One Minute Entry into USA

[Yagoda]

They're using facial recognition at LAX. He get off the plane, you follow the sign and the waving dude to the USA section, where there is an armed homeland security guy standing next to a screen, by the time you stand in position to look at the screen it's already recognized you and he says have a nice day. One minute entry. No passport stamps.

[soi3eddie]

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

They're using facial recognition at LAX. He get off the plane, you follow the sign and the waving dude to the USA section, where there is an armed homeland security guy standing next to a screen, by the time you stand in position to look at the screen it's already recognized you and he says have a nice day. One minute entry. No passport stamps.

 

If you are a citizen of the country, then that's how it should be! No questions, no third degree, no BS, welcome home sir! That's how it is in the UK via automated e-gates (just slide in passport and look at screen - same as exit BKK), hell, we even extend that to Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Japanese, Koreans, Australians and New Zealanders. 

 

My Cambodian GF just got a U.S. tourist visa. This will enable her visit with me to New York in August (assuming Cambodia is not on the no travel list by then). Fingers crossed. Just wonder what our welcome to the U.S. will be.

 

[jimmybcool]

Yup.  LAX is fast for IS citizens these days.  

 

 

[westsail]

On 6/21/2025 at 12:50 AM, soi3eddie said:

 

If you are a citizen of the country, then that's how it should be! No questions, no third degree, no BS, welcome home sir! That's how it is in the UK via automated e-gates (just slide in passport and look at screen - same as exit BKK), hell, we even extend that to Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Japanese, Koreans, Australians and New Zealanders. 

 

My Cambodian GF just got a U.S. tourist visa. This will enable her visit with me to New York in August (assuming Cambodia is not on the no travel list by then). Fingers crossed. Just wonder what our welcome to the U.S. will be.

 

If you are traveling together she can accompany you in the queue for U.S. citizens to save time.

[impulse]

On 6/20/2025 at 11:53 PM, Yagoda said:

They're using facial recognition at LAX. He get off the plane, you follow the sign and the waving dude to the USA section, where there is an armed homeland security guy standing next to a screen, by the time you stand in position to look at the screen it's already recognized you and he says have a nice day. One minute entry. No passport stamps.

 

That's good news and good to know. 

 

But not if I'm then going to have to wait an hour in the customs queue where they're going through suitcases looking for stuff like dried meat.  That's where I always got hung up in LAX, IAH, Seattle, etc.  Breezed through the IO and got the "Welcome home, sir".  Then onto the hourlong customs queue.  (Edit:  Though, in fairness, it wasn't always that long, but often enough...  Also, I've never had my bags searched unless I actually declared something.  But I'm amazed at how many Asians try to sneak in food.)

 

Has that gotten any better?  I've only flown out of the USA post Covid.  Not back in yet.

 

[ThreeCardMonte]

On 6/20/2025 at 10:53 PM, Yagoda said:

They're using facial recognition at LAX. He get off the plane, you follow the sign and the waving dude to the USA section, where there is an armed homeland security guy standing next to a screen, by the time you stand in position to look at the screen it's already recognized you and he says have a nice day. One minute entry. No passport stamps.

I have Global Entry and the face recognition was used at SAN on my last trip in April (avoid Songkran).

 

Not sure if it’s for Global Entry only or everyone.

[ThreeCardMonte]

On 6/21/2025 at 12:50 AM, soi3eddie said:

 

If you are a citizen of the country, then that's how it should be! No questions, no third degree, no BS, welcome home sir! That's how it is in the UK via automated e-gates (just slide in passport and look at screen - same as exit BKK), hell, we even extend that to Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Japanese, Koreans, Australians and New Zealanders. 

 

My Cambodian GF just got a U.S. tourist visa. This will enable her visit with me to New York in August (assuming Cambodia is not on the no travel list by then). Fingers crossed. Just wonder what our welcome to the U.S. will be.

 

If she has a return ticket it shouldn’t be a problem.

 

A lot depends on the interviewing officer.  Some are easy.  Some are dic—.

