Immigration entering New York for UK Citizen

[fabnfortysomething]

we will be sailing Southampton to New York on QM2 next year

plan is to fly to see friends several hundred miles North on day ship docks

How is immigration handled for UK citizens-on board ship or at terminal?

 

I know when flying into USA we can be stuck in long immigration lines and wonder whether can expect similar arriving by ship

 

just trying to plan timing of flight

[North West Newbie]

1 hour ago, fabnfortysomething said:

we will be sailing Southampton to New York on QM2 next year

plan is to fly to see friends several hundred miles North on day ship docks

How is immigration handled for UK citizens-on board ship or at terminal?

 

I know when flying into USA we can be stuck in long immigration lines and wonder whether can expect similar arriving by ship

 

just trying to plan timing of flight

 

Immigration at Brooklyn takes place in the terminal for all passengers and yes you are likely to experience similar lines if not worse to those at the airport.

 

It is often reported on here that one way to reduce waiting is to engage the services of a porter who will escort you and your luggage through the US Residents’ channel and the cost (tip) is worth every cent.

Edited September 28, 2019 by North West Newbie

[ace2542]

2 hours ago, North West Newbie said:

 

Immigration at Brooklyn takes place in the terminal for all passengers and yes you are likely to experience similar lines if not worse to those at the airport.

 

It is often reported on here that one way to reduce waiting is to engage the services of a porter who will escort you and your luggage through the US Residents’ channel and the cost (tip) is worth every cent.

You can also reduce your waiting time by getting up and being ready to get off the ship at 6.30 to 7am and do the self disembarkation. We did that with no luggage on our cruise to quebec last month and we finished immigration by 7.30am

[fabnfortysomething]

2 hours ago, North West Newbie said:

 

Immigration at Brooklyn takes place in the terminal for all passengers and yes you are likely to experience similar lines if not worse to those at the airport.

 

It is often reported on here that one way to reduce waiting is to engage the services of a porter who will escort you and your luggage through the US Residents’ channel and the cost (tip) is worth every cent.

thanks

am going to book Wheelchair assistance for husband so that may also help

[North West Newbie]

8 minutes ago, ace2542 said:

You can also reduce your waiting time by getting up and being ready to get off the ship at 6.30 to 7am and do the self disembarkation. We did that with no luggage on our cruise to quebec last month and we finished immigration by 7.30am

 

That is true but one has to bear in mind that you will need to carry your entire luggage (not just hand luggage) off the ship yourself and in one pass. You are not permitted to make several trips between the ship and the terminal.

[North West Newbie]

4 minutes ago, fabnfortysomething said:

thanks

am going to book Wheelchair assistance for husband so that may also help

 

Yes and I expect it will also fast track your exit off the ship.

[Bell Boy]

3 hours ago, fabnfortysomething said:

we will be sailing Southampton to New York on QM2 next year

plan is to fly to see friends several hundred miles North on day ship docks

How is immigration handled for UK citizens-on board ship or at terminal?

 

I know when flying into USA we can be stuck in long immigration lines and wonder whether can expect similar arriving by ship

 

just trying to plan timing of flight

In the Terminal, just the same as arriving by air into any US city with  long lines and arrogant clearance officers as usual. Our American cousins don't realise how easy the system is when arriving into the UK by Cunard ship. Just wave your US passport in the air and breeze through, then off in time for a nice pub lunch & a pint of beer. 😉

[Bigmike911]

59 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

In the Terminal, just the same as arriving by air into any US city with  long lines and arrogant clearance officers as usual. Our American cousins don't realise how easy the system is when arriving into the UK by Cunard ship. Just wave your US passport in the air and breeze through, then off in time for a nice pub lunch & a pint of beer. 😉

Bell Boy, I have to say your customs officers and procedures at Heathrow more than make up for the ease of traveling by ship. I queued in the 'Fast Track' lane for 45 minutes before presenting my documents to one of the two officers working the 'Fast Track'. Total time from plane to taxi over an hour and a half.

[Fairgarth]

Well.....don't know if this is relevant but anyway.  We came off a cruise in Bayonne last week.  Line ups?  Pah!!  There were no officers around, we walked up to a screen which looked like a mirror by reflecting our face image.  It took a photo and we walked out.  10 seconds maybe?  We're not American but there was no need for passports for anybody that we could see.

[North West Newbie]

3 minutes ago, Fairgarth said:

Well.....don't know if this is relevant but anyway.  We came off a cruise in Bayonne last week.  Line ups?  Pah!!  There were no officers around, we walked up to a screen which looked like a mirror by reflecting our face image.  It took a photo and we walked out.  10 seconds maybe?  We're not American but there was no need for passports for anybody that we could see.

 

Maybe the local authorities cleared the ship using the manifest?

[Underwatr]

If you book a Cunard transfer you're among the first groups off the ship.

 

From June 30, '19:

[57eric]

On ‎9‎/‎28‎/‎2019 at 8:56 AM, North West Newbie said:

 

That is true but one has to bear in mind that you will need to carry your entire luggage (not just hand luggage) off the ship yourself and in one pass. You are not permitted to make several trips between the ship and the terminal.

True enough, but the poster was describing how they cleared customs at what was, for them, a stopover.

[ace2542]

On 9/28/2019 at 2:03 PM, Bell Boy said:

In the Terminal, just the same as arriving by air into any US city with  long lines and arrogant clearance officers as usual. Our American cousins don't realise how easy the system is when arriving into the UK by Cunard ship. Just wave your US passport in the air and breeze through, then off in time for a nice pub lunch & a pint of beer. 😉

We shouldn't be complaining the UK is still on the visa waiver program the experience of applying for U.S visas would be very traumatic and costly indeed. 

