Originally Posted by
Wally Bird
The immigration officer will stamp your card which you then present to the customs officer after collecting your bags before exiting.
Depending on how you answered at immigration you may have a special 'secret' stamp in which case you'll be pulled aside and examined at the customs station.
Agreed, unlike Europe the choice is not yours.
My stamp is not secret...they mark a huge "Z" figure on the form. I save time by simply asking the next official to send me to secondary anyway.
This occurs at two points during entry. First, at the initial point of contact, and second, after customs screening. The one after customs screening is more time intensive and intrusive because the officials don't seem to see as many "customers" and can spend aeons playing their games.
The last time I went through at YYZ, it was marginally more courteous than YVR but it still took almost two hours in total. The first official was at least polite but the last official did his best to be as obnoxious as possible. He didn't yell but he was pointlessly discourteous and insulting with his questioning: "Where are you traveling?" [To PIT] "No you're not." [Here's a ticket printout] "You made it up" [No. It's a genuine e-ticket receipt]. "Who do you work for?" [Sharkville U] "No you don't. Tell me the truth" [Despite official business card in hand] "You created that last night" [OK, you tell me what you need from me and I will respond to your request] etc. etc.
Awesome
I will say the opulent AC333 ride made this experience just about tolerable and I knew it would take a long time so I built in a ton of time to the itin.
After that I needed to find the Tim Horton's in the arrivals hall. Canada is great either before (on AC), or after, you're through IC but the entry experience sucks rocks.
It's as :-: best in class :-: as DL SM.