If you are about to book a flight to the US from Abu Dhabi, we recommend buying an Etihad Airlines flight ticket. After all, travelers to the USA flying through Etihad Airlines from Abu Dhabi International Airport experience more than what can be labeled as exclusivity and sheer luck.
And the reason for this is the availability of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility or simply the US immigration clearance facility at the Abu Dhabi International Airport for Etihad Airlines passengers.
But perhaps you are wondering what this is and why this isn’t just exclusive and more than sheer luck, this article explains everything you need to know about.
We cover everything about what it means to get US immigration clearance at the Abu Dhabi International Airport before flying to the US and how to avail this facility if you are taking a US-bound Etihad Airlines flight from Abu Dhabi.
What is the US immigration clearance facility or US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility?
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is an exclusive facility available at the Terminal 3 of the Abu Dhabi International Airport for US-bound travelers.
This purpose-built facility helps all US-bound travelers to undertake all US immigration, customs, and agriculture-related inspections at the Abu Dhabi International Airport prior to taking the Etihad Airlines flight.
By doing this, all US-bound travelers flying from Abu Dhabi International Airport via Etihad Airlines flight are treated as domestic arrivals. Consequently, travelers to the US having gone through the US CBP facility get processed faster upon arriving in the US.
What makes the CBP facility at Abu Dhabi Airport exclusive and why is it a privilege?
The Abu Dhabi International Airport isn’t just the only airport in the UAE to have the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility, but it is also among the select few, perhaps among the only six airports in the world to have this facility.
And this is not just about the airport being exclusive but also the passengers who get to avail this privilege. Imagine being treated as a domestic arrival in the US despite flying an Etihad Airlines international flight from Abu Dhabi.
What do you need to do and must know about to get US immigration clearance at the Abu Dhabi International Airport before boarding an Etihad Airlines plane?
Here are a handful of things that you must ensure to avail yourself of the US Pre-Immigration clearance at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
1. Only travelers to the US flying through Etihad Airlines flight can avail of this facility
To avail the US CBP facility at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, you must have a US-bound flight ticket from Etihad Airlines. This is because this service is only available to passengers having booked Etihad Airlines flights from Abu Dhabi, UAE, to Washington, Chicago, and New York in the US.
2. Using the Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks
The Automated Passport Control or APC kiosks is an initiative under the US CBP program for certain travelers. This includes travelers from US and Canada as well as international travelers who qualify for the ‘Visa Waiver Program’.
The APC is an automated program to speed up the entry process for these travelers by clearing them through the CBP’s Primary Inspection area.
However, to use the APC facility at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, travelers must fulfill some requirements.
For those traveling to the United States under VWP or Visa Waiver Program:
- Apply to the United States Department of Homeland Security ESTA website for travel authorization at least 72 hours or 3 days before traveling.
- Make sure to add Advance Passenger Information or API to your booking within the time required.
- Must understand and adhere to the restriction and prohibition rules regarding what items can be flown into US.
- Should also have a machine-readable passport, a confirmed return, or an onward ticket for exiting the US within 90 days.
- On the day of departure, must fill out the relevant US CBP Customs Declaration form available at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
For those travelers traveling to the United States and have a valid visa:
- Must be aware of what documents are required for traveling to the US.
- Must understand and adhere to the restriction and prohibition rules regarding what items can be taken into the US.
- On the day of departure, must fill out the relevant US CBP Customs Declaration form available at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
3. Adhering the post-Covid-19 travel rules
Travelers flying to the US may need to show proof of the Covid-19 vaccination or a valid exemption certificate. In addition, the Covid-19 vaccination taken by travelers must be one of those approved by the United States Health Department.
Also, at least 14 days should have passed between the taking of the second Covid-19 vaccination dose and the day of arrival in the US. Travelers may also be required to adhere to other Covid-19 safety protocols while on the flight or within the US. For example, wearing face masks, social distancing, etc.
4. Know what items and goods you can and cannot travel with to the US
Carrying certain goods and items via luggage and/or hand carry is restricted and prohibited on certain flights. This include flights that are pre-cleared by US Customs and Immigration at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. Such items include but are not limited to –
- Duty-Free goods such as cigarettes and alcohol.
- Duty-Free liquor and/or perfumes above 100 ml in quantity.
- Liquids, aerosols, and gels, in limited quantities, can be carried onboard, provided the traveler has all of these items packed into one bag. This helps in limiting the travel volume of such items as well as helping security officers clear such items quickly.
5. Knowing where to head at the Abu Dhabi International Airport
All travelers checking in or arriving at the Abu Dhabi International Airport should head straight to the US Pre-Immigration Clearance facility. The US CBP facility can be found at Terminal-3 of the Abu Dhabi International Airport and is next to gates 58-61. Make sure to reach the US CBP facility no later than 60 minutes before departure.
Stay prepared for a quick but thorough questioning session
The US border patrol officers at the US CBP facility at the Abu Dhabi International Airport may ask you some questions regarding your trip, traveling purpose, luggage, available cash, etc.
So, stay prepared for such things and try to cooperate with them to expedite such procedures.
Conclusion
Remember that the US CBP facility at the Abu Dhabi International Airport is there to facilitate US-bound travelers with Etihad Airlines flight tickets. Hence, make proper arrangements before reaching the airport to avail this facility.
