A travel guide to Manhattan, Nueva York...

Getting through Customs

Before leaving the airport it is essential that you clear Customs. Even on busy days you won’t have to wait too long. Pay attention to the Government Officials when taking your place in the queue. When you arrive at the counter, you will have to hand over the declaration that you have filled in to the Government Official. This is the green I-94W form that every passenger should fill in.

The Customs Official will ask you various routine questions: how many times you have visited New York, what is the motive of your visit, when are you leaving, where you are staying etc… They will take your fingerprints and a photograph. At the same time they will give you your entrance visa that will be stapled to your passport until you leave, when you will have to hand it in on leaving the country. Don’t worry if you understand the mechanics of what you have just read, when you are in the queue just pay attention to what everyone does and what the Customs Officials ask them to do.

Once you have cleared Customs you will have to hand in a second form, the 1651-0009, which is blue and filled in by each family, and hand it in to the Customs Official who requests it. If you have anything to declare, let them know at this point. They will tell you what you have to do. If you do not have anything to declare, simply hand in the form.

Once you have completed all these processes you are free to leave the airport.