At what point in US transit do I have to clear Canadian immigration (final destination Canada)
I'm a Canadian permanent resident with an expired PR card. I'm currently in San Francisco. My flight to Canada will leave in 3 weeks. Here are the details:
SFO (US) -> IAD (US) -> YUL (CANADA)
Yes I've looked into PRTD but I don't have 400$ ....
SOLUTION?
The only way I can possibly get to Canada is by getting out of the transit in Washington DC (IAD) and take a bus to New York and then wait for my mom to bring me my valid PR card, which is waiting in my mailbox (didn't arrive in time).
QUESTION:
My plan won't work if I have to clear Canadian immigration at (SFO) since I do not have my PR card. Hence, where will I have to clear Canadian immigration? Once in the last transit to Canada or before my very first flight?
Best Answer
Canada does not have preclearance facilities in the United States (or, to the best of my knowledge, in any other country.) While the treaty between the US and Canada is fully reciprocal concerning the rights of each country to establish preclearance facilities in the other, only the United States has chosen to exercise that right.
The main issue, as pointed out by commenters above, is that the airline may not let you board your first flight if you do not have travel documents that would allow you to enter Canada. For example, if you had a Japanese passport, you would normally be allowed to enter Canada without a visa, and the airline would normally accept this as a travel document that would permit entry to Canada. (CAVEAT: I am not sure whether airlines check that you have an electronic travel authorization (ETA) at the point of departure. If so, then this plan would not work.)
Finally, I would note that the cost to send a FedEx envelope from Montreal to San Francisco, such that it arrives tomorrow by noon, is approximately CAD 75. Cheaper options exist at slower speeds. I suspect that this cost is competitive with the cost (and hassle) of a bus ticket from DC to NYC and a round-trip drive from Montreal to NYC.
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Do you have to clear customs on a connecting flight in US?
Do you have to clear security after going through immigration? Yes, if you have a connecting flight to another destination you'll have to clear security again. Some airports have a special security lane for transit passengers, while others make you go to the main security checkpoint at the terminal to clear again.Do you clear customs in the US from Canada?
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If your airline offers the option of automatically transferring your luggage and you have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, you will be asked to proceed via a connecting flights corridor, avoiding Canadian customs. You will, however, have to go through U.S. customs.Do you go through customs at layover or final destination?
Transit Security vs. Customs. In almost all cases, if your bags are checked through to your final destination and you already have your onward boarding pass, you'll go through transit security when you land at your connecting airport instead of customs.Canada - Transit Visa - How To Confirm You Don’t Need An eTA while Transiting via A Canadian Airport
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Answer 2
I think your SFO to Washington flight will be domestic, not international. You will have to show your Canadian visa papers/visa exempt status at IAD while boarding the flight to YUL. You will clear Canadian customs/immigration at YUL. EDIT: As per comment by Zach, you might be required to show Canadian status proof at first airport.
If you want to fly to Canada best way is apply for PRTD. But if money is a concern you can also fly to the nearest border city, e.g., Detriot and drive across with your COPR, expired PR card or PR visa which will enable CBSA to check you at the border and let you in. Note however, that you might be pulled onto the side or asked further questions in this case.
All this is assuming that you have met the residency obligations, which might be checked while entering Canada.
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