Entering together or entering apart

Hi everyone,

My (American) wife and I are going back to her family in New York for Thanksgiving (who'd say no to what amounts to an additional Christmas dinner!?).  However, I've had a bit of conflicting advice about something.  I'm British and I haven't travelled to the US with my wife before and I don't have a US visa (I'd be going under visa waiver), do I have to pass through immigration separately to her (i.e. she goes through US citizens and I go through foreign nationals) or do I go with her to the US citizen line? 

Any experience on this would be greatly appreciated. 

Best,
Shane

It has been my experience that they've let myself (USC) & my husband (UKC) through the same line. HOWEVER, we've always asked the person directing traffic as to which line to go through so it's best to ask and you'll be directed appropriately.

My husband (UKC) and I (USC) have only traveled together to the US once, we went through customs together using the US Citizen line and had no problems at all. However, coming back into the UK we were not able to go through the UK Citizen line together. We got turned around when we reached the Border Control desk. We were directed to the other line for Foreign Citizens. Like WebyJ said it's probably best to ask once you get there.

My (German) husband and I (US citizen) have entered the US together 10+ times, and every time we've just gone through the US citizen queue.  The 'foreign' queue in the US always seems to be miles long and slower than cold molasses. 

The advice above is good, though- it's good to ask, because sometimes (on the US side, anyway) the desks on the US citizen side won't be equipped for all the rigmarole they need to put non-citizens through (eg, they won't have the retina scanners, or the fingerprint taking things).  At Dulles they seem to have installed them at every counter now, so it hasn't been an issue. 

My re-entry into the UK is under different terms than for those of you in US-UK marriages, so my information there isn't applicable to you.  I won't muddle up the thread with it. 

Hope you enjoy your first Thanksgiving!  It's a nice holiday.  Be sure to watch the parade on TV, and/or some NFL football.  oh oh, and Home Alone.  It was always on TV around 7pm, iirc...

I agree with the others-definitely ask the person directing people.

DH(British) and I travel to the US every few months. We're never told the same time. Sometimes in Chicago we're directed to the US line, sometimes to to foreigner line. It just depends on the mood of the people working that day. One time we went and they were sending everyone back that was in the US line with their US spouse. Even shouting to the crowd "If you're Canadian, british, *insert other nationalities* and traveling with your wife, WE DONT CARE-you must go to this line!" meaning the line for non-citizens.

It's been like that all all their airports. It's just hit or miss. Regardless of which line we go into though, we go together. I just stand in the long line with him if we have to go through the non citizen line.

Coming back we always go through Heathrow Terminal 5, and we always just go through Fast Track together. But last time we went the line for EU was shorter than Fast Track, so DH asked the person working and he said it was fine for us to go together. Then the woman who stamped my passport said it's always okay for me to go with him in the EU line since I have a visa. But, I've heard stories about others being turned around.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate it.  Looking forward to my first Thanksgiving!

We always go through as a family, so we go together every time. Once, years ago we went separately and the IO made me go back and find my husband so we could go through together.

Last year (first time entering the US with my American wife) we asked one of the guys directing the queues at JFK. He directed us to the US line, the immigration officer was the most friendly I've encountered in the US, he gave us advice and he said it's all down to the airlines which queue they put people in. Those people telling you which line to go in are airline officials not immigration apparently.

Coming back we've always been allowed into the foriegn nationals, very useful when coming back on a holiday flight from Greece packed with Brits, you get to go in the line with 3 people in it!

As others said though, just ask the people directing the lines, it does differ. They will allow you to go through together, and thats beneficial for you going into the US as there is far less questioning as to your travel plans etc.

You need to go through together (whichever line the person you ask directs you to) as the US customs declaration form is per family.  Pretty sure in Tampa and in Boston they had all the doohickeys at all the desks.

However, coming back into the UK we were not able to go through the UK Citizen line together. We got turned around when we reached the Border Control desk. We were directed to the other line for Foreign Citizens.

Just another data point: The other day my wife (UKC) and I (commonwealth country citizen) went in the UK/EU line and were processed without a word being said, except for a "thanks folks" in the end by the IO. I'm on a Tier 1 (General) visa. I didn't even think of asking the person directing the lines as it seemed logical for me to accompany my British wife in the UK line.

Off topic: Heathrow T3 immigration hall in the morning was beyond horrendous  Not a single square inch of floor space that was not filled with passengers.

Thanks for posting this thread, I had the same question I am USC, my husband is UKC, we are looking to travel back to the states on holiday later this year, and weren't sure whether to go through US line or non-US line. Also, when coming back to the UK when we are coming home, should I go to EU line or should we both go to non-EU line, or still just ask where to go? I do have the spousal visa, but I know that doesn't actually mean I'm an EU citizen. We just know it will look best to be going through the line together, just want to make sure we know which lines to go through. Thanks for any advice

We've been told by people directing the lines that
a) When with UK husband (I'm a US citizen): go through UK line
b) When without UK husband: go through non-EU line.

However, I've been sent to the UK line when travelling by myself as well--it seems to depend on who is manning the desk that day, so I always just ask!

Always Ask...never assume anything, that way you avoid the embarresment of getting sent to the other line if you assume incorrectly.

Always Ask...never assume anything, that way you avoid the embarresment of getting sent to the other line if you assume incorrectly.

Plus, if they start getting snarky about your line choice, you can point to the person directing traffic and say "That guy told me to come to this line," thus directing the finger of blame away from you. 

Plus, if they start getting snarky about your line choice, you can point to the person directing traffic and say "That guy told me to come to this line," thus directing the finger of blame away from you. 

Yup, and it does seem to change every time! Really can't wait for the chance to get my own UK passport though.