problem with first POE

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I understand that. And until the OP states which airport they are going through we do not know and cannot assume which one. I am in the military and i have gone through many airports around the world...never through canada, because i just drive through canada (that is why i stated i did not know about canada). Of course there are many other "what if's" I can list, but we need the facts from the OP. Of course the OP shouldnt buy a ticket until they have the visa in hand anyway as it may and probably will be until after the new year that they will be able to travel.

Edited November 24, 2009 by Scott and Mhay

[TBoneTX 45,090]

im most instances as long as you stay in the airport you are ok. I dont know the specifics for your country or canada. I guess i have never worried about it being a USC, and in the military. If you book your ticket through a travel agent, or at least if you talk to them, they should be able to tell you the requirements. That's what they get the extra fees for.

This is another useless and/or misleading guess that could spell disaster for the OP.

pushbrk please stop attacking people for replying to a thread. Scott and Mhay pointed out quite clearly that they did not know the specifics for the country the OP is from. They did however give the correct advice to talk to the travel agent who they are going to use to book any tickets through.

Just because you have decided that the information given by others is "useless" does not mean that it is.. it is just your opinion.

Pesonal attacks are against the TOS of Visa Journey and further action will be taken if anyone continues.

Tay

Visa Journey Moderation Team.

With all due respect to the Captain and his moderation team, IMO you have quoted a criticism of an answer, not an attack on a member.

What you see as a criticism others see as an attack. If someone feels they are being attacked then it would be very wrong for us to dismiss their feelings. The nature of your reply was aggressive and rude. Yes giving the correct information is important but that does not mean you can personally attack another member because you feel the information they gave to be useless.

Tay

I'm sorry to disagree (I have respected the VJ moderation team greatly), but I see absolutely no personal attack. If one reads accurately and interprets literally, it was very clearly the answer that was being addressed. Furthermore, the importance of correcting (partially or totally) wrong or speculative answers is heightened in the upper forums, where it is largely agreed that misinformation can run rampant. Accordingly, I for one appreciate pushbrk's direct (versus "rude") effort to achieve the highest possible level of accuracy in this instance.

That said, perhaps regular travelers through the airport in question (on the Canadian forum?) can comment definitively on the physical arrangement of that airport -- or, even better, the OP can contact Canadian officials themselves at that airport for a definitive answer.

[Minya's wife 24]

Ok ... I have travelled all over the world. That being said...All the airports I have travelled in had it set up to where you didnt have to go through immigration unless you are staying there. Now the way I interpret that there is you can go through any airport in canada and not need a visa as long as you have an onward ticket. that is the way I read it As long as they dont have an overnight stay there, they are ok because they have onward travel.

That being said, yes it would be better to just find a ticket flying directly into the US and not deal with a third country. The OP never stated which airport they were going to fly through in canada. Also, if the OP buys their ticket through a travel agent, they will know the laws as to what the OP needs.

Your understanding is incorrect. For example, my wife recently transited the Vancouver BC airport on her way to the USA from China. She could not have done so without clearing Canadian immigration. (Which she had no problem with as a US LPR) Once you clear immigration, you are free to take a taxi or flight anywhere within the country. If it has been your experience in your travels, then your travel has been limited to transiting airports that DO allow for transit without entry. As I mentioned earlier, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are examples of such airports, at least at the terminals where I've landed.

What does 'Canadian immigration' have to do with being a US LPR....international travel would still occur foreign the foreign passport, including entering or transiting Canada.

Edited November 24, 2009 by Minya's wife

[pushbrk 12,824]

perhaps regular travelers through the airport in question (on the Canadian forum?) can comment definitively on the physical arrangement of that airport -- or, even better, the OP can contact Canadian officials themselves at that airport for a definitive answer.

Here's the word from the Toronto Airport's official site. (Note: The OP has not indicated which airport would be transited. Another poster mentioned their own experience with Toronto.)

http://www.gtaa.com/en/travellers/arriving/tax_declarations/

Border Inspections

All passengers arriving on flights originating outside of Canada are required to clear border inspection. Passengers may be required to transit through Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or, if connecting directly to a flight in the United States, through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Border services agencies oversee all customs, immigration, food, plant, and animal inspection, as well as many other border protection services.

