Would I need to check into customs coming from Canada into the states?
So, in july i plan on going with a couple of friends to indianapolis, and we're flying from Canada. We're all lost on how this u.s customs thing work.. I'm coming from Montreal Canada and will be connecting in Chicago to get to Indianapolis, would i need to check my luggage in montreal, and then do the whole u.s customs thing/checking of the passport in Chicago and Re-check my luggage before getting onto the flight to indianapolis, or would i just have to check my luggage and passport in Montreal? i'm lost...and i also heard it can take up to 2 hours to get cleared through the u.s customs and by the time i arrive to chicago i will have 45 minutes and then i have to aboard the flight to indianapolis... i'd like to know more information on this stuff inhead of time so i can be prepared....Thanks!
Packing & Preparation - 3 Answers
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1 :
yes
2 :
You will pre-clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Montreal. Once you get past that point, you are, for all intents and purposes "on U.S. soil". You will not have to go through Customs again until you return to Montreal, and that will be Canadian Customs. Regarding your luggage, it should be checked right through to Indianapolis, unless you're flying on two different airlines that have no luggage handling agreement in place, and that is very rare. You will find that out when you check in in Montreal. If you need to know beforehand, call the airline or travel agency that you booked with and ask them. Addendum: "bran" obviously has never flown from a major Canadian city to the U.S. This site lists all the cities, including Montreal, that offer pre-clearance: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/preclear_locations.xml
3 :
The airlines usually have this info on their webpage. Have you tried that? I am unsure what the other answerer is talking about! I worked in an airport and when you come into the USA from another country, you will go thru customs. Sometimes it takes a long time, yes, but it depends on the lines. On your other flight, you wont go thru customs. When you go home, you simply get on the plane, and when you get home to Montreal, you will go thru customs again, but since that is your home country it will be easier.