 

 

[ujayujay]

On 6/20/2025 at 10:53 PM, Yagoda said:

They're using facial recognition at LAX. He get off the plane, you follow the sign and the waving dude to the USA section, where there is an armed homeland security guy standing next to a screen, by the time you stand in position to look at the screen it's already recognized you and he says have a nice day. One minute entry. No passport stamps.

That is no argument to visit the USA, no need.

[hotsun]

2 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

That is no argument to visit the USA, no need.

You should stay out anyway, you need some money for that

[Yagoda]

15 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

That is no argument to visit the USA, no need.

I live here duh. You couldnt use the systems anyway its for us only

[Yagoda]

51 minutes ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

I have Global Entry and the face recognition was used at SAN on my last trip in April (avoid Songkran).

 

Not sure if it’s for Global Entry only or everyone.

I stayed thru Songkran, Im usually gone by then.

 

The Face Lanes were for everyone who had a US passport. Really a pleasant arrival.

[Yagoda]

56 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

That's good news and good to know. 

 

But not if I'm then going to have to wait an hour in the customs queue where they're going through suitcases looking for stuff like dried meat.  That's where I always got hung up in LAX, IAH, Seattle, etc.  Breezed through the IO and got the "Welcome home, sir".  Then onto the hourlong customs queue.  (Edit:  Though, in fairness, it wasn't always that long, but often enough...  Also, I've never had my bags searched unless I actually declared something.  But I'm amazed at how many Asians try to sneak in food.)

 

Has that gotten any better?  I've only flown out of the USA post Covid.  Not back in yet.

 

Ive never had a customs search upon return, nor have a I ever been hung up in Customs. Lax, JFK, Seattle are my usual arrival airports. In JFK the Vegetable beagle was hanging around the baggage sniffing. The only people that had to wait in a line were the ones the beagle was interested in. 

 

It was a pretty painless process and quite efficient.

 

LA is a overpriced Socialist hellhole obviously. $36 for a BLT, thanks minimum wage laws.

[Hawaiian]

1 hour ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

If she has a return ticket it shouldn’t be a problem.

 

A lot depends on the interviewing officer.  Some are easy.  Some are dic—.

 

 

While it shouldn't be a problem, immigration can invent a problem and refuse entry.  It happens every day.

In Hawaii, at least of the illegals are overstays.  Not sure about the numbers elsewhere.

[Jake44]

On 6/21/2025 at 4:39 AM, jimmybcool said:

Yup.  LAX is fast for IS citizens these days.  

Not always.  I'm a US citizen.  The IO still usually asks you what countries you went to while you were away and how long you were out of the country.  Answer those wrong and you will be pulled aside and questioned like I was recently.  I've had more problems entering my own country than any of the other 100+ countries I've been to.

[jimmybcool]

9 minutes ago, Jake44 said:

Not always.  I'm a US citizen.  The IO still usually asks you what countries you went to while you were away and how long you were out of the country.  Answer those wrong and you will be pulled aside and questioned like I was recently.  I've had more problems entering my own country than any of the other 100+ countries I've been to.

 

Sorry you got a bad entry.  I can only speak for myself.  Way back when (Like in the early 2000s) entry was bad.  Long queues, 40 minutes or more for US citizens.  Then long queues at customs.  Every time.

 

Last few years I have gone thru in less than 10 minutes total.  Using the facial recognition machines.  I don't check luggage though so that helps.  Maybe I just have that trustworthy look about me.  🤣

[Yagoda]

23 minutes ago, Jake44 said:

Not always.  I'm a US citizen.  The IO still usually asks you what countries you went to while you were away and how long you were out of the country.  Answer those wrong and you will be pulled aside and questioned like I was recently.  I've had more problems entering my own country than any of the other 100+ countries I've been to.

When? I saw them question no one. Were you using facial recognition.?

 

11 minutes ago, jimmybcool said:

Maybe I just have that trustworthy look about me

Also depends on where you were and where you are flying from.

