Dilemma - IAD pick up this Friday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be more excited about seeing my son and less annoyed at sitting in traffic and I wouldn't be saying "ugh" and I would send my child they message that they are worth waiting for by not changing their flight.

Agree. Why send a message that it’s not a convenient time to pick you up? It’s not every week, it’s once a year?

Or OP could just pay for an uber. It doesn't mean you don't love your kid if you send a taxi to pick them up. Presumably OP could be doing other things that are productive during those hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're foreigners (now green card applicants too!) and it's not a double immigration he has to do - just the long line, with the grumpy officers who hate you and automatically think you're out to defraud the United States My kids slept on the floor when they were little, in the line. We're treated like cattle.

If he's unlucky, he or any other foreigner (regardless of whether they're on a visa waiver, visa or green card application) will be asked to wait in a second area to answer more questions. My EU parents on a visa waiver once had to do that, while I waited for 4 hours at Arrivals not knowing what they were up to. But that's rare.

I would consult Waze for the most accurate driving time estimate, then plan to arrive an hour after the plane lands. At that time of the day, a lot of international planes land at Dulles, so there's practically no chance he'll be waiting for you. -and if he does, no big deal, he's safely arrived. But it might cut short your own waiting time, if his immigration process takes longer. I would never tell my college kid to take Metro after landing at Dulles. I would brave any amount of traffic. Bring a book and a travel mug of tea, or something When I was waiting for my college kid at Dulles, I bought him balloons, ha! He's a dual citizen, but the airline lost his luggage, so even though he had no immigration process, it still took a while for him to make it out!

(I'd worry more about Border Control taking issue with his travel authorization, to be honest. The emergency number. That risk decreases massively if he's already traveled on his travel authorization without issue.)

I'm sorry Green Card applicant... citizens are treated like cattle too, and I have been in the International line where the foreign visa holders had twice as many agents helping them as the citizens. Get over yourself. And guess what... hundreds of thousands of Visa overstays occur each year, so there are a lot of people out to defraud the U.S.

What matters is ratio of agents to travelers. The international line takes at least double the wait time of the citizen lines nearly 100% of the time. In the afternoon rush of international plane arrivals, it's more like triple, quadruple or more! I use Dulles often. This is from lived experience.

Secondary immigration is even worse and can feel like a holding pen. When we travel as a family, we go through it with him. Nothing worse than the interminable waiting when there is one agent processing passengers but 4 or 5 others having a chat over a coffee in the background. Certainly makes me aware of my white privilege as everyone else is usually from less developed countries (hence being referred for secondary screening) and probably encounter this a lot. At some stage, another agent finishes their break and ambles over.

Contrast with BWI where it once took us TWENTY MINUTES from disembarking to doing both immigrations, picking up our checked bags and making it outside. The gods surely smiled upon us. The agent used to work at IAD and said it is a nightmare. Unfortunately it wasn’t an option this time.

[Anonymous]

South on the beltway is much better than north inner loop on that section. That being said, I would go camp out at Chateau De Chantilly or Tour De Jours Cafe for a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're foreigners (now green card applicants too!) and it's not a double immigration he has to do - just the long line, with the grumpy officers who hate you and automatically think you're out to defraud the United States My kids slept on the floor when they were little, in the line. We're treated like cattle.

If he's unlucky, he or any other foreigner (regardless of whether they're on a visa waiver, visa or green card application) will be asked to wait in a second area to answer more questions. My EU parents on a visa waiver once had to do that, while I waited for 4 hours at Arrivals not knowing what they were up to. But that's rare.

I would consult Waze for the most accurate driving time estimate, then plan to arrive an hour after the plane lands. At that time of the day, a lot of international planes land at Dulles, so there's practically no chance he'll be waiting for you. -and if he does, no big deal, he's safely arrived. But it might cut short your own waiting time, if his immigration process takes longer. I would never tell my college kid to take Metro after landing at Dulles. I would brave any amount of traffic. Bring a book and a travel mug of tea, or something When I was waiting for my college kid at Dulles, I bought him balloons, ha! He's a dual citizen, but the airline lost his luggage, so even though he had no immigration process, it still took a while for him to make it out!

(I'd worry more about Border Control taking issue with his travel authorization, to be honest. The emergency number. That risk decreases massively if he's already traveled on his travel authorization without issue.)

I'm sorry Green Card applicant... citizens are treated like cattle too, and I have been in the International line where the foreign visa holders had twice as many agents helping them as the citizens. Get over yourself. And guess what... hundreds of thousands of Visa overstays occur each year, so there are a lot of people out to defraud the U.S.

What matters is ratio of agents to travelers. The international line takes at least double the wait time of the citizen lines nearly 100% of the time. In the afternoon rush of international plane arrivals, it's more like triple, quadruple or more! I use Dulles often. This is from lived experience.

