Connecting through Vancouver using a K1

[DJ&L 83]

Does anyone have any experience flying through Vancouver?

I'm trying to book a flight for my fiance for her entry to the US using a K1. I read on the Vancouver airport website that most US passengers flying from Vancouver actually go through US Customs and Immigration in Vancouver and then the flight is treated as a domestic flight once it enters the US.

The entry point makes a difference for planning a long enough layover to accommodate the immigration process. I'm just curious if she would still go through Immigration in Vancouver if she's on a K1. I guess my assumption would be yes but I thought I'd ask if anyone has direct experience with this.

[carocaro 22]

I expect she will have to go through Canada Customs first as that is where she has landed and then through USA Customs to reboard. While my home city was Calgary, which also had a US Customs and Immigration, the US officers that I had contact with there had little experience with the immigration process and it always seemed complicated ... and I wasn't on a K1 and English is my first language...

[DJ&L 83]

Well...that was why I was looking at the Vancouver website to begin with...I don't think she can go though Canadian immigration since she's Chinese. I know there are airports where you can make International connections without immigration or customs (Narita, for instance) and some you need to clear immigration and customs (DFW) but I'm not sure about Vancouver.

Might be best to avoid an international connection.

Edited October 30, 2013 by DJ&L

[Darnell 8,479]

For Vancouver, that's my understanding -

there's a US Border Patrol POE there for flights going on into the USA.

I've heard they be very efficient at getting the sealed packet back , as well.

As to delay times, all depend on how many are deplaning and going through, at the moment.

If you've not booked the flight yet - I note that China Air has a direct from BeiJing to Houston, study a bit over at cheapoair.com and see if you like the routing.

Edited October 30, 2013 by Darnell

[DJ&L 83]

For Vancouver, that's my understanding -

there's a US Border Patrol POE there for flights going on into the USA.

I've heard they be very efficient at getting the sealed packet back , as well.

As to delay times, all depend on how many are deplaning and going through, at the moment.

If you've not booked the flight yet - I note that China Air has a direct from BeiJing to Houston, study a bit over at cheapoair.com and see if you like the routing.

Oh, i see. So she'd deplane, collect her bag and go through US Immigration and then just wait for her flight to the US. Just like she flew into the US to start with.

[JRF 117]

OP...if you are in SAT suggest she fly thru LAX, assuming you can't book a flight through DFW or IAH. The advantage to LA are flight selection (more non-stops I would imagine). Easy then to get a United non-stop to SAT, departing in the evening, so you have plenty of time to clear customs. Other alternative is to fly into LAX at night, spend the night in LA, and forward to SAT in the morning.

I live in LA now, used to live in SAT and travelled a lot. LAX is a dumpy airport (and the wireless stinks) but you do get a lot of connections. One other option is ORD, plenty of non stops on American to SAT.

[DJ&L 83]

OP...if you are in SAT suggest she fly thru LAX, assuming you can't book a flight through DFW or IAH. The advantage to LA are flight selection (more non-stops I would imagine). Easy then to get a United non-stop to SAT, departing in the evening, so you have plenty of time to clear customs. Other alternative is to fly into LAX at night, spend the night in LA, and forward to SAT in the morning.

I live in LA now, used to live in SAT and travelled a lot. LAX is a dumpy airport (and the wireless stinks) but you do get a lot of connections. One other option is ORD, plenty of non stops on American to SAT.

Thanks!

Yeah, I've noticed through LA tends to be a little more convenient...but more expensive too. Might be worth it though.

[Daveykins 17]

LA customs can be a nightmare to go through. Just a fair warning if you decide to go through LAX expect delays in getting through customs.

[Darnell 8,479]

from the VJ POE Review section:

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=Vancouver&dfilter=0

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=Vancouver&dfilter=0

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=Vancouver&dfilter=0