U.S. Customs

Does anyone know when a traveler returning from Europe through Amsterdam goes through customs? Is it in Amsterdam or at the airport in U.S.? concerned about connection times if in Amsterdam. Thanks.

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You go through US customs in the first US airport you land in on the way back. There is no US preclearance in Amsterdam (as opposed to say, Canada).

If you are returning from a Schengen country in Europe through Amsterdam (and I assume that Amsterdam is your last European stop before the transatlantic flight), you will clear Schengen Passport Control in Amsterdam after landing, and before going to your international departyure gate.

Does anyone know when a traveler returning from Europe through Amsterdam goes through customs? Is it in Amsterdam or at the airport in U.S.? concerned about connection times if in Amsterdam. Thanks.

 

 

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Amsterdam is in the Schengen area with no internal borders with most of Europe.

Usually 2-3 hours before your flight for check in.

It is always important to keep Customs and Immigration separate. Immigration is where you show your passport to get into or out of a country – this can take some time if there is a lineup. Customs is where you walk through the gate that says 'nothing to declare' ;) – rarely takes any time at all.

Does anyone know when a traveler returning from Europe through Amsterdam goes through customs?

Any delay will be caused by having to clear Dutch immigration as you cross from the Schengen zone to the non-Schengen zone of the airport. I assume you have a non-EU passport which take longer to clear. I have never understood why this takes so long as you are leaving the country. The stupid thing here is that the immigration queues are shorter/quicker coming into the the country and longer leaving the country.

I have experienced long-ish immigration queues for this, dependent on the time of day. The worst queues are in Paris Charles De Gaulle non-EU passport queues, and that is to leave the country for the US as oppose to coming in to the country.

In my experience you get your customs check when you are entering a country not when leaving.

The US has arrangements whereby US Customs, Immigration and agricultural inspections (US Preclearence) are carried out before boarding the aircraft. I know that it currently covers Dublin, Shannon and Abu Dhabi.

From the CBP web site

Today, CBP has more than 600 law enforcement officers and agriculture specialists stationed at 15 air Preclearance locations in 6 countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Freeport and Nassau in The Bahamas; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Winnipeg in Canada. CBP also staffs a Pre-inspection facility for passenger/vehicle ferry traffic to the U.S. in Victoria, Canada.

Nope not in Amsterdam