US Immigration and pre-clearance (2024)

FAQs

Which airports have US immigration pre-clearance? ›

CBP has officers and agriculture specialists stationed at 15 Preclearance locations in 6 countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance is the strategic stationing of CBP personnel at designated foreign airports to inspect travelers prior to boarding U.S.-bound flights.

US preclearance, this can take anywhere from 2 minutes to two hours. Most likely 20-30 minutes. 4. Keep in mind most Transatlantic flights start boarding 45 to 60 minutes prior to departure.

Preclearance services provide a customer with the option to submit a business entity document in person to the Secretary of State's Sacramento office prior to filing to determine if the document conforms to law and to receive a preclearance response within a guaranteed time frame.

Travelers are subject to immigration and customs inspections by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers before boarding their transportation onward to the United States. Preclearance applies to all passengers regardless of their nationality or purpose of travel.

Preclearance vs. Global Entry – Global Entry is a CBP program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Travelers do not need to apply or be pre-approved to go through a Preclearance inspection. Preclearance vs.

As stated in Executive Order 12968, Access to Classified Information, security clearances are only granted to persons "Employed by, detailed or assigned to, an [executive] agency, including members of the Armed Forces; an expert or consultant to an agency; an industrial or commercial contractor, licensee, certificate ...

Non-U.S. citizens do not qualify for a security clearance. However, if a non-U.S. citizen requires access to U.S. classified information and meets the requirements of the 32 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 117.10(k), a Limited Access Authorization (LAA) no higher than the Secret level may be issued.

To acquire a security clearance, individuals MUST be sponsored by an employer AND be in a position for which a security clearance is required. Individuals who are naturalized U.S. citizens may acquire a security clearance in the same way that a natural-born U.S. citizen might.

Pros: Convenience: Passengers can clear U.S. customs and immigration before boarding their flight, saving time upon arrival in the United States. Efficiency: Pre-clearance can reduce congestion at U.S. airports by spreading out the immigration and customs process to departure airports.

What do I need to bring to the US Preclearance? ›

TSA PreCheck® is available when you depart from a U.S. airport to a foreign country, and for domestic, connecting flights after you return to the United States. If you travel internationally four or more times a year, consider enrolling in Global Entry instead of TSA PreCheck®.

Preclearance costs include capital expenditures, for which the applicant is responsible, and operational expenditures, which are shared between the applicant and U.S. Government.

If you are traveling by air, flight attendants should hand you a U.S. Customs Declaration Form (CF-6059). If you are arriving by land or sea, the immigration officer will provide you with the CF-6059 at the port of entry. Proceed to the Custom and Borders Inspection site near the terminal area.

With newer preclearance baggage systems like the Vancouver airport process, travelers drop off their labeled and checked luggage, which is then bar-code scanned, photographed, X-rayed and weighed by airport personnel. The bags then leave the passengers' custody and enter a separate, secure processing system.

John Wayne Airport (SNA) had the shortest average wait time at Immigration and Customs, with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport having the longest.

As of July 2023, this program was available at more than 200 airports. After completing a background check, being fingerprinted, and paying a $78 fee, travelers will get a Known Traveler Number.

With US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) at Pearson Airport, travellers to the US are able to clear US customs and immigration before boarding their flight.

TSA PreCheck is available in all 50 US States

TSA Precheck is currently available at 200 airports nationwide.