V-Flyer

Having just received my Approved Authorization for my forth coming trip to the US, i wondered whether I would still need to fill in a Landing Card whilst on the plane before landing. I am assuming that my Approved Authorization has done away with the need for the green visa waiver form that I used to fill in the past. If anyone can shed some light on this it would be appreciated.

Do you mean Global Entry or ESTA?

If Global Entry you don't need to fill in a Landing Card. I know everyone has to visit an automated kiosk so can't comment on whether that negates the need for a Landing Card.

If you have been authorised for Global Entry then you don’t need to compete the green visa waiver or th blue customs card. You will answer those questions on the GE automated terminal when you land.

If you mean you’ve been authorised for an ESTA then yes you still need to complete both forms on the plane.

The green I 94 immigration forms have not been used for some time now. I think the ESTA system replaced those didn't it?

Unless you have Global Entry, I believe you still need to complete the blue customs form though. I'm sure I read somewhere that those are going electronic at some point as well.

Thank you all for your replies. In answer to some questions - No, I have not been authorised for Global Entry (not sure what that means), and yes, I have been ESTA approved. So, going by the comments, it looks like I will still need to fill out some forms or other.

If you’re travelling on an ESTA then you no longer need to complete a landing card it’s automatically completed via the e-booths. VS have not handed out US landing cards to the US on any of my most recent flights.

Last twice I have completed the blue card on the plane, but going to a kiosk have not given it to anyone on landing.
I had to put all the details in at the kiosk.
Dick D

It depends largely on if there are APC kiosks for everyone to use, or JUST returning ESTA holders.

My last two US flights in Dec and Jan they were still handed out by the crew. At SFO pretty much everyone was directed to use the APC machines.

At LAS there was only 6 machines in the whole immigration hall, so it was strictly only returning passport/ESTA and the customs guys were taking them off people as they came out.

You do not need to fill out landing cards any more. The last three times I've flown to the US with VS, they have not been given out on the plane as they are no longer needed.

Traveller2 wrote:You do not need to fill out landing cards any more. The last three times I've flown to the US with VS, they have not been given out on the plane as they are no longer needed.

I think there is some confusion here between the old green I-94 visa waiver forms and the blue & white customs forms.

The former have long gone, replaced by ESTA. The latter still exist and are still required, however at airports equipped with automated passport control (APC) machines they’ll collect the relevant customs information and the forms aren’t needed.

Trouble is not all airports have the APC machines, or you may not be eligible to use them (if it’s your first ever visit on an ESTA for example), or you may simply be directed away from them by an over-zealous queue marshal. In which case you will need a customs form so it’s probably best just to complete one on board anyway.

All of which is irrelevant if you have Global Entry - the paid-for fast track immigration service - in which case you don’t need to complete any forms.

On our last visit to LAS on leaving we were told you are a low security risk so you do not need to take shoes off or go through X-ray machine, they just waived hubby and myself through. It was a pleasant surprise to say the least. Whenever I go through the automated machines i always do something wrong and have to go through an agent must be the way I try and put my fingerprints on the machine, hubby despairs of me as of course he always does it first time. Linda

Last time I flew to ATL there were no blue customs cards and all pax went to a person not a machine (unless USA passport or Global Entry)

The last time I visited the US in November going through Pre-clearance in DUB, I suddenly realised I hadn't filled in the blue customs form and indeed it was nowhere to be seen. In the past they were at the entry to Pre-clearance and on my first time through, a guy who only had hand luggage arrived at the checkpoint without one and was sent away with a flea in his ear. I mentioned this to my son Are John, who now works for Aer Lingus and he told me they had got rid of them "ages ago"

Well. I shall be flying into Miami so I shall see whether VS will hand me a blue/white landing card to fill in or whether there will be APC machines to use instead. Thank you all for your comments.

Last May we flew into MCO. We did not have to fill out any customs cards. There were no machines in use that day. We just saw an immigration officer who did the usual checks and asked if we were carrying any food products. We then collected our luggage and walked out of baggage claim. There was NO customs area at all any more!

When we flew into Boston in September, again we had no customs cards but we did use the machines before seeing an immigration officer.

It seems to be pretty random at the moment depending on where you enter the USA.