Question about airports and preclearances

[minnew 4]

To all of my Canadian friends I have a question regarding the US customs preclearance. Which airports in Canada offer the preclearance?

I am trying to decide which itinerary to go with for a flight I want to book in April to the U.S. I have visited once while I was "processing" and had no troubles, had a bunch of proof of ties but they never asked to see them, BUT this was a land border, I have never gone through an airport customs, but now I have to because he lives 15 hours away. Getting turned away frightens me, and even more so if I was in the U.S. when it happens. All I want to do is spend time with him, search out wedding venues and (hopefully) at that time if we know we are approved get started on the stuff for package 3 together (I-134).

Which airports in Canada offer the preclearance? Once I fly into the city that has the preclearance do I need to recheck my bags because it will be considered an international flight?

Option 1 itinerary: Fly from city in Canada with no preclearance to Minneapolis, then on to my destination. (1 stop)

Option 2 itinerary: Fly from city in Canada to an airport with preclearance (so far the options on Air Canada will take me to Winnipeg, Calgary or Edmonton), Fly to connecting hub in the U.S., then fly to my destination. (2 stops)

btw Option 1 and 2 are relatively the same price right now....but those could change any day now, actually I would consider this a sale!

Any suggestions? advice?

Thank you

[payxibka 10,047]

To all of my Canadian friends I have a question regarding the US customs preclearance. Which airports in Canada offer the preclearance?

I am trying to decide which itinerary to go with for a flight I want to book in April to the U.S. I have visited once while I was "processing" and had no troubles, had a bunch of proof of ties but they never asked to see them, BUT this was a land border, I have never gone through an airport customs, but now I have to because he lives 15 hours away. Getting turned away frightens me, and even more so if I was in the U.S. when it happens. All I want to do is spend time with him, search out wedding venues and (hopefully) at that time if we know we are approved get started on the stuff for package 3 together (I-134).

Which airports in Canada offer the preclearance? Once I fly into the city that has the preclearance do I need to recheck my bags because it will be considered an international flight?

Option 1 itinerary: Fly from city in Canada with no preclearance to Minneapolis, then on to my destination. (1 stop)

Option 2 itinerary: Fly from city in Canada to an airport with preclearance (so far the options on Air Canada will take me to Winnipeg, Calgary or Edmonton), Fly to connecting hub in the U.S., then fly to my destination. (2 stops)

btw Option 1 and 2 are relatively the same price right now....but those could change any day now, actually I would consider this a sale!

Any suggestions? advice?

Thank you

Most Canadian airports now have US preclearance... The only one I am aware of into MSP that does not is Thunder Bay....

Here is the list

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contact...r_locations.xml

Edited February 6, 2009 by payxibka

[Flames9_RN 358]

Majority of cities have preclearance. Only city that i know that does not have pre-clearance is Saskatoon to MN.

They could still easily turn you away in MN as they could in Calgary!!

[minnew 4]

To all of my Canadian friends I have a question regarding the US customs preclearance. Which airports in Canada offer the preclearance?

I am trying to decide which itinerary to go with for a flight I want to book in April to the U.S. I have visited once while I was "processing" and had no troubles, had a bunch of proof of ties but they never asked to see them, BUT this was a land border, I have never gone through an airport customs, but now I have to because he lives 15 hours away. Getting turned away frightens me, and even more so if I was in the U.S. when it happens. All I want to do is spend time with him, search out wedding venues and (hopefully) at that time if we know we are approved get started on the stuff for package 3 together (I-134).

Which airports in Canada offer the preclearance? Once I fly into the city that has the preclearance do I need to recheck my bags because it will be considered an international flight?

Option 1 itinerary: Fly from city in Canada with no preclearance to Minneapolis, then on to my destination. (1 stop)

Option 2 itinerary: Fly from city in Canada to an airport with preclearance (so far the options on Air Canada will take me to Winnipeg, Calgary or Edmonton), Fly to connecting hub in the U.S., then fly to my destination. (2 stops)

btw Option 1 and 2 are relatively the same price right now....but those could change any day now, actually I would consider this a sale!

Any suggestions? advice?

Thank you

Most Canadian airports now have US preclearance... The only one I am aware of into MSP that does not is Thunder Bay....

Here is the list

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contact...r_locations.xml

Just looked at the list....there is no SK airports with preclearance

At least if i got turned away in Calgary I would still be in Canada!

