Getting a US visa as a Canadian GC holder

[Princessblack 21]

Good morning,

I am writing on behalf of my sister who wishes to get a US visa to visit us here. She does not intend to live here at all! She already has her green card.

What are some of the requirements and documents needed?

thanks in advanced for the help.

Edited September 16, 2011 by Princessblack

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Good morning,

I am writing on behalf of my sister who wishes to get a US visa to visit us here. She does not intend to live here at all! She already has her green card.

What are some of the requirements and documents needed?

thanks in advanced for the help.

Is she a US GC holder who wants to VISIT Canada?

Found this info from Canadian Immigration - although Jamaicans require a visitor's VISA, lawful US residents (ie GC holders) do not. If you have any doubts I would call them directly to confirm.

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

- 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;

Edited September 16, 2011 by Udella&Wiz

[hikergirl 277]

Good morning,

I am writing on behalf of my sister who wishes to get a US visa to visit us here. She does not intend to live here at all! She already has her green card.

What are some of the requirements and documents needed?

thanks in advanced for the help.

Based on the title of your post, I am thinking that your sister is a Permanent Resident of Canada. I found this on the Department of State website in the travel section:

Permanent residents (aka landed immigrants) of Canada must have a nonimmigrant visa unless the permanent resident is a national of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), meets the VWP requirements, and is seeking to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less under that program.

If this is the case and your sister is a Jamaican citizen, she would not qualify for the VWP and would need a B-2 Visa.

Here is a link to the info: Visitor Visa

Edited September 16, 2011 by hikergirl

[warlord 73]

Yes this is confusing. A Green Card holder is a resident of the US. Canada does not have a Green Card at all. So I'm thinking too that it's a Canadian Permanent Resident rather then a Green Card Holder...

[Princessblack 21]

Yes she is a Canadian Permanent Resident and Jamaican citizen, needing a visa to visit US.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

No, she doesn't. She doesn't need a visa to visit the U.S.

She can visit the U.S. with her Jamaican passport and her PR card, for the same reason that a Green Card holder from Jamaica can visit Canada with passport and Geen Card and without a visa. In the case of Canada and the U.S., both countries have determined that somebody who lives as a permanent resident there is not likely to overstay their welcome in the other country.

In plain English, her Canadian PR Card wipes out the visa requirement.

[hikergirl 277]

No, she doesn't. She doesn't need a visa to visit the U.S.

She can visit the U.S. with her Jamaican passport and her PR card, for the same reason that a Green Card holder from Jamaica can visit Canada with passport and Geen Card and without a visa. In the case of Canada and the U.S., both countries have determined that somebody who lives as a permanent resident there is not likely to overstay their welcome in the other country.

In plain English, her Canadian PR Card wipes out the visa requirement.

So you are saying that the US Department of State is incorrect when it says on it's website that

Permanent residents (aka landed immigrants) of Canada must have a nonimmigrant visa unless the permanent resident is a national of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), meets the VWP requirements, and is seeking to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less under that program [End Quote] ?

My link to DoS

I guess you know better than the Department of State.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The US has a different policy than Canada. Canada recognizes green card holders as an equivalent to a US citizen and does not require a visa for them to enter Canada even if their country of citizenship does. The US has no such consideration. Canadian Permanent Residents are still addressed as citizens of their own countries even if they are PR of Canada and if their country of citizenship requires a visa to enter the US, so do they. The one advantage is that if they are from a country that traditionally has difficulties getting a visa to the US but are a PR of Canada applying for a B-2 visa at a US Consulate in Canada, they are usually more successful.

[Princessblack 21]

In her search as well and talking to Canadian immigration, as a Jamaican citizen with Permanent status in Canada, a VISA to visit US is required.

US and Canada are under seperate jurisdictions.

I just need to verfiy the DOCUMENTS needed/required to obtain said visa. Thanks.

[Colleens 40]

Here is a link to the Canadian Visa office in Kingston Jamaica, you can send them an e-mail explaining the circumstances and they should be able to give you the information you need. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/kingston.asp

I understand that your friend is in Canada, so would not be using this office, but they will be able to get the information you require.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The US has a different policy than Canada. Canada recognizes green card holders as an equivalent to a US citizen and does not require a visa for them to enter Canada even if their country of citizenship does. The US has no such consideration. Canadian Permanent Residents are still addressed as citizens of their own countries even if they are PR of Canada and if their country of citizenship requires a visa to enter the US, so do they. The one advantage is that if they are from a country that traditionally has difficulties getting a visa to the US but are a PR of Canada applying for a B-2 visa at a US Consulate in Canada, they are usually more successful.

I'm surprised and shocked to learn that this is not a bilateral thing.

I stand corrected. Still shocked.

[Princessblack 21]

Here is a link to the Canadian Visa office in Kingston Jamaica, you can send them an e-mail explaining the circumstances and they should be able to give you the information you need. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/kingston.asp

I understand that your friend is in Canada, so would not be using this office, but they will be able to get the information you require.

She lives in Canada. No need to check out Jamaica's guidelines. She needs to request US visa from US officials.

Now what documents?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

She lives in Canada. No need to check out Jamaica's guidelines. She needs to request US visa from US officials.

Now what documents?

I think Kathryn said it above - she needs to apply for a B2 VISA at the US consulate closest to her in Canada - have her check out the US Consultae website to find out what she needs. As Canadians we've never had to apply for this type of VISA.

[Colleens 40]

She lives in Canada. No need to check out Jamaica's guidelines. She needs to request US visa from US officials.

Now what documents?

Sorry...I replied to this when I had been up for nearly 24hrs so my brain wasn't quite functioning properly

Here is a link to the US dept of state and the FAQ's for visitors visa's....it should provide you with the information you require. Unfortunatley as Canadians we do not need a visa to visit the US, so we really are not aware of the process that is required to get a visa.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1262.html