so just to make sure I understand correctly

if I connect during 0700-1900 time frame, then I just follow the signs for US TB. I dont exit to landside

but if I connect outside of the 0700-1900 time frame, then I follow INTL signs, and this would lead me to US TB without exiting to landside. if I follow US TB sign, then I will be forced to exit to landside and reenter as if I was never a connecting pax

?

also, some people told me that at YVR and YYZ for US TB, Nexus passengers get priority and also do not need to remove shoes.

that wasnt my experience. I do get priority (skip queue - even though no queue to begin with) but I sitll have to remove shoes

Might even be a little later. Saw a posting somewhere that US CBP closes at 2030 which would imply last flight of ~ 2100-2130. At any rate, you'll know if your flight is a preclearance one by whether the gate is Intl (D) or US (E).

Time frame might be earlier, as early as 0430 which is what time CBP opens. I am not aware of the DOM=>INTL=>TB route. At any rate, if the flight is not a precleared one, you don't and cannot use preclerance a.k.a. transborder. Another way to put it, if the flight is not precleared, even if you were to somehow am able to get to and through US preclearance, you cannot (easly and by yourself) get to the non-precleared flight.

yes I am talking abt precleared US bound flight from YVR only. I am trying to understand whether is there a way to remain airside entirely, and connect to global entry, for a flight that is outside of the normal operating hours.

If your flight is leaving out of D Gates i.e. the J8 flight to JFK or UA’s 11pm flights, you can just follow the signs for “International Connections(D)” and head straight to your gate. DOM->INTL connections don’t require an additional security check so your TTP status is irrelevant.

If your flight leaves the next morning i.e. 6am departures, YVR does not allow overnight connections under any circumstances and you must exit to landslide and head through E Gate security landside at 4am, when it opens.

i see. so there are actually US-bound flights out of YVR that are NOT pre-cleared flight? that is news to me, thanks.

Yes, it has been mentioned several times in various posts, perhaps not in this thread. All of the redeyes to east coast go via Int'l and clear Customs / Immigration in US.