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When do we clear customs and immigration? So confused!


Natitude61
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We’re flying into Vancouver from the DC area, and trying to figure out how much of a layover time we’ll need since there are no direct flights. Our choices are basically to fly to the US west coast (Seattle, San Francisco, etc) then onto Vancouver, or to fly from DC into Canada then onto Vancouver. Prefer the latter, since there are far more flight choices on Air Canada. If we do that, do we clear customs/immigration leaving DC or upon arrival in Canada (or both?!). How much time is a “safe” layover, assuming no major flight delays?

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21 hours ago, kardut said:

 since there are far more flight choices on Air Canada. If we do that, do we clear customs/immigration leaving DC or upon arrival in Canada (or both?!)

 

20 hours ago, 1025cruise said:

You will clear Immigration on your first stop in Canada. 

 

And, the line for customs and immigration at the Vancouver airport can be a long, slow one.  (But, the agents are friendly.)

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 12/5/2020 at 1:31 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

 

And, the line for customs and immigration at the Vancouver airport can be a long, slow one.  (But, the agents are friendly.)

 

Presumably they would be clearing in Toronto (IAD-YYZ-YVR).

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On 12/5/2020 at 12:34 AM, kardut said:

We’re flying into Vancouver from the DC area, and trying to figure out how much of a layover time we’ll need since there are no direct flights. Our choices are basically to fly to the US west coast (Seattle, San Francisco, etc) then onto Vancouver, or to fly from DC into Canada then onto Vancouver. Prefer the latter, since there are far more flight choices on Air Canada. If we do that, do we clear customs/immigration leaving DC or upon arrival in Canada (or both?!). How much time is a “safe” layover, assuming no major flight delays?

This is not a very confusing concept.

Think about it a bit.

Why do most countries require people to go through immigration and customs procedures when entering the country??

1. Immigration clearance is performed by a country’s immigration officials to ensure that people entering the country are legally allowed to enter and stay for a limited time. Every international carrier (train, bus, airplane, ship) that carries people across an international border must inform the local immigration authorities and prepare the passengers to be inspected on their first port of entry into the country. Why the first port? Because the authorities are there to inspect international travel. Any onward travel is usually domestic. Most countries do not have the money, personnel, or inclination to check papers for every traveler on domestic travel inside a country.

 

There are exceptions, however. If you are a transit traveler (in an airport for example) many countries will not require you to go through immigration formalities if you are just changing to another international flight (within a secure area) that will take you back out of the country. In essence, you have not really officially entered the country, nor are you remaining, so there is no reason to ensure that you are legally allowed to be there.

There are also a very few places that offer / require immigration checks before you depart. Sailing from Vancouver to Alaska, you will exit Canada through Canadian Immigration and enter the USA through US Immigration at the same time in the Vancouver Terminal. This is a special service to allow Alaska Cruisers more time in Alaska once the ship gets there, and allows the cruise lines to sell more shore tours.

In some Ireland Airports, people flying to the USA exit through Irish Immigration and then go through US Immigration procedures in Ireland, saving long lines and waits upon arrival in the USA.  

 

Please do not confuse Customs with Immigration. Although they are operated by the same entities in many cases, Customs Officers are usually trying to prevent you bringing home duty free goods with a value above certain limits. Immigration normally takes place at the first port of entry in a different country; Customs officers typically need to see you at the first port of entry when you return to your home country. There are many exceptions to this procedure in many countries. Customs officers have the right to inspect anyone at their international borders.

 

Flying from the USA to Canada, you will be required to clear Canadian Immigration at your first Canadian port of entry. Canadian Customs officials will be there, but will most likely not be interested is speaking with you.

 

Note that the USA is one of the few countries that do not require its citizens to go through Immigration when departing the country. 

 

When departing Canada for the USA, you will be required to go through Canadian Immigration. Once again, Canadian Customs will not be interested to speak with you. 

 

When entering the first USA port of entry, you will be required to go through US Immigration procedures, followed by some sort of declaration to US Customs officers. Any travel after that will most likely be domestic, with no Immigration or Customs.

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35 minutes ago, Donald said:

When departing Canada for the USA, you will be required to go through Canadian Immigration. Once again, Canadian Customs will not be interested to speak with you. 

 

When entering the first USA port of entry, you will be required to go through US Immigration procedures, followed by some sort of declaration to US Customs officers. Any travel after that will most likely be domestic, with no Immigration or Customs.

That’s a long, condescending lecture to get it all wrong at the end....

 

When departing Canada for the USA, travellers will be pre-cleared by US CBP prior to departure at Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.  Canadian authorities aren’t overly interested in people leaving the country.

 

If a traveller is pre-cleared there will be no additional screening upon arrival in the US?  It’s as though you took a domestic flight from Canada.

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4 hours ago, Donald said:

Flying from the USA to Canada, you will be required to clear Canadian Immigration at your first Canadian port of entry. Canadian Customs officials will be there, but will most likely not be interested is speaking with you.

 

When departing Canada for the USA, you will be required to go through Canadian Immigration. Once again, Canadian Customs will not be interested to speak with you. 

 

When entering the first USA port of entry, you will be required to go through US Immigration procedures, followed by some sort of declaration to US Customs officers. Any travel after that will most likely be domestic, with no Immigration or Customs.

When flying into Canada, you attend inspection by Canadian Border Services, who manage the flow of travellers and goods. Therefore, depending on your answers and conduct, you can be sent for secondary screening (Customs). 

 

When departing Canada for the US, you are NOT required to go through Canadian Immigration. Yes, you will go through Canadian Border Service at Metro Port Vancouver, but that is to enter Canada, not to depart to the US.

 

Since the OP mentioned a cruise from Vancouver, if disembarking in Vancouver, provided they fly out of YVR before about 21:00, they will clear US Immigration at YVR, arriving in the US, as a domestic flight.

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On 12/26/2020 at 4:06 AM, Donald said:

When departing Canada for the USA, you will be required to go through Canadian Immigration. Once again, Canadian Customs will not be interested to speak with you. 

 

When entering the first USA port of entry, you will be required to go through US Immigration procedures, followed by some sort of declaration to US Customs officers. Any travel after that will most likely be domestic, with no Immigration or Customs.

 

When departing Canada to the United States, from an airport with a pre-clearance facility, you clear UNITED STATES Customs and Immigration, prior to reaching a sterile area in the Canadian Airport. (the E gates at Vancouver for example).  This allows the US the option to not have to clear you when you reach the USA. (although they can if they want).  There are no exit immigration checks leaving Canada. 

 

Interesting side affect is that Toronto is the 4th busiest UNITED STATES airport immigration facility (after JFK, LAX and MIA)

 

Also when  departing for Alaska cruises, you pre-clear US Immigration prior to boarding the ship for the same reason. 

 

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