When I arrive in LHR or AMS or most foreign airports, the non-citizen/visitor line always is much longer. SIN is the only exception to this that I know of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're foreigners (now green card applicants too!) and it's not a double immigration he has to do - just the long line, with the grumpy officers who hate you and automatically think you're out to defraud the United States My kids slept on the floor when they were little, in the line. We're treated like cattle.

If he's unlucky, he or any other foreigner (regardless of whether they're on a visa waiver, visa or green card application) will be asked to wait in a second area to answer more questions. My EU parents on a visa waiver once had to do that, while I waited for 4 hours at Arrivals not knowing what they were up to. But that's rare.

I would consult Waze for the most accurate driving time estimate, then plan to arrive an hour after the plane lands. At that time of the day, a lot of international planes land at Dulles, so there's practically no chance he'll be waiting for you. -and if he does, no big deal, he's safely arrived. But it might cut short your own waiting time, if his immigration process takes longer. I would never tell my college kid to take Metro after landing at Dulles. I would brave any amount of traffic. Bring a book and a travel mug of tea, or something When I was waiting for my college kid at Dulles, I bought him balloons, ha! He's a dual citizen, but the airline lost his luggage, so even though he had no immigration process, it still took a while for him to make it out!

(I'd worry more about Border Control taking issue with his travel authorization, to be honest. The emergency number. That risk decreases massively if he's already traveled on his travel authorization without issue.)

I'm sorry Green Card applicant... citizens are treated like cattle too, and I have been in the International line where the foreign visa holders had twice as many agents helping them as the citizens. Get over yourself. And guess what... hundreds of thousands of Visa overstays occur each year, so there are a lot of people out to defraud the U.S.

What matters is ratio of agents to travelers. The international line takes at least double the wait time of the citizen lines nearly 100% of the time. In the afternoon rush of international plane arrivals, it's more like triple, quadruple or more! I use Dulles often. This is from lived experience.

Secondary immigration is even worse and can feel like a holding pen. When we travel as a family, we go through it with him. Nothing worse than the interminable waiting when there is one agent processing passengers but 4 or 5 others having a chat over a coffee in the background. Certainly makes me aware of my white privilege as everyone else is usually from less developed countries (hence being referred for secondary screening) and probably encounter this a lot. At some stage, another agent finishes their break and ambles over.

Contrast with BWI where it once took us TWENTY MINUTES from disembarking to doing both immigrations, picking up our checked bags and making it outside. The gods surely smiled upon us. The agent used to work at IAD and said it is a nightmare. Unfortunately it wasn’t an option this time.

Yes, I've been sent to secondary immigration. There was a young woman there with an infant. It broke my heart.

Once my relatives came to visit, and the entire plane, minus US citizens, were sent to secondary immigration! It was a nightmare. I don't know who they were looking for. In the end, after hours and hours and hours, they stopped the double screening and waived the people in who hadn't had their second interview yet. My relatives were EXHAUSTED.

[Anonymous]

How far do you live from the airport?

I would track the flight online and plan to arrive 30 mins to an hour after the flight is scheduled to land.

I would park in the lot by the airport and hang out in my car until my kid texted with an update. I can easily entertain myself on my phone (watch a show/movie, read, etc.).

I would head inside to use the restroom and meet my kid once I knew he was getting close.

That’s your only option aside from Uber/taxi.

Depending where you live, you will probably hit some traffic. Do you live in MD? There’s a back way to avoid 495 depending where you live.

[Anonymous]

Here’s an option not yet recommended – you take Metro and meet him at arrivals, and you both Uber home together. This makes his long journey home seem shorter, as he gets to see and hug family that much sooner. And you can help him with his bags.

Of course, this assumes that you don’t need or want to be doing something else. But I have lots of free time as an empty nester. So likely would just do the long drive with a good playlist.

This is the difference between DH and me. He would think I was crazy for wanting to spend this much idle time. He lives by “time is money” and would gladly recommend an upgraded Uber to save us the headache.

[Anonymous]

Re Advice to “order him an Uber”… your kid should order it themselves. It’s safer as they can track the driver’s location and communicate with the driver. In the app they can share their trip and eta with you, record the drive, and track their trip in progress.

[Anonymous]

I’d leave at 2:45 and just wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s an option not yet recommended – you take Metro and meet him at arrivals, and you both Uber home together. This makes his long journey home seem shorter, as he gets to see and hug family that much sooner. And you can help him with his bags.

Of course, this assumes that you don’t need or want to be doing something else. But I have lots of free time as an empty nester. So likely would just do the long drive with a good playlist.

This is the difference between DH and me. He would think I was crazy for wanting to spend this much idle time. He lives by “time is money” and would gladly recommend an upgraded Uber to save us the headache.

this is great option!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're foreigners (now green card applicants too!) and it's not a double immigration he has to do - just the long line, with the grumpy officers who hate you and automatically think you're out to defraud the United States My kids slept on the floor when they were little, in the line. We're treated like cattle.

If he's unlucky, he or any other foreigner (regardless of whether they're on a visa waiver, visa or green card application) will be asked to wait in a second area to answer more questions. My EU parents on a visa waiver once had to do that, while I waited for 4 hours at Arrivals not knowing what they were up to. But that's rare.

