U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Believe it or not, the customs process I experienced during the exit from Canada into the United States here was worse than what I experienced traveling to/​from Mexico. Chaotic, unbelievably long lines and an inadequate number of staff. I arrive two and a half hours early before my flight, and was so glad I did because it took over an hour to get through the process. As an able-​bodied, young woman, I was exhausted standing in line for so long, so I can only imagine how unpleasant the experience must’ve been for the older folks waiting.

WTF happened to having Global Entry? I was selected for extra screening and had to remove my shoes. Security in Terminal 3 is a joke — no real queues and a makeshift of procedures. Also, if you’re gonna make someone take off their shoes you had better have chairs to accommodate putting them back on.

Our flight was scheduled to take off at 8:30 so we got to the airport at 6:00 am and stood in line in Customs for 2 hours! Nearly missing the boarding time for our flight and this is BEFORE security checks so you stand in this long line THEN stand in line again to go through the metal detectors (lines are outrageous as well). We kept telling the lady with the walkie talkie that our flight is at 8:30 around 7:50 and she didn’t care. In fact, she split us and a few other people into two different lines and putting us in the LONGER line when we were already up front in the other line.
We stood there waiting to be called and the woman in charge to tell us which booth to go to wasn’t paying attention so I asked her if I can go to the open booth and she said «oh yeah, sure».
While we were waiting in line, we noticed that 3 of the custom officers were joking and flirting with these two women after they’ve already checked their passports. I’m glad you have time to socialize and flirt with one another, but some of us have flights to catch.

The US customs guys seem to be a lot better here compared to other locations like miami *shrugs*
The customs here are really a gamble. You could go there at the same time on different days and get a different result. On day #1 it will be pretty empty and you will get through quickly. As for day #2 it will be packed and you will find yourself rushing to the gate to make it to your flight on time. My suggestion is plan accordingly. Expect it will be like day #2 and you will make it to your flight on time.
Random fact: every time I go through security checks I feel like a stripper having to take off so many things.

A complete fail, traveled through Toronto to Washington National Airport it took two hours to get through customs. Missed connecting flight. The excuse we got was they didn’t expect as many passengers. Makes you wonder about their intelligence ability to protect our borders when they can’t find out how many passengers will be traveling, we all buy tickets.
Would not recommend flying through Toronto going to the U.S..

The line up this morning at 5 am was ridiculously long. It look over an hour just to get to see a customs officer. The electronic declaration form was kinda cool and the officers did their best to move us through as fast as they could. There was one really great guy organizing the lines to go through security.

Came through with a friend who need additional screening. The whole process only took an additional 10 minutes, 9 minutes waiting and 1 minute of questions and we were off to our flight! Wish Customs was like this everywhere.

For a traveler, the US Customs and Border protection agency is and can seem like a hindrance or intimidating process.
While it’s not really a pleasant experience. very regimented and rigid. it’s a very necessary «evil» as it were.
There is a process to follow, and if you have nothing to hide, or no reason to have issues, you should be fine. My recent trip through customs was my first alone (without the parents) and first in at least 15 years… and thus certainly first since the day that will always live in infamy for all of us.9/11.
My girlfriend and I followed the steps laid out for us (and even were treated well and greeted with some smiles when we had a few questions regarding the process)
Just do as you are told, and be honest and you won’t have any problems. A great experience this time and on our way back through.