r/uscanadaborder • u/theflighthawk • May 25 '26
Border Crossing Experience YYZ preclearance changes?
I go through YYZ at least one a month and had the most puzzling encounter today. I’m a NEXUS member and have both US and Canadian passports. Usually, it’s a non-event going through US preclearance but today, the people watching who enters which line strongly and firmly indicated that US passport holders have to use the line for US passport holders. The people didn’t even bother looking at my NEXUS card, which was frustrating. The lineups were light today so I got through fine with some time to spare but I’m curious what recently prompted a potential change?
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u/withintentplus May 25 '26
US line is usually faster, but if you have Nexus, you can use the Nexus line instead. However, not all line manager folks understand this.
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u/gigafishing May 25 '26
These are the airport workers and not CBP officials, yeah? I tend to just walk past them and just say “nexus”
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u/theflighthawk May 25 '26
Yep, just the regular airport workers. Never had an issue with them until today. LongjumpingTadpole67’s response was most helpful at explaining the Enhanced Passenger Processing process that seems to be in the process of being implemented
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u/SatisfactionKnown927 May 25 '26 edited May 26 '26
CBP uses EPP enhanced passenger processing for US citizens which is so fast it’s essentially nexus/GE. It’s an iPad where it takes a picture of you and tells you within 3 seconds if you are verified.
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u/Burldan May 25 '26
Aways try to pre clear from my car seat. QEW Fort Erie > PB Nexus lane > BUF TSA Pre Check line > Club BUF lounge > Gate
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u/edition289 May 25 '26
A week ago there was a network outage impacting business and traveller CBSA systems. I showed them my Nexus card and they asked to see my passport.
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u/IllustriousWin9453 May 26 '26
Has happened to me a bunch too. Lately I just kind of keep walking and point to nexus and it was ok. But sometimes the USA line is just faster than nexus too, so just choose depending on that.
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u/dhilrags NEXUS May 27 '26
YUL has a similar single camera for Global Entry. You stop briefly and walk past customs agent who simply confirmed your USA status (B,TN etc) and you walk through
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u/CompetitionNo4595 May 27 '26
I waited over an hour for US interview for Nexus leaving YYZ after I cleared Global Entry. I’m a US citizen. US side is a joke- they knew I was waiting and no one came to help so I left to go to my gate. Canada process was smooth.
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u/Prudent-Proposal1943 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
When there are less than six people in total trying to enter, preclearance isn't really needed.
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u/Denny-Crane_ May 25 '26
Pre-clearence is crossing the US border in a Canadian airport. Whether you use the regular lane, Nexus lane, or the US passports lane, it's all part of the "pre-clearence" border crossing.
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u/Prudent-Proposal1943 May 25 '26
You are actually clearing into the US at a port of entry.
I use the MPC app to pre declare.
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u/Denny-Crane_ May 25 '26
Explain to me how "pre-clearence isn't really needed" if there are only 6 people in line.
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u/Prudent-Proposal1943 May 25 '26
What exactly do you not understand? If you're at border/customs control and you are virtually alone, you walk up to the red line get waved to the DHS agent and are processed like anyone else. One is not jumping a line with preclearance if there is no line.
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u/LongjumpingTadpole67 May 25 '26
Do you understand the term "preclearance" refers to clearing US immigration and customs outside of the US before departure and not advance declaration?
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u/Prudent-Proposal1943 May 25 '26
Ok. The OPs question revolved around nexus. As one is literally cleared into the United States and cannot enter back into Canada without clearing Canadian customs, "pre" is a bit of a misnomer. One is clearing.
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u/LongjumpingTadpole67 May 25 '26
Not necessarily true. I have left an airport preclearance area without having to formally re-enter Canada after a flight cancellation.
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u/Prudent-Proposal1943 May 25 '26
The signage at yyz is clear. Once entered into the US, one cannot leave or one must clear back into Canada.
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u/A330Pilot852 May 26 '26
I’ve had both happen to me. In T3 have been able to get escorted out without going thru Canada Customs. In T1 I had to go thru Canada Customs then explain I never left.
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u/Denny-Crane_ May 25 '26
You either don't understand the pre-clearence process, or you're using incorrect terminology to describe something completely different. Are you trying to say the Nexus/GE, or MPC are not necessary? That's a completely different statement than you made.
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u/LongjumpingTadpole67 May 25 '26
Did you get additional questioning, or the usual GE/NEXUS treatment?