Travel to (or through) the U.S.

Travel to (or through) the U.S.

Canadians travel to the United States in greater numbers and with greater frequency than to anywhere else in the world. In light of increased security concerns, it is important to prepare for travel to or through the U.S., and to be aware of regulations and conditions that may affect your journey. The preparations you must make and the information you require depend on the reason for your travel to or through the U.S., and the anticipated length of your stay. This section provides information and advice to assist you in your preparations.

U.S.A. Bound: Advice for Canadian Travellers

ON THIS PAGE
	Travel Report and Country Profile
	Entry Requirements
	Border Crossing
	Criminal Records
	Illegal Drugs
	Working in the U.S.
	Studying in the U.S.
	Customs, Border Protection, and Immigration
	Canadian Embassy and Consulates in the United States
	U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada

Travel Report and Country Profile

Consult the Travel Report for information on safety and security conditions, health issues and entry requirements to the United States and its protectorates, and the Country Profile for a detailed country map, as well as links to other Departmental ressources.

Entry Requirements

Permission to enter another country is the sole prerogative of that country. The requirements of U.S. authorities for identification upon entering the United States have recently become much stricter. Whether you are travelling to the United States, or are travelling through the United States to a third country, all Canadian citizens should carry a valid Canadian passport. While U.S. authorities currently do not have a legal requirement that Canadians carry a passport, Foreign Affairs Canada strongly urges all Canadians travelling to the United States to obtain and carry a Canadian passport before leaving Canada.

Please consult the web site of Passport Canada for information on the proposed requirement for passport or alternate secure document (still to be determined) for entry of all visitors, including Americans and Canadians, to the United States. For more information, see Canada's Response to U.S. Passport Requirements Proposal on the Canada-United States Relations Web site.

Effective October 4, 2005, travellers entering the U.S. by air or by sea will be required to provide new additional information, including their address while in the U.S., in advance of travel to/from the U.S., including Puerto Rico. For more information on this new requirement, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Transportation companies, such as airlines and rail and bus services, are required to ensure that all passengers that they bring to Canada have satisfactory evidence of their identity and status in Canada, if any. For international travel purposes, the Canadian Certificate of Citizenship (citizenship card) accompanied by a non-Canadian passport is not reliable evidence that the holder is a Canadian citizen. Always carry a valid passport whenever you travel outside of Canada. It is the only proof of your citizenship and identity that is accepted in all countries. It proves that you have a right to return to Canada.

As of October 26, 2004, the U.S. Visa Waiver Program requires visitors from various countries to have machine-readable passports to enter the U.S. This requirement does not apply to Canadian citizens even if the passport is issued abroad. Canadian citizens generally do not require a visa to travel to the United States. However, non-citizen permanent residents of Canada (and their children) as well as a list of other people (i.e. foreign government officials, officials and employees of international organizations, treaty traders and investors, fiancé/es and children of fiancé/es) do require a non-immigrant visa to enter the United States. Additional information is available from Passport Canada. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also provides information.

There are also special cases requiring individuals to follow specific procedures and/or obtain specific documentation to enter the U.S.:

Persons with landed immigrant status in Canada must obtain a non-immigrant visa in order to enter the U.S. (except for citizens of countries that have a visa waiver agreement with the U.S.) and must also have a valid passport from their country of citizenship. For more information, see the Public Announcement Concerning Visa Requirements for Permanent Resident Aliens of the Commonwealth and Ireland (Landed Immigrants) Residing in Canada on the U.S. Embassy site.
Persons who hold dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship should always identify themselves as U.S. citizens when entering the United States. For information, see the Dual Nationality section.
Persons travelling with children need to obtain and carry a valid passport for each child. This new security measure was implemented after September 11, 2001. However, if you hold a valid Canadian passport issued before December 11, 2001, that bears the name of your child, the passport remains valid for both you and your child until it expires or until your child reaches the age of 16, whichever comes first. Also, it is important to always carry documentation proving your custodial rights. For more information, see the Children and Travel section.
Persons who have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS normally need to obtain a waiver of ineligibility before they can travel to the U.S.
Persons with a criminal record should contact one of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection ports of entry well in advance of travel to the United States to find out if they are ineligible to enter the country (see below).

If you have an unusual situation concerning entry into the United States, you should obtain authoritative information from the U.S. authorities immediately before your visit. For more information, consult the U.S. Embassy Web site or go to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Web site.