 

The reason they don't do CPB clearance in westbound crossing is probably the speed of the internet and the CPB being able to connect to the computer network.

Edited September 29, 2019 by ace2542

[North West Newbie]

9 hours ago, 57eric said:

True enough, but the poster was describing how they cleared customs at what was, for them, a stopover.

 

Yes but the OP, who the advice was intended, is not. I was simply adding to what ace2542 had said.

[Bell Boy]

15 hours ago, ace2542 said:

We shouldn't be complaining the UK is still on the visa waiver program the experience of applying for U.S visas would be very traumatic and costly indeed. 

 

The reason they don't do CPB clearance in westbound crossing is probably the speed of the internet and the CPB being able to connect to the computer network.

I'm a Brit and I hold a US visa in my passport ,  I renew it every ten years (I'm not referring to an Esta) however, I still have to stand in long lines either at airports or cruise terminals. 

There is nothing traumatic in apply for a US visa ( I believe I pay around £75) saves me having to renew an Esta every two years.  

[ace2542]

45 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

I'm a Brit and I hold a US visa in my passport ,  I renew it every ten years (I'm not referring to an Esta) however, I still have to stand in long lines either at airports or cruise terminals. 

There is nothing traumatic in apply for a US visa ( I believe I pay around £75) saves me having to renew an Esta every two years.  

Unless you don't get it in which case you can forget about going to America. If the UK wasn't on the visa waiver program a good number of people would be denied visas and probably never be able to visit. Countries in Eastern Europe would kill to be on it. We should never complain about that status.

Edited September 30, 2019 by ace2542

[fabnfortysomething]

On 9/30/2019 at 3:18 PM, ace2542 said:

Unless you don't get it in which case you can forget about going to America. If the UK wasn't on the visa waiver program a good number of people would be denied visas and probably never be able to visit. Countries in Eastern Europe would kill to be on it. We should never complain about that status.

forgive my ignorance but I thought it was only if you are squeaky clean you are eligible for the visa waiver status

 

if you have a criminal record or profession such as journalist[not suggesting 2 are linked!] wont  you will be denied ESTA and have to apply for full visa?

 

didn't a UK celebrity get caught out a few years ago when tried to enter USA  for a family holiday and was denied because of a drug conviction?

[Bedruthen]

My husband had to go through the arduous process of getting a 10 year Visa, as he had visited Iraq on business ( ironically whilst working for a US company) and was denied a visa waiver under the ESTA scheme. Despite the rigorous interview process involved in getting a Visa, he still gets pulled aside every single time we enter US and has to answer a myriad of questions about where he went in Iraq and who he visited. Last trip we arrived in New York, got detained, visited Canada and got detained again on re-entering US. Not sure what they thought might have changed over a period of 5 days.  Heaven help us in in a few years time when he can’t remember! 

[janert]

Bedruthen, I am sorry that you have difficulties in entering the USA.  Try going thru LHR as a non citizen.  1/1/2 hours.  

And I have been pulled aside because of some of the countries I have traveled to. And patted down. Happens in other countries too.  Was on a ship in Venice for 2 1/2 days.  I had a extensive pad down every time I came back on the ship.  In sight of all the rest of the passengers.  

I think lots of countries are must more interested in non citizens because unfortunately  because of what our world has become.  The USA certainly changed after 9/11.  

I just feel lucky to be able to travel.

 

[ace2542]

14 hours ago, fabnfortysomething said:

forgive my ignorance but I thought it was only if you are squeaky clean you are eligible for the visa waiver status

 

if you have a criminal record or profession such as journalist[not suggesting 2 are linked!] wont  you will be denied ESTA and have to apply for full visa?

 

didn't a UK celebrity get caught out a few years ago when tried to enter USA  for a family holiday and was denied because of a drug conviction?

If you can't travel on the VWP for whatever reason there is no way to be sure you will get the visa once you apply. If you are denied and decide to apply again you are just sending good money after bad and repeated applications make you look desperate.

 

If the UK was not on the VWP the refusal rates would be pretty high. Refusal rates for Poland, Romaina, Russia and other non VWP countries can be quite high at times for various reasons. Again we don't know lucky we have got it.

 

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

On 9/28/2019 at 2:42 PM, Fairgarth said:

Well.....don't know if this is relevant but anyway.  We came off a cruise in Bayonne last week.  Line ups?  Pah!!  There were no officers around, we walked up to a screen which looked like a mirror by reflecting our face image.  It took a photo and we walked out.  10 seconds maybe?  We're not American but there was no need for passports for anybody that we could see.

 

A round-trip from Bayonne? That tends to make the process easier. Also, you're from Canada, and I think your processing is easier than it is for people from countries not in North America.

 

[IB2]

On the eastbound, a British immigration officer travels on the ship and immigration clearance is done en route by queuing for fifteen minutes or so outside the restaurant.  In Southampton you simply get your luggage and stroll through customs.

 

For westbound, it’s done on shore and I didn’t notice any obvious priority being given to anyone once off the ship. Those opting for self disembark go first, and there are enough of them to create a good queue for those that follow, even in the priority categories.  I was off by 0815 as a silver priority disembarkation and it took about fifty minutes to reach the immigration officer.

Edited October 26, 2019 by IB2
+

[Underwatr]

1 hour ago, IB2 said:

I didn’t notice any obvious priority being given to anyone once off the ship.

When DW would disembark with a cane we'd be escorted to the front of the queue by a worker in the terminal.