a.miel
Difficulty:  | Review Topic: Port of Entry Review
Entered on K1 Visa at Pearson Airport in Toronto
US security opens at 6:15 am. US customs opens at 6:30am. There was already a line of people waiting for security to open up when I got there around 5:45am. I had gotten an SSSS on my boarding pass when I checked in back in Edmonton so when it got to my turn, I had to do some extra steps for security. I had to take out all my electronics (usual procedure) and then they opened my carry on bags and swabbed the insides. Nothing super intense. No pat downs or physical checks like I've read elsewhere online, which I was most worried about. After they swabbed my bags, they gave them back to me and my boarding pass was stamped. Make sure you have this stamp if you got SSSS on your boarding pass or it'll be trouble at the gate!
Proceeded to go to Customs section. They had a new procedure for nexus/global card holders. No need to enter info or scan my card on the machines anymore - I only had to have my picture taken and they printed out my info (name, dob, passport number). I guess they used the retina scan. Nexus line was quite short. When it was my turn, I gave my packet to the officer and he wrote K1 on my nexus receipt, returned my packet and told me to line up again in a different line nearby. Stood in that line for a bit. When it got to my turn again, it was the same officer. Since he already knew who I was, it was really quick and he guided me to secondary screening. It's a big room with a lot of chairs and 2 officers working at the counters. There is a water fountain and bathrooms within the area. The officer took my passport and boarding pass and told me to sit down until I was called. Everyone who was already there all got called up one by one, very slowly, and left. Air Canada and United airline attendants would come every few minutes asking if anyone was flying with them, then take down their info. I guess they were making sure to hold the plane so no one would miss their flight.
When it finally came to my turn, there were 18 people waiting who entered after me. I gave my packet to a new, different officer and he looked through some things I couldn't see over the counter. He asked me if I understood the stipulations of the visa (marry within 90 days, can't leave, must stay in country until I get admitted for green card etc.). He didn't ask any personal questions at all. I waited in that room for about over an hour until my turn. If you have a connecting flight like me, make sure to leave enough time during layover. My layover was 2.5 hours and I would have missed my flight if the flight attendants didn't check on us and they ran things normally (ie. no other missing passengers, delayed planes etc.).
Process overall was easy, just a lot of waiting. I was worried for nothing!
(updated on September 29, 2021)
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Port of Entry Member Review #17261
Entry Date: 2021-09-26