Note the use of the word "may" with regard to clearing Canadian border inspection. Clearly Toronto is an airport where you can clear US immigration but that's a separate issue.

[pushbrk 12,824]

Ok ... I have travelled all over the world. That being said...All the airports I have travelled in had it set up to where you didnt have to go through immigration unless you are staying there. Now the way I interpret that there is you can go through any airport in canada and not need a visa as long as you have an onward ticket. that is the way I read it As long as they dont have an overnight stay there, they are ok because they have onward travel.

That being said, yes it would be better to just find a ticket flying directly into the US and not deal with a third country. The OP never stated which airport they were going to fly through in canada. Also, if the OP buys their ticket through a travel agent, they will know the laws as to what the OP needs.

Your understanding is incorrect. For example, my wife recently transited the Vancouver BC airport on her way to the USA from China. She could not have done so without clearing Canadian immigration. (Which she had no problem with as a US LPR) Once you clear immigration, you are free to take a taxi or flight anywhere within the country. If it has been your experience in your travels, then your travel has been limited to transiting airports that DO allow for transit without entry. As I mentioned earlier, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are examples of such airports, at least at the terminals where I've landed.

What does 'Canadian immigration' have to do with being a US LPR....international travel would still occur foreign the foreign passport, including entering or transiting Canada.

US legal permanent residents do not need a visa to enter Canada but Peruvians traveling on a Peruvian passport and CR1 visa DO need a visa for Canada. That same person could enter Canada without a visa, later the same day the entered the US and had the visa endorsed but not earlier the same day.

If you'll take a look at the Delta Airlines web page I provided a link to early in the thread, you can see how things change based on permanent resident status in various countries, regardless of citizenship.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

perhaps regular travelers through the airport in question (on the Canadian forum?) can comment definitively on the physical arrangement of that airport -- or, even better, the OP can contact Canadian officials themselves at that airport for a definitive answer.

Here's the word from the Toronto Airport's official site. (Note: The OP has not indicated which airport would be transited. Another poster mentioned their own experience with Toronto.)

http://www.gtaa.com/en/travellers/arriving/tax_declarations/

Border Inspections

All passengers arriving on flights originating outside of Canada are required to clear border inspection. Passengers may be required to transit through Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or, if connecting directly to a flight in the United States, through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Border services agencies oversee all customs, immigration, food, plant, and animal inspection, as well as many other border protection services.

Note the use of the word "may" with regard to clearing Canadian border inspection. Clearly Toronto is an airport where you can clear US immigration but that's a separate issue.

I think if you talk to someone at CBSA they could give you a definitive answer (like if the flight goes to the wrong terminal will CBSA allow the passengers secured access to the US POE)

[payxibka 10,045]

Ok ... I have travelled all over the world. That being said...All the airports I have travelled in had it set up to where you didnt have to go through immigration unless you are staying there.

There are hundreds in your own country... There is NO US airport that is set up this way... All passengers including those just "transiting" (ie... just changing planes) need to be "admitted" to the USA... Some Canadian airports may have the same process...

[Minya's wife 24]

Ok ... I have travelled all over the world. That being said...All the airports I have travelled in had it set up to where you didnt have to go through immigration unless you are staying there. Now the way I interpret that there is you can go through any airport in canada and not need a visa as long as you have an onward ticket. that is the way I read it As long as they dont have an overnight stay there, they are ok because they have onward travel.

That being said, yes it would be better to just find a ticket flying directly into the US and not deal with a third country. The OP never stated which airport they were going to fly through in canada. Also, if the OP buys their ticket through a travel agent, they will know the laws as to what the OP needs.

Your understanding is incorrect. For example, my wife recently transited the Vancouver BC airport on her way to the USA from China. She could not have done so without clearing Canadian immigration. (Which she had no problem with as a US LPR) Once you clear immigration, you are free to take a taxi or flight anywhere within the country. If it has been your experience in your travels, then your travel has been limited to transiting airports that DO allow for transit without entry. As I mentioned earlier, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are examples of such airports, at least at the terminals where I've landed.

What does 'Canadian immigration' have to do with being a US LPR....international travel would still occur foreign the foreign passport, including entering or transiting Canada.

US legal permanent residents do not need a visa to enter Canada but Peruvians traveling on a Peruvian passport and CR1 visa DO need a visa for Canada. That same person could enter Canada without a visa, later the same day the entered the US and had the visa endorsed but not earlier the same day.

