Greencard holder with expired foreign passport. Can I travel to Canada by land?

[Color Orange 0]

I have tried to search for this topic but I'm afraid that there have been new rules since 2009. I just wanted to know if I can enter Canada and go back to the US with only a Greencard. I have friends who told me that a Greencard is all I need since they were able to travel by land ok. However that was in 2007 and 2009. I don't know if I have enough time to renew my passport. Does anyone have any experience with crossing the Canadian/US border with just a Greencard and no passport? Thanks!

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

Pretty sure you have to have a valid, unexpired passport to travel into Canada AND the US.

Edited June 23, 2011 by Sweetcheeksss

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I don't envy you for your so-called friends whose so-called advice can really #### up your vacation.

.

Everyone traveling internationally needs a valid passport. We Americans only need our US passport card for land travel and there is actually such a thing as an enhanced DL but that doesn't apply to you anyway.` No valid passport, no international travel. A passport is valid 10 years; I consider that plenty of time to get a new one in time, but that maybe just me.

Edited June 23, 2011 by Just Bob

[Colleens 40]

And depending on what country you hold citizenship for, you may be required to also have a visa. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp is a list of which countries require a visa.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I have tried to search for this topic but I'm afraid that there have been new rules since 2009. I just wanted to know if I can enter Canada and go back to the US with only a Greencard. I have friends who told me that a Greencard is all I need since they were able to travel by land ok. However that was in 2007 and 2009. I don't know if I have enough time to renew my passport. Does anyone have any experience with crossing the Canadian/US border with just a Greencard and no passport? Thanks!

edit - oops - i see you already said Foreign passport...

If you're Canadian then I don't believe you have a problem, other people (Canadians) have travelled back home on an expired Cdn passport...I believe it was by land. The Cdn border isn't going to deny entry to a Cn citizen, although you may get a hassle.

If you're not Cdn, I think you're out of luck until you renew your passport with whatever country you're a citizen of.

Edited June 23, 2011 by Udella&Wiz

[metals95 1]

A lot of people think that they know the answer to this question and generally they do not. If you look at the following websites you will see the CORRECT answers for land crossings for LPR's to Canada.

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_sa.html

http://www.cbsa-asfc...admiss-eng.html

By the way, your friend is correct and US greencard holders are visa exempt when visiting Canada.

Edited June 23, 2011 by metals95

[Inky 1,111]

A lot of people think that they know the answer to this question and generally they do not. If you look at the following websites you will see the CORRECT answers for land crossings for LPR's to Canada.

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_sa.html

http://www.cbsa-asfc...admiss-eng.html

By the way, your friend is correct and US greencard holders are visa exempt when visiting Canada.

That link talks about US citizens and Canadians going to Canada. Not foreigners. The OP does not state if they are Canadian or something else.

It also says nothing about entering Canada when you are from a completely different country without a passport.

[warlord 73]

The OP I think is stating from a Canadian that is living in the US while on a Greencard. Their Canadian passport is expired and they just want to know if they can go visit friends/family etc in Canada and then get back into the US using the Greencard and expired Canadian passport.

In 2007 and I believe in 2009 your friends were correct in that one did not need a passport for land travel between the two countries. The first phase of the border program started with airline travel only between the two. Then it was expanded to sea and land.

As of right now, I'm not sure. Last time I crossed was a few years ago and I had a valid US passport. Generally though an expired passport is useless when used to gain entry into another country, however with a Greencard and proof of residency in the US, I'm not sure how it would be handled if you just show up to the border with both. You would probably be pulled into secondary inspection and then after being reprimanded, they may let you pass. I can't say for sure.

Check with the INS or whoever on this and see what exactly is required now for someone in your situation. I think that's going to be the best action to take...

[Marilyn. 340]

Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States: Document requirements for Lawful Permanent Residents are not changed under WHTI. Lawful Permanent Residents are required to present their permanent resident card (Form I-551) or other valid evidence of permanent residence status. A passport is not required for entry into the United States.

