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Immigration Lines

Posted By: Tom8042

Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 01:08 AM

Hello Everyone,

In 2019 when we arrived the immigration line must have had 500+ people. We walked to the right (walking past the 500) to the far right immigration booth (with 10 people) with no problems. Question, we are arriving on Saturday 1/22, I assume this plan will work again?
Posted By: WLE

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 01:11 AM


Today was the worst I've ever see it in twenty five years.
Posted By: pburke40

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 02:02 PM

I think that the far right booth is for people who live on the island and are returning home. Yes?
Posted By: ruralcarrier

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by pburke40
I think that the far right booth is for people who live on the island and are returning home. Yes?

That is how is has been in the past. If not in use, they will sometimes ask others in line to come to that booth.
Posted By: Bluesfan

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 02:58 PM

Wheelchairs also go through that booth.
Posted By: pat

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Tom8042
Hello Everyone,

In 2019 when we arrived the immigration line must have had 500+ people. We walked to the right (walking past the 500) to the far right immigration booth (with 10 people) with no problems. Question, we are arriving on Saturday 1/22, I assume this plan will work again?


Immigration lines are always anyone’s guess. If you are the only flight arriving at a given time you can sail through but any time after noon, and particularly on a Saturday, there will most likely be long lines there. What you really hope to avoid is arrival right after Air France or KLM. This happened to us once since hurricane Irma and it was chaotic.

The extreme right lane is marked for residents only but I agree, if not busy they may let you go through it as well as those wheelchair bound passengers needing assistance. But then again, we’ve seen them turn non-residents around and shoo them back to the regular lines. The end of those lines.
Posted By: Warden

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 03:55 PM

Arrived yesterday, delayed out of PHL. Arrive about 6pm after Air France, it was bad but with that said only hour total. TriA was there waiting super car service, so glad they are a sponsor.
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 05:15 PM

Yes, the far right lane was always for residents. I have often seen non-residents try to use that line and get turned away. I have never personally had the 'nads to try to use that lane, unless invited by the agent.
Posted By: Tom8042

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 09:12 PM

Thank you for the info, looks like I broke the rules 3 years ago without even knowing I did.

From years of traveling I have seen people line up for lines for no reason. So I always question it, this time we will wait patiently in the long line. We arrive Sat 1/22 at 1.30, so I expect the worse.
Posted By: boucharda

Re: Immigration Lines - 01/09/2022 11:08 PM

Arrived today a tad after 1pm...maybe 10-15 minutes for the whole process (most was waiting for the bus to leave) . Directed to the residents line and no issues. Took longer for the stairs to arrive for deplaning than to get through everything INCLUDING luggage pickup...Lesley was there waiting for us and off we went....and our 5th floor SBR upper B building room was ready when we checked in....shocked!
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