Traveling to the US

Originally posted by daywalker

Originally posted by preiffer

Originally posted by Claire L
why can't UK passport holders have their own line??

They do - it's called the IRIS system [y]

But not everyone can use it the required minimum of 4 times per year to prevent being removed from the system so it aint all that great for your infrequent traveller.

Is that advertisied anywhere? I joined in October, don't remember seeing a limit anywhere? TIA.

[mitchja]

From the IRIS web site FAQ section:

16. How often do I have to travel to enrol on iris?

There is an expectation that to benefit from using IRIS, a person should travel into the United Kingdom at least twice in six months, or four times per year. However, the final decision to enrol passengers on IRIS remains with the Immigration Officer at the enrolment room.

Regards

[Scrooge]

Also the US has it's own version http://flyclear.com/

Originally posted by mitchja
From the IRIS web site FAQ section:

16. How often do I have to travel to enrol on iris?

There is an expectation that to benefit from using IRIS, a person should travel into the United Kingdom at least twice in six months, or four times per year. However, the final decision to enrol passengers on IRIS remains with the Immigration Officer at the enrolment room.

Regards

Thanks, but I read that as having to justify your flights to enrol, not that it will be removed if you don't use it? When asked, I just said I travel around a bit for work and pleasure, and they let me join. [:w]

I was told at enrollment that once enrolled, you have to use it once every three years: i.e. there will always be three years from the last time you use it before your registration expires.

Originally posted by adjonline
I was told at enrollment that once enrolled, you have to use it once every three years: i.e. there will always be three years from the last time you use it before your registration expires.

Interesting, I was told at enrolment that if I did not use it 4 times in a year I would be removed from the system [?] You just knew some people would be told different things however, upon viewing the website, it sounds like the 4 times in a year is due to time benefits etc. If you're only going to use it once a year it's probably not worth wasting the time to enrol in the first place, we waited 45 mins in total to register as it was a busy time for the office.

[HighFlyer]

Only took 5 minutes when i enrolled a few weeks ago. I was there about 8am on a Monday morning and there was no queue. I was in and out within 5 minutes. Well worth doing as it certainly cut the queue for me to come back home to the UK .. and lengthened my waiting time at the baggage belts

Thanks,
Sarah

SSSS can obviously be a hassle, but I would agree that it seems much the same as it has always been and better than some countries. Cape Town can be a nightmare,

Any tips ?
Thanks

Originally posted by Paul H
SSSS can obviously be a hassle, but I would agree that it seems much the same as it has always been and better than some countries. Cape Town can be a nightmare,

Any tips ?
Thanks

Run off the aircraft! Well basically don't fanny around. So many people seem to dawdle between the aircraft and immigration at any airport...

I flew into CPT in Feburary last year and found it to be no problem. The 280 odd people who ended up behind us by the time we reached immigration probably found it pretty bad though.[:I]

[mitchja]

Well after complaining to the US CBP regarding my secondary immigration problems on my last 2 US trips, they have replied back to me today.

They say there's nothing on my immigration records to warrent secondary immigration (hence the reason why I can still use OLCI) but they have said that I need to contact another law enforcement agency to get a 'no criminal record statement' as the CBP systems are now linked to the National Crime Information Center (which is managed by the FBI) and they think it's because my name and DOB match someone on one of these lists [:?]

Doing this 'should' prevent secondary immigration checks if I get one of these 'no criminal record statements' to show immigration when I enter the US.

All they have given me are 2 US phone numbers to call to get this statement.

Regards

Originally posted by Paul H

Any tips ?

Other than flying UC so you get to the front of the queue, take a book to read while you wait.

I've been barked at a few times at JFK - wanting to know why i'm only there for a day or 2. Explained the cost of hotels was expensive and you're stamped thru. Having said that, MCO was the first nice guy i've met. He actually seemed pleased to see us!

And so what if i make a few trips a year?? I do have to bite my tounge sometimes for fear of being sent straight back home!

Only just found this thread so may have missed the boat somewhat.

I don't think Immigration is any worse than it use to be. I can vividly remember arriving in MIA off a VS flight and seeing a toddler almost being shot for crossing the line that exists in the carpet before the officers booth.

ATL is aninteresting one- the lady who keeps control of the line is fantastic and seems to provide much amusement to all the Brits arriving!

I think the new restrictions are much harder on those who do not speak English- my last trip over I watched with amazement as the immigration staff struggled with communicating to the Italians/Germans/French in the hall.

I agree that safety is far more important than courtesy, these guys have a serious job to undertake and the aim of the game is to make your destination safer not to make it a more pleasurable experience. Ok granted they do take themselves a bit too seriously and in my oppinion so do a lot of the police there too.
I know that i would not feel as safe given what has gone on there in recent years, if i arrived to find security joking around with us rather than taking there job seriously in cracking down on immigration.
10 fingerprints will take a bit longer but if it helps is it not worth it?

I think I've said it before, but I for one would be willing to undergo stringent checks if it resulted in some form of fast pass/Iris type thing. For frequent fliers that is [}:)]. Hell, I'd even pay for it.

It's not going to stop visiting my favourite country (love the country, loathe the administration, blah blah blah) but I have noticed longer waits than before all this security nonsense.

I'm always processed fairly quickly - although I do have to explain to them what greeting cards EVERY time. My problem is with the people in front of me, they always seem to take forever to be processed.
This is also the case at banks, cashpoints, in toilets etc...

And I do wish the immigration staff would just smile for once

Dean