

[FlyboyAl]

Yikes. Good to know. I'm on QF11 tomorrow. I'll let you know if it's any different for us.

Just out of interest, what class were you flying?

We were PE, but it made no difference.

 

[aaflyer]

OK, here is yesterdays experience after arriving on QF11 into LAX
We came off the flight and arrived into the immigration area with lots of staff calling "ESTA this way". So we went "that way". It put us into a queue (sorry, a line!). While in the line, a guy kept calling for anyone with a "new passport" to come forward. This was clarified with a question if the passenger had ever been to the US before. They were sent in another direction to the normal immigration checkpoint. We waited in the line and were both directed to one kiosk ("please use one kiosk per family"). So we did that - put in the passport, answered all the questions with NO, then did the finger prints,then did the other passport with the same responses - probably took 3 minutes per passport. So far all is good.
The kiosk put out 2 tickets with our photos on it, so we headed for the EXIT line, only to be met by a woman who looked at our tickets, said "ESTA", and pointed us to ANOTHER bloody line.
We then waited here for another 6-8 minutes to be processed through a normal immigration checkpoint with fingerprints, photo, questions etc, and then we were sent on our way.
Total bloody waste of time using the kiosk, yet we could see others going straight out the exit line from the kiosks.
I'd also say that the woman who "processed" us was the most unhappy, miserable, sour individual we have EVER had on arrival into LAX.
On the upside, our rental buss arrived just as we arrived to the pickup area, so that was something good.

In hindsight, all I can say is that the new system is just an excuse to have MORE staff wandering around looking like they are doing something, but they are actually doing bugger all.

Others may have different experiences, but ours was NOT a positive one!

I used the Kiosk on the 8th of November in TBIT and I was landside within 15 minutes, including collecting luggage. Was simply amazing.

I also used it in CLT yesterday. Different experience. I was directed to a queue which went around a corner out of sight. There was a sign with 'US Citizens' pointing one side, and 'all others' to the other. I went down that to realise that was directing any non-US citizens to an agent, and the US citizens to the Global Entry *and* these new Kiosks. I just jumped under a baricade and used the machine. The man processing my slip didn't ask anything.

Way to go USA. Implement a system people want to use, then don't let them use it.

 

[aaflyer]

If you only do the kiosk, then no stamp. But if you talk to one of the lovely CBP staff, they reward you with a stamp. And YES, the photo is woeful.

You will always get a stamp in your passport. You get your slip, you're directed to an officer, and they stamp your passport. I have two this week.

 

[SamR]

Welp. We came off QF11 yesterday. Our experience was much the same as yours, what with the staff pointing out lines for ESTA, kiosks, etc, but I didn't view it as negative at all. I found it quite civilized and the directions were clear and easy to follow. My partner (the notorious nervous traveller on his first international trip) survived it all and wasn't freaked out, which I think is a good litmus test. We skipped the kiosk and went straight to an officer, were dealt with quickly and on our way to baggage collection. She was not the jolliest girl in the world, but her demeanor was pretty much the same as most other immigration officers I've encountered in the US. There were at least two other flights being processed at the same time, but we were still landside and inside the car in less than half an hour. I was pretty impressed.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Welp. We came off QF11 yesterday. Our experience was much the same as yours, what with the staff pointing out lines for ESTA, kiosks, etc, but I didn't view it as negative at all. I found it quite civilized and the directions were clear and easy to follow. My partner (the notorious nervous traveller on his first international trip) survived it all and wasn't freaked out, which I think is a good litmus test.

We skipped the kiosk and went straight to an officer, were dealt with quickly and on our way to baggage collection. She was not the jolliest girl in the world, but her demeanor was pretty much the same as most other immigration officers I've encountered in the US. There were at least two other flights being processed at the same time, but we were still landside and inside the car in less than half an hour. I was pretty impressed.

That's great news. I remember one of your posts about the nervous partner so glad it was a breeze for you & helped kick your holiday off to a good start.

At least when you depart the US there's no outwards customs so you've only got TSA to contend with.

 

[SamR]

That's great news. I remember one of your posts about the nervous partner so glad it was a breeze for you & helped kick your holiday off to a good start.

At least when you depart the US there's no outwards customs so you've only got TSA to contend with.

Yeah. And by the time we do that he'll have done two other domestic flights, so he'll be an old hand. The anxiety leading up to the trip was far worse than anything he actually encountered. I thought it might be like that. So far he's loving the US - and he's only seen Hollywood Blvd around Hollywood and Highland. And he's an avowed anti-tourist!

 

[legroom]

Strange

Got off QF93 on Nov 6th at LA and got directed to a line for a normal "human" processing.

No Q or direction to any kiosk whatsoever !

Oz passport / ESTA / F Pax

FWIW, only 20 min from exit to street - with no kiosk.

Welp. We came off QF11 yesterday. Our experience was much the same as yours, what with the staff pointing out lines for ESTA, kiosks, etc, but I didn't view it as negative at all. I found it quite civilized and the directions were clear and easy to follow. My partner (the notorious nervous traveller on his first international trip) survived it all and wasn't freaked out, which I think is a good litmus test. We skipped the kiosk and went straight to an officer, were dealt with quickly and on our way to baggage collection. She was not the jolliest girl in the world, but her demeanor was pretty much the same as most other immigration officers I've encountered in the US. There were at least two other flights being processed at the same time, but we were still landside and inside the car in less than half an hour. I was pretty impressed.

 

[serfty]

... it can be like that ...