Is it more convenient to arrive to USA from Canada than flying to it directly?
The children want to visit LA next year to witness the Super Nintendo World opening. Would it be easier to fly to Canada from the UK and travel to the States by car?
Would this reduce the chances of getting denied entry at the US border?
Best Answer
No!
I am Canadian, but also a French citizen, so visa-exempt for the US. Before I got my Canadian citizenship I had to cross the land border on a French passport, by Vancouver.
Airports are organized to check everyone and visa-exempt (and visa-carrying) citizens get through fairly quickly, after filling in their forms on the plane.
By contrast, most of the land traffic through borders here concerns Canadian citizens who are essentially waved through with minimal questions and no forms. They don't even have to get out of their car. Even easier than airports.
However, that only applies to Canadian citizens. Other visa-exempt people have to park their car and queue up in the customs building. Along with any and all people US Customs wants to have a closer look at. It is not quick, much worse than airports! Anyone in front of you may take up a lot of time and there are many fewer booths to cycle them through. Even my own time, once "at the booth", ended up longer and more complex than when flying. And that's after first queuing along with the other cars that are being waved through, which itself can take a while if the border is congested.
This from having done it 2-3 times as French-by-land and 20 odd times as French-by-plane.
This is re. convenience. Re. entry denial, see DavidSupportsMonica's answer.
P.S. I last had to do this 12 years ago. If US Customs at land borders now follow different procedures and, as a visa exempt person, you can sort out the paperwork from your car, without going to queue up again in the customs buildings, let me know and I'll edit or delete this answer.
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Can I travel to USA from Canada during Covid?
Fully vaccinated foreign travelers are able to travel to the United States across the Northern and Southwest borders with Canada and Mexico. U.S. citizens and LPRs do not need to provide proof of vaccination status at land POEs and ferry terminals.Is it easy to travel from Canada to us?
As the 2 nations share a border, it's easy to travel from one to the other, as well as heading further north to the US state of Alaska. Overseas visitors should be aware that separate visas or visa waivers are required to cross the border between the US and Canada.Can Canadian residents travel to the US?
Canadian permanent residents may need a non-immigrant visa to enter the United States. You must obtain this visa from the U.S. authorities before entering the country. You must also have a valid passport from your country of citizenship.Do you need a passport to enter the US from Canada by car?
Recent changes in U.S. law now requires you to present a passport when entering or re-entering the U.S. from Canada by car unless you have other appropriate documentation. Furthermore, Canadian law also requires a passport or appropriate documentation when entering Canada from the U.S. by car.NO INTERVIEW US VISA UNTIL DECEMBER 31 ONLY | HURRY! APPLY NOW!
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Answer 2
You might want to fly via Dublin or Shannon airports, both of which are in Ireland. As a UK citizen you have a almost-unlimited right to visit Ireland. There are US pre-clearance facilities in both of these airports. This means that you will go through all US tourist immigration checks in Ireland, and when you arrive in the US it will be to a domestic pier.
This will save you a long trip to the US/Canada, only to be sent back (or have an alternative holiday in Canada).
If you are doing this, then you should allow several hours to get through pre-clearance, but AFAIK there aren't many shops beyond the US security. https://www.dublinairport.com/flight-information/travelling-to-usa/faqs
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