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Topic: Going through passport control with spouse  (Read 1614 times)

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Going through passport control with spouse
« on: April 21, 2010, 07:37:13 AM »
Hello,
I know this has been asked before, but I'm just hoping for some clarification. Provided that the volcano has chilled out for good, my husband and I are flying to the states on Monday to stay with my parents. How do we handle going through passport control? Do we go through the US line together? The visitors line together? Separately? Can we go up to the desk together? I'm mostly asking for my husband who is very concerned about all of this; all they can really do is send you back to the end of the line, I guess ;)

Thanks!


Re: Going through passport control with spouse
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2010, 07:42:37 AM »
My husband has always gone through the US Citizen line with me, but we always ask the agent standing where the lines form as to which line we should go through. Because we travel with our small child they've always taken us to the shortest line and we've gone to the desk together. This was in San Francisco and it's happened the 3 times we've flown in the last 2 years. The only time we went through seperately (him in the visitor line & me in the US line) was before we were married.

But it's always best to ask first if you can go through together.

Don't forget to do his ESTA registration.


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Re: Going through passport control with spouse
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2010, 07:58:39 AM »
Great! Thanks very much.
He did do his ESTA last Mayish/Junish/Julyish(?) haha. It's good for two years, right?

Thanks again!


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Re: Going through passport control with spouse
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2010, 08:03:12 AM »
Definitely ask the agent directing people to different lines.  We have normally been directed as a family to the Non-resident (long) line.  This last trip to phoenix the guy told us to go to that line because he had to "get his US citizens taken care of first" and then he would come find us and move us over.  He did come back about 15 min later, which was good cause we were still 15-20 people back from the front of the line. 


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Re: Going through passport control with spouse
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2010, 08:39:34 AM »
Ask - of course, but my husband & I went through the US line in March. Seems to be the consistant answer.




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Re: Going through passport control with spouse
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2010, 10:09:32 AM »
It varies by state.  In North Carolina, I know, they will tell you to go through the lines separately or go together in the non-resident line.  They will definitely send you to the back of the other line if you try to go through the US line there. 


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Re: Going through passport control with spouse
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2010, 10:18:33 AM »
It varies by state.  In North Carolina, I know, they will tell you to go through the lines separately or go together in the non-resident line.  They will definitely send you to the back of the other line if you try to go through the US line there. 

This. It entirely depends on the airport and the staff at that particular airport. There is no consistant asnwer.


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Re: Going through passport control with spouse
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2010, 10:31:34 AM »
Last time we went to the US (the first time together since we were married) we couldn't find anyone to ask....so we got in the US line. The guy at the end of the line then directed us to a non-US line together.
When we got there the IO explained it was up to the airlines (that's who the guy on the line works for) which line you went into but they did prefer married couples to go through together so they are aware you were traveling together.
From a Britons perspective it was the quickest and least stressful entrance to the US I've ever had. Very little questioning, it certainly didn't make me feel as though I was being interogated as it has in the past.

Coming into the UK, again they try to put you through the smallest line, which was great when we came back from Turkey on a holiday flight and they allowed me to go with DW in the non-EU line and we were straight through!

So basically, if there is an official stood near the line just explain you are a US citizen married to a UK citizen and ask them
"We don't want our chocolate to get cheesy!"


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Re: Going through passport control with spouse
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2010, 10:54:37 AM »
Thanks for the responses everybody! We're flying straight into Las Vegas. Any time I've flown from the UK to Las Vegas I've had a connecting flight in Chicago, so have never gone through passport control in LV. We leave on Monday and are beyond happy that we can, for the time being!, actually go, thanks to the volcano chilling out.

Thanks again!


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