In transit ? Customs
May 19th, 2010, 01:13 AM
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In transit ? Customs
Hi hoping someone will be able to enlighten me. We are Aussies travelling to South America & will be in transit in both LA & Miami before we reach our destination of Rio. Do we need to go through Customs etc as we will not be leaving the Airports ? I have heard that we will need to collect our bags & go through the formalities in LA but others say that we don't. After South America we are flying from Lima to New York via Houston ( in transit again) so same question. We are staying in NY so would need to go through the formalities there if not in Houston.
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
May 19th, 2010, 03:34 AM
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The US does not have a sterile transit zone - all passengers arriving from overseas must pass through immigration and customs at the 1st port of entry.
That means you'll enter the US at LA, fly domestic LA-MIA flight.
Ditto on the return. Pass through immigration/customs at Houston, then domestic Houston-NYC flight.
That means you'll enter the US at LA, fly domestic LA-MIA flight.
Ditto on the return. Pass through immigration/customs at Houston, then domestic Houston-NYC flight.
May 19th, 2010, 07:52 AM
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It's probably too late, but did you consider a Circle Pacific ticket? You could avoid the aggro and save numerous hours by flying Sydney > Santiago > Rio > NYC > Sydney. That would consume around 23,600 miles of the allowed 29,000 miles included in the ticket, leaving space for stopovers in, e.g., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hawaii, etc.
May 19th, 2010, 10:30 AM
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You also need to fill in the ESTA if you have a visa waiver before you travel. Do it now before you are charged for it
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
May 21st, 2010, 12:37 AM
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Many thanks to you all I have changed the Lima to New York flight as now can get a direct flight which will make it a lot less hassle.
Gardyloo we are travelling on FF to Rio & then back to Sydney via Miami as we are flying from NY to San Juan to do a cruise . I certainly will keep the Circle Pacific in mind for another trip.
We already have our Visa Waiver as this time last year we were in Hawaii, so they are valid until next year.
One more question what is the best way to get from Newark to 8th Ave NY & then back to JFK on departure?
Gardyloo we are travelling on FF to Rio & then back to Sydney via Miami as we are flying from NY to San Juan to do a cruise . I certainly will keep the Circle Pacific in mind for another trip.
We already have our Visa Waiver as this time last year we were in Hawaii, so they are valid until next year.
One more question what is the best way to get from Newark to 8th Ave NY & then back to JFK on departure?
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