Canadian airports that are pre-clearance for U.S. Immigration?

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

I've heard that some Canadian airports have pre-clearance for U.S. immigration, which can be the best way to enter the country on a K1. Which airports are they? My fiance lives in Thunder Bay, ON and while I'm 99.9% sure this isn't one of the airports, it does connect to Toronto and Winnipeg. Thanks!

Cass (bebop the great)

[Canuck Carrie 1]

All international ones, with the exception of Halifax. I believe Halifax will be changing in the not so distant future.

Pre-Clearance or actual clearance? You go to a separate room, hand in your paperwork, fill out a form, wait, they attach your I-94 and off you go.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Okay. Now I'm just confused.

So once you get you I-94, you have to go through immigration in whatever your POE is and just show your I-94 + visa, correct?

So, for example, if he flew from Thunder Bay to Minneapolis. He would turn in his mysterious brown envelope in Thunder Bay, go through whatever questioning they would have, fill out a form, and then he would get his I-94. Then, when he landed in Minneapolis, he would go through customs just like everyone else, show the I-94 + his visa, and be on his way?

Cass (bebop the great)

All international ones, with the exception of Halifax. I believe Halifax will be changing in the not so distant future.

Pre-Clearance or actual clearance? You go to a separate room, hand in your paperwork, fill out a form, wait, they attach your I-94 and off you go.

[Canuck Carrie 1]

Sorry, because you said Toronto or Winnipeg I thought he would have a connection in one of those. My first answer was for either of those.

Here's a list of the pre-clearance airports.

If he went from TB to MPLS direct, he wouldn't clear (and hand everything in) until MPLS (If I'm wrong someone will correct me )

[Reba 2]

as Cassie said, any of the Canadian International airports are US POEs except Halifax.

Has he traveled from Thunder Bay airport to Minnepolis before? Did he clear US customs in T Bay, or Minneapolis? If he cleared in T Bay, then that's where his visa will be processed.

When I got mine at Toronto airport, I didn't even have to go in the secondary inspection room. They took my brown envelope right there at the wicket/kiosk, took my digital photo and fingerprints stapled my I-94 into my passport and sent me on my merry way.

If there is a customs at the T Bay airport, he will not have to go thru again in Minneapolis.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

He's never flown From TBay to Minneapolis, but I have numerous times. So, that's not very helpful. It's a TINY airport. The only flights that leave there are to Minneapolis, Winnipeg, or Toronto. So I'm assuming they won't have a pre-clearance there. Which is fine. He can just connect to Toronto.

Thank you everyone!

Cass (bebop the great)

as Cassie said, any of the Canadian International airports are US POEs except Halifax.

Has he traveled from Thunder Bay airport to Minnepolis before? Did he clear US customs in T Bay, or Minneapolis? If he cleared in T Bay, then that's where his visa will be processed.

When I got mine at Toronto airport, I didn't even have to go in the secondary inspection room. They took my brown envelope right there at the wicket/kiosk, took my digital photo and fingerprints stapled my I-94 into my passport and sent me on my merry way.

If there is a customs at the T Bay airport, he will not have to go thru again in Minneapolis.

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

He's never flown From TBay to Minneapolis, but I have numerous times. So, that's not very helpful. It's a TINY airport. The only flights that leave there are to Minneapolis, Winnipeg, or Toronto. So I'm assuming they won't have a pre-clearance there. Which is fine. He can just connect to Toronto.

Thank you everyone!

Cass (bebop the great)

as Cassie said, any of the Canadian International airports are US POEs except Halifax.

Has he traveled from Thunder Bay airport to Minnepolis before? Did he clear US customs in T Bay, or Minneapolis? If he cleared in T Bay, then that's where his visa will be processed.

When I got mine at Toronto airport, I didn't even have to go in the secondary inspection room. They took my brown envelope right there at the wicket/kiosk, took my digital photo and fingerprints stapled my I-94 into my passport and sent me on my merry way.

If there is a customs at the T Bay airport, he will not have to go thru again in Minneapolis.

When you fly from TBay to Minneapolis where do you go through US customs ?? Tbay or Minneapolis, because which ever you do when you fly back to the US from Tbay would be his POE ...

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Minneapolis. And it's always hell. A giant cattle call with pretty irate CBP officers.

Hence why I'd prefer for him to not have to come through MSP as his POE on the K1.

So we'll probably just have him fly from TBay to Toronto to Indianapolis.

Thank you!

Cass (bebop the great)

When you fly from TBay to Minneapolis where do you go through US customs ?? Tbay or Minneapolis, because which ever you do when you fly back to the US from Tbay would be his POE ...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

bebop, it would be much better to go to W'peg than Pearson for the PFI--Pearson is Canada's "gate of hell" airport as a whole (as rated by Globe and Mail magazine for the last 17 years running).

:yes:

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Oooh! Thank you! Good to know! Winnipeg it is.

Cass (bebop the great)

bebop, it would be much better to go to W'peg than Pearson for the PFI--Pearson is Canada's "gate of hell" airport as a whole (as rated by Globe and Mail magazine for the last 17 years running).

:yes:

[mozplay 29]

Ditto on Pearson being nothing short of hell. That's my airport and I don't think I have ever had a smooth experience flying out of Pearson - to anywhere. Flying to the U.S. ... I missed my flight once because one of my travelling companions was held up in customs. Anywhere's gotta be better than Pearson.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

It would be ideal if bebop could fly via Calgary (for the same 17 years running, rated Canada's best--as I was raised there, I could not resist such a gloat opp :D )--but from the info supplied, it looks like that would necessitate a connexion elsewhere (probably Winnipeg, since it's the only one of the three that's IN-BETWEEN). Winnipeg is not as nice as Calgary (lots fewer flights, especially to US), but is somewhere between "twin ottter" (two stars) and "737" (three--which rating is given to Vancouver).

(Pearson's rating by G&M is actually ZERO--"crashing semi"! Calgary, has four or "concorde")

Edited August 16, 2006 by CherryXS

[Cassie 8]

Going through Calgary's POE was fantastic -- took me all of 15 minutes to get stuff taken care of in the secondary room -- it would have been quicker if between the CO and I we hadn't messed up 2 I-94s

[Canuck Carrie 1]

Don't rule out Toronto, I went through there on March 30 and it was pretty simple. Just make sure he leaves lots of extra time for all the line ups, I think I gave myself 3 hours.

Everyone is much more friendly when you're moving to get married, they actually smile

[Reba 2]

when I went thru TO with my visa it took all of 5 minutes to be processed, and that was right there at the kiosk/wicket, NOT in secondary.

They now have lines specific to visa holders to speed things up.

Of course with the latest security precautions in all airports, all airlines are suggesting you show up at least 3 hours ahead of your flight time. If you're going thru to process a visa, more time may be needed. Call whichever POE you decide to go thru to ask them if they've changed procedures because of security changes.

Edited August 16, 2006 by Reba