OTTAWA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced Thursday its intention to launch the first preclearance operation in the United States.

Preclearance supports the national security and economic prosperity of both Canada and the United States by facilitating the secure and efficient movement of people and goods across the border, CBSA said in a news release.

The initiative will have Canadian border services officers working at a shared facility at the Cannon Corners port of entry in New York which is adjacent to the Covey Hill, Quebec port of entry, according to the release.

For the two-year duration of the operation, travelers entering Canada will go through Cannon Corners instead of the Covey Hill port of entry, which will be closed to travelers during that time, the release said.

While officers will be able to conduct most types of immigration processing at this site, claims for refugee protection cannot be processed at preclearance. Travelers seeking refugee protection in Canada will need to use a Canadian port of entry, the release added.

The United States currently has preclearance operations at eight Canadian airports. Enditem

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