Hawaii & immigration
Dec 19, 2009, 9:02 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Hnl-Waikiki
Posts: 4
Hello All
I am arriving at Maui (OGG) from Chicago (ORD) in the next couple of weeks and will be returning from Honolulu (HNL) to San Francisco (SFO)about 10 days later.
I am aware that Hawaii is just another US state, but I want to hear first hand experiences from people travelling between these cities to confirm that there are indeed no Immigration checks to go through.
Thank you
I am arriving at Maui (OGG) from Chicago (ORD) in the next couple of weeks and will be returning from Honolulu (HNL) to San Francisco (SFO)about 10 days later.
I am aware that Hawaii is just another US state, but I want to hear first hand experiences from people travelling between these cities to confirm that there are indeed no Immigration checks to go through.
Thank you
Jan 1, 2010, 3:45 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAX - san fernando valley, CA
Programs: DL PM, Alaska Gold MVP, Expedia Elite Plus, Amex Reserve.
Posts: 1,156
Quick answer ( NO )
phote ID will be requiere, but if you are not USA citizen and dont have a govertment issue ID then you will need your passport, but will not go thru immigration
Jan 1, 2010, 5:57 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Florida, USA
Programs: AA PPRO (OW Emerarld), BA Silver, DL PM
Posts: 491
Accordingly, if you fly GUM-HNL, this is a US domestic flight and you will not need to clear US Immigration, but you WILL need to clear US Customs. HNL-GUM is purely domestic with neither customs nor immigration.
Jan 2, 2010, 4:22 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 97
Incorrect. To enter Guam from a foreign country (Japan, Philippines, etc.) you must clear US Immigration in Guam, run now by USCIS, but you do not clear US Customs. However, although Guam is considered the United States, it it not within the 'Customs Territory of the United States' as defined by 19 CFR 101.1.
Accordingly, if you fly GUM-HNL, this is a US domestic flight and you will not need to clear US Immigration, but you WILL need to clear US Customs. HNL-GUM is purely domestic with neither customs nor immigration.
Accordingly, if you fly GUM-HNL, this is a US domestic flight and you will not need to clear US Immigration, but you WILL need to clear US Customs. HNL-GUM is purely domestic with neither customs nor immigration.
To enter Guam from foreign country, you have to clear US Immigration, then Guam Customs (separate from US Customs). Enter Guam from HNL, you skip US Immigration and route directly to Guam Customs upon arrival.
Flying GUM-HNL, you clear US Immigration at the boarding gate. This is mainly stop people on Guam visa waiver from entering the US. In HNL, you skip US immigration and get routed to US Customs.
It's not a domestic flight in either direction.
Jan 2, 2010, 12:07 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: RDU
Programs: AA GM, DL DM, DSC
Posts: 1,540
HI has full statehood, territories such as Guam, the USVI and American-Samoa do not have statehood.
Flying to HI from any other state is like flying within the lower 48 states. Government ID is required for TSA purposes just like any other US airport. You are never processed by immigration or CBP (no need to).
Flying to/from any US state to a US territory is very different.
When flying from the mainland US to the USVI you do not clear anything to enter the USVI, but to return to the US mainland from the USVI you pass through US immigrations and customs, have to declare purchases and are subject to limits ($1600 IIRC) plus agricultural inspection. US citizens do not require passports (any gov't ID will work), all other nationalities do, including non-resident aliens living in the US.
Flying to HI from any other state is like flying within the lower 48 states. Government ID is required for TSA purposes just like any other US airport. You are never processed by immigration or CBP (no need to).
Flying to/from any US state to a US territory is very different.
When flying from the mainland US to the USVI you do not clear anything to enter the USVI, but to return to the US mainland from the USVI you pass through US immigrations and customs, have to declare purchases and are subject to limits ($1600 IIRC) plus agricultural inspection. US citizens do not require passports (any gov't ID will work), all other nationalities do, including non-resident aliens living in the US.
Jan 2, 2010, 12:50 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 84
Flying to/from any US state to a US territory is very different.
