Some Travel Questions

[Hugglebuggles 60]

After almost 7 months I've decided its about time I make a trip home to Canada. I haven't decided on a date yet, but I have a free flight with Delta/NWA so I can decide basically anytime.

Being my paranoid self I have a few travel questions:

I have my GC now, so I don't need to worry about AP right? I can just leave that at home?

My GC is in my married name but my passport is in my maiden name still. I'm going to fly from Denver to Buffalo and drive across. Should I book my tickets in my married name and present my GC as ID at the airport, or should I book my tickets in my maiden name and present my Canadian passport?

When I reenter the US, do I need to present my GC and my Canadian passport, or just the GC? Will having a passport and a GC with different last names cause my any problems at the border? Should I bring my marriage license along?

Are the new airport security guidelines of not allowing a carry on are just for flights leaving Canada and entering the US, or for US domestic travel as well? I've heard some conflicting information from family members and friends.

[antda 13]

Hi Hugglebuggles,

In answer to your questions..

I don't know about the flying aspect of things...(as I don't fly)...but....

You have your Green Card now, so no need to bring your AP at all.

Likewise, I was in the same situation too, with my former expired passport in my maiden name (though with married name notation) when I went back to Canada for a trip by land from Buffalo, NY. No problems there, crossing over the border as a US Permanent Resident before. When you go to Canada, present your Canadian Passport as country of citizenship and Green Card as country of residence. When you come back to the USA, present your Green Card to show your country of residence and Canadian Passport to show your country of citizenship. Bring along your marriage certificate, "just in case" they do ask (though very unlikely) about the different names in these two documents.

I would recommend you book your tickets in your maiden name, since they will have to match the ticket name with the passport name.

Sorry, I have no clue about the baggage stuff...maybe other vjers can help there...

Be careful when driving through Buffalo..as yeah, the snowy weather is brutal here! Dress warmly too!

Oh, and make sure you check the bridge and weather conditions before you go. I recommend the Peace Bridge as the best way to get to Canada.

Hope this helps. Good luck on your journey. Happy Travels back home to Canada too!

Ant

After almost 7 months I've decided its about time I make a trip home to Canada. I haven't decided on a date yet, but I have a free flight with Delta/NWA so I can decide basically anytime.

Being my paranoid self I have a few travel questions:

I have my GC now, so I don't need to worry about AP right? I can just leave that at home?

My GC is in my married name but my passport is in my maiden name still. I'm going to fly from Denver to Buffalo and drive across. Should I book my tickets in my married name and present my GC as ID at the airport, or should I book my tickets in my maiden name and present my Canadian passport?

When I reenter the US, do I need to present my GC and my Canadian passport, or just the GC? Will having a passport and a GC with different last names cause my any problems at the border? Should I bring my marriage license along?

Are the new airport security guidelines of not allowing a carry on are just for flights leaving Canada and entering the US, or for US domestic travel as well? I've heard some conflicting information from family members and friends.

Edited January 3, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Thanks Ant!

I'm just thinking that since I'm flying domestically, a PR card is acceptable identification. Would they care about my passport? I was kinda thinking that the only time my passport would be needed was when I was entering Canada, and then possibly when I was coming back to the US. I was just thinking that It would be good to have the tickets match the name on my GC for when I reenter the US, but maybe it wouldn't matter.

Anyone else travel domestically and just use their GC as photo ID?

I've heard you're getting hit with snow today! My parents live in the Niagara Falls area in Canada and they said its coming down good. We usually get nothing compared to the Buffalo side! And the Peace Bridge is where I always cross, I agree, its the best way to go.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I traveled with a passport in maiden name and GC in married name without issue, mostly because I carried my marriage certificate with me. I presented the passport and GC at the US customs (which a passport is required to enter the US) and the agent noted the different names and asked for the marriage cert. and it was not an issue. You can travel domestically with your green card, that's not a problem.

I'm sure you'll be fine, but maybe carry the marriage certificate for easier transition into the US. If you are going to use your GC as identification for your domestic flight then maybe book in your married name so the GC and ticket match.

Good luck.

[Wis-Can 0]

I'm so jealous your getting to go home to Canada! Have fun.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I'm so jealous your getting to go home to Canada! Have fun.

