POE Edmonton International

[SunnySanDiego 17]

Hey,

I was wondering if anyone had any recent experiences with POE at the Edmonton International Airport?

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

I POE'd thru Edmonton in Feb.

Took approx. 40 mins (give or take) and was very smooth. I suggest going at least an hour before you'd normally get to the airport just to be safe.

[SunnySanDiego 17]

I POE'd thru Edmonton in Feb.

Took approx. 40 mins (give or take) and was very smooth. I suggest going at least an hour before you'd normally get to the airport just to be safe.

Okay good to know. Did you check into your flight first or is there an office that you go to POE before hand?

[HeatDeath 430]

The sequence for flights to the US at Canadian airports is:

Check in, check baggage -> US Customs and Immigration -> Security screening/X-Ray -> Departure Lounge, Boarding -> Airplane.

You would show your K-1 visa, and hand your do-not-open envelope to the CBP officer at the US Customs and Immigration step. [You will have been told to present your chest x-ray as well, but they almost certainly won't ask for it.] This is the same step where you would normally show your passport and tell them where you are going and how long you will be. Only this time they will send you off to secondary inspection, who will process your visa. Only then will they release you to the security and x-ray step.

It is normally recommended you arrive at the airport 90 minutes to two hours before the flight leaves, for an international flight, to allow for any delays that might occur during the normal check-in and inspection process. For a normal flight as a Canadian tourist, that is conservative, and you will spend at least 45 mins to an hour in the departure lounge. You should add an hour to that for the extra time processing the visa in secondary inspection.

[SunnySanDiego 17]

The sequence for flights to the US at Canadian airports is:

Check in, check baggage -> US Customs and Immigration -> Security screening/X-Ray -> Departure Lounge, Boarding -> Airplane.

You would show your K-1 visa, and hand your do-not-open envelope to the CBP officer at the US Customs and Immigration step. [You will have been told to present your chest x-ray as well, but they almost certainly won't ask for it.] This is the same step where you would normally show your passport and tell them where you are going and how long you will be. Only this time they will send you off to secondary inspection, who will process your visa. Only then will they release you to the security and x-ray step.

It is normally recommended you arrive at the airport 90 minutes to two hours before the flight leaves, for an international flight, to allow for any delays that might occur during the normal check-in and inspection process. For a normal flight as a Canadian tourist, that is conservative, and you will spend at least 45 mins to an hour in the departure lounge. You should add an hour to that for the extra time processing the visa in secondary inspection.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your time in answering!

[LDora 7]

I don't have a RECENT experience since I went through POE in Edmonton almost four years ago, but I will say that allocating for even more time than usual is a good idea. (This is what trashy airport paperback novels are for, right?) I got pulled out of line at customs when I handed over my passport with the Visa stamp; I waited for about fifteen minutes in the little room off to the side, then got called up to show my paperwork. The officer I dealt with was actually very professional and friendly, just said congratulations and reminded me to get married within the 90 day period after he checked everything out. All told it was about a half an hour delay, but you can never tell if the people they're dealing with in front of you are going to complicate matters or something by trying to take a beaver across the border. Give yourself a few extra hours; seriously, you may wind up bored as heck on the other side of security yawning and trying to resist temptation from the vending machines, but it's better than giving yourself a stress attack on the off chance something happens to seriously delay you.

Same advice I give everyone else; be friendly, relaxed as you can, and polite and professional. I do believe that going earlier in the day when the customs officers are "fresh" and not stressed out at the end of the long shift can make a difference in the experience if you're super worried about it though.

[SunnySanDiego 17]

I don't have a RECENT experience since I went through POE in Edmonton almost four years ago, but I will say that allocating for even more time than usual is a good idea. (This is what trashy airport paperback novels are for, right?) I got pulled out of line at customs when I handed over my passport with the Visa stamp; I waited for about fifteen minutes in the little room off to the side, then got called up to show my paperwork. The officer I dealt with was actually very professional and friendly, just said congratulations and reminded me to get married within the 90 day period after he checked everything out. All told it was about a half an hour delay, but you can never tell if the people they're dealing with in front of you are going to complicate matters or something by trying to take a beaver across the border. Give yourself a few extra hours; seriously, you may wind up bored as heck on the other side of security yawning and trying to resist temptation from the vending machines, but it's better than giving yourself a stress attack on the off chance something happens to seriously delay you.

Same advice I give everyone else; be friendly, relaxed as you can, and polite and professional. I do believe that going earlier in the day when the customs officers are "fresh" and not stressed out at the end of the long shift can make a difference in the experience if you're super worried about it though.

Thank you so much. I am a worrier even though I am sure I have nothing to worry about because I am also a bit of a control freak and I stress over important things lol. I will definitely go early.