When flying from the mainland US to the USVI you do not clear anything to enter the USVI, but to return to the US mainland from the USVI you pass through US immigrations and customs, have to declare purchases and are subject to limits ($1600 IIRC) plus agricultural inspection. US citizens do not require passports (any gov't ID will work), all other nationalities do, including non-resident aliens living in the US.
When flying from the mainland US to the USVI you do not clear anything to enter the USVI, but to return to the US mainland from the USVI you pass through US immigrations and customs, have to declare purchases and are subject to limits ($1600 IIRC) plus agricultural inspection. US citizens do not require passports (any gov't ID will work), all other nationalities do, including non-resident aliens living in the US.
The agricultural inspection is a whole other issue. That has nothing to do with immigration or keeping certain folks out. It has to do with keeping agricultural pests out. When leaving Puerto Rico, you have to get agricultural clearance. There is a list of items not allowed. But certain fruits are allowed. For ex., apples are not allowed, but bananas are. In contrast, when leaving Hawaii, no fruits or vegetabes are allowed at all, they are very strict about it.
Last edited by Coconut Travel Hawaii; Jan 2, 2010 at 12:59 pm
May 3, 2010, 4:50 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 661
I was going to reply in my own thread but it's closed now.
I guess the reason people ask this seemingly stupid question is because we are subject to increasingly ridiculous rules these days during travel just like the new restroom rules.
Personally, I have traveled extensively in/out of the US, I do know that HI is a state and should not require any border controls but who knows anymore what they are drumming up eh? What is to say that there is no rule that says otherwise.. leaving/entering the mainland requires proof of citizenship...there is nothing stopping the administration from coming up with some baloney laws like this.. if you have to prove your citizenship at a traffic stop in AZ then why not in an airport when re-entering the mainland? Never heard of such a thing but who knows...these things are constantly changing.
may be unlikely but better safe than sorry...so that is why we clarify
man, this is a harsh crowd. Some of us are indeed well traveled (I've been to 26 countries) but just don't want to assume anything anymore.
I guess the reason people ask this seemingly stupid question is because we are subject to increasingly ridiculous rules these days during travel just like the new restroom rules.
Personally, I have traveled extensively in/out of the US, I do know that HI is a state and should not require any border controls but who knows anymore what they are drumming up eh? What is to say that there is no rule that says otherwise.. leaving/entering the mainland requires proof of citizenship...there is nothing stopping the administration from coming up with some baloney laws like this.. if you have to prove your citizenship at a traffic stop in AZ then why not in an airport when re-entering the mainland? Never heard of such a thing but who knows...these things are constantly changing.
may be unlikely but better safe than sorry...so that is why we clarify
man, this is a harsh crowd. Some of us are indeed well traveled (I've been to 26 countries) but just don't want to assume anything anymore.
May 15, 2010, 12:14 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
No Immigration.. but yes security. Plan to be checked-in at least 60 minutes going to mainland.. at least 30 minutes interisland.. and bag fees to boot!
Jul 21, 2015, 4:58 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2
There is a certain grey area regarding this with non- US Citizens like myself. This is the first time I am travelling to HI and want to be sure. Need to know if I must carry my paperwork or not.
May sound funny to you guys, but it is an important question that I'd rather have answered than make an assumption about.
Request FT'ers whow have flown between these city pairs to chime in. Appreciate your help. Thank you.
May sound funny to you guys, but it is an important question that I'd rather have answered than make an assumption about.
Request FT'ers whow have flown between these city pairs to chime in. Appreciate your help. Thank you.
* how was your trip? did you encounter any trouble?
we're planning to go there as well in a month and I would like to know how was ur experience.
Jul 21, 2015, 10:26 pm
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,205
You need your drivers license for ID and that's it.
Jul 21, 2015, 11:56 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JRF
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,784
The only time I had to go through immigration while in the US was at from GUM -> HNL
And even when my driver's license was Canadian I flew around domestic without any problems
And even when my driver's license was Canadian I flew around domestic without any problems