For those studying or working in the U.S., it’s only natural to invite your parents over for a visit and let them enjoy some time here. But for parents who do not speak English, connecting flights and entering the United States can be very stressful. Today, I’d like to share a guide I wrote for my own parents on transiting and entering the U.S. Of course, this guide is also useful for students and other travelers visiting America. usc

Background

Chinese citizens can now obtain a 10-year U.S. B1/B2 visa, and more and more people are traveling to the United States. For students studying in the U.S., it is common to invite parents to visit during school, or to have them attend graduation ceremonies. Visiting the U.S. should be an exciting experience, but if you do not carefully prepare for flight connections, immigration, and customs, serious problems can arise.

This article is based on the transit and U.S. entry guide I prepared for my parents, and I’d like to share some information and practical tips with everyone. The article is divided into several parts:

  • Documents and baggage preparation
  • Transit tips and things to watch for in different regions
  • U.S. immigration and customs guide

Documents and Baggage Preparation

A good start is half the battle. If you carefully prepare your travel documents, pack properly, and understand the transit and entry procedures before departure, you will have much less to worry about on this trip. So I strongly recommend making the following preparations before you leave:

Essential Documents Checklist

  • National ID card, passport, and valid visa: A Chinese national ID card is convenient for taking high-speed rail within China and checking into hotels. A passport is essential for international travel, and make sure it will not expire before your return trip. A valid U.S. visa is of course also required. For more on visas, see: Guide to Applying for a U.S. B1/B2 Visa
  • Airline ticket or itinerary: For travel to the U.S., it is best to buy a single through-ticket from your departure city all the way to your final destination in the United States. That makes baggage handling much easier. One especially important point: if you buy separate tickets, it is best not to break the itinerary in Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Canada, or other countries/regions, or you may need an additional entry permit or visa. After booking and again before departure, it is a good idea to review this article: Things You Must Do After Buying an Airline Ticket
  • Cash, credit cards, and phone: If you will be shopping during a layover, it is best to bring credit cards that can handle multiple currencies. Even if you do not plan to shop, it is still a good idea to carry about $500 USD for emergencies. As for your phone, enabling international roaming is recommended so you can contact someone quickly if any issues come up during transit.
  • A transit/entry guide or key English phrases: Before departure, it is best to familiarize yourself with the transit airport and the U.S. immigration/customs process, so you do not end up rushed and confused. Even if you are confident in handling things on the spot, it is still wise to prepare Chinese-English translations of a few phrases you will definitely need.

Baggage Preparation

  • International flight baggage limits: Pack according to the rules for your specific flight. In general, economy-class baggage rules for international flights are as follows: one personal item (such as a backpack), one carry-on bag (carry on, total dimensions no more than 115 cm), and one checked bag (checked bag, total dimensions no more than 157 cm and weight no more than 23 kg). So it is best to measure and weigh your bags at home, rather than repacking at the airport or buying a new suitcase at the last minute.
  • Restrictions on what you can bring: Liquids in your carry-on and personal item must each be no more than 100 ml, including cosmetics and toothpaste. Do not bring large amounts of flammable or explosive materials. You also cannot bring any meat, eggs, seeds, etc. (these are checked when entering the U.S.). Cash should ideally be kept under $10,000 USD, since amounts above that must be declared when entering the United States.
  • Confirm checked baggage rules: For most through-tickets, checked baggage can be sent all the way to the final destination. However, if you need to stay overnight at certain transit airports (especially airports that do not operate 24 hours, such as Tokyo Narita Airport, NRT) or if your layover exceeds 24 hours, you may have to collect your bags, which could require a local entry permit or visa.
  • Recommended preparation: It is best to attach a tag with your name and contact information to your suitcase, so you can be reached if it is lost. It is also helpful to tie something distinctive, such as a red ribbon, onto your luggage so it is easier to identify at baggage claim.

Transit Tips by Region

If you are wondering whether a transit visa is required, please see this article:

Departing or Transiting in Mainland China

If your domestic China ticket was purchased separately: just treat it like a normal domestic flight. If staff give you a hard time about baggage rules (since international and domestic baggage allowances are different), you can show them your next international ticket or itinerary, and that usually resolves the issue.

If your domestic China flight is part of a through-ticket, or if your first flight is to another country: then it is best to do the following:

  • Arrive at the airport 3 hours early: Chinese domestic airports can be very crowded, and lines for ticketing, security, and exit immigration may take a long time. Be sure to arrive early. Exiting China does not usually require any extra documents; just have your passport and ticket ready.
  • Print all boarding passes for the full itinerary: With a through-ticket, the airport at the first departure point can usually print boarding passes for all flight segments. If you can get everything printed at once, you will not need to go to the counter again during later connections, which is very convenient. Sometimes staff cannot print all segments at first, so it is worth asking them to try again or to ask a supervisor for help. A little extra trouble at the start can save a lot of hassle later.
  • Confirm that checked baggage is tagged to the final destination: For most through-tickets, checked baggage is sent directly to the final destination, except that you will need to collect it for inspection when entering the U.S. and then re-check it afterward. So you must make sure your bags are tagged correctly all the way through. Otherwise, if you need to collect them in another country during transit, you may need that country’s visa or entry permit. For travelers who do not speak the local language, this is especially important, or it can create a lot of trouble.

