Beyond the physical borders of the United States, you can clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in several foreign countries through a program called Preclearance. As of 2026, the primary countries with these facilities are Canada (at 8 major airports including Toronto and Vancouver), Ireland (Dublin and Shannon), the Bahamas (Nassau and Freeport), Bermuda, Aruba, and the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi). When you "preclear," you undergo the exact same immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections you would face in the U.S. before you ever board your flight. This allows your plane to arrive at a domestic gate in the U.S., meaning you can walk straight to baggage claim or your connecting flight without waiting in the often-massive international arrival lines. . This is a massive time-saver for travelers; however, it requires you to arrive at the foreign airport significantly earlier (usually 3 hours) to account for the extra security and immigration processing time before your departure.