Pre-clearance at Toronto Pearson?

[Love_Young]

I know this isn't exactly immigration related but this where I always receive the most help.

Hubby and I are looking for flights to travel back to my home in the US lately. One of the cheapest was offering to fly through Pearson (which we both haven't done). How long would we need to get through the pre-clearance for US? Hubby has medication for his disease that he needs and I am just afraid of not making a flight on time or giving him a hard time. Does anyone have experience with pre-clearance, the airport, or Air Canada? If so, what were they?

We appreciate all the help and tips that can be provided.

 

[medellinguy]

I have been through the US Customs at Pearson Airport on an Air Canada flight to Miami. Let me tell you that there is a lot of people waiting in line, because everyone has a flight going to somewhere in the USA (first flight or connection). In my case, it was a connection because my original departure city was Montréal. I only had about 45 minutes to go through customs so I was pretty worried. Anyways, when I get there, a lady was screaming : MIAMI MIAMI MIAMI 9:15 MIAMI....follow me come here...so I went and they made us wait first in line....so that tells me they prioritize people with connections...The immigration agent was polite, asked me 2 questions (where, how long)...and that's it.

 

[Love_Young]

Well what is exactly considered a connection?
We would fly from NL to Toronto to Charlotte. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[medellinguy]

Well what is exactly considered a connection?
We would fly from NL to Toronto to Charlotte. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Newfoundland - St John's is your departure city
Toronto is your connection flight to get you to Charlotte
Charlotte is your destination

 

[Love_Young]

Newfoundland - St John's is your departure city
Toronto is your connection flight to get you to Charlotte
Charlotte is your destination

Thanks this will be only my second time flying still not very knowledgable. Lol.

 

[CharlieD10]

You should allow yourself at least 1.5 hours between connecting flights for busy airports like Pearson, especially when you are going to another country. Yes, I know it's Canada to the US, but it's still an international flight, LOL.

The last time I left myself only an hour between connecting flights, I found myself sprinting across two terminals in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson to make it to a flight to Jamaica. I basically made it to the gate in time for them to call my name and tell me this was my last chance to board the flight before they closed the jet-bridge. In a stroke of incredible good fortune, my bag also made it onto the flight, I suspect because it was a single teeny carry-on type.

In my defense, it wasn't my fault I was late, my flight from Mississippi to Atlanta was delayed because there had been thunderstorms overnight in Atlanta and flights like mine coming from "small" airports were delayed on the tarmac to allow ATL to land international flights and flights from larger cities that had been delayed by the weather. Those 30 minutes sitting in MS ate up half the time I had allowed myself to connect, and ATL is HUGE, so I basically had to hit the ground running to get across the terminal I landed at, get down to the trains connecting the terminals, then run across the terminal where my departing flight was leaving, naturally P), from a gate at the furthest end away from the train stop.

Long story short, Pearson and Charlotte are both busy airports, so give yourself enough time to get around them if you need to connect. Like I said, 1.5 hours at minimum, to give yourself some wriggle room for the unforeseen.

 

[doctorkb]

Let me just say that I *hate* Pearson International. It's got to be the WORST example for an international airport I've seen in Canada (been through Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto).

You MAY have to walk a LONG distance. Especially if you're connecting with Air Canada... they have some puddle-jumper sized airplanes that are way at the end of everything.

That said, they are USUALLY pretty good about not taking off if not everybody is on the plane (as long as you're checked in).

The connection side of US screening has fewer lines, but seems to move more quickly.

As a "heads up" -- when you have a choice of which line to get in, you may consider choosing one that has the most WASPs. You don't want to get stuck behind someone who either can't communicate in English (a big pet peeve of almost every US border guard) or is travelling through the US to somewhere else (e.g. Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan)... you will have to wait FOREVER, and you'll have a grumpy guard after that.

 

[CharlieD10]

Haha, don't scare me yet, doctorkb.

I usually do find that US Immigrations moves quickly. In spite of mostly landing in ATL, I can't point to a single time when I was ever held up for a connection because the lines moved slowly. It didn't matter who was in line ahead of me, I've landed among passengers with all kinds of languages and the lines moved relatively efficiently, and I have not yet met a surly US Immigrations Officer or TSA agent (knock on wood). They've always been pleasantly polite and some have even chatted with me outside of the normal "Purpose of travel?" and "Length of stay?". Maybe's it's a southern charm thing, LOL.

 

[Mrs Proper]

I've come to learn that the longer the lay over the better. Most ppl will pick the flight that only has a 30-40 min lay over and those ppl most the time miss their next flight. The long immigration lines are a big pet peeve of mine too but if you have a long layover you'll be ok. Oh and I jus have to say how I wish I was in nld right now! My daughter jus got back from there she was in isle aux mortes for come home year. One of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world, oh and the friendliest ppl!!!

 

[doctorkb]

Haha, don't scare me yet, doctorkb.

I usually do find that US Immigrations moves quickly. In spite of mostly landing in ATL, I can't point to a single time when I was ever held up for a connection because the lines moved slowly. It didn't matter who was in line ahead of me, I've landed among passengers with all kinds of languages and the lines moved relatively efficiently, and I have not yet met a surly US Immigrations Officer or TSA agent (knock on wood). They've always been pleasantly polite and some have even chatted with me outside of the normal "Purpose of travel?" and "Length of stay?". Maybe's it's a southern charm thing, LOL.

I can say that I have just about missed my flight due to an issue with who I ended up behind.

I had a 3-hour connection.

