America is a well-liked vacation spot for travellers from the UAE, and anybody flying stateside from the capital can clear US immigration earlier than departing.
The UAE is considered one of solely six nations on the earth to supply this service — the others are Eire, Aruba, the Bahamas, Canada and Bermuda.
The service is accessible at Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport on Etihad flights to New York, Washington and Chicago, and permits passengers to clear safety, customs and immigration earlier than getting on flights. Which means on arrival within the US, travellers are processed as home slightly than worldwide arrivals, which permits them to skip on-arrival customs and safety checks, and go on to any connecting flights.
All passengers flying from Abu Dhabi should clear US immigration within the UAE, and there’s just a few issues to know earlier than you go. Right here’s The Nationwide’s information to navigating US pre-clearance on the Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport.
1. Get your paperwork so as
The paperwork wanted for entry to the US rely upon the rationale for journey, nationality and size of keep, so be sure the suitable paperwork is organised beforehand.
If flying below the visa waiver Esta programme, which permits folks from 40 nations to journey visa-free, apply for approval at the least three days earlier than the flight. This service prices $21, payable on software. It permits travellers to remain within the US for as much as 90 days as long as they’ve a machine-readable passport and a confirmed return or onward flight ticket.
For these flying on a US visa, it’s an extended course of, which takes wherever from just a few weeks to some months. As soon as the related paperwork is permitted, it is going to mirror on the US immigration system, and officers will be capable of see it on the Abu Dhabi airport.
2. Keep updated on Covid-19-related journey guidelines
At current, most travellers flying to the US should present proof of vaccination towards Covid-19, or a legitimate exemption certificates. Vaccines must be a type of permitted by US authorities and the second dose should have been acquired at the least 14 days earlier than arriving within the US. Youngsters below 18 and US residents are exempt.
Face masks are nonetheless required on all Etihad flights, and the US Centres for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) additionally recommends sporting masks on public transport and in closed areas. No PCR exams are required for journey to the US for the reason that nation eased journey restrictions in June.
3. Full preflight departure types
To clear US immigration in Abu Dhabi, there are just a few types that must be stuffed out. Etihad’s mixed disclosure and attestation type is obligatory as per CDC guidelines. It requests fundamental particulars in regards to the journey, such because the passenger’s title, flight quantity and departure date.
A contact tracing type can also be obligatory for all travellers. To finish this, a reserving reference quantity and an tackle within the US, which could be a resort or an Airbnb, is required. This have to be accomplished not more than 72 hours earlier than flight departure, and households travelling collectively solely want to finish one type. It’s accessible on Etihad’s web site.
4. Pack to US safety requirements
US Customs and Border Safety officers implement strict pointers on liquids being lower than 100ml in measurement and becoming into one single zipped plastic bag. This is applicable to all liquids, together with these bought at obligation free, even when they’re in sealed airport buying luggage.
A number of meals, plant and different merchandise are additionally prohibited from being taken to the US, so it is value double-checking on any souvenirs carried on. The record of what’s and isn’t permitted on worldwide flights right here.
5. Give your self loads of time
Clearing immigration in Abu Dhabi provides somewhat time to the journey earlier than departure, however saves time on the opposite finish, so it is value organising plans to have extra pre-departure time than regular.
Test-in for all Etihad flights to the US closes two hours earlier than departure. After that, there’s an preliminary safety test — the identical one that every one Abu Dhabi airport passengers undergo, adopted by a second safety checkpoint positioned close to gates 58 and 61, reserved for US-bound travellers.
If flying enterprise, skip the road for safety, however the subsequent US immigration checkpoint doesn’t supply fast-track for premium passengers and features might be lengthy. The pre-clearance service closes 60 minutes earlier than departure, so be sure to maintain somewhat greater than an hour earlier than flight time.
6. Anticipate to reply some questions
The immigration desks are manned by US border patrol officers who will ask questions in regards to the journey. Some fundamental ones embody the place, why and for a way lengthy the passenger will probably be within the US, and travellers can also be requested follow-up questions corresponding to what their occupation is or in the event that they’ve ever travelled to the US earlier than.
If flying with greater than $10,000 value of money, it must be declared, as will affirmation of not carrying prohibited objects corresponding to seeds or meats.
Many travellers arrive at these immigration level with reams of paperwork, however in actuality, if accomplished correctly, all that’s wanted is a passport, boarding cross and visa copy, if relevant. Travellers will even have their image taken for US authorities, and be requested to determine their checked baggage — which will probably be proven on a monitor by the border patrol official.
7. Make use of Etihad’s US lounge
There are a handful of gates on the opposite facet of US pre-clearance, in addition to a small retail kiosk. Financial system passengers can proceed on to their gate, whereas premium travellers can entry a devoted Etihad US lounge.
It is a smaller model of Etihad’s Enterprise class lounge and has snug sofas, bogs, Wi-Fi, complimentary drinks and a small choice of gentle bites and snacks. For passengers flying financial system who wish to entry to the lounge, there’s an eight-hour cross for Dh185 for adults, and Dh90 for youngsters, topic to availability.
8. Hit the bottom working
When touchdown within the US, there’s no must undergo any extra checks or safety clearances. Merely disembark and comply with indicators to baggage assortment or connecting flights if travelling to a different vacation spot within the US.
Up to date: August 24, 2022, 2:07 PM