Departing or Transiting in Hong Kong

Departing from Hong Kong: If you hold a ticket for the next international flight segment, entering Hong Kong from Shenzhen does not require an additional entry permit.

Transiting in Hong Kong: You do not need to collect checked baggage, leave the terminal, or go through security again. You just need to bring your carry-on items to the next gate. Hong Kong airport operates 24 hours a day, so even if you need to stay overnight for a next-morning flight, there is no need to worry. However, the airport can get very cold at night, so you may want to ask airport staff for a blanket in advance. Hong Kong airport is fairly large, so it is best to allow 1-2 hours for your connection.

Transiting in Japan or South Korea

Transit through Japan and South Korea is very common, and the process is actually quite simple:

  • On flights to Japan or South Korea, you do not need to fill out an immigration declaration form
  • After getting off the plane, follow the transit route (there are Chinese signs available); you do not need to collect checked baggage, and you should not go through immigration into Japan or South Korea
  • Before entering the next gate area, you will need to go through a small security checkpoint; just have your passport and next boarding pass/ticket ready

One important note: if you stay overnight at certain Japanese airports that do not operate 24 hours, you may need a transit permit. If your stay in Japan or South Korea exceeds 24 hours, you may also need a permit. Connections at airports in Japan and South Korea are usually quick, but it is still best to allow more than 1 hour. You may even have some time to walk around and shop.

Connecting Within the United States

Your first flight entering the U.S.: No matter which U.S. city you first arrive in, including Hawaii, you must first complete U.S. immigration, then collect your checked baggage, and go through U.S. customs. Because of that, this process can take quite a while, so it is best to allow at least 2-3 hours. The detailed process will be explained in the next section.

Domestic connecting flights within the United States: If you have already entered the U.S. and still need to make another connection at an airport in a different city, note that you generally do not need to pick up your checked baggage again, nor do you need to go through immigration and customs again. Just take your carry-on and head directly to the appropriate gate. One thing to keep in mind is that your arrival gate and your next departure gate may not be in the same terminal, in which case you should allow about 1 hour. If they are in the same terminal or on the same airline, 30 minutes is usually enough.

Guide to U.S. Immigration and Customs

No matter which country you are flying from, after arriving on your first flight into the United States, you will need to go through two key steps after getting off the plane:

  • Entering the United States: U.S. border officers will check whether you have valid documents and a legitimate reason to enter the country. Once approved, you will be allowed to enter the United States.
  • Clearing U.S. customs: U.S. customs officers will collect your customs declaration form and may inspect your carry-on and checked baggage. If you are not carrying any prohibited items, you will be allowed through customs.

Entering the United States

Do not assume that having a valid visa and passport guarantees entry into the U.S. U.S. border officers have broad discretion and can decide, based on their own judgment, whether to admit you. If they believe you may pose a risk to the United States or may overstay, they can deny your entry or shorten the amount of time you are allowed to stay. Of course, if everything is in order, travelers on a B1B2 visa are generally granted 180 days of lawful stay.

Here is the general process for entering the United States:

  • After getting off the plane, prepare your passport and valid visa. In addition, F1/F2 travelers should prepare their I20. Those traveling on a visitor visa should prepare a detailed itinerary, flight and hotel booking confirmations, and a return ticket. Parents visiting family should prepare an invitation letter, valid identification from the family member they are visiting, and a return ticket.
  • Follow the crowd toward immigration, then line up in the visitor area.
  • When it is your turn, bring all of your documents and meet with the immigration officer. If you are traveling with family members, go together.
  • Your fingerprints will be taken and your photo will be taken. The officer may ask questions such as why you are coming to the United States. If you do not speak English, you can prepare an explanatory letter in advance or request an interpreter.
  • After you pass inspection, the officer will stamp your passport with the amount of time you are allowed to stay in the United States.

Overall, the entry process is somewhat similar to your visa interview: prepare well and do not panic. The most important thing in the invitation letter is to clearly state the purpose of the trip to the U.S., the planned departure date, and related details (sample at the end of the article).

Clearing U.S. Customs

Going through U.S. customs is much simpler than immigration. As long as you have your customs declaration form ready and are not carrying any prohibited items, you can usually get through in just a few minutes. The customs process is as follows:

  • Fill out the U.S. customs declaration form on your flight to the United States (sample at the end of the article).
  • After entering the country, pick up all checked baggage from the carousel for your flight.
  • Bring all your bags and follow the crowd through customs, handing your customs declaration form to the customs staff.
  • If everything is fine, the staff member will take your form and you can leave. If there is an issue, you may be directed to the side for a baggage inspection.

When filling out the customs declaration form, note that only one form is needed per traveling party. If you are carrying more than $10,000 in total cash, or bringing meat, eggs, seeds, or similar items, you must declare them. If you declare such items, customs will definitely inspect them. If you fail to declare them and are caught, you may be flagged, and your baggage may be inspected every time you enter the United States in the future.

Summary

Connecting flights and entering the United States may sound complicated, but as long as you prepare well, everything should go smoothly. This is especially true if you prepare a clear travel guide for your parents, which can help ease their anxiety. I have organized the following materials for you to edit and use:

  • Sample customs declaration form
  • Sample invitation letter for parents
  • Common in-flight and airport terms in Chinese and English
  • How to understand your plane ticket and airport arrival/departure information boards