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Normally when you fly to the US from other countries there's extensive checks of your visa by airline personnel. However Preclearance airports are somewhat special because there's CBP agents right there in the terminal and in theory the airline shouldn't care in the slightest if your visa is valid or not, as that's CBP's job to verify.

In practice, does this mean that airlines don't validate your visa when flying from Preclearance airports in Canada/Ireland/UAE? Or do they still send your APIS data to CBP and would refuse you entry into the Preclearance area if they receive a "Do Not Board" message?

JonathanReez
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2 Answers2

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The airline will validate the passenger's ability to enter the US when the passenger checks-in at the publicly-accessible airline counter. Reasoning in reverse order from my memory of Preclearance in Dublin:

  • CBP doesn't issue boarding passes.

  • Thus, the passenger must have a boarding pass before being allowed to enter the US Preclearance area.

  • Thus, the airline must issue the boarding pass before the passenger is allowed to enter the US Preclearance area.

  • The airline must get APIS clearance before issuing a boarding pass, or refuse to issue a boarding pass if "Do Not Board" is returned.

  • Thus, the airline will submit APIS data in order to make the issuance decision.

DavidRecallsMonica
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You need a visa to get into the US. The airline and airport have to go through massive hassle if you turn out to not be allowed to board. Hassle enough it'll delay the flight and cost the airline a LOT of money.

And all because someone suspiciously didn't want to show his visa at the checkin desk. Which is unlikely to happen when a passenger has a visa...

jwenting
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