Canadian transit question for N-400

[zzz123 0]

Hello,

On a previous trip to the far east, I ended up flying from California to Vancouver, BC on a United flight and connecting on an AirCanada flight (after 2 hours) to Asia. (I was originally scheduled to fly from Cali to Asia directly. Canada was not part of the trip to begin with)

In Vancouver airport, I am sure that I changed terminals but I never left the airport. I was surprised that during the walk from one terminal to the other, I had to go through a Canadian border check point. At the check point, the Canadian officer first swiped my Green card in his computer and told me that either I can go right into Canada as visitor or I can go left and remain at the airport and go on to catch my flight, I went on with my flight to Asia.

Now, on N-400, it asked for the countries visited during any trip, should I put down Canada as a country that I visited or should I leave it out? I was at the Vancouver airport for a total of about 3-4 hours. I am concerned that if I leave out Canada on the form, the fact that my green card was swiped at the Canadian border check point was somehow be recorded and now un-accounted for.

Anyone familiar with this Canadian situation? By swiping the green card in their computer, do they somehow report your presence in Canada to the USCIS? To enter my destination country, they just looked at my US GC but never swiped it in any computer.

Thanks very much for your help,

[YuAndDan 153]

Yes, list Canada, even though it was a very brief visit.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=40355 (Bot enough do them for Naturalization or lifting of conditions)

Edited March 12, 2008 by YuAndDan

[Ashish 1]

I do not think a transit stop counts. Technically you were not really visiting Canada. Also if you are talking about Part 7. Time outside the United States. You will notice that its asks only about trips of 24 hours or more. Thus your transit visit to Canada does not count, and IMHO you do not have to list it.

This information is mostly required to calculate your total days outside USA which would be unaffected by listing Canada since you were there for no more than a few hours.

[zyggy 9]

You only have to list those place where you spent more than a calendar day

For instance... If you left the US on Friday at 12:02 am and came back to the US at 11:59 pm on Saturday. That doesn't count as a visit out of the coutnry for Naturalization terms. Because you were physically present in the US on both Friday and Saturday.

Edited March 14, 2008 by zyggy