If you'll take a look at the Delta Airlines web page I provided a link to early in the thread, you can see how things change based on permanent resident status in various countries, regardless of citizenship.

Point me to where that information is listed. I see on the Canada Border Services Agency website that:

When you enter Canada, a CBSA officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if one is necessary. If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you.

But it says nothing about permanent residents not needing a visa to enter Canada.

[pushbrk 12,824]

Ok ... I have travelled all over the world. That being said...All the airports I have travelled in had it set up to where you didnt have to go through immigration unless you are staying there. Now the way I interpret that there is you can go through any airport in canada and not need a visa as long as you have an onward ticket. that is the way I read it As long as they dont have an overnight stay there, they are ok because they have onward travel.

That being said, yes it would be better to just find a ticket flying directly into the US and not deal with a third country. The OP never stated which airport they were going to fly through in canada. Also, if the OP buys their ticket through a travel agent, they will know the laws as to what the OP needs.

Your understanding is incorrect. For example, my wife recently transited the Vancouver BC airport on her way to the USA from China. She could not have done so without clearing Canadian immigration. (Which she had no problem with as a US LPR) Once you clear immigration, you are free to take a taxi or flight anywhere within the country. If it has been your experience in your travels, then your travel has been limited to transiting airports that DO allow for transit without entry. As I mentioned earlier, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are examples of such airports, at least at the terminals where I've landed.

What does 'Canadian immigration' have to do with being a US LPR....international travel would still occur foreign the foreign passport, including entering or transiting Canada.

US legal permanent residents do not need a visa to enter Canada but Peruvians traveling on a Peruvian passport and CR1 visa DO need a visa for Canada. That same person could enter Canada without a visa, later the same day the entered the US and had the visa endorsed but not earlier the same day.

If you'll take a look at the Delta Airlines web page I provided a link to early in the thread, you can see how things change based on permanent resident status in various countries, regardless of citizenship.

Point me to where that information is listed. I see on the Canada Border Services Agency website that:

When you enter Canada, a CBSA officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if one is necessary. If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you.

But it says nothing about permanent residents not needing a visa to enter Canada.

No, that reference DOES NOT mention that but it is true anyway. You can learn this fact from other references including the one I gave, OR just take my word for it. It is generally but not universally true that US LPR's have the same international travel privileges as US Citizens.

Edited November 24, 2009 by pushbrk

[Minya's wife 24]

Ok ... I have travelled all over the world. That being said...All the airports I have travelled in had it set up to where you didnt have to go through immigration unless you are staying there.

There are hundreds in your own country... There is NO US airport that is set up this way... All passengers including those just "transiting" (ie... just changing planes) need to be "admitted" to the USA... Some Canadian airports may have the same process...

So, if say you're coming from Canada and flying to Mexico but you change planes in Chicago, you would have to go through CPB and immigration in the terminal, on your way to your next flight? I really don't know this, as I've never transited in the US, w/ my final destination being a third country.

[payxibka 10,045]

Point me to where that information is listed. I see on the Canada Border Services Agency website that:

When you enter Canada, a CBSA officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if one is necessary. If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you.

But it says nothing about permanent residents not needing a visa to enter Canada.

Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa;

persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence;

http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLish/visit/visas.asp

[payxibka 10,045]

Ok ... I have travelled all over the world. That being said...All the airports I have travelled in had it set up to where you didnt have to go through immigration unless you are staying there.

There are hundreds in your own country... There is NO US airport that is set up this way... All passengers including those just "transiting" (ie... just changing planes) need to be "admitted" to the USA... Some Canadian airports may have the same process...

So, if say you're coming from Canada and flying to Mexico but you change planes in Chicago, you would have to go through CPB and immigration in the terminal, on your way to your next flight? I really don't know this, as I've never transited in the US, w/ my final destination being a third country.

Well any airport that does not have a US pre-clearance facility... The pre-clearance facility actually admits all passengers into the USA before getting on the plane.. so the plane can arrive at a "domestic" gate versus the international arrival facility

When an non pre-cleared international flight arrives in the USA everyone is herded to the arrival facility to pass immigration and customs... there is no ability to enter the airport without doing so

Edited November 24, 2009 by payxibka

[Minya's wife 24]

Ok ... I have travelled all over the world. That being said...All the airports I have travelled in had it set up to where you didnt have to go through immigration unless you are staying there. Now the way I interpret that there is you can go through any airport in canada and not need a visa as long as you have an onward ticket. that is the way I read it As long as they dont have an overnight stay there, they are ok because they have onward travel.

