Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate inter-network handoff in a wireless communication system. Various aspects described herein provide for handoff techniques that enable a target system to be prepared by an access terminal via a source system in order to minimize specific changes required to source system and/or target system. Techniques are described herein in which the protocols of a source system can be utilized with an interworking unit to tunnel signaling messages which are in a format understood by a target network.