We unfortunately live in a country where, to travel back home to Canada, we need to stop in a US city along the way. Normally we’d make a trip out of it, but we’re trying to minimize our time in the US. First because it’s terrifying and second we don’t want to contribute to the US economy. Especially since the transit cities we need to pass-through are deeply red.
If you stay in the international terminal, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
Statistically, how many thousands of people enter the US every day, versus how many of these incidents have happened? Odds are you’ll be totally fine. The risk is higher, yes.
In the US, if you land, you must pass through immigration.
At least I’m not aware of any airports where there is an international terminal like you find elsewhere in the world. Ours require entry to the country even if you are connecting to another international flight.
Yes indeed. Everyone arriving goes through immigration, collects bags, clears customs; and only then may proceed to the exit, or recheck bags and go back through security to catch a connecting flight.
The only exception is if you originated at a pre-clearance airport and did the immigration stuff before departure. But that means you still need a visa. And it’s only at a handful of airports in Canada, Ireland, UAE and the Caribbean.
We unfortunately live in a country where, to travel back home to Canada, we need to stop in a US city along the way. Normally we’d make a trip out of it, but we’re trying to minimize our time in the US. First because it’s terrifying and second we don’t want to contribute to the US economy. Especially since the transit cities we need to pass-through are deeply red.
If you stay in the international terminal, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
Statistically, how many thousands of people enter the US every day, versus how many of these incidents have happened? Odds are you’ll be totally fine. The risk is higher, yes.
In the US, if you land, you must pass through immigration.
At least I’m not aware of any airports where there is an international terminal like you find elsewhere in the world. Ours require entry to the country even if you are connecting to another international flight.Edit: yep, none have this.
Wait, really?
So you need a visa to transit through the US?
Yes indeed. Everyone arriving goes through immigration, collects bags, clears customs; and only then may proceed to the exit, or recheck bags and go back through security to catch a connecting flight.
The only exception is if you originated at a pre-clearance airport and did the immigration stuff before departure. But that means you still need a visa. And it’s only at a handful of airports in Canada, Ireland, UAE and the Caribbean.