Its been almost 7 months, I didn't come home for Christmas and my mom is a little mad at me

thanks for the advice canadian_wife! I'll bring my marriage certificate along to be safe. So, from that, I gather it doesn't really matter what name I book my ticket in, it just depends on what I want to use as ID at the airport.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I traveled with a passport in maiden name and GC in married name without issue, mostly because I carried my marriage certificate with me. I presented the passport and GC at the US customs (which a passport is required to enter the US) and the agent noted the different names and asked for the marriage cert. and it was not an issue. You can travel domestically with your green card, that's not a problem.

I'm sure you'll be fine, but maybe carry the marriage certificate for easier transition into the US. If you are going to use your GC as identification for your domestic flight then maybe book in your married name so the GC and ticket match.

Good luck.

That's all I've done is carry my marriage cert with me. The Cdn border guard only cared about my Cdn passport and the US border guard only looked at my GC anyway - didn't need my Cdn passport at all.

[shawna7 4]

I cross at the peace bridge every 6-8 weeks and I tell you it just depends who you get!..lol a couple of times crossing into canada they have asked to see my greencard(could be becuse I always rent a car in buffalo) but they never give a reason(and I don't ask! haha..I just whip it out!) and when crossing back to the USA they ALWAYS ask to see both...My greencard is hyphenated(did I spell that right??lol) so I have never had an issue..and just for the record..I always book my airline ticket in my maiden name..so it matches my passport..In this day and age flying...it makes me nervous if you end up with someone at the airline who doesn't know what a greencard is..and insists on other ID..and then the names don't match..just a thought...a couple of weeks ago flying out of buffalo the airport security guy asked my daughter if she was under 18 and when she said yes..didn't bother checking her passport....very wierd..haha..so like I said..you just never know who is going to decide what rule they feel like following

and congrats on going home!! enjoy the timmies...and swiss chalet...oh and mmmmmm ketchup chips!

[Flames9_RN 358]

When i traveled with my Greencard coming back into the USA, sometimes they asked to see my Cdn passport sometimes they didnt. I know once i just gave the USA POE dude my greencard and he in a very demanding voice asked where my passport was! lol

[shawna7 4]

When i traveled with my Greencard coming back into the USA, sometimes they asked to see my Cdn passport sometimes they didnt. I know once i just gave the USA POE dude my greencard and he in a very demanding voice asked where my passport was! lol

LOL I had one guy stare me down for no apparent reason! he asked who I was visiting and when I answered he just stared at me forever(well it seemed like forever but 30 seconds is a longtime if you have that dude staring at you! lmao

[Flames9_RN 358]

People forget they are trained (some better than others) to find people lying and they have various methods in finding those cheaters,lol

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I've never had a problem crossing in the past, I just hope re-entering the US with my GC won't be to much of a headache! I think I'll just book my tickets in my maiden name and use my passport as ID. It seems easier that way since all my air miles information and my member card is still in my maiden name as well. And you brought up a good point shawna, sometimes I use my GC as ID and I get weird looks or people say, "I haven't seen one of these before..." I doubt the US CBP will really care to see my flight information considering I'm just going home, I don't need to prove I'm going to return to Canada this time!

[shawna7 4]

People forget they are trained (some better than others) to find people lying and they have various methods in finding those cheaters,lol

I hear ya..I wasn't doing anything wrong so I just sat there waiting out the stare..if I had been a wrongdoer..I surely would have crumbled!

[Anh map 2,098]

If you were booking an international flight then you would have the ticket in the same name as your passport.

Domestic travel - a drivers license or GC is fine. Again, the name on the ID and ticket must match.

[warlord 73]

Just flew international myself 2 weeks ago. You are allowed one carry on. So if you have a purse, that would be your one carry on now. So if you have a bag, put the purse in the bag so it acts as one, otherwise one will have to be checked.

Another rule is you no longer can get up or have anything on your lap 1 hour before landing. No cell phone type things are allowed to be on at all. Unlike domestic flights where the signal just has to be turned off on take off and landing, on international flights the phone must be completely turned off which is also new.

Some of these rules may have been discontinued as I flew the weekend of that attempted attack and the flight crew said they weren't sure how long all these new rules would remain in place...