Customs and immigration controls

[jfrosello]

I will fly from Spain to Orlando with 1 intermediate stop in the US. Where will I have to go through the controls?
From my point of view it depends if I book 1 travel with 1 airline (1 travel with 2 "legs"), my first stop in the US must be "in transit" and so I'm not officially entering in the US. In this way I will go through custom and immigration checkpoint upon my arrival in Orlando, and so not excessive worries about critical connection times at my first US stop.
On the other side if I book 2 independent airlines (or 2 independent flights with the same airline -> no 2 "legs" on 1 ticket) I will be officially entering in the US at my first stop and will have to collect my luggage and pass all the controls on the first stop, and no control at all upon my arrival at Orlando

May you confirm (or correct) my ideas?
Thanks

 

[Goofyish]

Not sure, but usually you pass through immigration at your first point of entry in the US, your next flight would then be an internal flight.

 

[Steve and Sarah]

You will have to do them at your first stop in the US. We have done this a couple of times and it is always your first thing off the plane.

Think about it as your second flight is basically an internal and therefore you will not have any checks or anything when you arrvie in Orlando. It will be just like getting off a bus - only bigger...

 

[Boo Boo Too]

You will have to do them at your first stop in the US. We have done this a couple of times and it is always your first thing off the plane.

Think about it as your second flight is basically an internal and therefore you will not have any checks or anything when you arrvie in Orlando. It will be just like getting off a bus - only bigger...

This is correct - no matter how many different airlines you fly, you will ALWAYS clear immigration and customs on your first point of entry to the US.

Boo

 

[jfrosello]

Thanks for all your answers for this info, of course that lead me to a second question:
How long may you need to clear all the controls? I assume you will have to get your luggage and check in them again for the next flight? Having all that fuss in mind, how long will you recommend between connecting flights (the one coming from outside US and the internal on to Orlando)?

Thanks again for this info (is something I didn't find a trace in any other place )

 

[heaven2006]

Thanks for the info I had the same doubts... the difference is that I'll depart from Portugal

But i have another question: On our way home, where do we do the immigration? (I'll have one connection in Philadelphia)

 

[edenlee]

We have done this at Dulles airport and I would say you need a good 1 1/2 hours to allow for delays etc.

 

[Goofyish]

Thanks for the info I had the same doubts... the difference is that I'll depart from Portugal

But i have another question: On our way home, where do we do the immigration? (I'll have one connection in Philadelphia)

On the way home you will do the immigration when you arrive back home in Portugal
You don't pass through immigration when you leave a country, only when you enter. You will need to hand back the green waiver form stub, usually at check in, to register that you have left the US.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I think that 1.5 hours is a BARE minimum... I would be a little uncomfortable with that: you need to get to immigration, clear immigration (that could take 10 minutes, could take over an hour... depends on where you sit on the plane, if a jumbo of non-US passengers has just arrived before your plane, whether the immigration officer is a slow, officious little...), reclaim your bags, clear customs, recheck you bags and then get to your new gate (sometimes in s different terminal)...

IF EVERYTHING runs smoothly, an hour and a half would be just about right... if you get held up, you could easily have a problem. Two hours is more comfortable, possibly even three.

There are two main things to be aware of:
- you are better off with a "through ticket" (i.e. both the international and domestic segments being on the same ticket) - if you have one of those and miss your connecting flight, they will put you on the next available flight (although that could be much later or even the following day...). If you have seperate tickets, then you could be in trouble: they may be kind and put you on the next available flight, but you have no rights - they could just say "no, you missed your flight - find your own way to your destination"...
- if hyou have a tight connection, EVEN if you make your connecting flight there is a high risk that your checked baggage may not (since it has to work it's way through the airport baggage system and be loaded onto the plane). So you may not see your checked luggage for a day or two.

Indirect flights are a good way to save money (we often to them and often without through tickets), but it is good to understand the risks.

Quite a few major airports use the new US-Visit exit procedures (http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0006.shtm) - you MAY need to us the before you leave the US. But it depends where you exit the US - you should be told to use it.

Boo