Port of entry

[Edith_B 1]

I have a question about the port of entry from Canada to USA. I plan on flying from Montreal to Spokane (WA) with layover in Minneapolis.  Where will be my port of entry? Montreal or Minneapolis? I want to know to make sure I plan my time adequately. If it is Minneapolis, I need a longer layover I suppose... thanks!

 

[TBoneTX 46,067]

Thread is moved from Off Topic to the Canada regional forum, for authoritative answers.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

I believe you'll pre-clear in Montreal, that's how it is from Alberta(Calgary and Edmonton) anyways.

[Unshakable Faith 493]

16 minutes ago, Edith_B said:

I have a question about the port of entry from Canada to USA. I plan on flying from Montreal to Spokane (WA) with layover in Minneapolis.  Where will be my port of entry? Montreal or Minneapolis? I want to know to make sure I plan my time adequately. If it is Minneapolis, I need a longer layover I suppose... thanks!

 

Your port of entry will always be your first stop in the US.  

[Edith_B 1]

That's what I thinking as well. But I don't want to screw it up!!! I am still waiting on my visa, 10 weeks after my interview. Driving me bunker

[Edith_B 1]

Ok. So that's wren I'll have to show my papers and stuff?

[Jordan8768 107]

14 minutes ago, Unshakable Faith said:

Your port of entry will always be your first stop in the US.  

 

[Hypnos 6,578]

26 minutes ago, Unshakable Faith said:

Your port of entry will always be your first stop in the US.  

You are mistaken in this circumstance. 

 

There is a CBP pre-clearance facility at Montreal's Trudeau airport, and so the OP will go through customs and immigration there. 

 

https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance

Edited June 5, 2017 by Hypnos

[Unshakable Faith 493]

3 minutes ago, Hypnos said:

You are mistaken in this circumstance. 

 

There is a CBP pre-clearance facility at Montreal's Trudeau airport, and so the OP will go through customs and immigration there. 

 

https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance

My mistake, very interesting.   Thank you for that correction! 

[Peot 161]

On 6/5/2017 at 0:18 PM, Unshakable Faith said:

My mistake, very interesting.   Thank you for that correction! 

As an FYI to others - It's not just in Montreal either. In every Canadian airport I've traveled into the United States from, you clear American immigration BEFORE getting on the plane and flying to the United States.

 

The person's POE would technically be the Montreal international departures area after security, and they had better have their paperwork ready for then.

 

However, for example, when I flew from London to New York, I cleared immigration in New York (a huge line). Flying into LAX is the same deal.

[Edith_B 1]

Thank you all. That's what I was thinking because previously,once I landed in the USA, I never recalled having to wait in line for my next flight. 

[Lemonslice 4,963]

33 minutes ago, Peot said:

As an FYI to others - It's not just in Montreal either. In every Canadian airport I've traveled into the United States from, you clear American immigration BEFORE getting on the plane and flying to the United States.

 

The person's POE would technically be the Montreal international departures area after security, and they had better have their paperwork ready for then.

 

However, for example, when I flew from London to New York, I cleared immigration in New York (a huge line). Flying into LAX is the same deal.

Most Canadian airports offer pre-clearance, but not all of them - always good to verifty if you are trying to book a tight connection.  Oh, and it is available in some other countries also, list is here: https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance

 

[AstroCanada 206]

Make sure to allow plenty of time for your flight out of Montreal.  It indeed will be processed in pre-clearance.  At least in Toronto, it was a slow process (about an hour wait to be seen).

[rj1990 13]

I just went through port of entry in Montreal for a flight to Washington, D.C. I went in the customs line and was taken to a big waiting room behind the agents in cubicles, and they took my large packet + passport. I waited there for about 8-10 minutes and then a CBP officer came over to me and gave me back my passport and said "you're good to go!" and reminded me about the stipulations of the visa (married in 90 days, can't re-enter Canada until AOS) and congratulated me. Very chill! 

[NikLR 13,232]

POE is generally pretty painless.  You will POE in Montreal if you are flying.