Canadian POE what if flight to US is cancelled after already through security?

[James and Vanessa 15]

One thing about Air Canada is they are very hit or miss when it comes to flights to Milwaukee, WI being cancelled.

My question is after my fiancee beneficiary Vanessa goes through the CBP primary and secondary areas, has her visa activated and her sealed package opened by the CBP since Toronto Pearson airport is a POE into the US, what should she do then if there is a circumstance where her Air Canada flight here to the US gets cancelled until the next day?

It doesn't seem to me that it would be easy for her to leave the airport until the next day and show up the next morning at the airport for the re-booked flight with her sealed package having been opened the day before.

We would rather be prepared with this knowledge ahead of time, as this entire nightmare of a visa process has shown us that anything is possible.

[MeghanK 629]

Sounds like a day living in the airport would be the easiest answer. But considering once she gets through the POE - you've successfully made it through this Visa process - a day living in the airport might seem like a field day in comparison to the whole journey.

 

This is a really good question though, would be interested to learn whether or not there is a policy for this allowing the traveler to leave the airport.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

I can't say for certain but I assume she would be stuck in security until the next flight. If it is concerning about a possible cancellation, see perhaps if there is any other airline that does that route? 

[James and Vanessa 15]

The concern I have is technically once she's past the CBP in that part of the airport, her visa has been activated and she has "entered" the United States. Which I am fairly certain but clearly not positive that she cannot then leave and come back.

Unfortunately, Air Canada is the only Canuck airline coming in and out of Milwaukee from Toronto.

Since the flight is now going to be taking place in most likely early December, there is always a threat of snow.

[JFH 12,191]

Then take an airline that doesn’t go through Canada. It’s not just air Canada that serves MKE.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,096]

1 hour ago, James and Vanessa said:

The concern I have is technically once she's past the CBP in that part of the airport, her visa has been activated and she has "entered" the United States. Which I am fairly certain but clearly not positive that she cannot then leave and come back.

Unfortunately, Air Canada is the only Canuck airline coming in and out of Milwaukee from Toronto.

Since the flight is now going to be taking place in most likely early December, there is always a threat of snow.

Depending on where you actually live...

1 - Fly to Chicago. Driving from Chicago to Wisconsin can be less than great, but if you're in the southern suburbs, it's not terrible, and I'd suspect flights to Chicago are less likely to be canceled.

2 - If she owns a car, just drive from Toronto. It might be a two day drive (depending on weather, border crossings, traffic, and how long you're willing to drive) and importing a car is apparently a bit tricky, but it's still nice to have and you can bring a lot more with you that way and leave when you want so you should be able to find two consecutive days with decent weather.

[MeghanK 629]

1 hour ago, James and Vanessa said:

The concern I have is technically once she's past the CBP in that part of the airport, her visa has been activated and she has "entered" the United States. Which I am fairly certain but clearly not positive that she cannot then leave and come back.

I've had a flight cancelled after going through POE from Canada to USA in Vancouver Airport, and I decided to leave and take a flight the next day. I had to exit back out through customs as if I was just arriving to Canada... so yeah she would be considered to have left the U.S. if she left the U.S. part of the airport. So you'd have to assume you couldn't re-use the K1 visa to come back through and that your whole process would be abandoned. Again, unless they have a policy for this specific situation that I'm not aware of. Maybe they do.

[James and Vanessa 15]

So I located this page https://www.path2usa.com/flight-to-usa which has a FAQ section that includes:

"What if your flight is delayed or canceled?

In case your flight is delayed because of bad weather, or any other reason, airlines might offer you food, and make arrangements for your stay."

 

It would seem, at least according to this site, that the conclusion of my fiancee staying past customs near the gate until the next flight would be the way for her to go.

As was stated earlier in the thread, that is a bed of roses compared to what some have had to go through.

Driving to Toronto in early December is just as risky of a proposition tbh. I could see a storm front hovering directly over my car both there and back. 😄

[James and Vanessa 15]

Apologies for the double post but editing was not available.

I just spoke on the phone with Air Canada, and they said a passenger sitting in the gate area possibly overnight would not be allowed.

So if such a situation were to arise, unless all flights out of Toronto Pearson into Chicago and possibly Minneapolis were also cancelled, the thing to do most likely would be to book a ticket on a flight to another city.

It would be a bit of a Planes, Trains, and Automobiles situation. But at least my fiancee would be in the US.

[Diane and Chris 651]

Seems pretty simple to me. Either don’t leave the airport once you’re through security OR take a different route.

[JFH 12,191]

*~*~*moved from “K-1 fiancé visa process and procedures” to “moving to the USA” - non visa-specific question about POE*~*~*

[TBoneTX 46,119]

I would call CBP in Toronto and ask what the protocol is.  Ask for the shift supervisor.  Let us know.

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

when the packet has been opened in Canada (as like going thru Montreal airport)  you have already gone thru US border patrol technically our customs and immigration / she will be given a white sheet of paper that says she went thru US border patrol and she uses this paper pass at the next US airport

Many people have had to sleep overnight in an airport because of bad weather, etc

she needs to stay there and catch the next flight 

Air Canada will schedule as they did in August for my husband

[James and Vanessa 15]

Just now, adil-rafa said:

when the packet has been opened in Canada (as like going thru Montreal airport)  you have already gone thru US border patrol technically our customs and immigration / she will be given a white sheet of paper that says she went thru US border patrol and she uses this paper pass at the next US airport

Many people have had to sleep overnight in an airport because of bad weather, etc

she needs to stay there and catch the next flight 

Air Canada will schedule as they did in August for my husband

Yes I just got off the phone with Air Canada again because I was thinking the customer service representative last night didn't know what they were talking about.

This individual stated that it happens all the time where a passenger has to stay overnight by the gate, and I made sure of this by stating that with this fiancee visa, once she is through customs and border patrol...she cannot go back through.

The lady on the phone said yes, airport security is on site 24/7 so passengers can stay until the re-booked flight arrives.

Really puts my mind at ease because the thing I fear the most is being unprepared when the "unexpected" should arise. And Toronto Pearson, like Vancouver, is an oddity of an airport with the POE right there instead of it being in the American city airport.

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

Just now, James and Vanessa said:

Yes I just got off the phone with Air Canada again because I was thinking the customer service representative last night didn't know what they were talking about.

This individual stated that it happens all the time where a passenger has to stay overnight by the gate, and I made sure of this by stating that with this fiancee visa, once she is through customs and border patrol...she cannot go back through.

The lady on the phone said yes, airport security is on site 24/7 so passengers can stay until the re-booked flight arrives.

Really puts my mind at ease because the thing I fear the most is being unprepared when the "unexpected" should arise. And Toronto Pearson, like Vancouver, is an oddity of an airport with the POE right there instead of it being in the American city airport.

yeah, helps a lot especially when flying into a busy US airport

Adil passed thru easy and onto Newark

he had (of course ) his green card as this was not his first time

but having border patrol in Canada made it so much easier

 

I have stayed overnight in Paris due to an ice storm and atlanta as my plane was late and last shuttle was gone

staying overnight in airports is not uncommon and many sleep on the floor 

not comfortable but happens

and Congraulations