Flying

[Starburst 4]

Hey Guys,

Well I'm about to book my first flight back to Toronto since obtaining my PR.

Quick Questions, just to double check.

1) My passport is still in my maiden name, so book it under this name, bring marriage licence to use with PR card on way back in

2) I enter in....any line? Canadian Citizens?

Should I plan on being questioned a lot when I re-enter Canada for the first time?

When I went for my interview, the IO told me to always expect being taken into secondary on my return trips to the US, usually

to "confirm" my PR Card.

Any other suggestions to make it easy and painless, would be awesome!

Thanks Guys!

- Star

[Flames9_RN 358]

Hey Guys,

Well I'm about to book my first flight back to Toronto since obtaining my PR.

Quick Questions, just to double check.

1) My passport is still in my maiden name, so book it under this name, bring marriage licence to use with PR card on way back in

2) I enter in....any line? Canadian Citizens?

Should I plan on being questioned a lot when I re-enter Canada for the first time?

When I went for my interview, the IO told me to always expect being taken into secondary on my return trips to the US, usually

to "confirm" my PR Card.

Any other suggestions to make it easy and painless, would be awesome!

Thanks Guys!

- Star

I was never questioned all that much going back to Canada! Your just going to show the Canada POE dude ur CANADIAN passport (they could care less about ur greencard)

Coming back into the USA many of a time--never went into secondary! Just showed them my greencard and at that time my Cdn passport

[antda 13]

Hi Star,

I don't know about flying (I don't fly back to Canada...I travel by land instead...Too close to fly...lol....)

But in the past (before I received US Citizenship) I have travelled to Toronto with the following by land without too many problems....

To Canada: Canadian Passport with maiden last name (and married name notation...they don't have that anymore though), Green Card with married last name, Marriage Certificate (though they didn't want to see such but I had it just in case)...Declared: Canadian

Back to the USA: Green Card with married last name, Canadian Passport with maiden last name (and married name notation), Marriage Certificate (though they didn't want to see such but I had it just in case)...Declared: Canadian

I did though, renew my Canadian passport last year, which I also updated with my married name in it.

If I were you, I would renew your Canadian passport in your married name too, so it will be easier for you to travel later on.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your travels and with the rest of your journey too.

Ant

Hey Guys,

Well I'm about to book my first flight back to Toronto since obtaining my PR.

Quick Questions, just to double check.

1) My passport is still in my maiden name, so book it under this name, bring marriage licence to use with PR card on way back in

2) I enter in....any line? Canadian Citizens?

Should I plan on being questioned a lot when I re-enter Canada for the first time?

When I went for my interview, the IO told me to always expect being taken into secondary on my return trips to the US, usually

to "confirm" my PR Card.

Any other suggestions to make it easy and painless, would be awesome!

Thanks Guys!

- Star

Edited February 16, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I had no troubles flying into or out of Canada with my PR card.

Entering Canada, I presented my Canadian passport to Canadian immigration, answered their questions and was waved through. Returning to the US, I presented my card and my passport to US immigration at the airport, they scanned the passport, swiped the card, made a notation in my passport and handed them both back to me. I never had to go into secondary.

You should be fine.

Edited February 16, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Starburst 4]

Whew thanks guys!

that sounds a lot easier then what I thought it was going to be!

I was going to get a new passport, but I had JUST got my passport before we got engaged, and now that I'm travelling up there in 2 months, I didn't want to risk it not arriving back again in time! So I was going to do that once I get back from that trip

Should I make a note or something in my passport about my married name?

Thanks guys guys!!

- Star

[antda 13]

Whew thanks guys!

that sounds a lot easier then what I thought it was going to be!

I was going to get a new passport, but I had JUST got my passport before we got engaged, and now that I'm travelling up there in 2 months, I didn't want to risk it not arriving back again in time! So I was going to do that once I get back from that trip

Should I make a note or something in my passport about my married name?

Thanks guys guys!!

- Star

Star-You're welcome...Glad to be able to help...

And yes, it is not as hard as you think it is....As long as you have the proper documentation..You're good to go...

As for your passport.....

Unfortunately, they don't offer "married name notation" anymore...(they stopped doing this after 2007)

So for a passport in your married name....You have to apply for a new one.....$100 CDN and 2 weeks later....lol.....

In the meantime, you're going to have to book your tickets in your maiden name..(or whatever name is in your passport).....

Bring your marriage certificate, just in case.....That way they can see the "connection" between your maiden and married names..