That being said, yes it would be better to just find a ticket flying directly into the US and not deal with a third country. The OP never stated which airport they were going to fly through in canada. Also, if the OP buys their ticket through a travel agent, they will know the laws as to what the OP needs.

Your understanding is incorrect. For example, my wife recently transited the Vancouver BC airport on her way to the USA from China. She could not have done so without clearing Canadian immigration. (Which she had no problem with as a US LPR) Once you clear immigration, you are free to take a taxi or flight anywhere within the country. If it has been your experience in your travels, then your travel has been limited to transiting airports that DO allow for transit without entry. As I mentioned earlier, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are examples of such airports, at least at the terminals where I've landed.

What does 'Canadian immigration' have to do with being a US LPR....international travel would still occur foreign the foreign passport, including entering or transiting Canada.

US legal permanent residents do not need a visa to enter Canada but Peruvians traveling on a Peruvian passport and CR1 visa DO need a visa for Canada. That same person could enter Canada without a visa, later the same day the entered the US and had the visa endorsed but not earlier the same day.

If you'll take a look at the Delta Airlines web page I provided a link to early in the thread, you can see how things change based on permanent resident status in various countries, regardless of citizenship.

Point me to where that information is listed. I see on the Canada Border Services Agency website that:

When you enter Canada, a CBSA officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if one is necessary. If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you.

But it says nothing about permanent residents not needing a visa to enter Canada.

No, that reference DOES NOT mention that but it is true anyway. You can learn this fact from other references including the one I gave, OR just take my word for it.

You gave a US based airline as a reference for Canadian immigration/visa requirements question. The reference I quoted is a government agency of the country we're discussing. Show me where does Canada say that a US permanent resident does not need a visa to enter Canada? Better yet, show me where does it say that a Chinese citizen, in possesion of a US permanent residency can enter Canda without a visa?

Now as for your wife transiting in Canada...she was able to TWOV (transit without visa) with her Chinese passport and only through Vancouver airport, and only because she must have arrived on a non-stop flight from Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Manila or Taipei, only if she was ticketed on Chathay Pacific, China Airlines, Phillipine airlines w/ a confirmed onward ticket within 24 hours of arrival in Canada and she must not have left the airport.

Then and only then was she able to benefit from her having her US PR to transit through Canada, on her way to the US, from China. This is listed on the Delta link you you provided...and it is a far cry from not needing a visa to enter Canada if you're a US PR, which is what you stated.

[payxibka 10,045]

You gave a US based airline as a reference for Canadian immigration/visa requirements question. The reference I quoted is a government agency of the country we're discussing. Show me where does Canada say that a US permanent resident does not need a visa to enter Canada? Better yet, show me where does it say that a Chinese citizen, in possesion of a US permanent residency can enter Canda without a visa?

Now as for your wife transiting in Canada...she was able to TWOV (transit without visa) with her Chinese passport and only through Vancouver airport, and only because she must have arrived on a non-stop flight from Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Manila or Taipei, only if she was ticketed on Chathay Pacific, China Airlines, Phillipine airlines w/ a confirmed onward ticket within 24 hours of arrival in Canada and she must not have left the airport.

Then and only then was she able to benefit from her having her US PR to transit through Canada, on her way to the US, from China. This is listed on the Delta link you you provided...and it is a far cry from not needing a visa to enter Canada if you're a US PR, which is what you stated.

Check out the link I provided from CIC... CIC is IMMIGRATION CANADA

[Minya's wife 24]

Point me to where that information is listed. I see on the Canada Border Services Agency website that:

When you enter Canada, a CBSA officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if one is necessary. If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you.

But it says nothing about permanent residents not needing a visa to enter Canada.

Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa;

persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence;

http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLish/visit/visas.asp

From the same source:

Note: a visa exemption does not guarantee you automatic entry into Canada. You must still satisfy an immigration officer that you are admissible as per the requirements that were set out in the Who is Eligible page. If you do not, you may not be allowed to enter Canada.