Immigration formalities at SFO

[pn1]

Yesterday (19 June 2019, I arrived at SFO on NZ8.

The immigration formalities took me two hours and 15 minutes. It seemed a very long time.

First there was a long line (queue) for the “visitors” category (I didn’t see any “US citizens”).

Then you go through the electronic passport/visa checking process.

And then have to stay in the line for the entire process to be repeated with an “inspector”.

I’ve always aimed to be formal but polite with US immigration inspectors. Speak clearly and concisely using “I statements” wherever possible. Never say anything without first being asked.

Worked well for me yesterday despite the inspector being officious. Whilst waiting in line I saw this inspector send people to the back of the line for whatever reason. One arrival had tried to show her his hotel booking on his mobile phone. I did see the sign saying no mobile phones at the inspection desk.

Other people were taken away by separate inspectors for further questioning.

Language was clearly an issue in some cases. Despite appearing to be from diverse backgrounds, only English was spoken by the inspectors.

One person had his passport put in a locked satchel before being taken away.

I appreciate things may he different in the current political/security environment but I’m still wondering why the immigration process is done twice; hence this posting.

Paul

 

[FlyboyAl]

We did SFO about 4 weeks ago, and it was a disaster!
Line was over 500M long and slow moving.
we were well over 2 hours and missed our connection down to LAX.
AA were fine, and sorted it out without any hassles, but I was very disappointed at SFO after previous quick experiences.
And as a side note, most the the "officials" stamping passports would have trouble working in an iron lung. They seem to have no perception of "speed" or "service", but then again, I guess it's not their job!!!

 

[blackcat20]

I don’t understand the double processing either; it wasn’t like that when the kiosks first appeared.

 

[FlyboyAl]

I don’t understand the double processing either; it wasn’t like that when the kiosks first appeared.

It's the same at LAX - I guess it means more jobs!

 

[bPeteb]

We're flying into SFO a week on Tuesday on 73. We've been to the States in the last 10 years, have ePassports and our ETSAs. Can we use the kiosks, not that it seems to speed the process like it used to look like it did? Leaving via SFO as well on 74. QF advise to arrive three hours before flight. Does WP and flying J speed the departure process up.

And while I'm asking, we're flying AA J (or F?) from SFO to ORD and on to BOS. I've read somewhere about fastrack security for AA F. Is that the case?

 

[harvyk]

We're flying into SFO a week on Tuesday on 73. We've been to the States in the last 10 years, have ePassports and our ETSAs. Can we use the kiosks, not that it seems to speed the process like it used to look like it did? Leaving via SFO as well on 74. QF advise to arrive three hours before flight. Does WP and flying J speed the departure process up.

And while I'm asking, we're flying AA J (or F?) from SFO to ORD and on to BOS. I've read somewhere about fastrack security for AA F. Is that the case?

Should be no problems using the kiosks, simply use the "Returning ESTA" line to the left.
I usually allow about 2 hours at SFO, that gives me a bit of time to enjoy the CX lounge (and get my noodle soup from the noodle bar), of course YMMV.

 

[Pushka]

Took us around 2 hours a month ago. Many missed connecting flights but they are used to that.

 

[coriander]

We flew into SFO last September on QF49 - 13 minutes from deplaning to kerb. Outstanding.

departing, we arrived at SFO about 2.5 hours before flight (QF50 as WP/J) - it certainly was slower than arrival but it wasn't anything like LAX. QF checkin staff said to use BA lounge, but we elected to visit the CX lounge - brilliant food!

 

[DeKa]

We flew into SFO last September on QF49 - 13 minutes from deplaning to kerb. Outstanding.

departing, we arrived at SFO about 2.5 hours before flight (QF50 as WP/J) - it certainly was slower than arrival but it wasn't anything like LAX. QF checkin staff said to use BA lounge, but we elected to visit the CX lounge - brilliant food!

It was the same for me last September. 15 min from plane to kerb. I couldn’t believe my bag came out first!

 

[pn1]

Some interesting experiences shared. Thank you.

No one seems to know why the same information is collected twice; at the electronic kiosk and then manually by the inspector.

Pail

 

[JohnM]

Double-checking at DFW as well - with b-all inspector booths open. Quite a lot slower than my previous recent DFW arrivals, but at least I was amongst the first off QF7. The line did get very long behind me.

 

[bPeteb]

No one seems to know why the same information is collected twice; at the electronic kiosk and then manually by the inspector.

Is this the issue? Double processing? Is it something that had been introduced everywhere since last year?

 

[blackcat20]

Is this the issue? Double processing? Is it something that had been introduced everywhere since last year?

It’s been my experience for a number of years, haven’t had a kiosk only arrival since 2014.

 

[JohnM]

I’ve had kiosk-only at DFW in recent times, except for once about three years ago when I got the big X and went for full secondary processing as in the sense of the way it was done before kiosks.

The entry on Thursday was different from that. No X, but everyone had to front an agent.

 

[blackcat20]

I’ve had kiosk-only at DFW in recent times, except for once about three years ago when I got the big X and went for full secondary processing as in the sense of the way it was done before kiosks.

The entry on Thursday was different from that. No X, but everyone had to front an agent.

We’re entering via dfw in a few weeks, hopefully not too onerous.

 

[bPeteb]

We flew in yesterday on QF73. Walked off the plane about 2:30 I think, maybe a bit later. We used the 'return ETSA' line, walked straight to a machine, we were in first queue for maybe 10 minutes then directed to another queue for maybe 10 more before being manually processed. I'm sure the guy wanted to be nice but they look like they've been told to show no emotion.

Out to baggage collection in I'd say less than 30 minutes from walking off plane.

My bag was there waiting. Partner's took another 30 minutes. How can a bag take an hour to get to the carousel? His wasn't the only priority tagged bag out in that last lot!

 

[Timtammi]

I had a similar experience arriving on NZ8 about this time last year. Huge queues, seemingly almost random order, double processing ie everyone made to use Kiosk and everyone made to go to an actual agent. It was a zoo. Took us nearly 3 hours to get out. Agents were so rude, they were opening up new queues randomly and several times from behind us so we just got further behind. I spoke to one about being able to go into the faster queue so we wouldnt miss our connection but they could care less and told a flat out no. Missed our connection and had to wait almost 6 hours to fly standby coach to get to Seattle even though we had 1st class tix as all the flights were full. What a nightmare after coming all the way from AU. I have crossed SFO off the list of places to enter to the USA, never again.

 

[jgm]

I had a very long wait at SFO in January which I put down to the budget issues. There were only 5 immigration stations open for at least 3 plane loads of mainly Asian passengers. A lot of those doing the processing appeared to non-immigration type with various different agency logos on their shirts.

One hilarious moment was when one of the officers came to the queue and asked if there was anyone who cound translate Korean.

 

[k_sheep]

Jeepers, you're making me nervous for my trip in August!

I've got a new ESTA - does that mean I can't use the kiosks?

 

[bPeteb]

As I've posted, last week through in 30 minutes. We were on QF74, arriving on a Tuesday, at the gate sometime between 2:30 and 3. Seems delay is dependent on what else has arrived at same time and when you arrive.

If you haven't entered the USA with the same passport you can't use the kiosks. If you have with same passport, and it's just a new ETSA like it was for us, you can.