Nervous about flying to USA

[wondering7777]

I’m due to travel to the USA next week and am feeling quite anxious about it. I’ve never been to the US before and will be flying into JFK. I’ve heard the security when you land is really intense, with three hour queues to get through customs and really scary US officials.

Has anyone had any experience of flying into JFK - do you really have to queue for that long and is it as intimidating as they say?

I’m also nearly 12 weeks pregnant and forgot to buy those special socks for the flight - will I be able to buy them at the airport in the UK?

Any other tips you have for flying to NYC would be very welcome!

We went through JFK in September, both going and coming back. There was a bit of a queue when we arrived, but because we had a connecting flight, we were able to go through the quickconnect lane, which nobody actually tells you about. We used the E-scanner, and it was fine. The guy at the booth was lovely and even smiled a bit.

MCO - so Orlando - has been the worst airport. They are really strict about you not using electronics and the queues can be massive. I also have heard that they do not recognise the sunflower lanyard for hidden disabilities and special needs. We did have a lovely guy there last year when we went through immigration. I had changed my name since the last time we'd been and so had to have a photo and finger print taken again and he made a joke about it.

As everyone has said, just treat them with respect and you'll be fine.

Went to New York in 2016, landed around 7pm and took around 90 minutes but the officers were fine and not aggressive

You can buy flight socks at any decent sized Boots.
Yes, keep the address of where you are staying to hand, although I think you have to put it on your ESTA form.

A book is a good idea if you have a long wait. I don't think you can use electronic devices until you are through security.

Most important - make sure you have comprehensive health insurance that covers your pregnancy.

Enjoy your trip.

I was at JFK in March. We
arrived late evening, after being held up on the tarmac for an hour as there wasn’t a slot for us to disembark.

However, there wasn’t any waiting in security, so we were all through in 20 minutes or so. The security staff tend to be young and though not particularly polite and definitely not friendly, they really weren’t intimidating either, On return I was tempted to ask one who brusquely told me to have nice day to now say it as if she meant it but thought better of it!

I didn’t have or need special socks. The plane was large so could get up and walk around quite a bit. (not pregnant though).

JFK is usually alright in my experience. For me, the biggest delays at US arrivals have been at Houston and Chicago.

The biggest problem I have is actually leaving from the U.K. side due to countries I've previously visited (on business).

I always get the extra little fluorescent sticker on the back of my passport from the US security guy who checks you before you can even even get to the actual check-in desk. That sticker ensures more questioning and an in-depth search, various types of scanning, etc. at the boarding gate.

At least I usually get to board first because of it!

In fact, I don't actually think it's the flicking through the passport seeing the stamps that gets me the sticker because I've had the same thing with my second passport, too. So they must have a list of names or something...

I have been pulled aside by immigration about 10% of the times I have crossed borders. I used to travel a lot, I am mixed race plus I was often travelling alone. I can’t help but wonder if that’s the reason. I used to take my contract from the University I worked at to show I had gainful employment back home. On the way back this time I was one of the ones called to have bag swabbed etc, they had a list from homeland security. A few people went up I guess it’s just random but I don’t have an English John Smith type name.

Came back for, USA last month the queues with the new system they use seemed pretty quick.

I am fine with huge amounts of security I’m just a bit hacked off my little not quite white enough face gets me pulled over quite often.

You need to chill you'll be fine. I've flown before it's not an issue and of course you'll get flight socks but if in doubt surely you have a local boots?

JFK was great - much better than LAX who were quite frankly scary!

JFK is usually fine, we had about an hour of waiting last time but that's the absolute max I've seen. Often it's been much quicker.

The fastest US immigration I've ever encountered was actually at Dublin Airport, where you go through it there and then land as a domestic flight. Those guys have really got it together.

I live in the USA and have flown in and out over 40 times. The gofer rule is answer every question honestly abd truthfully but do not volunteer additional information. The queues are what they are. Depends on how many people are arriving at that time and how many officers are on duty. Can be long, can be short depending on the numbers, just like Tesco queues.

