Before entering the United States, all passengers must pass United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Many fear this experience, but by following the steps explained below, you'll get through customs in no time.
Steps
Step 1. On board the flight, you will be given some customs and immigration documents
If you are not a US citizen, you will need to fill out an I-94 form. If, on the other hand, you are a citizen of the United States, you will not need to fill out this form. All passengers must complete a customs declaration form: the form must in fact be completed by both US citizens and foreign citizens. Make sure you have completed filling in the required documents before entering the areas designated for customs and immigration formalities.
Step 2. When you leave the plane, always follow the directions that take you to international arrivals, immigration and customs
Don't stop to look around, as you could make the officials suspicious. Most of the time, to get to the customs and immigration areas, you cross a corridor or go down an escalator. In rare circumstances (mostly in small or worse organized airports) you will have to take a bus inside the airport itself.
Step 3. The first stop is Passport / Immigration Control
If you are a citizen of the United States, go directly to the designated lanes for United States citizens. If you are not a US citizen, go to designated lanes for foreign nationals. For connections, there are sometimes special lanes for transit passengers.
Step 4. Give your passport and immigration / customs forms to the officer
The officer will check the passport, scan it and affix the entry visa. The officer will also keep the I-94 form and validate and return the customs forms.
Step 5. After passing through passport control, follow the baggage claim signs
Here you can pick up your baggage, even in the case of a connecting flight. Check the monitors to see on which baggage conveyor the suitcases coming from your plane will be distributed and wait until your luggage appears on the conveyor belt.
Step 6. After collecting your baggage, the next step is customs
If you have nothing to declare, go through the green lane marked "Nothing to Declare". If you have something to declare instead, go through the red "Goods to Declare" lanes. In this area of the airport, you will hand in the customs form and, if you have nothing to declare, you will be signaled to continue towards the exit.
Step 7. If you have a connecting flight, follow the directions for "Connecting Flights / Connecting Baggage Drop-off" as soon as you pass through the customs area
If you are already at your final destination, go straight to step 8.
- When you arrive at your connecting baggage carousel, be sure to pack liquids, gels and sprays over 3 ounces (85 grams) or other items not accepted by hand baggage security in your checked baggage. Check that the tag (the airport label) of your baggage corresponds to your final destination. Place your luggage on the conveyor belt, with the wheels or handles facing up (the suitcase should, in fact, be upside down from the position in which you normally use it).
- Continue following the signs for connections, and proceed towards the security checkpoints in the departures area.
Step 8. If you are already at your final destination, follow the signs for the exit
Once you pass the customs and immigration areas you will arrive in the international arrivals area. Here you can, therefore, meet up with friends and family, or proceed to courtesy shuttles, taxis, car rentals or other means of transport.
Advice
- Be nice to officials. They will most likely behave in a similar way.
- Make sure you have all the necessary forms already filled in before presenting them at passport control or customs.
- Often there will be another official at the beginning of the passport control line to make your way to the booth where you will have to complete the entry formalities. The cabins are usually numbered.
- Don't be afraid of losing yourself. Just follow the directions as the path to follow to get to these structures is unique.
Warnings
- in no case is it allowed to take pictures, smoke and use the mobile phone in areas designated for customs and immigration. So do not make any calls, do not send any text messages and remember that you are in a highly controlled federal government structure.
- As in other circumstances, do not make jokes or jokes about bombing, terrorism, smuggling, etc., as threats are immediately taken seriously.
- Once you have left the baggage claim / customs area, you can no longer re-enter it: so make sure you have all your personal belongings with you before heading to your connecting flight or to the international arrivals area.
