International Travellers Could Face Delays at Customs

[Wendy]

Passengers flying into Orlando International Airport and on other international flights into the US may face delays at customs due to the government sequester and budget cuts that went into effect on the 1st March.

The US Customs & Border Protection have cut back on the number of workers processing these flights. Overtime staffing has been reduced and there will be a freeze on hiring in the coming months.

Passengers departing airports will also be affected by long lines.

A statement released by the US Customs said,

"Under sequestration, US Customs and Border Protection will not be able to maintain its required staffing levels at our ports of entry. CBP reduced overtime this weekend at ports of entry around the country and effects are already visible. Lanes that would have previously been open due to overtime staffing were closed, further exacerbating wait times at airports with typically longer international arrival processes. In the coming weeks, we will see additional impacts as the CBP hiring freeze and furloughs take place."

Would long waits at customs put you off visiting the US or will you just think of where you will be once you get out of the airport?

[Mari]

so whats new??

Last trip we waited 2 hours in a non a/c working room.... 1 agent for 3 full international flights

We then waited an extra hour until they realised Toρo wasnt a drug dealer

So now Im considering at least a 3 hour wait until we go through... hope its not 5 hours though

[Mags]

Wendy, I appreciate all the great work you do in gathering the news together here, but this is only the second thread Ive read today and it isnt going well. Considering how long the queues are already, this isnt good news.

Mags

[Wendy]

Oh Mags, there are some nice threads of information out there as well

I don't know what's happening in the US, first the IDP, then allowing knives and sporting equipment on flights and on top of that delays because of sequestration

If they want to stop UK visitors they just need to carry on as they are

Maybe Europe won't be so bad next year after all

[Dawn]

Do you guys actually want our tourist dollars or not?

[uscwest]

Things like this are just the tip of the iceberg. All of the spending cuts haven't even kicked in yet and almost 1 Million government workers are looking at 20% pay cuts. I don't know about you but something like that is really tough to absorb.

[Wendy]

Things like this are just the tip of the iceberg. All of the spending cuts haven't even kicked in yet and almost 1 Million government workers are looking at 20% pay cuts. I don't know about you but something like that is really tough to absorb.

It's going to hit you and Donna badly John isn't it

[Britchick]

I'm sorry John that we're moaning about this and it's going to affect peoples livelihoods

[uscwest]

It's going to hit you and Donna badly John isn't it

Yes Wendy it is. The hit could be as bad as $40,000 but we don't expect it to be that high.

[Wendy]

Yes Wendy it is. The hit could be as bad as $40,000 but we don't expect it to be that high.

I'm so sorry and here we are complaining about being delayed at the airport it's terrible that this is happening to you both