I would consult Waze for the most accurate driving time estimate, then plan to arrive an hour after the plane lands. At that time of the day, a lot of international planes land at Dulles, so there's practically no chance he'll be waiting for you. -and if he does, no big deal, he's safely arrived. But it might cut short your own waiting time, if his immigration process takes longer. I would never tell my college kid to take Metro after landing at Dulles. I would brave any amount of traffic. Bring a book and a travel mug of tea, or something When I was waiting for my college kid at Dulles, I bought him balloons, ha! He's a dual citizen, but the airline lost his luggage, so even though he had no immigration process, it still took a while for him to make it out!

(I'd worry more about Border Control taking issue with his travel authorization, to be honest. The emergency number. That risk decreases massively if he's already traveled on his travel authorization without issue.)

I'm sorry Green Card applicant... citizens are treated like cattle too, and I have been in the International line where the foreign visa holders had twice as many agents helping them as the citizens. Get over yourself. And guess what... hundreds of thousands of Visa overstays occur each year, so there are a lot of people out to defraud the U.S.

What matters is ratio of agents to travelers. The international line takes at least double the wait time of the citizen lines nearly 100% of the time. In the afternoon rush of international plane arrivals, it's more like triple, quadruple or more! I use Dulles often. This is from lived experience.

Secondary immigration is even worse and can feel like a holding pen. When we travel as a family, we go through it with him. Nothing worse than the interminable waiting when there is one agent processing passengers but 4 or 5 others having a chat over a coffee in the background. Certainly makes me aware of my white privilege as everyone else is usually from less developed countries (hence being referred for secondary screening) and probably encounter this a lot. At some stage, another agent finishes their break and ambles over.

Contrast with BWI where it once took us TWENTY MINUTES from disembarking to doing both immigrations, picking up our checked bags and making it outside. The gods surely smiled upon us. The agent used to work at IAD and said it is a nightmare. Unfortunately it wasn’t an option this time.

Yes! I recently flew internationally into BWI and was out of there in minutes. Why can’t Dulles staff up more, since there are so many international arrivals??

[Anonymous]

I drive from Bethesda to Dulles frequently and it's not the big a deal. Much worse coming back to Bethesda than getting to Dulles, but even then you aren't on the beltway for that long (although I get on/off at Clara Barton so right at the bridge). Normally takes me 30-40 minutes to get there, even at rush hour.

Obviously the downtime due to the unpredictability of the immigration process is a bigger factor. I would track his flight, and leave so you get there about an hour after the flight lands. If you really want to kill time elsewhere go to Reston Town Center and have him text you once he's gotten through the first round of immigration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drive from Bethesda to Dulles frequently and it's not the big a deal. Much worse coming back to Bethesda than getting to Dulles, but even then you aren't on the beltway for that long (although I get on/off at Clara Barton so right at the bridge). Normally takes me 30-40 minutes to get there, even at rush hour.

Obviously the downtime due to the unpredictability of the immigration process is a bigger factor. I would track his flight, and leave so you get there about an hour after the flight lands. If you really want to kill time elsewhere go to Reston Town Center and have him text you once he's gotten through the first round of immigration.

Thanks for your thoughts. I do drive that route a reasonable amount. It’s the Memorial Day weekend traffic I’m more concerned about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive from Bethesda to Dulles frequently and it's not the big a deal. Much worse coming back to Bethesda than getting to Dulles, but even then you aren't on the beltway for that long (although I get on/off at Clara Barton so right at the bridge). Normally takes me 30-40 minutes to get there, even at rush hour.

Obviously the downtime due to the unpredictability of the immigration process is a bigger factor. I would track his flight, and leave so you get there about an hour after the flight lands. If you really want to kill time elsewhere go to Reston Town Center and have him text you once he's gotten through the first round of immigration.

Thanks for your thoughts. I do drive that route a reasonable amount. It’s the Memorial Day weekend traffic I’m more concerned about.

Really don't think it will be that bad. Holiday traffic is a lot more spread out now post-covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive from Bethesda to Dulles frequently and it's not the big a deal. Much worse coming back to Bethesda than getting to Dulles, but even then you aren't on the beltway for that long (although I get on/off at Clara Barton so right at the bridge). Normally takes me 30-40 minutes to get there, even at rush hour.

Obviously the downtime due to the unpredictability of the immigration process is a bigger factor. I would track his flight, and leave so you get there about an hour after the flight lands. If you really want to kill time elsewhere go to Reston Town Center and have him text you once he's gotten through the first round of immigration.

Thanks for your thoughts. I do drive that route a reasonable amount. It’s the Memorial Day weekend traffic I’m more concerned about.

Really don't think it will be that bad. Holiday traffic is a lot more spread out now post-covid.

To be clear- general statement. Obviously specific chokepoints like the bay bridge are going to be busy no matter what. But by Friday afternoon a lot of people driving out of the DC area will have already gotten out.