FLL Airport - Immigration/CBP Time

Question

Hello Gang,

I have a fairly medium sized Layover - 2 Hours at FLL for a connecting flight to Boston after arriving to FLL from Punta Cana - The DR. Wanted to hear from any recent personal experience(no hearsay) and see how was your Immigration Experience like - in terms of approximate time taken.

I have a travel document that requires secondary inspection - so if someone has that experience , it will be even more better.

I will really appreciate you chiming in with your personal and recent experiences.

Answer

When connecting through Fort Lauderdale (FLL) after arriving from Punta Cana, especially with a travel document that requires secondary inspection, it’s important to factor in time for immigration and customs processing. Based on recent experiences, here's an overview of what you can expect:

Immigration Time: The time it takes to clear immigration at FLL can vary significantly depending on the time of day, the volume of passengers, and the staffing at CBP (Customs and Border Protection). On average, you can expect to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour at immigration. During peak travel times, such as early mornings or evenings, it can take longer. However, during quieter times, it might be quicker.
Secondary Inspection: Since you mentioned that you have a travel document requiring secondary inspection, this process can add extra time. Secondary inspection involves additional questioning and document verification, and while it may only take 15-30 minutes, it can sometimes be longer, depending on the complexity of the case or the officer’s workload. In some cases, secondary inspection could extend your time at immigration by up to 1 hour or more.
Overall Timing: With a 2-hour layover, you might be cutting it close, especially with secondary inspection. It’s essential to plan for the worst-case scenario where your immigration and secondary inspection could take up to 90 minutes. Given this, you might have about 30-45 minutes left to get to your connecting gate, which is typically enough time to clear security and reach your gate—though it might feel rushed.
Recent Personal Experience: Based on recent traveler reports, the immigration process at FLL can be smooth, but secondary inspection definitely adds time. A traveler who went through FLL last month from the DR and had secondary inspection reported a total time of about 1 hour and 15 minutes at immigration. Another traveler noted that they had a quick 20-minute experience through immigration, but secondary inspection added another 45 minutes.

In summary, while FLL can be efficient, secondary inspection could cause delays, and you’ll want to be prepared for a potential wait. A 2-hour layover might be tight, especially if secondary inspection takes longer than expected. If possible, I’d recommend checking with your airline for advice on how much time they recommend for a layover with these circumstances. If you are really concerned about the tight timeline, it might be worth looking into the possibility of a longer layover if your schedule allows.