I was travelling to Hawaii through YVR (Vancouver) on Sept 12 2006. I had a one-way ticket and plans to stay for a few months, so was sent to secondary inspection. There was a family of three (two parents and one grown child) travelling to LA, then on to Iran. They monopolised the three secondary inspectors for more than an hour... and those border guards were less than pleasant with those of us who came after. I spent about 45 minutes with them, was granted entry, then still had to clear the security screening and get to the other end of the terminal. Another person who was living in the US under a NAFTA visa had it declined this time... it sounded like a grumpy guard was less than pleased with her request.

My only advice for those going through US Pre-screening in Canada is that USUALLY, the lineup is shorter if you exit the "secured" area (since you'll have to go through security again anyhow) and join the lines with people departing from your connection city, rather than going through the connection line. Often times there are more than triple the border guards on the originating side than the connection side -- especially in YVR.

 

[Love_Young]

Thanks for sharing all the experiences, tips, and all. You wouldn't believe how many questions you helped answer and worry off my mind.
So would about 1 hour and 40 minutes be enough? This has been the longest layover I can find for the cheapest so far. It is just that hubby has to bring enzymes, compressor machine, medicine, etc and I just don't want to be slowed down or run into any issues. We will be bringing both a note from the doctor describing what the medicine/equipment is for and also a letter for his next appointment. Anything else you can recommend? Also, I forgot to mention that the whole trip from NL to NC would be with Air Canada.

doctorkb: Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by WASPs?

 

[Love_Young]

Oh and I jus have to say how I wish I was in nld right now! My daughter jus got back from there she was in isle aux mortes for come home year. One of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world, oh and the friendliest ppl!!!

Aww thanks. Yes, I am definitely glad to call this home. And it is beautiful anytime it isn't as foggy like today.

 

[CharlieD10]

Thanks for sharing all the experiences, tips, and all. You wouldn't believe how many questions you helped answer and worry off my mind.
So would about 1 hour and 40 minutes be enough? This has been the longest layover I can find for the cheapest so far. It is just that hubby has to bring enzymes, compressor machine, medicine, etc and I just don't want to be slowed down or run into any issues. We will be bringing both a note from the doctor describing what the medicine/equipment is for and also a letter for his next appointment. Anything else you can recommend? Also, I forgot to mention that the whole trip from NL to NC would be with Air Canada.

doctorkb: Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by WASPs?

An hour 40 sounds good. Definitely have the letter from the doctors, and make copies so you can simply give them to anyone who needs it and keep the original yourself.

 

[doctorkb]

Thanks for sharing all the experiences, tips, and all. You wouldn't believe how many questions you helped answer and worry off my mind.
So would about 1 hour and 40 minutes be enough? This has been the longest layover I can find for the cheapest so far. It is just that hubby has to bring enzymes, compressor machine, medicine, etc and I just don't want to be slowed down or run into any issues. We will be bringing both a note from the doctor describing what the medicine/equipment is for and also a letter for his next appointment. Anything else you can recommend? Also, I forgot to mention that the whole trip from NL to NC would be with Air Canada.

doctorkb: Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by WASPs?

1:40 sounds about right. You should have enough time. Your husband *may* get extra questions about proving your planned return from the US to Canada, but the return ticket should be sufficient. If necessary, you could also mention that healthcare is much cheaper for your hubby in Canada... that should drive the point home based on what you've said about the needs for his condition.

I'd say don't dawdle, that's all... at least not until you're through customs and security with plenty of time.

WASP - White Anglo-Saxon Person -- basically, if the lineup has many asians or middle-easterners or Indians (i.e. from India), I can just about guarantee it will take longer than one that is mostly WASP and African-Americans, partly due to additional suspicion because of security concerns and also due to language challenges that can arise.

 

[Love_Young]

1:40 sounds about right. You should have enough time. Your husband *may* get extra questions about proving your planned return from the US to Canada, but the return ticket should be sufficient. If necessary, you could also mention that healthcare is much cheaper for your hubby in Canada... that should drive the point home based on what you've said about the needs for his condition.

I'd say don't dawdle, that's all... at least not until you're through customs and security with plenty of time.

WASP - White Anglo-Saxon Person -- basically, if the lineup has many asians or middle-easterners or Indians (i.e. from India), I can just about guarantee it will take longer than one that is mostly WASP and African-Americans, partly due to additional suspicion because of security concerns and also due to language challenges that can arise.

Well we also found another that goes to Ottawa before going onto Toronto and it offers almost 3 hours so that is even better for us anyway. Should we walk up together or separately? Or do we have no other choice? Also, what should he mention, that he is going to visit my family? Last time (the first and only time) that he came to the US, he said he wasn't sent to a separate room at Newark but I do know that he was asked questions and his enzymes were looked at. He brought about 6 bottles of enzymes because he needs about 4-5 to take with every meal. But they just let him go. He did not have a doctors note and wasn't taking any care of his health besides that at the time and didn't have a return ticket. I am assuming this what mainly did it. They didn't stamp or put a restriction on his stay either.

We won't be getting travel insurance as it is only two weeks but would having a printout (in case) of our savings account be useful? I just won't be too happy if they try to give him a hard time. I will tell them, I was the one who immigrated to Canada and that he receives the care he needs for free in Canada, we have no need for him to stay longer or immigrate.

An hour 40 sounds good. Definitely have the letter from the doctors, and make copies so you can simply give them to anyone who needs it and keep the original yourself.

Great idea. I probably would have never have though of that. I will bring copies of everything that is important. It just takes a lot of effort to get everything pieced together right but it will help in the long run for sure.