I now use the US line but before I moved here abd I was back and forth visiting the longest queues were at Atlanta. Make sure you have your passport and completed blue form ready. A major reason for the length of the queues is people who are not ready when they get to the desk abd start fishing around in their bag for their passport or documents. Just like Tesco - they get to the front of the queue and haven’t even got their purse ready. You will be finger printed and photographed but it’s quick and painless.

Enjoy your stay here!

Make sure you have your passport and completed blue form ready.

@BritWifeinUSA wait, what’s the blue form? I’ve done my ESTA online - is this something else?!

The blue form is your customs declaration.

In my extensive experience JFK security is hell. The lighting, the low ceiling, the hideous stucco, the ridiculous shouty people, the way they love to unload 4 jetloads simultaneously. It’s typical to find that HS officials are racist pigs. Even the beagles are fucking wankers.

You can get flight socks in departures at Heathrow.

Even when I immigrated through JFK it didn't take that long. An hour altogether I think.

The worst airport for security IME is Heathrow although Manchester can be pretty fecking awful too.

In our q everybody was photographed and fingerprinted, was so quick. Was surely due to not having a US passport.

Everyone entering the US is photographed and fingerprinted.

wait, what’s the blue form?

You'll get a customs declaration to fill out on the plane.
www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CBP%20Form%206059B%20English%20%28Sample%20Watermark%29.pdf
It looks like this in case you want to take a look at the questions beforehand.

I flew from Shannon to JFK , no probs no 3 hr wait , able to get a taxi straight away outside . Have a great trip

@wondering7777 I flew to Newark at 17 weeks pregnant and it was absolutely fine! There was a security queue, but it really wasn't too bad, and it wasn't scary at all. In fact, the border control workers were really friendly.
I bought my flight socks beforehand, but I'm sure you'd be able to get them at the airport. They'll probably be more expensive though. I had an aisle seat which meant I could walk around lots, so get one if you can. Have a great trip!

Flew to jfk in September. Queue took about 20 mins. Not interrogated just asked if travelling for business or pleasure and if I'd been to states before. They take a quick photo and do fingerprints using a touchscreen gadget. All very easy and not stressful. Didn't have to fill in blue form. Waited quite a while for luggage, but they have queuing system for taxi which was quick and easy.

Never been to JFK but Dulles and LAX were both fine. No queues at at all the last time I was at Dulles, I barely broke stride between plane and taxi. They'll ask why you're there, how long for etc but nothing intense. One immigration officer at Dulles made a joke about my job / meeting I was attending sounding boring and to make sure I had plenty of coffee !

We flew to New York in August and it was fine. We knew there would be a wait to get through Homeland Security - think it took 90 mins, so we were prepared (it actually took longer to check-in at Manchester - 2 hours!)
We had fingerprints and photos done and were asked what the purpose of our trip was.

I believe it can be worse if you are dusky and called Mohammed.

I went to JFK terminal 7 last week. I didn't need a blue customs form, just the esta. Border control queues moved quickly, the member of staff was borderline rude but I think he was feeling unwell. We were with him for about 3 minutes and were through passport control. Please don't worry about it.

They hand out customs forms on the flight if you need one. ESTA is linked to your passport so no need to print it out. Last time I flew to the states I was nervous at immigration but ended up having a nice chat about my trip both ways! It’s really fine.

When I went to JFK in 2017, I had a blue customs form, BA made an announcement on the flight last week that the customs form was not needed.
I printed the Estas as in 2017 they told me that my dd did not have a valid esta. I had the paper form so could prove I had applied, turns out they entered her name incorrectly. So I brought them again last week, in case the same happened.

It just depends. I've never had any issues. I flew into Las Vegas last month to get married. I was nervous about them grilling me because I was alone as DP flew over the previous week from a different country and I had visions of them being suspicious. But they didn't even ask why I was there. They asked which hotel I was staying in, how long I'd be in the US for and if I'd been in the US before in the last 5 years (which I had, I gave details). Easy! I was waiting in the queue for about an hour before that.