Lining up with Americans at US airport?
#16
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
No, you still have to wait for your bags. But, even at a slow airport that would rarely be longer than 30 minutes, whereas the non-US line at LAX/ORD/JFK can easily top 2 hours, so you're still out 90 minutes before anyone else.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
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When I arrived on NZ at LAX behind an Air France A380, I got my bag off the belt before anyone else from my flight even made it to the immigration podium - US or foreign.
#18
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
I think the biggest problem isn't going to be the CBP agent, but rather the maze dragon that's going to take away your choice to choose between residents / aliens if they are enforcing the passport lines.
I have never seen a CBP agent direct a person over to the other category in all my entries into the USA at airports.
I have never seen a CBP agent direct a person over to the other category in all my entries into the USA at airports.
#19
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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As for Canadian passport holders using the US line, since we don't have to go through the fingerprint/photo process it is informally permitted/tolerated but not official policy. However, if you do have a GE sticker, but there is no GE at the arrival airport (DEN doesn't have GE and there may be a couple of other gateway airports still without it) I've been unofficially told I can use the US line.
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
On what basis can a Canadian go into the American line? Canadians aren't Americans.
I've always queued up in the foreigner line and no one has ever told me that I had an option. Believe me, if I could use the American line I wouldn't avoid transiting in US airports like the plague as I currently do.
I've always queued up in the foreigner line and no one has ever told me that I had an option. Believe me, if I could use the American line I wouldn't avoid transiting in US airports like the plague as I currently do.
#23
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 137
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/tr..._published.xml
If you have all ten fingerprints on file, you should be able to use GE kiosks. I and many others have used GE. You can read about some experiences in the big NEXUS thread.
#24
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
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You need more than Nexus and your fingerprints on file to use GE. I applied for mine in Toronto (it took all of 5 minutes), but when I tried to use GE kiosk at ORD, it told me that my passport was not registered. I just walked up to the agent and explained that I had obtained GE (I had the sticker on the back of my passport), so he let me through and told me to follow up with the GE office to see what was wrong. I did so the next morning at ORD, and they told me the folks in Toronto had neglected to scan my passport. So they took care of it and I should be good to go for my ICN-LAX flight next month
#25
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
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We don't alienate in Canada.
#26
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
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Before GE was part of Nexus I was scooted into the US line and there wasn't a problem so I used that without any issue until Nexus granted GE priviledges.
#27
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: YYC
Programs: AC*SE, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 570
Just a word of caution. A couple of years back at JFK I was directed to the US line with my Canadian passport but after waiting for ~30 mins when I got to the CPB agent he I wasn't allowed to be there sent me to the back of the foreigners line causing me to nearly miss my connecting flight. The whole situation struck me as a bit of a power trip but YMMV.
#29
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,551
Just a word of caution. A couple of years back at JFK I was directed to the US line with my Canadian passport but after waiting for ~30 mins when I got to the CPB agent he I wasn't allowed to be there sent me to the back of the foreigners line causing me to nearly miss my connecting flight. The whole situation struck me as a bit of a power trip but YMMV.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 137
You need more than Nexus and your fingerprints on file to use GE. I applied for mine in Toronto (it took all of 5 minutes), but when I tried to use GE kiosk at ORD, it told me that my passport was not registered. I just walked up to the agent and explained that I had obtained GE (I had the sticker on the back of my passport), so he let me through and told me to follow up with the GE office to see what was wrong. I did so the next morning at ORD, and they told me the folks in Toronto had neglected to scan my passport. So they took care of it and I should be good to go for my ICN-LAX flight next month
I guess it depends on each individual case - maybe how diligent the agents were when you first signed up for NEXUS. It's probably best to go in before using GE if you have the chance.