Edited February 6, 2009 by minnew

[JillA 2]

Many of us have travelled to the US while our K-1 is pending.... I did it myself quite a few times. There is always a chance of being turned away, for anyone. But like you did at the land crossing, bring proof of ties!! And your return ticket. That should be sufficient, be honest and have your proof and you should be fine. If you feel more comfortable about it (which it seems you are) do your preclearance in Canada to ease your worries.

[minnew 4]

Many of us have travelled to the US while our K-1 is pending.... I did it myself quite a few times. There is always a chance of being turned away, for anyone. But like you did at the land crossing, bring proof of ties!! And your return ticket. That should be sufficient, be honest and have your proof and you should be fine. If you feel more comfortable about it (which it seems you are) do your preclearance in Canada to ease your worries.

Thanks everyone for your responses! I tried to find a list myself of US preclearances in Canada, this is why I need VJ! Aahhh the things we do for love....Really not looking forward to the 9-10 hours of flying and sitting in airport terminals due to the 2 stops! But on my return I will see if I can go through Minneapolis!

[trailmix 77]

Majority of cities have preclearance. Only city that i know that does not have pre-clearance is Saskatoon to MN.

They could still easily turn you away in MN as they could in Calgary!!

They moved Saskatoon to Minnesota!?!?

Ruh roh, I think they did something to flames at that swearing in ceremony

[Danu 19]

Make them give us back our city!

[minnew 4]

How annoying....the Calgary and Winnipeg airport websites do not have any information about having to recheck bags if you are connecting to a U.S flight!! Toronto website says you have to! Edmonton is the only one that advertises U.S. Quick Connect! where you do not have to recheck your bags! The ironic thing is that the connecting flight I was looking at to Calgary, Winnipeg or Toronto I would not have enough layover time to do it! The Edmonton flight I would have a 3 hour layover! and I wouldn't have to recheck my bags!! Gaaaahhh!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Majority of cities have preclearance. Only city that i know that does not have pre-clearance is Saskatoon to MN.

They could still easily turn you away in MN as they could in Calgary!!

They moved Saskatoon to Minnesota!?!?

Ruh roh, I think they did something to flames at that swearing in ceremony

I don't see how you get that Saskatoon is in MN from my statement?? lol

[Danu 19]

How annoying....the Calgary and Winnipeg airport websites do not have any information about having to recheck bags if you are connecting to a U.S flight!! Toronto website says you have to! Edmonton is the only one that advertises U.S. Quick Connect! where you do not have to recheck your bags! The ironic thing is that the connecting flight I was looking at to Calgary, Winnipeg or Toronto I would not have enough layover time to do it! The Edmonton flight I would have a 3 hour layover! and I wouldn't have to recheck my bags!! Gaaaahhh!

I fly from Ottawa to California. They do pre-clearance and if you are connecting to a US flight there is no rechecking, you just run from Pt. A to Pt. B to get on your connecting flight. Not sure if that helps you at all, or if you are looking to fly into one of those and then not have to recheck for the states.

[trailmix 77]

Majority of cities have preclearance. Only city that i know that does not have pre-clearance is Saskatoon to MN.

They could still easily turn you away in MN as they could in Calgary!!

They moved Saskatoon to Minnesota!?!?

Ruh roh, I think they did something to flames at that swearing in ceremony

I don't see how you get that Saskatoon is in MN from my statement?? lol

Because Manitoba's abbreviation is MB!

[childress_london 3]

I fly to and from Ottawa all the time with a layover in Newark on Continental Airlines. They do the preclearance in Ottawa and I have never had to recheck bags or go through security a second time.

[Krikit 1,165]

Honestly? I wouldn't worry about it. You're Canadian and you have proof of going through the immigration process the legal way. Bring that proof with you, along with your ties. People from other countries are justified in their concerns. Canadians, no need to worry as much.

[Marilyn. 340]

Majority of cities have preclearance. Only city that i know that does not have pre-clearance is Saskatoon to MN.

They could still easily turn you away in MN as they could in Calgary!!

They moved Saskatoon to Minnesota!?!?

Ruh roh, I think they did something to flames at that swearing in ceremony

I don't see how you get that Saskatoon is in MN from my statement?? lol

Because Manitoba's abbreviation is MB!

I still don't get it.. what does Manitoba have to do with Saskatoon ? ..lol