Point of Entry and/or transiting?

[k2daho 0]

I'm wondering if someone knows the answer to this question.

I was just approved and have my CR1 visa in my passport. My husband and I are living overseas and are travelling home this week to Canada first, and then to the USA for two weeks. Technically Salt Lake City will be my first point of entry, as I assume that we'll have to pass through customs/immigration there, but we will only be changing planes to continue on to Vancouver, BC. We have an hour to get to our next flight and I'm worried that if I have to do my visa processing at that immigration point then we will miss our flight to Vancouver!

Any chance that if we show them that we'll be re-entering the USA the following week to go to California that they would let me simply transit in that city and then give my visa paperwork when I leave Canada to go to California? I'm feeling like if we have to do it in that first city that we'll definitely miss our connection!

Any advice or experience with this type of issue?

[YuAndDan 153]

Your post is confusing, Where will you be changing planes, Vancouver, or Salt-Lake???

If you change planes in Vancouver, then Vancouver will be your POE, you will pre-clear US customs there.

Most flights from Canada into the USA are considered to be domestic.

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

Once you clear immigrations on the CR-1 visa, you will have an I-551 stamp in passport which will allow re-entries from travels abroad.

[k2daho 0]

Sorry for the confusion...it feels confusing too!

We are flying from outside of the USA through Salt Lake City with our first real destination being Vancouver. So in Salt Lake City we'll simply be changing planes to go to Vancouver, and will have an hour to do so. Since we are beginning our travels from Europe, I believe that we will have to clear customs and immigration in Salt Lake City in order to transfer over to a domestic terminal to fly to Vancouver. I have already confirmed that we have to change terminals for our flight to Vancouver.

So, I'm wondering if there is any way that the immigration official will let me simply transit as a Canadian citizen rather than going through the sealed brown envelope, etc. Considering I'm not ACTUALLY staying in the USA at that time, and will have proof that I'll be coming back the following week with lots of time to go through the process then.

[Otto 83]

Sorry for the confusion...it feels confusing too!

We are flying from outside of the USA through Salt Lake City with our first real destination being Vancouver. So in Salt Lake City we'll simply be changing planes to go to Vancouver, and will have an hour to do so. Since we are beginning our travels from Europe, I believe that we will have to clear customs and immigration in Salt Lake City in order to transfer over to a domestic terminal to fly to Vancouver. I have already confirmed that we have to change terminals for our flight to Vancouver.

So, I'm wondering if there is any way that the immigration official will let me simply transit as a Canadian citizen rather than going through the sealed brown envelope, etc. Considering I'm not ACTUALLY staying in the USA at that time, and will have proof that I'll be coming back the following week with lots of time to go through the process then.

Don't see a way around not having to go through CBP - everyone will have to (US citizens as well) after departing the plane.

Out of sheer curiosity - where in Europe are you flying from that takes you to SLC as your first stop.. ?

[YuAndDan 153]

Your post is confusing, Where will you be changing planes, Vancouver, or Salt-Lake???

If you change planes in Vancouver, then Vancouver will be your POE, you will pre-clear US customs there.

Most flights from Canada into the USA are considered to be domestic.

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

Once you clear immigrations on the CR-1 visa, you will have an I-551 stamp in passport which will allow re-entries from travels abroad.

[k2daho 0]

Don't see a way around not having to go through CBP - everyone will have to (US citizens as well) after departing the plane.

Out of sheer curiosity - where in Europe are you flying from that takes you to SLC as your first stop.. ?

Yes, I know I won't be able to actually avoid it...just wondering if anyone had ever deferred to their next entry in light of the fact that they were simply transiting via the USA and not actually entering. For example...if you were from a country that needed a visa to enter the USA even for a visit...they would let you transit if you were not actually staying in the country at that point. So, I'm wondering if they might (in light of the transit factor, and the limited time that we have to catch our connecting flight!) let us defer the paperwork to when we enter the USA from Vancouver at their pre-clearance point.

We are flying from Paris.

[YuAndDan 153]

Don't see a way around not having to go through CBP - everyone will have to (US citizens as well) after departing the plane.

Out of sheer curiosity - where in Europe are you flying from that takes you to SLC as your first stop.. ?

Yes, I know I won't be able to actually avoid it...just wondering if anyone had ever deferred to their next entry in light of the fact that they were simply transiting via the USA and not actually entering. For example...if you were from a country that needed a visa to enter the USA even for a visit...they would let you transit if you were not actually staying in the country at that point. So, I'm wondering if they might (in light of the transit factor, and the limited time that we have to catch our connecting flight!) let us defer the paperwork to when we enter the USA from Vancouver at their pre-clearance point.

We are flying from Paris.

Dont worry about this, you will enter the USA, at SLC, and turn in your packet and use the CR-1 visa, they will stamp passport with I-551 stamp, which will allow your future re-entry from Canada.

The I-551 = Green-card.

In any case a 1 hour layover tends to be a bit tight, but considering SLC is not a major international airport you may be fine.

Edited March 8, 2009 by YuAndDan

[Otto 83]

SLC is a relatively small airport so I would imagine the hour transition time is ok, but of course a minimum of 90 minutes would be ideal. Airlines usually take this into account so they must feel comfortable with the amount of time you'll have - if it's going to be a close call - you can always pull a CBP officer aside (while in line) and explain your time constraint - they can (and often will) pull you out of line and take you to the front.

[geezer 1]

Your POE will be SLC. I fly in and out of SLC all the time. The flight from CDG is the only major daily flight at the International Terminal. There are a few flights from Mexico but not at the same time. I assume you are flying Delta and transfering to a connecting Delta flight to Vancouver.

The problem I see that the flight is frequently late espically this time of year due to strong headwinds. Also there tend to be more Europeans than Americans on the flight so the lines at immigration could be fairly long, espically if you are seated at the back of the plane.

They fly a 777 on the flight and the business class is usually full but if its not you could ask the flight attendants if you could sit up there for landing as you dont have much time to clear customs.

Since you are with a USC I'd go the American citizens line with him to speed things up a little. they should let you do that as they dont have a lot of flights.

The connecting flights are at the C, D, and E gates the International terminal would actually be the F gate. If your connector is in the E or D gates its not to bad of a walk but the C gate is a bit further.

The bottom line is its going to be very very tight. They will accomodate you on the next delta flight so dont worry but if possible I'd try to get a later delta flight to YVC.