GoTravel

Does anyone have a ballpark idea how long it will take to get through customs and immigration this Saturday afternoon?

We are picking up a friend from London but the catch is he is coming through on a first time Visa.

He thinks two hours, we think less.

Has anyone been through this before?

GoTravel

Maybe I should post this on the Europe thread?

AAFrequentFlyer

There is no way to predict these days what's going to happen.

I'm a seasoned flyer, going in and out of the country numerous times a year. I'm a US citizen. Most of the time it's no biggie. As short as 15 minutes but usually no longer than 45 minutes once the doors open and I'm walking out of customs area.

But I just had an unpleasnat, totally uneccesary experience with a DFW customs officer back in July, coming back from Japan. For no reason that I could tell as she only asked one question an that was "business or pleasure?", she decided to send me for a secondary. I had to wait about an hour to actually have a chance to talk to the secondary customs officer, a seasoned and friendly guy, who after running my passport through, seeing my travel patterns, told me that this was a mistake and didn't even look in my luggage.

If you need some answer, I would say that on the average, for a foreign passport holder it should be around 30-45 minutes, especially in Charlotte, as it is a smaller airport with not too many international arrivals, but once again, it's impossible to predict.

Gretchen

Wish I could help. Do you think the visa (why a visa?) makes a difference? I can't believe the plane would be terribly full this time of year.

GoTravel

Thanks so much for the replies!

He is coming to work in the US and has just been granted a work Visa. I didn't know if that would create delays or not.

The worst place I've come through customs was Atlanta and that was under an hour and Charlotte has been more like 15-20 minutes.

We are picking him up at the airport and were not sure what time to arrive which is why I was wondering.

His flight arrives around 3:30PM.

SAnParis

Worst case you get maybe two planes coming in at the same time. Half an hour would be the norm in my opinion. Many flights come back via PHL so not a lot of (Int'l) flights come directly into CLT.

Gretchen

I don't suppose he has a cel phone, but maybe someone would let him call you when he is done. We now have the cell phone lot.

AAFrequentFlyer

AFAIK cellphone use is stricly prohibited in the customs area and it can be confiscated if used. Many signs all over the hallways leading up to and the customs hall. Whether it's enforced* is another question. YMMV.

*I have seen people use their cellphones waiting for luggage around the carousel and nothing happened, but my guess would be that if the friend gets pulled aside for whatever reason the cellphone should not be used.

GoTravel

I'm not sure if he has canceled his cell phone service but I'm sure he'll be able to find a payphone when he lands.

Thanks you so much everyone for your very helpful advice!

It looks like we'll just park and go inside and get security passes from the airline.

I really appreciate all the replies!

GoTravel

SAn, I found out it is a non-stop flight from London Gatwick to CLT and then on to LAX.

SAnParis

GoT - Most of the places I go I end up connecting in PHL. I know they fly direct to London & maybe Frankfurt (from CLT).

GoTravel

Yes they do as I've taken the PHL-CLT leg of the Amsterdam-CLT flight.

rkkwan

GoTravel - I don't understand what getting security pass will achieve for you.

Your friend will go through US Customs and Immigration at CLT, so you cannot go meet him at the gate.

Once he gets out of customs, he'll be on the landside to meet you. I'm sure there must be at least some place you guys can sit there or find food. You have no reason to go through security yourself, and unless you have a reason to accompany your friend (elderly, handicapped), I am not sure if the airline will give you a pass for just asking.

GoTravel

My stepdaughters have to be at work at 1PM so we thought we'd head to the airport then and have lunch and watch the games at Chilis in the aiport which you must pass security to get through.

SAnParis

There are no restaurants in CLT prior to going through security.

GoTravel

Yes, the airlines will give you a pass for asking provided you have the flight number and name of the person you are meeting.

yk

GoT-

Given the fact that your friend is coming in with a work visa for the first time, he'll get the full treatment - ie, he'll be taken to a room and be questioned by immigration officers and have his papers examined. The length of that depends on the day and the hour, and how many folks are waiting also.

Before I got my Green card, each time I return to the US on visa, I have to wait for my turn in the set-aside room. The wait can be anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. For a 1st-time work visa, it may take the officers another 10-15 minutes just to examine his papers.

skigirl

We arrived in Charlotte one Saturday evening from Mexico and there were about 6-8 flights landing at about the same time from Caribbean destinations. I think Charlotte IS a big arrival point for these flights and all must go through customs. Bottom line, it took us about 2 hours and, along with most of the rest of those waiting, we missed our connecting flight and had to spend the night in Charlotte. So it's really one of those things that can vary a lot, depending on what other flights arrive at the same time.

GoTravel

Thanks everyone!

His flight landed at 3:55PM and he was through customs and immigration and out the door by 4:27PM!

There were two other flights that landed obviously from the islands as there were a mix of people with full winter clothing (heavy coats etc) and sunburned people with full heads of braids!