Ant’s First Travelling as a Dual Citizen between USA and Canada…

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know that, “Yes, one can travel as a Dual Citizen between the USA and Canada, without any problems”. I had just received US Citizenship recently, and had just received my New York State Enhanced Driver’s License the day before my birthday, so I thought, “Why not take a trip as a Dual US/Canadian Citizen to Canada, to celebrate such occasions, and meet some people along the way too?”

And this is what happened when I crossed the borders…

Note: CBG=Canadian Border Guard, ABG=American Border Guard

(for my birthday, 12/8/09)

1pm-Border Crossing to Canada

Identification: Ant-Canadian Passport, NYS Enhanced License Card, D-NYS Enhanced License Card, Baby A-US Birth Certificate

Crossing: Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls USA, Niagara Falls Canada)

D: (opens the driver side front window beforehand, as it often gets jammed/stuck)

D: (pays the $3.25 USD toll at the booth, and proceeds to drive on the bridge)

ABG: (stationed at the beginning of the bridge) Where are you going to?

D: (hands over identification) To the bird kingdom over there (points ahead)

ABG: To where?

D: The bird kingdom there

ABG: Ok. Have a good one. (gives back identification)

D: (continues driving across the bridge, and reaches the Canadian side)

CBG: Hello. Bonjour. Where do you live?

D: (hands over identification) (Small Town), New York State

CBG: Where are you going?

D: The bird kingdom over there (points ahead), and to Toronto to visit her (points at me in the front seat) family.

CBG: How long will you be going for?

D: Just 2 days

CBG: (Enters the information in the computer. Swipes both Ant’s and D’s Enhanced License Cards into the computer. Looks at Ant’s Passport and Baby A’s Birth Certificate)

CBG: Anything you are bringing with you?

D: Just personal belongings and some food.

CBG: Ok. Have a nice day. (gives back identification)

D: (continues driving to Niagara Falls)

1pm-3pm

We spend the next few hours at the Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls, Canada looking at birds and other creatures at this attraction indoors, and took photos along the way while we walked through the exhibits. It was nice too, that we got a 3 for 1 deal that day on admission, be it that we only paid for one ticket, and the baby was free, and it was free on my birthday. My son especially enjoyed looking at the birds and the waterfall there, and we got him a small stuffed blue duck/bird to take home too. We also spent a few minutes on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, though it was too cold to spend much more time there, but still got a few photos by the falls that passers-by took for us with our camera.

4pm-Onwards

Afterwards, we continue driving on our way to Toronto. It was late in the day, and the baby was screaming in the backseat. So we stopped by a motel/hotel along the way, and spent the night there, before we continued on our way. We had some birthday cake and some other foods that we had brought along with us, and D gave me a birthday card too.

(12/9/09)

8am-8pm

The next morning, we got up early, and continued our drive to Toronto. In Toronto, we met with my grandma/my son’s great-grandma, at the nursing home where she lived, and had lunch with her. We also briefly met with some other family and friends in Toronto too. It was a surprise to everyone that we got there, as they were not expecting us, especially during the winter weather.

When we had finished meeting with everyone, it was nightfall. We decided that it was time to head back home, as there was a snowstorm and wind warning in effect, and we wanted to get home before we got stuck along the way. Along the drive home, it was very windy and very snowy out, making it for a very long and difficult drive ahead

8pm-Border Crossing to the USA

Identification: Ant-NYS Enhanced License Card, Canadian Passport (note: I put all the other documents clipped in the passport, as I did not want them to blow away, but I did not mean to use my passport for identification purposes but accidentally forgot about such this time), D-NYS Enhanced License Card, Baby A-US Birth Certificate

Crossing: Peace Bridge (Fort Erie Canada, Buffalo USA)

D: (opens the driver side front window beforehand, as it often gets jammed/stuck)

D: (hands over identification, clipped together in my passport, as wind and snow blows)

ABG: Where did you go?

D: To Niagara Falls and Toronto to visit family and friends.

ABG: How long were you gone for?

D: Just 1 ½ days.

ABG: How many are in the vehicle?

D: Us two, plus the baby, so three of us.

ABG: Are you Ant? (looks at me).

Ant: Yes.

ABG: What are you bringing back with you?

D: Nothing. Just Personal Belongings

ABG: (Steps out from booth, and into the stormy weather next to our vehicle. Uses a flashlight to look through the windows, and carefully looks at the baby in the backseat)

ABG: (Goes back into the booth and enters the information in the computer. Swipes both Ant’s and D’s Enhanced License Cards into the computer. Looks at Ant’s Passport and Baby A’s Birth Certificate)

ABG: You’re American, right, Ant? (lol..they didn’t look too happy…oops…forgot about the passport thing…note to self…no Canadian passport to USA next time..)

