Immigration Hall

Hi, not sure if this the right place but a question about the immigration hall at MCO (any US airport really). We are travelling to Orlando in 10 days and we are a party of 7. Two different family names, 4 and 3 pax. All on the same e-ticket so we check in as group at LGW. However, when we get to Orlando and immigration not sure if we can all go to a single immigration agent or split by family. We will complete two separate customs forms as required for two different family names. Might get through a fraction quicker if we split but the 3 group are first time visitors to the USA and feel they would be comfortable as a single group (in case they get a Mr Grumpy :0). Any advice would be helpful, thanks

[Darren Wheeler]

You'll need to go to the window as families. You can't just turn up as a 7 as one group will be sent back into line. If you're lucky, it'll be the front but the officer can send you to the back of the line (seen it done more than once..).

Thanks for the info Darren, much appreciated.

Might get through a fraction quicker if we split but the 3 group are first time visitors to the USA and feel they would be comfortable as a single group (in case they get a Mr Grumpy :0). Any advice would be helpful, thanks

My wife and I definitely got Mr Grumpy last Saturday afternoon at MCO v( Didn't send us away but mumbled his way through stuff and looked like he had other places to be n(

As long as you fill the forms in correctly, split into your two family groups and know the answer to the usual questions 'how long...' 'where.....' 'have you bought any food' you will be fine! Have a great trip y)

Thanks PM cannot wait to get some sun. More chatty than grumpy over the years and we have had a few just plain scary. When travelling two weeks after 911 our emigration officer was going on and on about terrorists (he was ex military) and vowing vengeance and a brief thanks for our (brits) support. Have a good vacation! was his parting comment. We also have had some nit pickers re the old pre ESTA forms - wrong colour ink - ticks outside (just) the box but never (touch wood) sent back to the line so far

Schoolboy error re emigration and immigration, thanks for fixing Neil? :#

Just make sure your friends are ready to answer the questions - the most common being

How long are you here for
Where are you staying
What do you plan on doing
How much money do you have
Have you been here before
What job do you do

And to give short, specific answers - they don't want your life story! Equally don't sound too rehearsed.

Try and fill the customs form on whilst at the airport - it's easier to do it on a table in the departure lounge than it is on a tray table !

the IOs at MCO are generally pretty friendly. they know that 99.99% of people are coming for a holiday and have tired grumpy familes and do their best to move you as quickly as possible.one apologised to me one day for the time ..I replied 'its ok you have to keep the bad guys out'...he just looked at me and said 'sir the bad guys are already here its not you guys (the british) we should be worrying about ' !!

Thanks everyone for the advice and the stories as well.

I may jinx myself saying this but have generally had pleasant experiences at immigration in USA. (2 x in NYC, 2 x Boston and 1 x Chicago).

One of the NYC trips I was with my Sister and we both did customs forms as I'm married and we have different surnames in our passports. But the immigration lady scanning the queue asked why when clearly we were Sisters and she tore mine up :0

Just make sure your friends are ready to answer the questions - the most common being

How long are you here for
Where are you staying
What do you plan on doing
How much money do you have
Have you been here before
What job do you do

And to give short, specific answers - they don't want your life story! Equally don't sound too rehearsed.

Try and fill the customs form on whilst at the airport - it's easier to do it on a table in the departure lounge than it is on a tray table !

We're off to Orlando in a few weeks, usually I take travellers cheques, but having read some of the comments on travellers cheque use now I decided to take a credit card designed for abroad use, the Halifax Clarity card, so can pay in shops/withdraw cash from ATM at no additional cost etc, I am planning to take aroud $1000 cash to have on me when I arrive.

How do people answer the immigration question 'How much money do you have' when they are using credit cards/payment cards? as I cannot pull out $4000 travellers cheques to prove I have enough money for a 2 week holiday.

Just make sure your friends are ready to answer the questions - the most common being

How long are you here for
Where are you staying
What do you plan on doing
How much money do you have
Have you been here before
What job do you do

And to give short, specific answers - they don't want your life story! Equally don't sound too rehearsed.

Try and fill the customs form on whilst at the airport - it's easier to do it on a table in the departure lounge than it is on a tray table !

We're off to Orlando in a few weeks, usually I take travellers cheques, but having read some of the comments on travellers cheque use now I decided to take a credit card designed for abroad use, the Halifax Clarity card, so can pay in shops/withdraw cash from ATM at no additional cost etc, I am planning to take aroud $1000 cash to have on me when I arrive.

