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Travelling to New York, US

BigSaver_2
BigSaver_2 Posts: 213 Forumite
edited 7 August 2009 at 2:36AM in Overseas holidays & travel planning
Going to the states in October for the first time with a friend.

I have filled in the Visa waiver application online and its been approved. I have a UK passport, issued in 2005 (I think is it machine readable as it has the letters , numbers & chevrons at the bottom). Is there any thing else I need to do? Any taxes to pay on departure, etc?

I am travelling with a friend who reprimand on his record(from when he was young)which is his only minor offence, can he apply for Visa waiver online or does he need to get an visa on his passport?

Biggest mistake I made so far is booking the flight going to JFK airport as this is a busy airport and heard the airport has traffic lights on the runway. I should have book it to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

From experience, is the anything one can do to speed up the security & baggage checks? Things to take & not take, etc

Thank you
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Comments

  • duchy
    duchy Posts: 19,511 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker Xmas Saver!
    All runways have traffic lights and flying into JFK wasn't a mistake. Newark is to NYC what Stansted is to London
    I Would Rather Climb A Mountain Than Crawl Into A Hole

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  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,925 Forumite
    duchy wrote: »
    All runways have traffic lights and flying into JFK wasn't a mistake. Newark is to NYC what Stansted is to London

    I agree. It is all down to personal preference, but I prefer JFK to EWR.
    Gone ... or have I?
  • M4RKM
    M4RKM Posts: 5,132 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    took me 20 minutes to get through immigration, get my bags, through customs and outside last time i was at JFK... I don't like EWR as it's just in the wrong state for where i'm going to.. ;)

    EWR is more expensive to get into Manhattan, and as I'm staying Brooklyn this time for me, it's just totally unfeasible, also EWR is just as busy as JFK... the quietest airport is LGA, but you can't in international flights into LGA


    M
  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker
    BigSaver wrote: »

    I am travelling with a friend who reprimand on his record(from when he was young)which is his only minor offence, can he apply for Visa waiver online or does he need to get an visa on his passport?


    Thank you

    He can apply for a visa waiver online. Whether he gets it or not will depend mainly on his answers to the questions.

    A 'reprimand on his record' and 'minor offence' really don't give enough information to say what his answers should be. Potentially he needs a visa (That's US Embassy advice for any offence) if he is truthful about them - and there's precious little time to get one.
  • gregg1
    gregg1 Posts: 3,148 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    markymoo wrote: »
    took me 20 minutes to get through immigration, get my bags, through customs and outside last time i was at JFK... I don't like EWR as it's just in the wrong state for where i'm going to.. ;)

    EWR is more expensive to get into Manhattan, and as I'm staying Brooklyn this time for me, it's just totally unfeasible, also EWR is just as busy as JFK... the quietest airport is LGA, but you can't in international flights into LGA


    M


    Maybe we were unlucky - it took us over an hour just to get our bags at JFK
  • RedCanadaHat
    RedCanadaHat Posts: 75 Forumite
    markymoo wrote: »
    ... the quietest airport is LGA, but you can't in international flights into LGA


    M

    Pretty sure you can. I'm going to NYC from LHR via Toronto and that lands in LGA. Canada is not part of the US obviously.
  • lfc321
    lfc321 Posts: 644 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    RedCanadaHat wrote: »
    Pretty sure you can. I'm going to NYC from LHR via Toronto and that lands in LGA. Canada is not part of the US obviously.

    LGA is primarily domestic, but has some international flights from Canada and the Caribbean. Also some from mexico, I think. There are no flights from Europe into LGA as far as I know. As far as I know for international flights into LGA you are pre-checked by US immigration at your deaprture airport.

    I've flown into LGA before (on US domestic flights) and it is certainly much smaller than the others (not quiet though - I find it extremely crowded). It is nearer to Manhattan. Having said that, I don't find it hugely easier to get into Manhattan from LGA than from EWR or JFK.
  • BigSaver_2
    BigSaver_2 Posts: 213 Forumite
    Thanks everyone...keep the advice coming
  • blindman
    blindman Posts: 5,663 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    BigSaver wrote: »
    Thanks everyone...keep the advice coming

    My advice Look in this thread :confused:
  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,458 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post
    markymoo wrote: »
    the quietest airport is LGA, but you can't in international flights into LGA

    But you can get Air Canada flights into LGA.
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
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