Ant: Yes

ABG: Ok, you can all go. (shivering in the cold, gives back identification)

BabyA: (starts crying in the backseat, apparently startled by the flashlight…)

D: (continues driving back home to our small town in the USA…)

8pm-10pm

We continue driving down the country roads in the snowy and windy weather. We make it back home, about 2 hours later, and to our surprise, the long 20ft driveway was already plowed by our neighbours. It was very icy and snowy from the driveway to the door, but we made it back in, belongings, baby, stuffed bird, and all, and went to sleep early….

We got back just in time too, as soon after, the winter storm came to our home area, and if we would have been on the highway later on in the night, we could have been trapped.

Overall, it was a great birthday trip that we had over the border. Despite the snowstorm and long winter drive, it was worth it! Glad too, that I did not have any problems traveling across the border, between Canada and the USA, as a dual citizen. This time around the trip went well, and hopefully the next time around it will go well too….

Nevertheless, I’m glad I made it back home as a US Citizen! Welcome back to the USA! (lol..why does Canada feel so foreign to me now?)….

May all of your travels be just as well too. Drive safely and carefully! Happy Holiday Travels, Everyone! Good luck on your journeys!

Ant

[karenros 0]

Your story sounds like a fairy tale...

[NickD 202]

Was certainly nicer coming back here when my wife had a US Passport. Well maybe with exception of Toronto, made a real madhouse out of that place.

Going briefly back into history, we already had metal detectors in place prior to 9/11, the 19 guys that came here were here legally, and all passed the metal detector tests, but still accomplished their very nasty chore. Ironically they just asked you at the border if you were bringing anything over the border, you could have been carrying parts to make a nuclear bomb or something.

Just saying the high degree of inconvenience recently imposed upon us, is not effective in preventing terrorists from entering this country. Anyone want to challenge this statement?

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your replies...

Karenros-Lol....Thanks for saying that my story sounds like a fairy tale....But in all honesty, I don't think that my life is a fairy tale at all, as it's really quite oridinary, really. Nevertheless, there have been a lot of downs and ups along the way, especially with the USCIS, so it does make for an interesting story to tell. Either way, it all ended "happily ever after"...And likewise, may your immigration story end 'happily ever after" soon too! Good luck with the rest of your journey as a US Citizen, you're almost there!

Your story sounds like a fairy tale...

NickD-Glad that your wife had no problems coming back to the USA with her US Passport. Oh yeah, the border guards are nicer to "citizens" of their own country and with the proper paperwork proving such. Lol....Toronto will always be a madhouse...'tis the life in the big city now, and always will be...lol....

I agree, security measures were already in place before, but because of "terrorists", and the paranoia behind that, the borders and security has been tougher in ways. And yet in other ways, the terrorist activities still continue....lol...Overall all this extra security is making it harder for ordinary innocent folks to travel, and not getting to the root of the bigger problem of crime and illegal activities....Shrugs....

Oh and here's another funny one for you: Where I am, they put metal detectors at the local country building, where the WIC (women infants children) program is. Lol...Do they think that children/babies are going to be carrying bombs in there? Gee....No bombs there so far, but it sure is inconvenient to go through the metal detectors with a carseat, and then to have the carseat set off the detectors....lol.....

Oh and then there is immigration: Why make us 'legals' go through the whole immigration process, wasting time and wasting money and having to 'prove' extra again and again for such. And yet the illegals and terrorists still get in....Shrugs.....

Lol...Yes, I could have been carrying a nuclear bomb on my recent trip...But I will never do such a thing (lol..especially with a "baby on board")....And besides, I don't think I fit the "profile" of a terrorist anyways....So I guess no cause for extra concern there....lol....

I did though have to declare a snow shovel and some sports equipment, and was questioned about a christmas tree in April, during my previous travels...they didn't find any bombs there....but yeah, they were searching through that stuff anyways...random check, probably....

Wasn't too surprised that this time around they didn't search for stuff as it was way too cold and busy for them to do such that day....Oh well....

Totally agree with the inconvenience they put us all 'legals' through....The terrorists and illegals will get through, regardless......

Was certainly nicer coming back here when my wife had a US Passport. Well maybe with exception of Toronto, made a real madhouse out of that place.

Going briefly back into history, we already had metal detectors in place prior to 9/11, the 19 guys that came here were here legally, and all passed the metal detector tests, but still accomplished their very nasty chore. Ironically they just asked you at the border if you were bringing anything over the border, you could have been carrying parts to make a nuclear bomb or something.

Just saying the high degree of inconvenience recently imposed upon us, is not effective in preventing terrorists from entering this country. Anyone want to challenge this statement?

Ant

Edited December 14, 2009 by Ant+D+A