I am flying from Louisville, KY and my destination is Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have to go to Miami International to change planes. I have a few hours layover, but I am curious about customs. When I tell them of my destination, won't the airport I leave first allow me to go throu customs, and if I go through customs in Louisville airport, will I have to do it again at Miami?

Also, someone told me I do not have to step off of the airplane in MIA, since that is not my destination, but I am not 100% sure I will be leaving MIA from the same airplane.

I have been reading that MIA usually has a LONG customs line, which makes me glad to know I have a long layover (6.5 hours), just in case I do have to go throu customs there too.

Okay, well, thanks for all the help.

Your documents will probably be checked in Louisville by the ticket agent, i.e., that you are in possession of a valid passport.

There is no need to go through Customs since you aren't leaving the country at that point and you won't go through Customs in Miami on the outbound leg either.

When you RETURN and if your first US landing point is Miami, THAT is when you will go through both Customs and Immigration.

BTW, unless you are on a flight that goes direct to BA from Louisville I suspect you WILL be changing planes in Miami.

Customs check is only done when you enter a country, not when you leave.

Your docs will be checked at the check in desk in Louisville unless you're flying a low cost carrier to Miami in which case you'll have to re-check in Miami and that's when your docs will be checked. A US citizen needs a valid US passport.

You will change planes in Miami, regardless, but if you're flying on the same ticket, all you need to do is walk from one gate to another.

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, you will go through Argentinian passport control, baggage pick up (if you have any checked baggage) and finally Argentinian customs.

When you return, you will go through US passport control and customs in Miami.

Gee, I guess I left something out is that it?

Dukey..Please xpound on your last response....(I dont want to respond until I see your response)

It can sometimes be confusing if you're not used to flying internationally, and Miami can be a confusing airport. As others have told you, you will be changing planes, but the good news is - your luggage will be transferred automatically, so you don't need to worry about it. You do not go through customs, you just find your next gate, and wait for your next flight. You don't leave the secure area. Coming back is a different story (assuming you are coming back through Miami). When you land back in Miami, you will go through passport control, pick up your luggage, go through customs, then take your luggage to the re-check counter. Then, you exit, and you have to go back in through security again to get to the gate areas. This has always been the most painful part of the Miami process to me. Just relax, though - and keep your sense of humor. Have a great trip to BA - it's a very neat city (I go there alot on business), and the food is awesome!!!

Folks have given you the correct answers - but left out a bit of the basic explanation.

Many travelers confuse the terms "customs" and "passport control/immigration"." Customs" is not an issue. What you will go through in Miami is "passport control". So yes - you will have to go through a line/official procedure but it isn't called "Customs".

Yes - but you go through Passport Control only when arriving in Miami from a foreign contry - not when coming in on a flight from within the US - and leaving the US.

Oh sheesh - I answer this question so often over on the Europe forum I just went into "auto pilot"

No, there won't be an immigration line - but your passport will be checked by the airline and in the security line.

There is passport control (i.e. immigration) for leaving most countries of the world, with notable exceptions including:

- USA
- Canada
- United Kingdom

I am not sure about Mexico if you fly out of there, but leaving Mexico by land to the US, you don't go through passport control either.

Debi, posted:

This has always been the most painful part of the Miami process to me,

the same procedure applies to any and all US international arrivals. I'm not sure why Miami is any more painful than New York or Chicago or Los Angeles.