[boltondd]

Came back from the UK tuesday and experienced first hand how the Advance Parole is treated.

The wife and I came into Atlanta on British Airways and the first thing I learned was that nobody was really sure what landing forms were required. We filled out an I-94 just in case it was required and we headed to immigration. The officer we got fiddled with the computer for a minute or two and then scribbled on our customs declaration and sent us on our way.

After collecting the luggage we headed for customs. After handing the form to the customs agent he directed us of to the side and told us to go to lane 2??? We walked around to, what I thought was the agricultural inspection area, where there was a group of people milling around. Not quite sure what was going on I collared the inspector x-raying baggage who told us to head over to one the desks situated there. Another official then took the wife's passport, Advance Parole, and the customs form and told us to sit down in a waiting area.

After 20 minutes or so watching the other people in the waiting area and other travellers being searched by customs I was starting to get anxious. Finally we were called over by an Inspector who stamped the advance parole and told us we could go. I asked him whether we needed the I-94 and he said yes but to leave the visa number blank in future. That was it, pretty straight forward except for the fact of the time involved (about 45 minutes of waiting), I still don't see why it couldn't have be done at the immigration desk but ce le vie' everything happened as it should and hopefully in the future it won't take as long.