While traveling internationally can be a whole new experience, there is also plenty to learn about how the process works. Perhaps one of the most time-consuming aspects of international travel is going through customs, depending on the airport and how busy it may be at any given time. The facility and staffing of customs and border patrol personnel can also influence long wait times for travelers to be processed.
To mitigate this, officials have been working to find solutions to decrease any stress involved with customs processing and streamline the operation. One of these ways is known as Preclearance , which essentially is a US border on non-US soil. According to US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) , Preclearance is “the strategic stationing of CBP personnel at designated foreign airports to inspect travelers prior to boarding U.
S.-bound flights.” This allows passengers to bypass any customs processing and inspections by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) upon their arrival at a US destination.
It undoubtedly saves time for travelers with connecting flights. Preclearance comes with several benefits, but there are also some drawbacks to be aware of. Here are five things travelers should know about the perk before flying.
1 Preclearance history It has been around for decades Contrary to popular belief, the origin of Preclearance dates back to the late 1800s, when the US and Canada established agreements on sea and rail transportation, according to By Way Of C.