MIA immigration

Hi, has anyone been through Miami recently? We are flying on VS5 on Friday and I wondered what the average wait is at the moment. Haven't been there in a while. Thanks Ian.

I was there last month and it wasn't good (over 2 hrs), we arrived on time (1600) and they did eventually fast track anyone with another flight before 1900 hrs.

Went though last August and it took 1.5 hours at least v(

Just over 1 hour for me late March landing slightly before schedule. Out of interest I did hear one of the immigration guys telling another passenger they are working on reducing the wait times, but whether thats through a new immigration area they are working on im not sure? maybe someone else with more knowledge could shed some light on that?

they are probably going to start shooting pax to reduce the queues !!! serioulsy Miami is the cess pit of US immigration, our lawyer specifically said never enter via Mia. most of them can hardly speak English and have the biggest attitude going.I am sure they are in training for a stint at immigration at Guantanamo !

Went out on the 6th May and it only took 25 minutes.

Was with family - 2 x kids and the official was very friendly taking time to talk to the kids about the beach etc.

Was dreading it but it was fine.

From VS5 landing at 3.50pm until we got out of the terminal building took exactly 1 hour.

If you are hiring a car, try to check in on line for it before you travel - it will save time at the desk as you just print out your confirmation at one of the many kiosks. we were using Alamo and we just went up and chose any car from our category in the parking lot.

Good luck
Paul

If you are hiring a car, try to check in on line for it before you travel - it will save time at the desk as you just print out your confirmation at one of the many kiosks. we were using Alamo and we just went up and chose any car from our category in the parking lot.
Paul

Will second this process as a massive time saver, although we checked in before we left the UK with Alamo and didn't have to do anything else other than get our car - have used this in a few destinations y) y)

if they direct the VS flight to the main hall and its packed head to the far left CREW and they will generally always take you

Was just through there last week Saturday and it was a nightmare. As a US citizen it took over an hour to get through and they kept moving us from line to line, the customs hall wasn't much better. I agree with flabound that it seemed to be the cesspool of US immigration!

This is not sounding like good news. I am travelling to MIA in early July!

On checking in online for rental cars (probably Alamo or national as their toll solution got Sunpass seems the best), how do you pay for any extras?

We went through there in 2001 at the height of the uk Foot & Mouth outbreak. It took nearly three hours to clear immigration as they made us Brits walk through special channels of soaking wet disinfectanted sponge. Makes taking our shoes off now seem more simple

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't know you could check in online for car hire, so I'll certainly be doing that. Keep the tips coming. Ian

Oh the US, they are so simple, as if F&M would survive on your shoe after an 8 hour flight!

Back to MIA, I simply refuse to fly there, instead I go via New York.

For any VS folk reading, please switch the flight to FLA?

I agree Slinky, Fort Myers or TPA gets my vote

I went through on April 28th....MIA is the worst airport ever. Took us 1.25 hours through immigration, then spent another hour in the car que.
Good luck, fingers crossed you have a better experience.

We went through MIA in mid-March. Although we were in a queue for around an hour, I didn't find it as bad as JFK at Christmas (over 2 1/2 hours!!). In general, people seemed more good-humoured about it as well.

If you are hiring a car, try to check in on line for it before you travel - it will save time at the desk as you just print out your confirmation at one of the many kiosks. we were using Alamo and we just went up and chose any car from our category in the parking lot.
Paul

Will second this process as a massive time saver, although we checked in before we left the UK with Alamo and didn't have to do anything else other than get our car - have used this in a few destinations y) y)

Paul

we have also booked a car via Alamo and done the online check in,bit confused if we are meant to print out the many pages of terms and condtions to take!

It does amuse me that while we in the UK are calling for public inquiries and heads to roll because some people have to queue for over 45 minutes at LHR immigration, the Americans almost seem to see it as a badge of honour that nasty foreigners have to wait 2 hours to get in to their country.

If you fly into Mia with ba or AA you can get through customs in minutes rather than hours I find. Their planes seem to land at smaller customs area and can be processed in no time

Paul

we have also booked a car via Alamo and done the online check in,bit confused if we are meant to print out the many pages of terms and condtions to take!

We printed everything out before traveling as I says to do, but didn't need it.
Simply went to a kiosk and swiped the credit card used on line and it printed out our agreement.

Take a copy of your voucher if you have one.

There was a supervisor there just in case of any problems.

Saved us about 45 minutes I guess judging by the queue at the Alamo desk.

Good Luck
Paul

Paul

we have also booked a car via Alamo and done the online check in,bit confused if we are meant to print out the many pages of terms and condtions to take!

We printed everything out before traveling as I says to do, but didn't need it.
Simply went to a kiosk and swiped the credit card used on line and it printed out our agreement.

Take a copy of your voucher if you have one.

There was a supervisor there just in case of any problems.

Saved us about 45 minutes I guess judging by the queue at the Alamo desk.

Good Luck
Paul

thanks Paul only flown into Chicago on internal flights but hear immigration lines can be pretty long,so time saved on car hire will be a bonus

If you fly into Mia with ba or AA you can get through customs in minutes rather than hours I find. Their planes seem to land at smaller customs area and can be processed in no time

There's been a lot of shuffling around in MIA recently as AA is haggling with the airport over the new terminal/baggage movement system. Eventually AA/BA/IB should move over to terminal D, which was due a new border facility end of this year - but that may move out due to AA bankruptcy. That should in turn provide some relief to other immigration points. I was under the impression that VS shared the same checkpoint with BA/AA, which would probably be half the problem; haven't been through MIA in a few years tho'. Even then, not clear if BA really will move to the new area.

Which is a long way of saying the same thing - nasty place to have to enter the US at. I'd never do it with a companion, although for myself Global Entry allows me to bypass all this circus.

Flying into Miami in July and have booked car rental with Dollar. Doesn't look as if they provide online check-in ! Looks from what has been said that I'd better look for someone like Alamo... Any advice?

Ive seen global entry MM, whats the score on it as in how do you do it/how much etc

Ive seen global entry MM, whats the score on it as in how do you do it/how much etc

I've been watching Global Entry for a while, and have heard stories that eligibility is going to be opened up to more countries, however, for the moment, it's:

Global Entry is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, Dutch citizens, and Mexican nationals. Canadian citizens and residents may enjoy Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program.