<p>I will be taking a flight into Canada from JFK NY later in July. Have never flown into Canada. At departure, do I go through customs at JFK or upon deplaning in Canada? How much before flight should I get to JFK?
I have my passport but this is the first time using it.
Thanks , I’ve been calling the airline but can’t get through the wait time at their end so thought I’d try here, were experts abound.</p>
<p>The times I’ve flown to Canada, I’ve always gone through customs when I landed. The same thing when I return–back through customs upon landing. Have never heard of customs BEFORE you depart.</p>
<p>I am risk averse, so I tend to arrive at least 1.5 to 2 hours prior to most flights. It gives me time in case the lines are long or TSA is slow. It is more relaxing for me to chill out at the gate than worry about whether I’m going to miss the flight. Have noticed that lines are getting longer and will probably further lengthen now that there are more furloughs. If you have any premier status with the airline that allows you to go in a shorter line for TSA, that may cut your line somewhat.</p>
<p>I’ve never flown to Canada from JFK but have done so from LaGuardia hundreds of times. You’ll go through customs upon landing in Canada. What city are you flying into? I always get to the airport two hours ahead, which, I believe is what Air Canada recommends. You can probably get the info you need on their website if you can’t get through by phone.</p>
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<p>When you fly out of Toronto to the U.S., you go through customs in Toronto, prior to going through security.</p>
<p>edited to add: jacdad, the AC website says recommended check-in time is two hours prior to the flight. If you’re checking baggage, the deadline for that is one hour. You must be present at the boarding gate 20 minutes prior to the flight. These recommendations are “no later” times.</p>
<p>On first arrival in Canada, you go to Canada immigration and customs. If you have a connection in Canada, leave plenty of time between segments to do Canada immigration and customs.</p>
<p>When departing most major airports in Canada for a segment whose next landing is in the US, you are likely to find US immigration and customs pre-clearance, which you do before boarding the plane. The plane then flies to the US airport, where you do not have to go through US immigration and customs. Leave plenty of time for pre-clearance when arriving at the airport, or when scheduling a domestic (in Canada) connection to a segment heading to the US. Examples of airports in Canada where this is done include Montr</p>
<p>Ok. Thanks for the correction. I guess I don’t fly to Canada often enough and misremembered. Always best to allow yourself LOTS of time as I have seen people and luggage miss flights. The problem seems to be worsening, eith longer lines these days.</p>
<p>I’ve flown in and out of Toronto several times over the past few years. As ucbalumnus said, you will go through Canadian customs upon arrival and though US customs in Canada upon before departing. </p>
<p>Getting through the Canadian customs line was always pretty quick. Going through the US line took significantly longer. They seemed to have fewer officials on-duty at all times. I also recall that the security checkpoint in Canada took quite awhile. </p>
<p>I can only speak about the Toronto airport, but I would plan to arrive at least 2-2.5 hours earlier. Even with this time frame, we only had about 15 minutes at our gate on one trip as security took about 45 minutes. (no time for DH’s preflight drink).</p>
<p>I just came back from Vancouver last week. Like others said, you go through immigration and customs in Canada. Prior to coming back, you go through US immigration and customs prior to boarding in Canada. Check with your airline, if your flight is with a US airline, you will mostly likely depart from a US domestic terminal, not from the international one.
I booked my flight with Air Canada, turned out it was a codeshare with United, so I flew on United.</p>
<p>Had a great exerience last summer transiting from Europe to US through Toronto. Most of the people on the plane were Canadians, so there were only 8-10 of us to go through US customs/immigration to get to our gate for the U.S. flight. Formalities over with and we were on our way home. Nothing like going through Chicago or Atlanta or worse yet Kennedy.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. We are going through Toronto to points west and then back again, so your comments were spot on.</p>
<p>Most of the responses here seem to be pretty much the same and I agree with the general consensus. However, I find it interesting that “customs” and “immigration” are often lumped together as if they are the same. In reality they are two distinct steps. </p>
<p>Immigration is for people … this is where you present your passport, explain the purpose of your trip, how long you will be there, etc.</p>
<p>Customs is for the stuff you are bringing with you … this is where you declare the value of your things, that you are not bringing anything illegal with you, etc.</p>
<p>The distinction is not really important for this discussion, but I find it interesting.</p>
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<p>It may be two steps in theory but, in practice, both are handled by the same officer.</p>
<p>No, when arriving by air they are not handled by the same officer.</p>
<p>When arriving by air in the US (or departing to the US from major airports in Canada) your first stop is the immigration officer. This is where your passport gets stamped. You then proceed to claim your luggage, and then you pass by the customs officers. This is where you hand in your customs declaration form.</p>
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<p>Coming back into the US from Brazil recently, we went through US customs in Toronto before getting a connecting flight to JFK. It was long and annoying. Frankly, I’ve found US customs in the US is easier. YMMV.</p>
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<p>The usual procedure on arrival by air in the US or Canada is:</p>
<ul>
<li>Fill in immigration and customs declaration form.</li>
<li>Present form and passport to immigration officer.</li>
<li>Go to baggage claim, collect checked baggage if any.</li>
<li>Give form to customs officer, who may want to look at your baggage.</li>
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<p>Note that the customs check is done in two parts, with the immigration officer reading the customs form and marking it, and the customs officer possibly wanting to look at your baggage. If your baggage is not checked, then it may appear as if customs is combined with immigration.</p>
<p>^^I suppose I should have said that, in my experience landing in Canada, they are combined. At the immigration check, in addition to checking passport/PR card etc., they have always also inquired about what we have to declare and, yes, they mark the customs form, which is handed off to an individual afterwards. I’ve never had to do anything other than to hand the card to that individual, nor has anyone in my family, regardless of what we have to declare or whether or not our baggage is checked. Leaving Canada, it’s the same process; speak to the immigration officer then hand off the customs form and head for security. The actual configuration of things also varies by airport, and even by terminal.</p>
<p>Maybe we’re just lucky to never have been stopped? 
Maybe because we’re all dual citizens? I don’t know but I’ve lived in Canada for ~40 years and fly to and from the U.S. at least once a month and that’s been my experience. Being a Nexus member also helps.</p>
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It may be two steps in theory but, in practice, both are handled by the same officer.
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I guess that would depend on the airport. Definitely not in Miami, Detroit, or most other airports I have landed in. Immigration first, then pick up luggage, then maybe customs.</p>
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<p>If they do want to look in your baggage for customs inspection when you hand the form over, wouldn’t it be a different person from the one in the immigration booth?</p>
<p>Make sure you have signed your passport in ink before you get to the airport!</p>
<p>You didn’t say which airport you are flying into. In my experience, Montreal is one of the worst international airport arrivals. The line can take well over an hour. </p>
<p>As other posters noted, you clear US immigration & customs in Canada before you board your plane. When you get to the US, you deplane as you would coming from another US city. This is because some smaller US airports do not have international arrival areas, yet they can still have non-stop service from Canada. It’s reasonably efficient. The baggage screening in Calgary is a bit of a bottleneck, but otherwise Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are good. Calgary has very limited food selection once you have passed into US hands, so be prepared.</p>
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<p>Yes, it would be a secondary inspection, just as it would be at a land crossing. Secondary inspections can be done for either immigration or customs purposes, which, I suppose, was the original point I was trying to make. Only a small minority of entries require a secondary inspection. As I said earlier, no one in our family has ever had a secondary inspection, either by land or air.</p>