Preclearance question

[aravis227 1]

Hey everyone! I've been around VJ for awhile, mostly in the K-1 section, but I had a specific Canada question so I figured I'd ask it over here. My fiance is going to come down to see me in April and he is flying out of Winnipeg. We're figuring that since we have the visa petition out and customs could take longer than expected, he should do preclearance (he'll have a layover in the US, but we don't want him to miss his connection). Has anyone done preclearance before? Should he be at the airport earlier than the two hours they recommend for international flights? how much earlier?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[DeadPoolX 9]

Hey everyone! I've been around VJ for awhile, mostly in the K-1 section, but I had a specific Canada question so I figured I'd ask it over here. My fiance is going to come down to see me in April and he is flying out of Winnipeg. We're figuring that since we have the visa petition out and customs could take longer than expected, he should do preclearance (he'll have a layover in the US, but we don't want him to miss his connection). Has anyone done preclearance before? Should he be at the airport earlier than the two hours they recommend for international flights? how much earlier?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I'd gather that most -- if not all -- of us have done preclearance before. It's not difficult, really. It's just like going into any foreign country, except Canadians have the added benefit of still being geographically located in Canada if they get turned away. I wish Americans had that in reverse, but it's much more cost effective for Canada to do this than it would be for the U.S., since Canada has fewer international airports.

How much time you need to allow to clear Customs depends on a number of factors, including: when your flight leaves (what day and time), season, if you're checking any bags, airport, and airline. In general, the weekend is a busier time for flights (costlier too), with early morning and late afternoon/early evening being the most heavily trafficked. Season can matter since the flights will probably fill up faster during the holidays, as well as the airport be busier and the roads there more cluttered. If you're checking any bags, that will slow down the process, since you'll probably have to wait in line and make sure the airline checks the bags properly, so they end up arriving where and when you do. Some airports handle larger amounts of people better than others; some are are just designed better in general. Finally, which airline you take can matter, since a very popular airline can make a long lineup and wait at security at that airline's most popular terminal, thereby delaying your ability to get to preclearance.

Edited February 24, 2008 by DeadPoolX

[neiks 19]

Winterpeg pre-clearance is pretty much a breeze, meaning there is no huge line ups like Toronto. I have pre-cleared at Winnipeg many times and is pretty quick. I made the mistake of flying to Toronto to catch my connection to the US and pre-cleared in Toronto and will NEVER do that again.

You should be fine with the recommend 2 hours for a US flight out of winnipeg.

[payxibka 10,045]

Hey everyone! I've been around VJ for awhile, mostly in the K-1 section, but I had a specific Canada question so I figured I'd ask it over here. My fiance is going to come down to see me in April and he is flying out of Winnipeg. We're figuring that since we have the visa petition out and customs could take longer than expected, he should do preclearance (he'll have a layover in the US, but we don't want him to miss his connection). Has anyone done preclearance before? Should he be at the airport earlier than the two hours they recommend for international flights? how much earlier?

Thanks in advance for your help!

First of all the pre-clearance is not something you can choose or not choose... The airline makes that decision for you...

[aravis227 1]

Hey everyone! I've been around VJ for awhile, mostly in the K-1 section, but I had a specific Canada question so I figured I'd ask it over here. My fiance is going to come down to see me in April and he is flying out of Winnipeg. We're figuring that since we have the visa petition out and customs could take longer than expected, he should do preclearance (he'll have a layover in the US, but we don't want him to miss his connection). Has anyone done preclearance before? Should he be at the airport earlier than the two hours they recommend for international flights? how much earlier?

Thanks in advance for your help!

First of all the pre-clearance is not something you can choose or not choose... The airline makes that decision for you...

So glad I was looking for something a couple of pages back...you can't choose pre-clearance? I thought it was done at the choice of the traveller...if you wanna show up early and do pre-clearance before leaving the country it was your choice.

[payxibka 10,045]

Hey everyone! I've been around VJ for awhile, mostly in the K-1 section, but I had a specific Canada question so I figured I'd ask it over here. My fiance is going to come down to see me in April and he is flying out of Winnipeg. We're figuring that since we have the visa petition out and customs could take longer than expected, he should do preclearance (he'll have a layover in the US, but we don't want him to miss his connection). Has anyone done preclearance before? Should he be at the airport earlier than the two hours they recommend for international flights? how much earlier?

Thanks in advance for your help!

First of all the pre-clearance is not something you can choose or not choose... The airline makes that decision for you...

So glad I was looking for something a couple of pages back...you can't choose pre-clearance? I thought it was done at the choice of the traveller...if you wanna show up early and do pre-clearance before leaving the country it was your choice.

No, either everyone on the flight is pre-cleared or no one is because the status determines if the aircraft needs to go to the international arrival facility or can go directly to the domestic terminal.