Hope this helps too....Good luck...

Ant

P.S. By the way...When I travelled..They scanned both my passport and my green card in the machine, on both sides of the border.....So bring both with you!

Edited February 16, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Starburst 4]

Star-You're welcome...Glad to be able to help...

And yes, it is not as hard as you think it is....As long as you have the proper documentation..You're good to go...

As for your passport.....

Unfortunately, they don't offer "married name notation" anymore...(they stopped doing this after 2007)

So for a passport in your married name....You have to apply for a new one.....$100 CDN and 2 weeks later....lol.....

In the meantime, you're going to have to book your tickets in your maiden name..(or whatever name is in your passport).....

Bring your marriage certificate, just in case.....That way they can see the "connection" between your maiden and married names..

Hope this helps too....Good luck...

Ant

P.S. By the way...When I travelled..They scanned both my passport and my green card in the machine, on both sides of the border.....So bring both with you!

Two weeks!?! That's not very long at all!!

Thank you again so much! I'm so excited to go back. It's been such a long time!!!

[antda 13]

Two weeks!?! That's not very long at all!!

Thank you again so much! I'm so excited to go back. It's been such a long time!!!

Star-I applied in-person...In St.Catherines...

Took 2 weeks for them to mail it back to my home in the USA....

So if I were you...apply while you are in Toronto (or any other Canadian Passport Canada Office).....Then have it mailed back to your US address...

Or better yet...send it to a Canadian address...it only takes 1 week within Canada from a Canadian Passport Office.....

Note: You have to get Canadian passport sized photos and a Guarrantor and 2 References too and Proof of Canadian Citizenship and Other ID and your Marriage Certificate (if changing it to your married name) too...For a Canadian passport.....And also $100 CDN.....

Hope this helps too...Enjoy your visit home...

Ant

Edited February 16, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I was a little worried visiting Canada for the first time after becoming a PR, but it was so incredibly easy. Coming into Canada I presented by passport and said I was Canadian but live in Denver and was coming to visit my family- they let me through without any questions at all. Then coming back to the US I presented by Canadian passport and my GC. My Canadian passport is still in my maiden name and my GC is in my married name, but it never caused an issue- the officer didn't even ask about the name discrepancy. I had my passport renewed after the NOA2 stage of the K-1 process since it was about to expire, so I don't see why I should spend another $89 just to change the name on it. Anyways, the US CBP just asked me where in the US I lived and that was it- let me through without even asking me if I had anything to declare. Easy as pie. I always drive across but I imagine the process is pretty similar either way.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Book your ticket in the name of your passport... so in your case, your maiden name.

You should have no problems using your greencard in your married name on your way back. That's what I did and it was just fine.

[Carlawarla 1]

You mentioned just getting your passport recently. Note that you may not be able to get a new one with your married name yet. When I checked the site about getting mine done after marriage they note that they renew up to six months prior to it expiring unless there are exceptional circumstances. I ended up renewing it about 8 months before it expired, but wrote a note telling them I was going to be travelling around within the six months of expiry, and wanted it done ahead of time so that it was done prior to that, and in case I was out of the country. They did so, but I'd make sure if you're going to be getting a new one (you can't just have your old one amended anymore) that you write an explanation, and note that they may not do it.

[TimandJoyce 1]

Star!! I'm so excited for you that you're going home for a visit! I'm sure you must be so anxious to see everyone. I won't be going back until October, so I still have a while. It will have been 14 months since I moved.

Have a great trip!!

[JlovesA 109]

Don't worry about the name thing too much...just think of all the women who travel for their honeymoons! During my previous marriage, I was flying across Canada with my documents all in my maiden name. I always said up front, "I just got married." Sometimes they wanted to see the certificate (the one filled out at the wedding), sometimes they just believed me.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I believe one should have documentation with them regarding a name change as I believe a new "law" went into effect back in the Fall of 2009 regarding that the name on ur plane ticket has to match ur identification!

[Starburst 4]

Thanks everyone for the help!! I'm super excited - it's been a long time since i've been home!!

One last question, do I need to declare anything? I mean I'm obviously returning to the US after, but I AM bringing a couple things with me

that were bought for our wedding (like favor boxes ect..) that I will be leaving there. I tried to find stuff on the customs website, but couldn't

find anything! I wasn't sure if I should treat this like I'm returning from a vacation, or entering as a visitor?

So confusing! lol

Thanks again everyone!

/starburst

Edited February 28, 2010 by Starburst