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_can/can_sa.html

this is info for getting back into the US... I am pretty sure it is the same for getting into Canada ... but I am not 100 % sure..

[metals95 1]

That link talks about US citizens and Canadians going to Canada. Not foreigners. The OP does not state if they are Canadian or something else.

It also says nothing about entering Canada when you are from a completely different country without a passport.

There is a paragraph on the US website for Green card holders at the bottom.

. Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States: Document requirements for Lawful Permanent Residents are not changed under WHTI. Lawful Permanent Residents are required to present their permanent resident card (Form I-551) or other valid evidence of permanent residence status. A passport is not required for entry into the United State.

From the CBSA website linked in my post

"When you enter Canada, a CBSA officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if one is necessary. If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you."

Edited June 23, 2011 by metals95

[metals95 1]

One more Canadian Govt website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp#exemptions

Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding but in the link you provided above, it references "visa" requirements. Isn't the OP's question about an expired passport?

As far as my limited knowledge goes, I think it'd be rather difficult to cross the border without a valid passport. Of course, I could be wrong..

If it were me, I'd just call directly to both a Canadian and US border protection and get the facts straight from them.

Good luck!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I said it before, I say it again, and nothing posted in this thread changes the facts: anybody who wants to travel internationally, and that includes land travel from the United States to Canada, needs a valid passport.

There are exceptions to the rule, such as the enhanced driver's license, and cases where a Canadian citizen shows up naked at the border, only having their expired passport, shivering and cold, but those are exceptions to the rule.

[BH45 0]

I have tried to search for this topic but I'm afraid that there have been new rules since 2009. I just wanted to know if I can enter Canada and go back to the US with only a Greencard. I have friends who told me that a Greencard is all I need since they were able to travel by land ok. However that was in 2007 and 2009. I don't know if I have enough time to renew my passport. Does anyone have any experience with crossing the Canadian/US border with just a Greencard and no passport? Thanks!

I would suggest you call the Canadian Border and US Border Protection Agencies directly to get an answer. They will tell you exactly what is what! Just a suggestion, though

[Color Orange 0]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I really appreciate it.

I was able to read the rules written in the CBSA website regarding Non-Canadians crossing the border. And I also e-mailed them to be sure but they pretty much said the same thing written in their website:

"When you enter Canada, a border services officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa (if you are arriving from a country from which one is required). If you are a United States citizen (U.S.), you do not need a passport to enter Canada; however, you should carry proof of your citizenship such as a birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization or a Certificate of Indian Status, as well as a photo ID. If you are a permanent resident of the U.S., you must bring your permanent resident card with you.

More information you may consult our guide BSF5082 Visitors to Canada and other Temporary Residents at www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5082-eng.html#s1x1

We trust that this information is useful to you. Thank you for contacting the Canada Border Services Agency."

What confused me is the words "border services officer may ask to see your passport". So I was hoping that someone had a recent first hand experience crossing the border.

Just Bob, I'm pretty sure my "so-called" friends are not trying to get me in trouble. They just shared with me what they experienced crossing the border. The one who traveled in 2007 was not asked by the border officer for his passport. My other friend who crossed around 2009 handed the border officer his passport and was told "I don't need that.".

Thanks also for posting links for the WHTI! I saw that in one of the older threads but never really got the chance to read about it.

I guess my best bet is to see if something can be done about my expired passport. What I have right now is a Philippine passport. It expired last March and the reason why I didn't renew it right away was because I just sent my application for naturalization and didn't anticipate traveling between the time it expired and the time I will hopefully get my US citizenship.

However, after clicking different links. I came across this one:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/820/related/1

and it said somewhere on the bottom of the page: If you are a green card holder and you do not stay outside the U.S. for 1 year or more, you should have either your green card (INS Form I-551, or your returning resident visa to re-enter the United States. You are not required to present your unexpired passport, however it is not a bad idea to carry it with you.

Here's another link I stumbled upon while typing this:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1191

So is it safe to say that to enter Canada I may or may not need a Passport but to go back to the US I just need my Greencard?