US ESTA arrivals?

Can someone with the relevant experience advise me whether or not to use the "electronic" gates at SFO?
I have just received a new passport with all the electronic bells and whistles, and have just renewed (a new) ESTA.
In view of all the new documentation should I try to slip through the electronic gates, possibly holding up the line, or take my time at the ordinary booths to avoid any embarrassment?

[buns]

you usally find that passengers are directed to the electronic gates who have previously used both thier ESTA and that passport

buns

Does SFO have a different system to the east coast airports? At both Boston and JFK last year we went to stand alone machines that printed a slip which we then had to take to an immigration officer. No gates to get stuck in...

Pjh. The point is I now have a chipped passport, this will be my first time to the States using it.
Just wondered if I needed to go through the usual channel to get in the system or would I be OK to try the machines?
Don't want to look a numpty, like to think of myself as an international jet setter!

My experience last week at MSP was that there was a minder who asked if I had an esta on my current passport that had been used before. On saying I had she directed me to a machine which was more a stand alone console than gates. After using the machine you show someone else the slip and are directed accordingly. As I had an X on June I had to see an agent but that was because my finger prints hadn't been read properly

So as this is a new passport and a new esta you will have to see an officer as they won't have your fingerprint on record with your new passport

[honey lamb]

When we were going through Pre-clearance in Dublin last week we were asked if we had a green card or had we gone through before on an ESTA. Even though we had both renewed our ESTA for this trip, we were directed to the machines.

[mitchja]

According to the CBP website here

Who Is Eligible to Use APC?

U.S. and Canadian passport holders and international visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries are eligible to use APC kiosks. Visa Waiver Program visitors must have Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTA) approval prior to travel and have visited the United States on at least one occasion after 2008.

SFO is the same as other airports.

When I used the machines at SFO in July, there was an agent initially guarding the entrance to the machines who asked to see my passport before allowing me through. I think they where looking for a previous US arrival stamp. The machines are straight forward enough to use and once they had printed out the receipt everyone using the machines then had to join a very short queue to speak to an agent. Not sure what the agent did but it didn't take very long at all, but you do need to make sure you keep the machine receipt (the agent will give it back to you) as you then need to hand this in to a customs agent after baggage reclaim as the receipt is also your customs declaration form.

Whilst in the short queue after using the machines, I did notice that most machine receipts people where holding had a big cross printed across the receipt (mine did) but a couple didn't. I *think* the ones with crosses on where non-US passport holders (but I could be wrong).

I went through MCO last Friday with a new Passport and ESTA and did not use the automated machines as usual and I asked the officer if I did what would happen and he said the machine would print out a ticket as usual but have a big cross on it and you would be directed to him. No big deal but would be a waste of time.

Pjh. The point is I now have a chipped passport, this will be my first time to the States using it.
Just wondered if I needed to go through the usual channel to get in the system or would I be OK to try the machines?
Don't want to look a numpty, like to think of myself as an international jet setter!

My misunderstanding. I thought you were envisaging that the US setup is similar to the setup when entering the UK. Apologies.

I went through MCO last Friday with a new Passport and ESTA and did not use the automated machines as usual and I asked the officer if I did what would happen and he said the machine would print out a ticket as usual but have a big cross on it and you would be directed to him. No big deal but would be a waste of time.

Back in Feb we were at MCO in the queue for immigration and it was quite long. We were directed to use the auto machine and helped through the process. Then back in a new queue for the same immigration booths, but we did cut out quite a bit of queuing. I think on the whole we gained.

Dick D

How recent was your MCO trip, arrived into MCO at end of June and hall was a nightmare, they had avoided all the signs and directed everyone to the queues although no one was using the machines. When the queue had reach back to the gate where the plane had landed they then started putting people through the automatic entry machines. I had used them before, 6 months previous, but wouldn't let me use them until we had got to that point, we did just follow a thomson and due to lightening and being held on ramp ba had just landed also so was really busy.

I hadn't realised that there were electronic "gates" that I could use in SFO - I have an EXISTING (i.e. not new) passport with PREVIOUS US entry-stamps (LA in June), but a new ESTA.

Are there more than one type of these electronic gates; which should I use (if there is more than one type)? Can someone explain what the process is now in SFO for clearing immigration please - I'm a UK Citizien, standard new-style chipped UK passport with prev US Entry stamps, and a new and unused (so far )- ESTA?

Thanks.

I'd like to know this too. I was under the impression it was the passport that counted, so once you've used it to enter the US it doesn't matter about whether you've got a new ESTA or not as it's the passport against which all your details are registered.

Mind you since it looks likely I'll be flying into EWR which has no automation whatsoever I guess it won't matter!

[mitchja]

EWR is on the list

The agents guarding the machines don't seem to apply the same official rules to this system for some reason as the one at SFO I encountered in July was adamant I could only use the machines if I've arrived at SFO within the last 12 months using the same passport and ESTA (which I had anyway). He did look through my passport checking for arrival stamps.

There where only 2 US arrival stamps in my new(ish) passport: SFO from July 2014 and MIA from Dec 2014.

So, my wife went through on a new UK passport and a new ESTA with our daughter that has a US passport at SFO, and through the automated gates and then, bless, giving the admission tickets to the CBP man. All went well, no dramas.

I suspect the machines aren't the problem - it's the zealousness of the staff guarding them. Who they let use them seems to vary from airport to airport and individual to individual.

Call me cynical but I do wonder whether the queue shepherders are told by the powers that be that their number one priority is to make sure US passport holders get through as quickly as possible, then worry about everyone else.

It could be the staff are 'reserving' the machines for people they know will get through them rather than anyone who then gets refused and then starts posting that the machines are useless.

just a general point on Security and Border crossing. in the past 3 weeks I have flown MAN to YVR, crossed from Canada into USA at Blaine WA, leaving BLI arriving at LAS, leaving LAX and arriving at YYZ, leaving YYZ and arriving at LGA, leaving EWR and arriving at YYZ (again) and leaving YYZ and arriving back at MAN .

Border officials have been , without exception - splendid. Queues have always depended on what had just landed and the number of officers on duty reflected that too, a sensible system.

the only frustrating thing was having to fill in Border Cards on each occasion . I am however dreading arriving in MIA in Jan 2016 and leaving from MCO having read all the recent posts about both airports.

Not sure what I would do at SFO - but delighted and relieved to discover on arriving at JFK on VS111 on 26 Sept that the T4 "Quick Connections" line available to anyone with a previously-used ESTA and(?) a connection in under 2 hours got me through US immigration in under 5 minutes - compared to average of 1 hour 15 mins on the last three occasions!

Does anyone know where the machines are at EWR? We came through a month ago and didn't spot them but we were sprinting to be near the front of the line for the ordinary desks. And as an aside had our first experience of a friendly, smiley, chatty security guy! Yes I will do a TR but for another week, we're still enjoying being exhausted by family!