bmi diamond club - US Border Control Question

I've just booked the following DC redemption flight:

LHR - YYC (stopover one night)
YYC - YVR (connecting same day to)
YVR - PDX

If I was connecting straight from YYC to PDX the same day, presumably I could clear US Border Control at YYC.

However, as I'll be spending the night at an airport hotel at YYC, and will have to clear Canadian immigration to get there, does this mean I'll have to arrive into PDX as an "international passenger" and clear US Border Control there?

Thanks ^

You'll pre-clear US CBP @ YVR.

You'll pre-clear US CBP @ YVR.

Thanks bosnyc. That will make life interesting as I have a 1:13 layover at YVR, although it is at 07:30 in the morning. Is this doable?!

I'd say it's doable.

I think it took me 10 mins to from check-in to be at the gate in YVR last time I flew to LAX. It's a very quiet trickle of people as opposed to major ports of entry like JFK, for example.

YYZ took me all of 3 mins last week!

YYZ took me all of 3 mins last week!

Lucky thing, I recently waited over 40 minutes to pre-clear at YYZ. Almost missed out on a lounge visit, almost.

US CBP has immigration facilities in all major Canadian airports giving Canada originating passengers an advantage of arriving into the US as a domestic arriving travelers ^

I'd say it's doable.

I think it took me 10 mins to from check-in to be at the gate in YVR last time I flew to LAX. It's a very quiet trickle of people as opposed to major ports of entry like JFK, for example.

YYZ took me all of 3 mins last week!

US pre-clearance varies enormously by time of day. At YVR I've had waits of under 5 minutes and over an hour in the queue for US immigration.

US pre-clearance varies enormously by time of day. At YVR I've had waits of under 5 minutes and over an hour in the queue for US immigration.

YVR has always treated me kindly (but not 5min kind :p), but I was surprised how long it took at YYC recently. I got the feeling it might not be factored into the MCT!

YVR has always treated me kindly (but not 5min kind :p), but I was surprised how long it took at YYC recently. I got the feeling it might not be factored into the MCT!

A friend of mine waited in YYZ > 1 hour recently. They usually come through the line and check for pax with tight connections and bring them to the front of the line.

I'm currently sitting in the transborder lounge at YVR. Flight arrived at the gate about 12.30pm, and I was in the lounge before 1pm. Excellent system here, and unlike YYZ no waiting to claim the bags - you sit in a small room for a few minutes and remotely ID bags on the screen.

Even the US immigration officer was good - thanked me for having a sense of humour (or should that be humor?). I'll probably wake up in a minute and find none of this has happened ...

Glad it went well for you NWIFlyer ^

I've had another fun trip through Canadian Immigration this week. Again. :rolleyes:

Thank you all for your answers - it's much appreciated. ^

My wife will be flying out separately later on in my trip, flying from LHR to YVR in AC C-class, and will be flying on to LAS in AC Y-class.

Is there an arrivals lounge she could use at YVR whilst waiting for her connection, as presumably she won't be allowed into the usual business lounge given her onward connection is in economy?