Edited March 3, 2008 by fwaguy

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Hey everyone! I've been around VJ for awhile, mostly in the K-1 section, but I had a specific Canada question so I figured I'd ask it over here. My fiance is going to come down to see me in April and he is flying out of Winnipeg. We're figuring that since we have the visa petition out and customs could take longer than expected, he should do preclearance (he'll have a layover in the US, but we don't want him to miss his connection). Has anyone done preclearance before? Should he be at the airport earlier than the two hours they recommend for international flights? how much earlier?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I've flown a few times to see my fiance after applying for the Visa. All, I did was bring the NOA1, any paper work that shows that I still have ties to Canada and my return confirmation ticket. I get to the airport two hours before and that is more than enough time. Your fiance should be fine. Just make sure they have all of the necessary documents and the NOA1. Good luck :-D

[aravis227 1]

I've flown a few times to see my fiance after applying for the Visa. All, I did was bring the NOA1, any paper work that shows that I still have ties to Canada and my return confirmation ticket. I get to the airport two hours before and that is more than enough time. Your fiance should be fine. Just make sure they have all of the necessary documents and the NOA1. Good luck :-D

So I'm confused now...did you get to choose to do pre-clearance? I think maybe I didn't understand the process and I just thought someone could decide they wanted pre-clearance.

[Southern_Canadian 0]

I've flown a few times to see my fiance after applying for the Visa. All, I did was bring the NOA1, any paper work that shows that I still have ties to Canada and my return confirmation ticket. I get to the airport two hours before and that is more than enough time. Your fiance should be fine. Just make sure they have all of the necessary documents and the NOA1. Good luck :-D

So I'm confused now...did you get to choose to do pre-clearance? I think maybe I didn't understand the process and I just thought someone could decide they wanted pre-clearance.

Nope, I didn't get to choose pre-clearance.

[Cassie 8]

I've flown a few times to see my fiance after applying for the Visa. All, I did was bring the NOA1, any paper work that shows that I still have ties to Canada and my return confirmation ticket. I get to the airport two hours before and that is more than enough time. Your fiance should be fine. Just make sure they have all of the necessary documents and the NOA1. Good luck :-D

So I'm confused now...did you get to choose to do pre-clearance? I think maybe I didn't understand the process and I just thought someone could decide they wanted pre-clearance.

No you do not get to choose. Pre-clearance is automatically done before getting on the plane to the US.

And pre-clearance only happens in Canada for flights going to the US. We do not do pre-clearance for any other international flights to any other country.

[aravis227 1]

I've flown a few times to see my fiance after applying for the Visa. All, I did was bring the NOA1, any paper work that shows that I still have ties to Canada and my return confirmation ticket. I get to the airport two hours before and that is more than enough time. Your fiance should be fine. Just make sure they have all of the necessary documents and the NOA1. Good luck :-D

So I'm confused now...did you get to choose to do pre-clearance? I think maybe I didn't understand the process and I just thought someone could decide they wanted pre-clearance.

No you do not get to choose. Pre-clearance is automatically done before getting on the plane to the US.

And pre-clearance only happens in Canada for flights going to the US. We do not do pre-clearance for any other international flights to any other country.

*sigh* oh well...and I did know that it only worked from Canada into the US. Which is where his flight is going. So much for time saving. We'll just make sure he has everything he needs so he doesn't miss his connecting flight.

Thanks for the input everyone!

[Cassie 8]

I've flown a few times to see my fiance after applying for the Visa. All, I did was bring the NOA1, any paper work that shows that I still have ties to Canada and my return confirmation ticket. I get to the airport two hours before and that is more than enough time. Your fiance should be fine. Just make sure they have all of the necessary documents and the NOA1. Good luck :-D

So I'm confused now...did you get to choose to do pre-clearance? I think maybe I didn't understand the process and I just thought someone could decide they wanted pre-clearance.

No you do not get to choose. Pre-clearance is automatically done before getting on the plane to the US.

And pre-clearance only happens in Canada for flights going to the US. We do not do pre-clearance for any other international flights to any other country.

*sigh* oh well...and I did know that it only worked from Canada into the US. Which is where his flight is going. So much for time saving. We'll just make sure he has everything he needs so he doesn't miss his connecting flight.

Thanks for the input everyone!

the only chance he has in missing his connecting flight is the flight out of Winnipeg being late and he can't run fast enough to the next gate. He clears customs in Canada, so he doesn't have to worry about it once he gets in the US.

Getting to the airport two hours ahead of time should give him sufficient time to check in and get through pre-clearance.

Edited March 4, 2008 by Cassie

[Flames9_RN 358]

Flew out of Winnipeg to the USA a few times and USA spouse did it a fair # of times as well! Small airport, never had a problem. Depending on day and time his flight is leaving 2 hours should suffice. But I like to be places early!! so 2.5 can't hurt!! lol sit back read the paper and enjoy a timmies or three