travel to canada

[carvin317 0]

Hey everyone my wife and i are trying to travel to canada on the 4th of July. Her passport expires June 6th. Here in Atlanta we can not find anyone to take pictures that wont be rejected. We have sent 4 sets from four different photographers. Costco, Wolfe Camera, Professional downtown, and a place that specilizes in the passport photos for all countries were all denied. Can she travel into Canada with an expired passport and her green card? Then stay in Canada until her new passport comes in since we can get photos there ?

[JlovesA 109]

This isn't an exact answer to your question, but if she has a Nexus pass, she can cross the border without a passport.

[carvin317 0]

i looked into it and it takes longer for us to get the nexus pass then the passport unfortunately

[trailmix 77]

How are you travelling?

I ask because the Green card should be sufficient, however some airlines will not let you travel without a passport. If you are crossing at a land border, it shouldn't be a problem. Enter Canada with her Canadian birth certificate and a driver's license, enter the U.S. with the Green Card.

CBP - Travel info:

U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents: Document requirements for Lawful Permanent Residents will not change under WHTI. U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents can continue to use their permanent resident card (Form I-551) or other valid evidence of permanent residence status.

Canada Border Services:

Required Identification

Canadians Returning Home

Make sure you carry proper identification for yourself and any children travelling with you to assist in confirming your legal right to enter Canada.

The Government of Canada recommends that Canadian citizens travel with a valid Canadian passport because it is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel.

International transportation companies such as airlines may require travellers to present a passport. Therefore, Canadian citizens may face delays or may not be allowed to board the plane or other conveyance if they present other documents such as those noted below.

•Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)/Enhanced Identification Card (EIC)

•NEXUS card (used where the program is available)

•Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card used in FAST lanes

•Canadian citizenship card

•Certificate of Indian Status

•Birth certificate in combination with either a driver's licence or a government-issued photo identification

Edited June 3, 2010 by trailmix

[Tick Tock 3]

I believe your wife will be able to re-enter Canada on an expired passport.

I do not believe it is possible to exit Canada unless the passport is renewed. However, even in the off-chance that it is possible, it is wise to take advantage of being in the country since one can drop off the application form in person. 2 weeks processing if dropped off as opposed to 4 weeks if sent in by mail are the estimations provided by Passport Canada.

If I am incorrect, I am certain someone will correct me - I do apologize ahead of time if I am wrong.

I sympathize with you and your wife on the frustrations of having acceptable passport photos taken. Hopefully this weekend, I will be taking my third set of passport-style photographs. The first set taken were far too bright (Rite Aid pharmacy chain). The second set (at Sears) have a bit of a shadow around the neck area. The third set I will be taking will once again be done at Sears because unfortunately, there are no other stores/photographers nearby. By contrast, the first set of pictures taken for my original passport were done at a Walmart portrait studio in Canada and they were perfectly fine.

Sears portrait studio uses software for lining up and sizing passport-style photos; they have a software setting for Canadian requirements and US requirements. Hopefully, this information might be useful for anyone in a similar situation.

Might I ask, what were the issues your wife's pictures were facing? It is amazing that pictures come out incorrectly when Passport Canada has a very clear sheet of paper outlining specific requirements in layman's terms.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

As noted by Trailmix, if you're entering by land back into the US... your greencard is sufficient. I have yet to be asked for my Canadian passport by a US bordeguard since I received my GC.

If if you renew while up there, we had a recent thread where the person did it in person in Canada and received their old exipred passport back immediately with the corner cut off (to invalidate it). You'll have a receipt from Passport canada for teh renewal fee as well.

Hopefully you're travelling by land, would be easier I think

I do not believe it is possible to exit Canada unless the passport is renewed. However, even in the off-chance that it is possible, it is wise to take advantage of being in the country since one can drop off the application form in person. 2 weeks processing if dropped off as opposed to 4 weeks if sent in by mail are the estimations provided by Passport Canada.

As I noted above...the US border guard rarely asks for the Cdn passport...they're more interested in their id, which is the GC

[ValerieA 350]

Does she have her birth certificate and photo id? I ask because technically, you don't need a passport to get into Canada. Link (Go to the Identification section). You WILL need a passport to get back into the US.

However, check with the airline first - depending on the airline, they may require a passport to even board the plane.

[Tick Tock 3]

Insight is appreciated, thank you guys. Seems in the time I started typing, several better answers were given.

As I noted above...the US border guard rarely asks for the Cdn passport...they're more interested in their id, which is the GC

Gotcha. Thank you.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I came back in the past to the USA from Canada and handed over just my GREENCARD and the grumpy POE dude asked for my Passport as well! So as they say --Its all up to the POE officer!! lol

[JlovesA 109]

i looked into it and it takes longer for us to get the nexus pass then the passport unfortunately

Really? I just got a Nexus card and it only took a few weeks. They approve the applications in less than a month and then you can go ASAP for the interview. Not sure how long passports take these days, I've never had to renew mine yet.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I came back in the past to the USA from Canada and handed over just my GREENCARD and the grumpy POE dude asked for my Passport as well! So as they say --Its all up to the POE officer!! lol

Damn them...I mean I Love them

[Kathryn41 3,205]

For what it is worth, I was able to get appropriate passport photos taken at Wolfe's camera in Stockbridge. What they need to do is use the regular setting without flash for their camera set up, Then on their Kodak machine they turn the image sideways and I believe adjust the size by one. That will get the correct head size. They then need to cut the photographs to proper size by hand. Bring a ruler with you along with a print out of the instructions. I had them do my last passport photos and they were accepted by Passport Canada without a problem. It took 2 or 3 tries before they got them right, though.

There are some places that do have a setting on their printer that allows them to set the passport requirements as per country and Canada is one of the options. I don't know if Wolfe Cameras in your area have that option or not but I have heard of others who have had them done that way.

You may also try contacting the Canadian Consulate in Atlanta and see if they have a list of photographers who are able to provide photographs that meet Canadian standards for passports. Of course - the easiest thing to do is to get them done while in Canada .

[FireKari 4]

Did you try the online renewal form for Canadian Passports???

http://www.pptc.gc.ca/cdn/ren.aspx

Also, for the pictures, could you not just go to Walmart photo center and have them take your photo on a white background and print them out so that the sizing would be the correct head size then just cut them out to the right size?

If you print out the page on the photos it tells you 'how' to take them, what distance etc.

Edited June 4, 2010 by FireKari