How do people answer the immigration question 'How much money do you have' when they are using credit cards/payment cards? as I cannot pull out $4000 travellers cheques to prove I have enough money for a 2 week holiday.

I always took that question to mean how much money are you bringing into the country so they can monitor money movements and also so you can't arive with hundreds and leave with thousands (money laundering/criminal activity). I never considered it could be to prove you've got enough to survive for 2 weeks.

Last year I out down $500 and I was ok no further questions asked.

I always took that question to mean how much money are you bringing into the country so they can monitor money movements and also so you can't arive with hundreds and leave with thousands (money laundering/criminal activity). I never considered it could be to prove you've got enough to survive for 2 weeks.

Last year I out down $500 and I was ok no further questions asked.

We've never been asked how much money we are bringing in, either verbally or on a form.

Just make sure your friends are ready to answer the questions - the most common being

How long are you here for
Where are you staying
What do you plan on doing
How much money do you have
Have you been here before
What job do you do

And to give short, specific answers - they don't want your life story! Equally don't sound too rehearsed.

Try and fill the customs form on whilst at the airport - it's easier to do it on a table in the departure lounge than it is on a tray table !

We're off to Orlando in a few weeks, usually I take travellers cheques, but having read some of the comments on travellers cheque use now I decided to take a credit card designed for abroad use, the Halifax Clarity card, so can pay in shops/withdraw cash from ATM at no additional cost etc, I am planning to take aroud $1000 cash to have on me when I arrive.

How do people answer the immigration question 'How much money do you have' when they are using credit cards/payment cards? as I cannot pull out $4000 travellers cheques to prove I have enough money for a 2 week holiday.

I always took that question to mean how much money are you bringing into the country so they can monitor money movements and also so you can't arive with hundreds and leave with thousands (money laundering/criminal activity). I never considered it could be to prove you've got enough to survive for 2 weeks.

Last year I out down $500 and I was ok no further questions asked.

I thought the question was also to make sure you had enough money on entering the US to support your stay, so you would not have to work (illegaly) in the US to pay for the stay.

I am here on a work visa so we have bank account, credit cards,debit cards all from US banks.. I got back from a trip to the Uk and was asked 'are you bringing in more than 10 thousand dollars ?' to which I replied 'nothing like that' he then asked 'so how much DO you have' and looked very quizzically when I said 'about 30 bucks'..................and hastily added 'but i live here so have cards and a check (not cheque) book' ..phew

To the 'how much money' question I always say the $ cash amount (usually $ 500 -$ 700) plus my credit card and that generally satisfies. If there is a follow up its usually about how the hotel is paid for - and that responsvisvthat I have prepaid viA Expedia.

But they don't always ask that question of everyone all the time. For example a couple of years ago at SFO I wasn't asked but my mate was by the same agent who processed me.

Remember they are not always interested in the actual answer but to your reaction to the question.

We've never been asked how much money we are bringing in, either verbally or on a form.

There is a question on the customs form which asks if you are bringing in more than (I think) $10k

But as I said its not always asked. i reckon I have been asked a third to half of my 20 trips over the last 10 years or do.

We've never been asked how much money we are bringing in, either verbally or on a form.

I might be getting mixed up with another country that asks the specific value. Here's a copy of the form here, it's a simple yes/no for carrying more than $10,000.

http://www.immihelp.com/immigration/sam ... 6059b.html

I often get asked if I have more than $10k coming back from Vegas....I wish...lol

We've never been asked how much money we are bringing in, either verbally or on a form.

I might be getting mixed up with another country that asks the specific value. Here's a copy of the form here, it's a simple yes/no for carrying more than $10,000.

http://www.immihelp.com/immigration/sam ... 6059b.html

Yes, understand that form, it was the comment about "putting down USD 500" that made me wonder if I've been missing something.

Over the time I've been visiting the US the only instances where the questions have gone beyond 'vacation or business?' have been on short trips, business trips or where I have only had hand luggage.

Quick question on this topic normally it's just me and my husband on holiday but in July we have my sister in law and her friend coming with us. They have never been to the US. Will we need to visit 3 different immigration officers or can my sister in law go with her friend, and us two to a different desk?

Thanks

Sharon

You can go to the same desk if you want to or to two or three desks but however you do it you will be processed as three separate groups - you and Mr Shaz, your sister in law and her friend.

Your SiL and her friend will need separate customs forms too.

I can't wait to travel (out of then) back to the US now I have my greencard - whizzing past all the 'tourist types'

W.