US Customs returning from Bonaire

[oreocookie]

I'm about to book my flights to Bonaire and trying to figure out how much time to allow for connections. My experience has been that US Customs and Immigration likes to see you before you get on a flight to the US if they can, at least in Canadian airports and I noticed it in the Bahamas as well. My question is will I be going through Customs in Bonaire or in Houston? Thanks

 

[parzdiver]

You will be going through Customs in Houston. I just got back from Bonaire and there is very little at the Flamingo airport, just a single x-ray machine and metal detector. On a good note, you get to keep your shoes on.

I flew into Newark and everyone had to go through Immigration, pick up their bags, go through Customs and then recheck their bags. Same thing happened last year flying Delta through Atlanta.

 

[sinistar]

If your flight out of Bonaire enters the US first, then you will go through customs in the US airport (typically Newark, Atlanta, Houston etc). However, if you are flying through Aruba on your way out you will actually do US customs in Aruba (or at least it was that way for me).

For the Houston customs it can be really nice to have a 2hr+ layover, especially if you are coming in at a busy time as there are so many intl flights coming into that airport.

 

[redacted]

Miracles happen and you could zip through C & I in less than an hour. More likely it will take the better part of 2 hours. the less time you have, the slower your line will move.

 

[oreocookie]

Thanks guys, looks like I'll be going for a 3.5 hour layover in Houston. Really not looking forward to waiting in customs lines twice in 12 hours though, but at least the line should be short when I get to Canadian customs at midnight. :cool2:

 

[Hawkwood]

You can get through US Customs in Houston very quickly - depending on what line the nice folks put you in. Sometimes they will let Canadian passport holders go in with the US passport holders. Sometimes you have to go in the other lines and get stuck waiting behind everyone else entering the US, including for immigration.

We have had connections with as little as 55 minutes and made the flights (including security).

Easy way? Get a NEXUS card. Canadians can now use it going through US Customs in Houston and bypass the lines for customs and immigration. Going back into Canada through Montreal will also be a breeze - no waiting in line at customs.

Oops. Just noticed your 15 and 39 day timeline - not enough to get a NEXUS card for those trips, but get it for the future.

 

[ianr33]

nt...

 

[ianr33]

You will also have the pleasure of going through security a second time.
Remember any duty free alcohol you may have bought at the airport in Bonaire will go through Customs, but will not be allowed through security in Houston. Land of The Free and all that.

 

[oreocookie]

Thanks Hawkwood, I'll look into that in the future. I'd seen the machines for that but thought it was only for US citizens.

 

[RICHinNC]

I found the "search" getting out of Bonaire to be pretty detailed on both my trips there. We always got to the airport early and was glad we did.