US Customs Terminal 1

[bavaria]

I cannot speak for YYZ specifically but early mornings tend to be very busy at many Canadian airports for US preclearance, with the waits decreasing by mid-morning. Often the waits are reported to be close to an hour on peak days during that period.

Are you referring to next Saturday? That generally is before the start of the holiday rush so won't necessarily be a peak travel day, but may well still be busy.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Im heading out on a Saturday morning, 6:30 am flight on AirCanada out of T1 ...just worried is going to be busy...just want to make sure I give myself lots of time..should be at YYZ by 4:30 am

Based on what I remember I want to say US Customs opens at 5:00 AM or 5:30 AM, however I don't remember the exact time and hopefully someone can confirm that. Anyway anytime you fly out that early no matter the year I think there might be a line of people waiting, although getting there early should help. Also there will be employee's of YYZ announcing flights that are scheduled to leave within a period of time, so if you happen to be one of them they will take you to the front of the Customs line. However you after that you still need to clear the security screaning and they don't let those with flights leaving very soon get to the front of the line.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

I am having a lengthly discussion/argument with an acquaintance regarding travelling to the U.S.A.

Is your passport necessary to leave Canada or only to return to Canada, in other words does he show his passport before boarding the plane to anyone in Toronto?

I know it is necessary to clear customs upon his return to Canada.

Thank you

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am having a lengthly discussion/argument with an acquaintance regarding travelling to the U.S.A.

Is your passport necessary to leave Canada or only to return to Canada, in other words does he show his passport before boarding the plane to anyone in Toronto?

I know it is necessary to clear customs upon his return to Canada.

Thank you

You need to show your Passport when checking in, clearing United States Customs and then 99% of the time you will need to show it when boarding the plane. Also when clearing Canadain Customs at YYZ once again he will need his Passport, however that will be the only time.

 

[bavaria]

That answer is not quite correct. A NEXUS member who is a citizen of Canada or the US may use the NEXUS card in place of a passport to fulfill the ID requirements when entering the US at preclearance airports with kiosks.

Not every traveller is required to show a passport when entering the US from Canada at preclearance airports.

For Canadian and U.S. citizens, NEXUS membership cards also fulfill the travel document requirements of the U.S. WHTI.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

That answer is not quite correct. A NEXUS member who is a citizen of Canada or the US may use the NEXUS card in place of a passport to fulfill the ID requirements when entering the US at preclearance airports with kiosks.

Not every traveller is required to show a passport when entering the US from Canada at preclearance airports.

Well who knows the actual number of Canadians with a Nexus card, so my response would be correct for those who don't have it.

 

[bavaria]

The drive program alone had over 100,000 members in 2006 and with the WHTI both governments have encouraged travellers to adopt the card. By start of 2009 there were over 265,000 Canadian members. The poster could well be referring to a NEXUS member.

Your post overlooked an entire significant segment of travellers - those under preclearance programs, and thus the answer did not fully address the situation. For all that we, or the poster, knows the person in question may well be part of a preclearance program and thus falls under a different set of rules.

Again, NOT every traveller must show a passport.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

So then I can assume it can also be used at ID when checking in for your Airline and showing as you board the plane?

 

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

wow people can really get catty on here. It's these types of comments (the previous posters) that really make me not want to post questions for fear that someone will make me feel stupid for accidently posting incorrect information (or information that they feel is incorrect)

 

[fan1080]

wow people can really get catty on here. It's these types of comments (the previous posters) that really make me not want to post questions for fear that someone will make me feel stupid for accidently posting incorrect information (or information that they feel is incorrect)

Don't worry about someone correcting you, that's why we are all here, to help support each other. If someone posts something that is not accurate and we know the difference, it should be pointed out.

These boards, and many others, are polluted with incorrect and misleading information. I actually find it worse when someone gets offended over being corrected.

 

[bavaria]

Don't worry about someone correcting you, that's why we are all here, to help support each other. If someone posts something that is not accurate and we know the difference, it should be pointed out.

These boards, and many others, are polluted with incorrect and misleading information. I actually find it worse when someone gets offended over being corrected.

Agreed.

The sad thing is that this website once had many members who acted as unofficial representatives of airlines, airports, TSA, CATSA and other official agencies. The one TSA representative could be an excellent resource, but when she posts and cites her position and source, she is still ignored or called names because people don't like the answer.

So many readers post incorrect or incomplete information which misleads people. And the actual experts in their field received so much negative response that most stopped posting.

Many people only want validation, not information, and only want to hear what they want to hear, even if it is not the correct information. Others think that flying a few times a year makes them an expert, and others who do fly multiple times a year still don't understand the rules and regulations.

I always try and link to official sites as information is subject to change, and none of us should rely on a DISNEY website for critical travel information. (Witness a recent thread about permitted items at security, which was full of incorrect information over just a handful of posts)

Personally I prefer to research and have the correct information in advance so that I can plan correctly. No official agency will care what anyone on a Disney message board claimed was the correct information.

 

[bavaria]

wow people can really get catty on here. It's these types of comments (the previous posters) that really make me not want to post questions for fear that someone will make me feel stupid for accidently posting incorrect information (or information that they feel is incorrect)

Would you want to start your holiday by being denied entry into a country because you failed to understand rules and restrictions, or be denied boarding and aircraft, or being told 'you won't be flying today'? I see that almost weekly.

If people actually followed some of the information here that would happen.

I know of at least three posters this year who reported being denied boarding because they argued about regulations. All three were actually incorrect.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

CR Resort Fan - thank you for your quick reply.

You answered my question.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CR Resort Fan - thank you for your quick reply.

You answered my question.

You're welcome and I guess we can assume that your friend does not have a Nexus card.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

CR Resort Fan you are a brave brave person however you are correct in your assumption.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Oh my CR Resort Fan you are a brave brave person...your assumption is correct.