Traveling to Canada from USA with foreign passport

[froyo 2]

Hi guys! My Mom is here in the US as a visitor and for her last month,we would like to go to Canada for the weekend. She is a foreign passport holder (our home country is not included in the visa waiver program). So anyway, my husband and I plan to drive to Canada since we have a 1 year old with us and we do not feel like paying $1000 for a 2 day trip to Canada. I asked a couple of people regarding this and I am still uncertain of what to do.

 

1. One of our friends told us that when they drove to Canada about 2 years ago, they did not apply for a tourist visa beforehand. They were all Philippine passport holders with US tourist visas. She said they got the visa when they got to the POE. IS THIS TRUE? Can we just do this?

2. One friend advised us to go to DC to get a tourist visa.We live close to Washington DC, so obviously if we have to get a visa, we will go there. What are the requirements? I know they do not accept appointments so can anyone share their experience? How did it go? Processing time? and again.....requirements? The Canadian website is not as detailed as we hope it would be so yeah.

 

Lastly, if you were able to cross the border from the Canada to the US with a Us tourist visa, did you have a difficult time at the immigration here in the US? I am concerned that they might think something negative with my Mom going to Canada since she is not a resident here. 

 

If we could do #1. That would be better so we do not have to rush everything now  I do know that she needs a visa to go to Canada. I just want to have a better idea of our options. Basically, if we could drive to the Canadian border and get her visa there just like what we were told OR if we have to apply in person in DC. 

 

Thanks in advance!

Edited June 22, 2017 by froyo

[Coco8 1,042]

When I was in the US I had to get a Canadian visa for a conference. I had to mail the application to the consulate for my location along with my passport, and it took them over a month to get my passport back with the visa. I basically got it one day before I had to take a flight!

 

I don't think it is possible to get a visa at the border. Even if it were possible, it would be a big risk. If she doesn't get it, what would you do? Drive back?

 

She could get one at the DC consulate. But it is not a same day service. I don't know how long it would take. Maybe a couple of days? The good thing is that the Canadian visa lasts for 10 years so if she gets one now, she could have one for next time she visits. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 22, 2017 by Coco8

[NovaSprings 89]

According to the following site, your mother will require a visa and if you are an LPR you will need a electronic visa.  http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas-all.asp. Hope this helps.  Good luck.

[froyo 2]

17 hours ago, Coco8 said:

When I was in the US I had to get a Canadian visa for a conference. I had to mail the application to the consulate for my location along with my passport, and it took them over a month to get my passport back with the visa. I basically got it one day before I had to take a flight!

 

I don't think it is possible to get a visa at the border. Even if it were possible, it would be a big risk. If she doesn't get it, what would you do? Drive back?

 

She could get one at the DC consulate. But it is not a same day service. I don't know how long it would take. Maybe a couple of days? The good thing is that the Canadian visa lasts for 10 years so if she gets one now, she could have one for next time she visits. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you submit any supporting documents with your application? She will go to the Embassy so hopefully the pricess will be a little faster when done in person

[Coco8 1,042]

1 hour ago, froyo said:

Did you submit any supporting documents with your application? She will go to the Embassy so hopefully the pricess will be a little faster when done in person

Oh, I checked the DC consulate and now it seems they do not accept cases for visas, unless you work in government, etc.

 

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/washington.asp

 

I think that is because everyone residing in the U.S. has to do a Canadian visa by mail like what I did.

 

I had to submit photocopies of U.S. visas, my passport, bank statement, university letter. I also needed 2 passport photos. I think I sent the invitation for the conference I had to attend. I don't remember much else, because it was like 3 years ago.

 

Edited June 22, 2017 by Coco8

[froyo 2]

1 hour ago, Coco8 said:

Oh, I checked the DC consulate and now it seems they do not accept cases for visas, unless you work in government, etc.

 

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/washington.asp

 

I think that is because everyone residing in the U.S. has to do a Canadian visa by mail like what I did.

 

I had to submit photocopies of U.S. visas, my passport, bank statement, university letter. I also needed 2 passport photos. I think I sent the invitation for the conference I had to attend. I don't remember much else, because it was like 3 years ago.

 

Wow! Thanks for the heads up! I guess we will just submit her application via mail. Read that it takes 21 days currently if applying here in the US. 

[Coco8 1,042]

41 minutes ago, froyo said:

Wow! Thanks for the heads up! I guess we will just submit her application via mail. Read that it takes 21 days currently if applying here in the US. 

Ok. Mine took a bit longer but if you have the time, go ahead. I think that because she has a US visitor visa, there should no problem with getting a Canadian visa. 

[froyo 2]

1 hour ago, Coco8 said:

Ok. Mine took a bit longer but if you have the time, go ahead. I think that because she has a US visitor visa, thee should no problem with getting a Canadian visa. 

Okay. This makes me feel so good! A lot of people did say that it is easier to get a visa going to Canada than US.

[mcdull 474]

On 6/21/2017 at 9:52 PM, froyo said:

Hi guys! My Mom is here in the US as a visitor and for her last month,we would like to go to Canada for the weekend. She is a foreign passport holder (our home country is not included in the visa waiver program). So anyway, my husband and I plan to drive to Canada since we have a 1 year old with us and we do not feel like paying $1000 for a 2 day trip to Canada. I asked a couple of people regarding this and I am still uncertain of what to do.

 

1. One of our friends told us that when they drove to Canada about 2 years ago, they did not apply for a tourist visa beforehand. They were all Philippine passport holders with US tourist visas. She said they got the visa when they got to the POE. IS THIS TRUE? Can we just do this?

2. One friend advised us to go to DC to get a tourist visa.We live close to Washington DC, so obviously if we have to get a visa, we will go there. What are the requirements? I know they do not accept appointments so can anyone share their experience? How did it go? Processing time? and again.....requirements? The Canadian website is not as detailed as we hope it would be so yeah.

 

Lastly, if you were able to cross the border from the Canada to the US with a Us tourist visa, did you have a difficult time at the immigration here in the US? I am concerned that they might think something negative with my Mom going to Canada since she is not a resident here. 

 

If we could do #1. That would be better so we do not have to rush everything now  I do know that she needs a visa to go to Canada. I just want to have a better idea of our options. Basically, if we could drive to the Canadian border and get her visa there just like what we were told OR if we have to apply in person in DC. 

 

Thanks in advance!

If you hold a Philippines passport which is not Visa exempt, then you need a visa for Canada

Edited June 24, 2017 by mcdull

[Boiler 45,525]

If you have a visa to the US I am sure that helps getting one to Canada.

[az2014 381]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

If you have a visa to the US I am sure that helps getting one to Canada.

I visited Toronto for the weekend while in NYC on my B2 and got sent to secondary and asked more questions than I ever did when visiting the USA.

[Coco8 1,042]

On 6/24/2017 at 1:02 PM, az2014 said:

I visited Toronto for the weekend while in NYC on my B2 and got sent to secondary and asked more questions than I ever did when visiting the USA.

But you didn't get the Canadian visa before going? What we were saying to OP is that it is easier to get the Canadian visa if you have the U.S. visa. I told her not to go to Canada without a Canadian visa!