Getting into the US using a machine but not Global Entry
Feb 18, 2017, 1:32 pm
#1
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Getting into the US using a machine but not Global Entry
It's a clumsy title I know. I travel to the US only 2 or 3 times a year: the last few visits started in Chicago, Houston or Miami. I'm pretty sure I used a machine entry system in all three, then joined a queue (of US residents), clutching bit of paper from the machine. It was quick: a significant improvement.
So I arrived in Philadelphia the other day confident that I knew the system. I tried to use the machines, but the helpers treated me carefully, as they would a madman: then sent me back to join a long queue of alien arrivals.
Has the machine route ended? Or is Philadelphia behind the curve?
So I arrived in Philadelphia the other day confident that I knew the system. I tried to use the machines, but the helpers treated me carefully, as they would a madman: then sent me back to join a long queue of alien arrivals.
Has the machine route ended? Or is Philadelphia behind the curve?
Feb 18, 2017, 1:44 pm
#2
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I guess this is the APC - Automated Passport Control kiosks:
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/apc
These kiosks take the basic questions and answers that was on the old form, plus the biometric control, and then the agent just asks a few questions.
Some airports separate the APC kiosks into separate banks, for US+Canadian in one area, VWP (Visa Waiver) in another. As far as I know they all do the necessary, and the separation is done purely to assist with line management between the kiosks and the queues for the agents. PHL I thought had them all in one area, but they do move them around (e.g. MIA has played out various strategies here)
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/apc
These kiosks take the basic questions and answers that was on the old form, plus the biometric control, and then the agent just asks a few questions.
Some airports separate the APC kiosks into separate banks, for US+Canadian in one area, VWP (Visa Waiver) in another. As far as I know they all do the necessary, and the separation is done purely to assist with line management between the kiosks and the queues for the agents. PHL I thought had them all in one area, but they do move them around (e.g. MIA has played out various strategies here)
Feb 18, 2017, 1:44 pm
#3
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The machines you are referring to a known as APC (Automated Passport Control). According to this list: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/apc PHL has them.
You can use them if you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. legal permanent resident, Canadian citizen, traveling utilizing ESTA (Visa Waiver Program), or entering with a B1/B2 or D visa.
You can use them if you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. legal permanent resident, Canadian citizen, traveling utilizing ESTA (Visa Waiver Program), or entering with a B1/B2 or D visa.
Feb 19, 2017, 9:12 am
#4
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Thanks for the replies. APC it is. Didn't find any of the machines at PHL, and agents knew nothing about them: but no immigration forms to fill (apart from the customs ones).
The queue was long, agents few. But late-joiners got syphoned off to the immigration desks that had been dealing with US residents. Just a couple of questions and fingerprints: no forms. So perhaps the machines are redundant.
A bit of a zoo at transfer security. But nothing Heathrow hasn't trained me for ...
The queue was long, agents few. But late-joiners got syphoned off to the immigration desks that had been dealing with US residents. Just a couple of questions and fingerprints: no forms. So perhaps the machines are redundant.
A bit of a zoo at transfer security. But nothing Heathrow hasn't trained me for ...
Feb 19, 2017, 10:42 am
#5
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Thanks for the replies. APC it is. Didn't find any of the machines at PHL, and agents knew nothing about them: but no immigration forms to fill (apart from the customs ones).
The queue was long, agents few. But late-joiners got syphoned off to the immigration desks that had been dealing with US residents. Just a couple of questions and fingerprints: no forms. So perhaps the machines are redundant.
A bit of a zoo at transfer security. But nothing Heathrow hasn't trained me for ...
The queue was long, agents few. But late-joiners got syphoned off to the immigration desks that had been dealing with US residents. Just a couple of questions and fingerprints: no forms. So perhaps the machines are redundant.
A bit of a zoo at transfer security. But nothing Heathrow hasn't trained me for ...
Feb 19, 2017, 2:04 pm
#6
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I had a similar experience at Philly last month. They had no interest in letting anyone with visa waivers use the machines, only US citizens were allowed to. All of us non-US people were sent to the world's longest queue. I spent over an hour queuing (and I'd been in seat 1A so the rest of my flight were stuck in the queue behind me for even longer). It was up there with my most miserable US airport immigration experiences - although I suspect Miami next month will show me that Philly was just a warm-up.
Feb 21, 2017, 5:39 am
#7
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I had a similar experience at Philly last month. They had no interest in letting anyone with visa waivers use the machines, only US citizens were allowed to. All of us non-US people were sent to the world's longest queue. I spent over an hour queuing (and I'd been in seat 1A so the rest of my flight were stuck in the queue behind me for even longer). It was up there with my most miserable US airport immigration experiences - although I suspect Miami next month will show me that Philly was just a warm-up.
Feb 21, 2017, 7:22 am
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I guess this is the APC - Automated Passport Control kiosks:
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/apc
These kiosks take the basic questions and answers that was on the old form, plus the biometric control, and then the agent just asks a few questions.
Some airports separate the APC kiosks into separate banks, for US+Canadian in one area, VWP (Visa Waiver) in another. As far as I know they all do the necessary, and the separation is done purely to assist with line management between the kiosks and the queues for the agents. PHL I thought had them all in one area, but they do move them around (e.g. MIA has played out various strategies here)
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/apc
These kiosks take the basic questions and answers that was on the old form, plus the biometric control, and then the agent just asks a few questions.
Some airports separate the APC kiosks into separate banks, for US+Canadian in one area, VWP (Visa Waiver) in another. As far as I know they all do the necessary, and the separation is done purely to assist with line management between the kiosks and the queues for the agents. PHL I thought had them all in one area, but they do move them around (e.g. MIA has played out various strategies here)
Feb 22, 2017, 3:00 pm
#9
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Miami is one of the airports that has worked very well in recent times. It used to be hell, but the machines have helped free things up a lot - though the queuing can sometimes get passed on to the customs control...