Interesting travel question

[shawna7 4]

Hi everyone,

My daughter will be flying into buffalo, crossing the border by car(with her dad and then flying to Cancun from toronto with her friends..and then coming back to charleston via buffalo.(have I confused you all enough yet?haha)

My question is... When shes flying out of Toronto will she need her greencard?or just her passport?

and when shes crossing back into the states...does she explain that she came through toronto and then went to cancun?

I'm just not sure the best way for her to handle all the immigration crossings...oh and btw the cancun trip is a chaperoned trip...but chaperoned by a canadian tour company..thats why she can't just fly from charleston to mexico.

thank youin advance if you can figure out my ramblings..lol

[Darnell 8,479]

when she is COMING BACK INTO THE USA, she needs to SHOW the greencard AND the passport.

To Leave USA, she not need to show her greencard, just the passport.

Don't know about Mexico with Canadian Passport, sorry.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Darnell

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Shawna I'm totally confused right now...

So, she's driving up to Toronto with her dad and taking a flight from Toronto to Cancun? And then when she returns she's flying from Cancun to Buffalo to Charleston?

If I have that right then when flying from Toronto she will only need her Canadian passport. When she flies into Buffalo from Cancun (if that's what's happening...) Then she'll need to show her GC, which proves her residency in the US and allows her to reenter. In short, the only time she needs the GC is when she is coming back into the US and going through US customs and immigrations.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Hugglebuggles

[shawna7 4]

Shawna I'm totally confused right now...

So, she's driving up to Toronto with her dad and taking a flight from Toronto to Cancun? And then when she returns she's flying from Cancun to Buffalo to Charleston?

If I have that right then when flying from Toronto she will only need her Canadian passport. When she flies into Buffalo from Cancun (if that's what's happening...) Then she'll need to show her GC, which proves her residency in the US and allows her to reenter. In short, the only time she needs the GC is when she is coming back into the US and going through US customs and immigrations.

I'm sorry..I know its confusing..lmao

she will be flying in and out of cancun from toronto...but entering canada via buffalo and then returning to the states via buffalo as well..

I guess my concern is when shes going through customs for mexico...does she mention she LIVES in the states..or just show them her canadian passport..

and then when she crosses back into the states..does she explain that she was in mexico?lol or just that she was visiting her dad in toronto?(she will be visiting with her father..just not in toronto..)

oh jeez...this still sounds confusing...but I can't really explain it any other way.. why oh why can't my life be simpler?

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I can empathize with that feeling!

When entering Mexico she should just show her passport and declare she is a Canadian citizen on a school trip. I don't see why they would care where she lives... she is a citizen of Canada with a valid Canadian passport. If they ask, all she needs to do is tell the truth, the GC is none of their concern.

When crossing into the US... I don't really know there. Honesty is always the best policy but the CBP might just get confused If it were me, I'd probably say I am returning from a school trip and have a flight home leaving from Buffalo. If they want to know more they'll ask. But this is where she'll need her GC!

[Downtoride 0]

I made a trip similar to what she is doing they never gave me a problem even tho my starting point was different then my finish point.. I'm sure they will ask but like it was said early make sure she is honest. And since she is a resident of the States it shouldn't be a problem. Make sure she takes both always be prepared.

[shawna7 4]

thank you for your replies..

I just worry about her..lol..shes 17 and on the best days we all know what teenagers can be like hehe all I need is her confusing the border guard!