I-94W

I hate filling in these forms on the plane - I never have a pen, or the pen I have doesn't work and no matter how many times I fill these in I always screw up on the date of birth line!

Has anyone ever grabbed a few from checkin or immigration, taken them home and filled them in before they got to the airport on future trips?

Am I going to have sniffer dogs and black helicopters after me if I do this?

Alex.

[HighFlyer]

Hiya

I always ask for a handful - as i always make mistakes!!

VS (and most airlines will) carry them onboard so take a decent pen with you and fill yours out carefully, taking plenty of time, and ask the crew for a few spares just incase. (i wouldnt advise taking them or filling them in at home - although i cant see that being an offence or anything)

Thanks,
Sarah

[mcmbenjamin]

Maybe bit much but you could take a bunch and fill them in with a old time type writter or create a template in a word processor and print text for the form using the printer.

Certianly would look more professional, esp. if you have a bunch to drink in the CH and then onboard.

I have some UK forms and will do this next time.

I have a few dotted around at home and work from previous trips.

If you start filling them in before you travel, you can guarantee that the form will get re-designed or ammended in some way!! [}:)]

However, I cannot see why you cannot complete them in advance.

[HighFlyer]

Maybe bit much but you could take a bunch and fill them in with a old time type writter or create a template in a word processor and print text for the form using the printer.

Surely you are not allowed to do that?? I thought they had to be filled in by hand .. although that would cause implications for those without hands.

(shut up Sarah .. stop digging ...)

I'm sure there's no reason why you can't fill them out at home - last year Virgin Special Assistance sent me some in the post to fill out for our children who were going to fly solo. They told me they would send me a few in case of mistakes and also so I would have some for future use.

I might be wrong but I thought they also had a supply in the Clubhouse so you can fill them in at your leisure before the flight.

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by HighFlyer

Maybe bit much but you could take a bunch and fill them in with a old time type writter or create a template in a word processor and print text for the form using the printer.

Surely you are not allowed to do that?? I thought they had to be filled in by hand .. although that would cause implications for those without hands.

(shut up Sarah .. stop digging ...)

I do not know if it is allowed in the UK or US. I will try and report.

I know if would be easlier if a software company sold a product that could help me with this.

In the LHR clubhouse there is a set of shelves to the right of the concierge (near the visitors' book with all the complaints about the CH being too busy [}:)]) where there are stacks of the forms.

BC

I have a stack full (about 50 or so) at home and generally fill me out the day before travel. I don't fill them out before as travel plans can change so easily and you have to enter your flight details etc. I would imagine that US Immigration would not like the printed forms even it was not technically 'illegal'.

You know what those guys are like. You know what makes me laugh on those forms. The US Address section is about as big enough to right the street number and the first word of the street only. How they would ever find me if they needed to I don't know.

Paul

Yeah those forms aren't protected by the secret service or anything - anyone can have them.

But i wouldn't do the typing thing. Americans don't like anything a bit different on those forms.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by Lipstick
But i wouldn't do the typing thing. Americans don't like anything a bit different on those forms.

Now that's true. I remember a girl in front of me a few years back. She'd filled hers in with one of those glitter pens... (Probably looked quite nice)


BACK OF THE LINE! [:0]

I think a typed form would raise more than a few questions at immigration.

Following BC's pointer, in the LGW clubhouse the forms are in a leaflet stand on the left hand side of the main desk, so you walk past them on the way in.

The green form does appear to be designed to be filled in wrong - especially with the positioning of the date of birth section (anyone else find it odd that you fill in the dates on it in English format rather than US, ie dd/mm/yyyy?)

I have noticed that the address "3900 Las Vegas Blvd S" fits in exactly

She'd filled hers in with one of those glitter pens... (Probably looked quite nice)


BACK OF THE LINE!

The first time I went to the USA, quite a lot of years back,I filled US address as touring[:I],the very nice JFK immigration man sent me straight to the back of the class,and then the nice customs man had a hour long chat with me about my luggage,scared the life out of me:D.I now try to keep a stash of the green ones and fill them in at home,more time to enjoy a drink in the CH

Originally posted by onionz

The green form does appear to be designed to be filled in wrong - especially with the positioning of the date of birth section (anyone else find it odd that you fill in the dates on it in English format rather than US, ie dd/mm/yyyy?)

Never noticed ....born 10th October

At least (for our benefit) they use the British format, and prompt you.

I was glad to see I was not the only one to make the date of birth screw up on the top line. I now have to consciously remember it each time I fill in an I-94W.

In case you have a really bad time, cabin crew should be able to find a spare for you. They are usually in the J magazine racks. Don't know about the back of the bus though(apot the person who doesn't pay for his flights!).

Beware that this information must now match the API you need to fill in before you complete your check-in! Manage Your Flights, you can add your API details, but always be sure they match, cause that's what they check API against when you get to the USA.

Juliet

VS always gives you a pen in the welcome pak or whatever they are dishing out - so no worries there - and I just like doing it as a part of my holiday I think it adds to the fun of going thru immigration and wondering if youve made a ricket!! hahahahah