Going home for the holidays

[Karly-n-Bruce 0]

This is a question for those of you who have crossed the border into Canada & back into the US with a Green Card.

Bruce asked me what I say at the border now that I have my green card when customs asks my nationality. I told him I'm still Canadian so I guess that's what I would say. My question is what have you said crossing both ways? Canadian or Canadian with permanent residency in the US or something else? Have you had any problems crossing into Canada and/or into the US after you received your Green Card? I know I'm making a big deal out of nothing, but we had a really bad experience with US customs in 2005 and any border crossing makes me extremely nervous and sick.

TIA!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Your nationality is whatever country you have citizenship in I belive! When they ask, or ask for it on the papers, I state Canadian. I get questioned more coming into Canada than i do the USA! Cominginto Canada, just show my Cdn passport state I'm just visiting and thats about it. Coming back to the USA, show passport and greencard. They normally dont even look at the passport, just the greencard (in my experiences)

Edited December 12, 2007 by flames9

[Krikit 1,164]

When I cross into Canada they only ask where I'm going and where I live. Never been asked for my nationality or my ID. One time I was asked what my status was in the US and I told them permanent resident.

When I cross into the US I just hand them the GC. Then they ask me where I'm going and where I live. When you're asked for your nationality just tell them Canadian.

[Emancipation 2]

I say Canadian, and hubby says American. I give my CDN passport when we cross into Canada and give my greencard when we pass into the US. Never had a problem, and find that the greencard is never questions (nor my status in the US). It's always been painless!! I don't think the CDN side cares that you are a US Greencard holder, and I never mention it to them. Always best to just answer their questions directly, and they usually ask us the nationalities in the car and we always just say "1 CDN & 1 American" (can I have curly fries with that?

[warlord 73]

When I was on my greencard I'd always just walk up and say "Canandian, Permenant Resident" and show my greencard and passport. Never had any issues, but sometimes I've been asked where I work (which is irrevelant to the conditions of a green card by marriage), live, how long was I away etc.

The Canadian officials often seem to get confused and when comming into Canada wonder how long I've been away. I just answer by saying "I'm visiting Canada for x amount of time"...

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yep, the canucks do get a bit confused,lol When i went home for a month in the summer, the CDn poe dude asked if I was going to be working in Canada!

[Karly-n-Bruce 0]

Thanks so much everyone! Hopefully our trip across the border (both ways) is painless as well.

[BH45 0]

have a great trip home for the holidays....

[Autumnchik 6]

We live close to the border and make junk food runs for hubby quite frequently Each time, hubby tells the Canadian officers that he is Canadian and gives his passport. They almost always end up asking him where he lives, so he says New Hampshire and explains he is a permanent resident. Coming back, the U.S. officers only want to see the green card. When asked nationality, he says Canadian, permanent resident of U.S. Never had a problem crossing since we got the green card.

We were worried too, since hubby was denied entry once. Honestly, that green card is wonderful ... like a golden ticket