mabbasi said:
OK My wife will be traveling from Abu Dhabi to Toronto by etihad and Toronto to Montreal by Air Canada. I booked one complete ticket from etihad web site. So she will land at Terminal 1 and after immigration and customs she will take Montreal flight from the same terminal number 1. there is 3 hours difference between two flights. Any idea long it will take for her to complete immigration and customs formalities? she is landing first time as PR..
I am afraid she won't miss her next flight for Montreal. What is your advise.
Hello Mabbasi - 3 hours might be a bit too short of a time frame between two flights. The reason are as below -
1) If her Etihad flight lands on a busy day along with other flights in Toronto Pearson. the line for immigration clearance (For Visitors ) Is quite long and gets packed quick.
2) It takes a bit of a time to go through the Immigration Office ( Where you get your papers as a landed immigrants) - We had to spend about 45 min here, including the line up
3) Is the Customs - where depending on how many good you are bringing later on in Cargo, The officer has to clear your good for CBSA and then get your papers in check, ( Not to mention if you have any items to declare, they will go through your stuff )
4) Believe Air Canada. takes off from Terminal 1, so she would have to, wait for your luggage from Eithad and then carry her Luggage towards the Check in couter for the flight to Montreal, which you have to board at least an hour before.
In our case, the whole process took about 2 and half hours, I was able to by pass the line by taking "special assistance line" as my wife is pregnant, but the Custom officer took long as his printer wasn't working.
All the best.