Travel on GC

[ChristinaM 0]

I have been invited to a wedding, which will be held on the Canadian side of Niagra Falls. My questions is - can I go??!

I have my GC, and I have my British passport. The trouble is, my passport is in my maiden name and it expired in September last year. I haven't gotten round to renewing it yet

Can I get into Canada and back into the US with just my GC, or do I need to renew my passport? Should I take my drivers licence and birth certificate also? I'm looking at driving as opposed to flying, which I know makes a difference now.

Apologies for the question - I'm sure it's been asked, but I hunted for an hour before giving up!

[Reba 2]

yes, you are more than welcome to visit Canada, or travel anywhere else your heart desires. Just take your passport, and your green card. You'll need both to get back in.

[ChristinaM 0]

Thanks Reba! So it doesn't matter that my passport is expired?

And I assume I need my marriage certificate, since my GC and passport have different names on?

Edited March 4, 2007 by ChristinaM

[Reba 2]

oh, I missed the part where your passport is expired, I only caught that its in your maiden name.

You may need to get a new one.

[Lou Lou 1]

If you cross by land, it is only the US citizen that can still cross without a passport. OH crosses about 3-4 times a week with a DL. I cross the border with him often and always need a valid passport and GC. Sorry, but as far as my knowledge goes, a GC is not enough.

[mawilson 2,133]

Christina,

You don't need a passport to go to Canada.

GC is all you need.

[mawilson 2,133]

I couldn't find anything official except the following information from a conference web site dated Apr 2006:

Visitors from the U.S. who are not American Citizens

Permanent residents of the United States (anyone with a Green Card) do not need

to carry a passport or travel documents to enter Canada.

Temporary residents of the United States (anyone who carries a Temporary Resident Card,

Form 1-688, or Employment Authorization Card, 1-688A or 1-688B) must carry a passport

and may also require a visa depending on their country of citizenship

Citizens of other countries who wish to enter Canada through the United States must also

carry a valid passport and may require a visa, which they should obtain from a Canadian Embassy

or Consulate outside Canada. Those in this category should check with an office of the U.S.

Immigration and Naturalization Service before they enter Canada.

[Alex+R 0]

It sounds like someone has had an experience of having to produce their passport. Frankly, if the rules say you don't need it but CBP is asking for it, I would still want to have my passport. Rules mean nothing if the people who enforce them don't know them.

Edited March 5, 2007 by Alex+R

[Jenn! 918]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html Edited March 5, 2007 by jenn3539

[DeadPoolX 9]

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect for all air travelers on January 23, 2007. For those traveling by land or sea (and I realize you won't be traveling to Canada via the sea, but I'm just repeating what the government website says), the rules go into effect on January 1, 2008.

So as far as I can see, if you're crossing the border by car, you should be okay with just a green card. Note that I say "should" in this case. That doesn't mean CBP will necessarily adhere to that though. So if I were you, I'd renew my passport, just to be on the safe side. You may find you don't need it, since you'll be crossing as a permanent resident of the United States, but... just in the event they do want to see the passport, you'll have it.

[Lou Lou 1]

As a GC holder who crosses the border at least once a week and often more, I have always been asked for my passport. This is at 3 different border crossings. It may be the rules that you are good to go with just a GC, but try arguing that with a CBP officer who has pulled you in for secondary. I hope getting a passport doesn't mean it will be too late for the wedding, but there is no way I would try and cross without it. But, that is just my personal experience and YMMV.

[Reba 2]

she'd need the passport to get back in however.

Whenever I've traveled out of the US, I need to show both my green card and passport to get back in.

So, she may not need it to get into Canada, but she will definintely need one to get back to the US.

[Marilyn. 340]

this is just my experience from when we drove up to Canada last April....

On the way into Canada I just showed them my Green card and they seemed happy with that.... they never asked to see my passport... and on the way back into the US I just showed my green card again with the same result...

I did have my passport with me just in case though.....

but if I were you I would renew your passport, just to be on the safe side....

[mawilson 2,133]

Whenever I've traveled out of the US, I need to show both my green card and passport to get back in.

Are you sure? I've always used my GC to get back in - no passport.

[Alex+R 0]

Whenever I've traveled out of the US, I need to show both my green card and passport to get back in.

Are you sure? I've always used my GC to get back in - no passport.

Sounds like different CBP folk want different things. If it were me, like I said before and others have said, I wouldn't risk it.