Traveling to Canada on I-551

[Ironman0011 17]

Greetings all,

I arrived the US on the 28th of July and still on the I-551 stamp. I want to visit an uncle in Canada with my wife who is a US citizen, do I need a visa to enter Canada and if yes, how do I go about getting one? I have a Nigerian passport.

Edited July 21, 2022 by Ironman0011

[Timona 4,207]

You're fine with the strap. Carry on.

[JeanneAdil 6,511]

https://www.canada-visa-online.org/travel-to-canada-for-green-card-holders

 

When you arrive in Canada, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and proof of your valid status as a permanent resident of the U.S. or other documents.

When you travel, make sure to bring
- a valid passport from your country of nationality
- proof of your status as a permanent resident of the U.S., such as a valid green card (officially known as a permanent resident card)

[Verrou 1,962]

no need visa. just bring ur pasport + GC ( in this case its the adit stamp)

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from Your New Life In America forum to Working & Traveling During US Immigration -- topic is about travel after US entry with immigrant visa ***

 

[Ironman0011 17]

2 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

https://www.canada-visa-online.org/travel-to-canada-for-green-card-holders

 

When you arrive in Canada, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and proof of your valid status as a permanent resident of the U.S. or other documents.

When you travel, make sure to bring
- a valid passport from your country of nationality
- proof of your status as a permanent resident of the U.S., such as a valid green card (officially known as a permanent resident card)

Okay, let me get this clear. I have my passport, the Ir1 visa on it which I used in entering the US and the I-551 stamp on it, would they allow me enter Canada with that? Still waiting on GC to arrive in the mail

[Ironman0011 17]

2 minutes ago, Ironman0011 said:

Okay, let me get this clear. I have my passport, the Ir1 visa on it which I used in entering the US and the I-551 stamp on it, would they allow me enter Canada with that? Still waiting on GC to arrive in the mail

Thanks for the link.

[JeanneAdil 6,511]

23 minutes ago, Ironman0011 said:

Okay, let me get this clear. I have my passport, the Ir1 visa on it which I used in entering the US and the I-551 stamp on it, would they allow me enter Canada with that? Still waiting on GC to arrive in the mail

yes   I 551 stamp on visa acts as green card for a year

 

[inloveVEN 46]

If you are planning to take a plane then you will need to file an Eta to enter to Canada 

[Chancy 6,241]

4 minutes ago, inloveVEN said:

If you are planning to take a plane then you will need to file an Eta to enter to Canada 

 

No need.  US LPRs are now exempt from the eTA requirement.  Just need to present valid passport and proof of LPR status -- https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/eligibility.html

 

[Mike E 11,739]

21 hours ago, Ironman0011 said:

Greetings all,

I arrived the US on the 28th of July and still on the I-551 stamp. I want to visit an uncle in Canada with my wife who is a US citizen, do I need a visa to enter Canada and if yes, how do I go about getting one? I have a Nigerian passport.

You do not need a visa to enter but flying Air Canada or United Airlines to Canada will add drama as their staff are not fully trained and in the case of United, the passenger facing IT systems will misinform you that you need a visa.  
 

https://www.cic.gc.ca/English/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1053&top=16 is the definitive word from the government  of Canada.  In April 2022, Canada both eliminated the required for eTA and dramatically clarified the I-551 requirements:
 

“You need an official proof of status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., such as one of the following:

• valid permanent resident card (Form I-551)
• foreign passport with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (also known as an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication [ADIT] stamp)
• foreign passport with a temporary I-551 printed notation (“Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year”) on a machine-readable immigrant visa upon endorsement with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection admission stamp
• expired permanent resident card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) or Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status)
• expired permanent resident card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [green card])
• valid re-entry permit (Form I-327)
• Form I-94 with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp) and a passport-style photo”

 

Except for the Covid rules  and the  bug riddled ArriveCAN’t app everyone is required to use, it has never been easier for an LPR to travel to Canada. Canada has elevated LPRs from visa waived to visa exempt, a status which prior to April 2022, only Canadian citizens, Canadian PRs, and US citizens had.  
 

Do not fly to Canada into Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto (YYZ), or Montreal (YUL).  

 

Instead use another Canadian airport and avoid an on arrival mandatory “random” Covid test that will force you to quarantine for 14 days and ruin your trip.