french resident on UK passport flying to USA

[hoverfrog]

as a french resident on a UK passport, is there anything I should be aware of when flying to the USA?

[Ron Avery]

As far as the US are concerned you are British and as long as your passport has 6 months to run and has the bar coding the fact you live in France should not make any difference, there is no address in a passport/  Be prepared for a long wait on arrival and the kind of security checks we normally see on passengers leaving the country.

[hoverfrog]

Thanks Ron

[PaulT]

[quote user="Ron Avery"]Be prepared for a long wait on arrival and the kind of security checks we normally see on passengers leaving the country.[/quote]

We flew in to Raleigh / Durham this year with an onward connection to catch as many others had. And yes it took a fair amount of time. People, including us were getting a little twitchy about getting the connecting flight. However, one of the staff told us not to worry as the other flight was delayed - who knows what the situation would have been if it had not.

Those actually terminating at Raleigh / Durham had a long wait with their baggage but those passing through merely handed it over and that was that.

We boarded the plane during a thunder storm. The captain announced that there was a delay as the airlines staff were not allowed out in the open during thunder and lightning - no such rule applied to the catering company as they worked on.

Can always remember going to visit an American friend who could not believe that the visa form contained a question as to whether you were visitng to (memory fade but something like) carry out terrorist activities! On a subsequent visit I had to get an additional form to show him.

Paul

[hoverfrog]

I was under the impression that visas were no longer required for a tourist staying less than 90 days...

is this not the case?

[cooperlola]

When I flew to the States last year, you got a temporary visa, and filled in the form on the plane on the way over, Hoverfrog.

[hoverfrog]

phew!

haven't got long to sort it out if that was not the case :)

[cooperlola]

One other thing.  Others who've posted here are right, the procedure at immigration is lengthy (photo and finger prints were taken in my case).  In no circumstances use your mobile phone when queuing as you may put a whole bunch of armed security guys into instant action!  Apparently, this has a lot to do with the fact that many now have cameras and they are very twitchy these days.