[Knight Rider]

On 6/20/2025 at 8:53 AM, Yagoda said:

No passport stamps.

The US entry did not have passport stamps since early 2020. The IO only enters electronic I-94 in their system. Now, the electronic I-94 are generated from facial scan in a selected few airports and will be widely available in most airports by the end of 2025. 

[Knight Rider]

8 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

When? I saw them question no one. Were you using facial recognition.?

In Trump's era, they are questioning more and more people if you have an active YouTube political channel that talks against Trump's policies or an immigration lawyer

[Quentin Zen]

Do you think customs cares about used stuff?  What if I bring two used laptops, a few watches, and lots of used electronic stuff?  I wonder how the tax versus depreciation stuff works?  no, no receipts.  I don't keep those things.  

 

[Knight Rider]

12 minutes ago, Quentin Zen said:

Do you think customs cares about used stuff?  What if I bring two used laptops, a few watches, and lots of used electronic stuff?  I wonder how the tax versus depreciation stuff works?  no, no receipts.  I don't keep those things.  

They may confiscate your things. They once tried to confiscate my prescription medication that I bought in Thailand but luckily I had a doctor's prescription. 

[Knight Rider]

1 hour ago, Jake44 said:

Not always.  I'm a US citizen.  The IO still usually asks you what countries you went to while you were away and how long you were out of the country.  Answer those wrong and you will be pulled aside and questioned like I was recently.  I've had more problems entering my own country than any of the other 100+ countries I've been to.

Correct. 

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, Knight Rider said:

In Trump's era, they are questioning more and more people if you have an active YouTube political channel that talks against Trump's policies or an immigration lawyer

Or alternatively, there are a lot of folks with a pro terrorist agenda

[ThreeCardMonte]

1 hour ago, Knight Rider said:

In Trump's era, they are questioning more and more people if you have an active YouTube political channel that talks against Trump's policies or an immigration lawyer

I’m raising the BS flag on that one.  IO’s could care less of your political affiliation.

[ThreeCardMonte]

1 hour ago, Knight Rider said:

The US entry did not have passport stamps since early 2020. The IO only enters electronic I-94 in their system. Now, the electronic I-94 are generated from facial scan in a selected few airports and will be widely available in most airports by the end of 2025. 

US citizens never received a entry stamp.

 

I-94’s were for non USC’s.  

[ThreeCardMonte]

2 hours ago, Hawaiian said:

While it shouldn't be a problem, immigration can invent a problem and refuse entry.  It happens every day.

In Hawaii, at least of the illegals are overstays.  Not sure about the numbers elsewhere.

Primarily Japanese?

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, impulse said:

 

That's good news and good to know. 

 

But not if I'm then going to have to wait an hour in the customs queue where they're going through suitcases looking for stuff like dried meat.  That's where I always got hung up in LAX, IAH, Seattle, etc.  Breezed through the IO and got the "Welcome home, sir".  Then onto the hourlong customs queue.  (Edit:  Though, in fairness, it wasn't always that long, but often enough...  Also, I've never had my bags searched unless I actually declared something.  But I'm amazed at how many Asians try to sneak in food.)

 

Has that gotten any better?  I've only flown out of the USA post Covid.  Not back in yet.

 

Twice I've seen mid-aged Thai women stopped by border force / customs at Sydney International airport. Both times I had wood objects which I declared, got inspected, no problems, net please.   But there can be a wait queue.

 

The 2 Thai women had large suitcases and bags opened displaying large amounts of meat, poultry, fruit and veg, herbs etc.,  and both times the Thai women were abusing the customs officers In Thai and Thai speaking officers trying hard to get the women to understand that these items cannot be brought into Australia and why. And the translators sharing that the women were claiming that Thai people cannot be checked and it's not legal to stop people from carrying food to feed their families. All the food was confiscated and big fines paid. 

[jimmybcool]

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

When? I saw them question no one. Were you using facial recognition.?

 

Also depends on where you were and where you are flying from.

 

If you saw me you would know it really IS the trustworthy look I have.  🤣