3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA entry

[elcolombiano]

My fiance spent 3.5 hrs in Customs and Immigration at the Miami airport for a K1 Visa. She missed her connecting flight to Los Angeles. I have been unable to contact her. Due to airline privacy rules they will only page her and I have not recieved a responce. They did tell me that she is on a latter flight.

[tnolan1]

... in response to 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA entry, posted by elcolombiano on Mar 2, 2004

They did the same with My wife on her first entry and the Last time that we visited Peru, even though she had Advanced Parole!!  Miami Customs is the Worst!  They even treat American citizens like Criminals for asking a question.  Bring her in through Houston next time if she leaves to visit.
Terry
www.mylatinrose.com

[elcolombiano]

... in response to 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA entry, posted by elcolombiano on Mar 2, 2004

She arrived yesterday at 8PM. The embassy in Colombia put another womans papers in her sealed envelope. When she arrived at immigration at the Miami airport they opened the envelop and found that it contained the fiance documents of a woman from Medellin and a man of chinese decent. My fiance had to tell the customs official that that woman pictured in those papers is not me. They were ready to return her to Cali. Finally they gave her a 28 day entrance to the United States. She did not enter as a K1 visa holder. The clerk in Bogota who did this should be fired.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Embasy in Colombia put another womens pa..., posted by elcolombiano on Mar 3, 2004

Anxiously awaiting an update.....

If she did not enter as a K1, what is she considered, a tourist?

[elcolombiano]

... in response to Re: Embasy in Colombia put another women..., posted by Red Clay on Mar 4, 2004

They let her in under a deferral document

[DavidMN]

... in response to Embasy in Colombia put another womens pa..., posted by elcolombiano on Mar 3, 2004

...If it weren't for bad luck, you'd have no luck at all...

(I know, I know it's not exactly high-brow culture but as a kid my brothers and I watched it in hopes of seeing Barbi Benton pop out of her shirt).

[Fuzzyone]

... in response to Embasy in Colombia put another womens pa..., posted by elcolombiano on Mar 3, 2004

Fired? She should be flogged if you ask me. Well at least your girl
managed to still enter the U.S. good Luck

[Ricky]

... in response to 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA entry, posted by elcolombiano on Mar 2, 2004

Ditto,
Had exactly the same experience two years ago in
Miami; only I was with my novia.

Immigration in Miami SUCKS bigtime. Those idiots sit
around bullsh----ng and talk about women in the
presence of the ladies waiting for clearance.

I made a big stink after fifteen minutes and demanded
to see the officer in charge. I also made a formal written
complaint which really pissed off the two INS officials
who were screwing around.

Don't worry, she'll get here. The hardest part is that 51/2
hour wait you will experience while she's flying from
MIami to LAX. The minute you see her it will all have
been worth the hassle.

Good luck!!!!!!

[cancunhound]

... in response to 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA entry, posted by elcolombiano on Mar 2, 2004

Ouch and that will be very intimidating for her to navigate that scenario - as well I'm sure you're not exactly calm right now.

I can imagine a scenario where there would be no time for her to call you in that process if trying to catch another plane, and more over figuring out how to do it.

If at all possible for those that will be in this same boat in the future - accompany your fiance into the US!  Cost of the ticket should be a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things.

EC - the rules are they won't give you the flight info - but you can probably manage to work your way into the "secure area" to greet her when she gets off the plane - of course you'd just have to wait for each incoming flight until you find the right plane.

[grant5432]

... in response to Re: 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA entry, posted by cancunhound on Mar 2, 2004

I hope she gets there safely and things work out for you.  

I don't know how arriving in Houston is, but that is probably the route
my novia would take in getting to California.   I hope it's better there.

I'm thinking maybe I should come with her, but I assume if she has to
wait at immigration (she'd come on a K1 visa), I couldn't wait with her
because she'd be in a different line?  not sure.

-Grant

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Re: 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA e..., posted by grant5432 on Mar 3, 2004

No need for you to be in different lines. I hardly ever go through the US citizen line - usually so tired I just follow the Colombians like a mule in a line. Hmmm, poor choice of words. Not that kind of mule. Anyway, the inspectors just laugh and wave me through.

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Re: 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA e..., posted by grant5432 on Mar 3, 2004

Entering the country via Houston is much easier than through Miami... The high volume of international flights entering the US through Miami stress the system... There are always long lines when clearing immigration / customs in Miami... Not to mention having to claim your baggage prior to clearing customs, have it examined by custom's agents and then re-check it for a connecting flight... Plus, MIA is more confusing than IAH to find your connecting flight...   Very stressful on your novia / wife if traveling alone...

Houston has fewer international flights so the lines are shorter... Everything runs a little smoother... The agents in Houston seem to be more friendly also... Lower volume = less headaches...

Although not always possible for myriad reasons, it's best if you can travel with your girl as she enters the country for the first time... Trust me, she will appreciate it...

Mark

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VI..., posted by wizard on Mar 3, 2004

Agree with wiz. Houston isn't bad.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VI..., posted by wizard on Mar 3, 2004

The backside to that is that there is not as much for the agents to do - so a visa entry like that may make a training field day for the agents!  I noticed a big difference between the regular DFW terminal and the charter terminal there - not many visa entrants in that terminal and it appeared to be a training ground for new agents - worst delay I've witnessed to date.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Re: 3.5 hrs in customs for K1 VISA e..., posted by grant5432 on Mar 3, 2004

A non-resident Colombiana who was staying with us in the US on a visa recently travelled with us for a trip to Mexico - I had her tag along with us through the US resident line upon returning and it was no problem.  If in doubt, you could by all means accompany her  in the non-resident line.  The distinction is only there for the benefit of US residents with the goal of a quicker line. I've utilized the non-resident line recently just because it was obviously quicker - I think most US residents falsely make the same assumption that you have to go to the US resident line (The line I believe says US citizens only but it means resident - I've asked them that before).  

My 2 cents - accompany her if at all possible - makes it a lot easier.  If not - at a minimum choose wisely when booking the flight to insure a very conservative layover time at the airport.  Also it would be adviseable for her to have other contacts beyond your phone number (your family or friends) that she could call should anything go wrong in transition.