Do they have GE kiosks for entry and departure for both terminal 1 and 3? I will be traveling on AA and AC...

Yes, you can use GE kiosks to preclear US when you leave YYZ. To get IN to Canada, GE will not help. It will help you get IN to the USA from ANYWHERE, though. The US guy at the NEXUS enrollment told me if I was to fly from Europe to YYZ via EWR, for instance, I could use the GE at EWR on return from Europe.

While it is true that the waiting time is a deterrent to enrollment (post #6994), I think that doesn't matter at all to them. It's no skin off their nose if you don't have NEXUS/GE. They will just process you across the border taking their sweet time. While we can see how it possibly helps simplify their operations to give up so much personal information about ourselves, when you get down to it, this program is 99.9% for our convenience, not theirs.

As far as I know, and posted above, GE kiosks are ONLY for preclearance TO the USA, and NOT to entry to Canada. Entry to Canada requires NEXUS although they had said they were trialling some passport based kiosk program. Not sure if only for Canadian passports or everyone.

Do you have more info on this program? I hold both US and CDN passports.

Check this on the GTAA website http://www.torontopearson.com/abc/#
or the Canadian Border Services Agency website
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/fac...s/104-eng.html
Apparently for Canadian citizens/passport holders and Permanent Residents with valid PR card.

Yes. YYZ has GE for preclearance into the US.

GE never helps you into Canada.

I drove from Yonge/Sheppard (where I used to live) to Fort Erie for my interview. It was a Saturday and I had nothing better to do, so no time was wasted, although it put some mileage on my car, and cost some gas.

Flying SFO-YYZ on Dec 30 2012 made it all worthwhile. I had to check a bag, and had no status, so I stood in that line for a long time. But in the overflowing customs hall, I just walked in, went to the side, and walked out.

And now that I'm crossing the border more frequently (an absolute minimum of 5 times in each direction per year), it was definitely worth it.

Less than 5 hours of time I would have spent watching TV, $50 in gas, and $50 in fees, for extremely fast, no fuss border crossing.

It's well worth it in my opinion.

I was in YYZ some while ago and I inquired about CBSA new arrival kiosks and a CBSA agent told me it is dedicated only to CDN citizens and CDN permanent residents.

If there are no lineups at customs at YVR, YYZ, or YUL - is there any advantage in taking the nexus line versus this line (with the passport reader)? I have come to YVR from USA or Asia a few times over the years - you put the passport and customs declaration form in, the customs form gets ?stamped, and then we pass the agent next to the booth, give the agent just before the exit our form, and we are on our way.

I would assume that as a trusted traveler, you're less likely to be questioned or randomly sent to secondary.

Ive only done this once (at YVR), but IIRC, you still have to show the receipt from the machine to the officer after using the kiosks, who potentially will ask questions before letting you proceed. This can also cause a line.

Yes, open.

With the customs machine, you still have to queue up and talk to an officer.

Also, you may not fold your declaration card.

With Nexus you don't have to talk to an officer unless you're randomly sent to secondary.

Do any NEXUS kiosks remain at US preclearance at YVR? Or have they all been replaced with GE?

I ask because I have an 8 and a 10 year old, with NEXUS and iris scans on file. They didn't get fingerprinted for GE because they were too young. I didn't think that they really needed fingerprints since they had the iris scans on file. But if all the NEXUS kiosks are removed, they (and by extension I with them) can't use NEXUS/GE at US preclearance anymore.

so basically the ABC is open to all Canadian Citz/PR.
In a way it is still open to the public as long as you meet those two criteria and doesn't really reduce the crowd since 'every one' is eligible.

>>
Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents who have a valid Canadian passport or Canadian permanent resident card have the option of using an Automated Border Clearance kiosk to clear the border upon returning to Canada.


The self-serve kiosks are quick and easy to use, and involve no registration process or fee. One person can make a declaration for up to four people using one kiosk, provided they all live at the same address.
>>

Ya these new machines are interesting.
I tired it out while waiting for my nexus card in the mail.
and course I got chosen to goto secondary :confused
but they let me go through after a brief explanation about why I put what I did in my card.

In general I was surprised with the machines- I feel like they lack certain security features that are apparent with Nexus /GE.
Anyways hoping for a different thread on these machines pops up.