Going to Canada this summer

[notrepetiteashley 0]

Hello everyone

This summer my (Canadian) husband and I are going to Canada. He has not seen his mother in almost 4 years. Anyway, I keep hearing all this buzz about Canadians needing passports to get into the US. So I went to the Customs and Border Protection website and here is what I found:

http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/whti/...manentResidents

"As of January 23, 2007, ALL persons*, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document."

Note the star next to "all persons" and then this is the note:

"*Lawful permanent residents (LPRs), refugees, and asylees will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551), issued by DHS, or other valid evidence of permanent residence status or refugee or asylee status to apply for entry to the United States."

So...my husband, who has had his green card for almost a year (yay!) does not need a passport to travel to Canada and then back to our home in the US, right?

This would be good news as his passport was lost. He currently has no passport.

What do you think? I'm just confused because I've heard EVERYONE MUST have the passport to travel, OMG it's a huge deal! So...? Am I interpreting this correctly? It seems straightforward I hope.

[Carlawarla 1]

Maybe someone will correct me if I'm wrong....but everyone, means everyone. My understanding is that even US Citizen's need a passport in order to reenter the US if travelling abroad, so Permanent Residents should as well. My understanding as well, is that this is in effect, starting January for AIR TRAVEL. You can still cross the Cdn/US border without a passport if travelling by car. Wait times for Canadians trying to get passports, even if expedited has moved to roughly 3 months now, due to these restrictions now, so your best bet, may be to travel by car. I don't know where you live though.

Carla

P.S. I hope he's contacted someone regarding his "lost" passport!

Edited March 9, 2007 by cartoboy123

[calOC 0]

I believe in "*Lawful permanent residents (LPRs), refugees, and asylees will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551), issued by DHS, or other valid evidence of permanent residence status or refugee or asylee status to apply for entry to the United States." it is assumed that the alien has and will travel with his/her non-US passport and whatever document shows permission to enter US, e.g. green card.

[misa 2]

I agree with the others that he will still need his passport for air travel. He should file for a new one right away. There's some discussion about how to do that in the Canada forum if someone is already in the U.S.

[notrepetiteashley 0]

Thanks for the responses thus far.

Okay, but look at the link, if you would. The * next to "ALL people" leads me to believe LPRs don't need their passports. Also, further down the page it lists the requirements for entering the US and for everyone but LPRs it says Passport. But yeah, everyone seems to think a passport is required. And yes, we are talking about air travel.

Could someone else follow my link and read the page and see if you are coming away with the same thing as I am?

Also, calOC, why would they put the exception with the * for LPRs in the statement about passport requirements if they are assuming the person will bring a passport? My husband is Canadian and didn't enter with a passport, has no visa in his lost passport at all. Does that make sense? If you look at the webpage I think you'll see what I mean.

Thanks.

[notrepetiteashley 0]

Maybe someone will correct me if I'm wrong....but everyone, means everyone. My understanding is that even US Citizen's need a passport in order to reenter the US if travelling abroad, so Permanent Residents should as well. My understanding as well, is that this is in effect, starting January for AIR TRAVEL. You can still cross the Cdn/US border without a passport if travelling by car. Wait times for Canadians trying to get passports, even if expedited has moved to roughly 3 months now, due to these restrictions now, so your best bet, may be to travel by car. I don't know where you live though.

Carla

P.S. I hope he's contacted someone regarding his "lost" passport!

But there's a * next to everyone (actually it says all) and then next to the star there is what I read to be an exception. When there's a * next to something like that it usually means go find the other * on the page for exceptions. And the exceptions would appear to be LPRs. I HOPE. LOL. Am I making any sense at all???

[jozlee 0]

From what I understand if you check out the Department of State websites and warning, EVERYONE needs passports now to cross local borders.

[notrepetiteashley 0]

From what I understand if you check out the Department of State websites and warning, EVERYONE needs passports now to cross local borders.

The webpage I have provided a link to IS from the dept. of state. It doesn't appear to say that at all to me. Again, please look at the link so you can see what I'm saying. I am WELL aware, as I sais in my original post that most people believe everyone must have a passport to travel from Canada to the US, etc. However....I read something on a gov't website that seems to state this is not the case for LPRs.

Sigh.

[Mrs_S 0]

The link appears to refer to documents you need to re-enter the US. What does Canada require in terms of documents for entering Canada? (I would be shocked if they didn't require a passport from some country.)

I would say your best bet is to call your nearest Canadian consulate and ask them. Even if they can't process a new passport in time for your trip, they may be able to send your husband some type of travel document.

Mrs_S

[misa 2]

He will need a passport to leave and come back to the U.S. by air.

http://www.explore.canada.travel/ctc/ke/th...=1#needPassport

1. Do I need a passport to enter Canada?

As of January 23, 2007, a new American law, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), requires anyone, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, leaving the country or returning to the United States by air to have a passport or a NEXUS card when used at a NEXUS kiosk at designated airports.

Edited March 9, 2007 by misa

[notrepetiteashley 0]

He will need a passport to leave and come back to the U.S. by air.

http://www.explore.canada.travel/ctc/ke/th...=1#needPassport

1. Do I need a passport to enter Canada?

As of January 23, 2007, a new American law, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), requires anyone, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, leaving the country or returning to the United States by air to have a passport or a NEXUS card when used at a NEXUS kiosk at designated airports.

Thank you for checking that out for me. And jeez, I don't mean to be difficult, but....that isn't a government website. The website I asked people to look at is a US govt website. And I still think it says all he needs to show is a green card. Is anyone willing to look at the link I provided in my 1st post? Sorry, I totally don't meant to seem unappreciative. I just want a second set of eyes on the page I linked to, which is a US govt website.Thanks.

[misa 2]

I read it the same way others did. You can always call CBP to verify.

Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable without a Canadian passport and only a greencard, not just for travel but as international ID. But that's just me.

[notrepetiteashley 0]

Cool, thanks.

[notrepetiteashley 0]

Update: US Customs and Border Patrol: "LPRs can continue to show their Alien Registration Card (form I-551). They are NOT required to show passports."

Well, I guess that clears it up pretty well. I was reading it correctly as I had hoped. Thanks for the replies anyway. Never would have thought to actually call them on my own, so thanks for that input.

[misa 2]

Good to know!

It'd be nice if the gov websites would make things a little clearer though and include that LPRs don't need passports to leave and reenter the US by air!