Border Crossing

Canada and the United States share the world's longest undefended border. Each year, more than 200 million individuals, and hundreds of billions of dollars in goods, cross the border. In light of current security concerns, both countries are working closely to improve the way lawful travellers and goods are inspected at the border. This section provides information and advice to help make your border-crossing experience problem-free.

Due to increased scrutiny of international travellers by airlines and immigration authorities around the world, Canadian citizens attempting to travel to Canada without a valid Canadian passport will be subject to additional verifications that may delay or prevent travel. To avoid delays and other problems that will hinder their return to Canada, Canadian citizens are strongly advised to obtain a Canadian passport prior to initiating international travel and to use their Canadian passport at all times for international travel. Before attempting return travel to Canada, Canadian citizens who do not hold a valid Canadian passport should contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad to apply for one.

Criminal Records

If you have a criminal record, no matter how minor or how long ago the offence, you may be refused entry to or transit through the United States. Under U.S. law, a pardon issued by Canadian authorities is not recognized for purposes of entry into the United States. U.S. ports of entry are computerized and connected to a centralized database. Information isreadily available on criminal convictions in both Canada and the United States. Even though you may have entered the United States without hindrance in the past, you could run into difficulty if your record shows a criminal conviction or a previous denial of entry. Attempting to gain entry without a waiver could result in several weeks of detention at a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection enforcement facility.

If you have a criminal record, you should contact one of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection ports of entry well in advance of travel to the United States to find out if you are ineligible to enter the country.
If you are ineligible to enter the U.S., you may apply for a waiver of ineligibility. This will involve completing Form I-192, "Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Non-Immigrant." There is a fee and it may take several months to process your application. Waiver application forms are available from any land port of entry to the United States, any preclearance site in Canada (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal) or can be downloaded from the Internet.
If you left the United States to avoid military service during the Vietnam War and have not since regularized your status, there might be an outstanding warrant for your arrest or you might be ineligible for U.S. entry. If in doubt, check with the nearest port of entry.

Canadian citizens requiring waivers to enter the United States should call the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection office serving their area:

Montreal	(514) 631-2097
Toronto	(416) 929-6011
Winnipeg	(204) 783-2206
Calgary	(403) 221-1730
Edmonton	(780) 890-4486
Vancouver	(604) 278-3360

Waiver application forms are also available from any land port of entry to the United States, any preclearance site in Canada (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal) or can be downloaded from the Internet.

For answers to questions about waivers, members of the general public may call the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection office in Toronto at (905) 676-2563 on Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Illegal Drugs

The U.S. zero tolerance policy imposes severe penalties for the possession of even a small amount of an illegal drug. Even prescription drugs and syringes used for legitimate medical purposes come under intense scrutiny.

The Drugs and Travel section contains information and advice that can help you avoid problems related to this subject during your travel in the U.S.
The Medical Matters section provides information on appropriate measures to take when travelling with prescription drugs and syringes.

Working in the U.S.

Every year, many Canadians relocate to the United States to work. The governments of Canada and the United States, and many Canadian and American businesses and associations, encourage their citizens to work abroad to acquire new skills that will help them compete in the global economy.

If you are a Canadian legally entering the U.S. for remunerative work, consult the following publications for general information and advice:

For program-specific information, consult the following sources:

Studying in the U.S.

Every year, thousands of Canadian students begin education or research adventures in the United States. The governments of Canada and the United States, their universities and colleges, and hundreds of organizations and associations support exchanges and internship programs that encourage the sharing of skills and knowledge between our country's students and youth.

Canadian students are no longer allowed to begin study in the United States without a valid Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility). These are issued by the U.S. school and sent directly to the applicant. In addition, students should have the following ready for presentation to the U.S. Customs officer at the port of entry:

documentary evidence of sufficient funds to cover travel, tuition and living expenses in the U.S.;
evidence that the applicant has a residence outside the U.S. and has no intention of abandoning it; and
evidence of scholastic and linguistic proficiency for the academic programs to be undertaken in the U.S.

Consult the following documents for general information and advice on studying in the U.S.:

Customs, Border Protection, and Immigration

The mandate of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service is to ensure that all goods and persons entering and exiting the United States do so in accordance with all U.S. laws and regulations. If you are a Canadian citizen returning home from the U.S., you are advised to consult the following sources for information and advice on customs regulations, duties, and taxes to prepare for a problem-free return.

Canadian Embassy and Consulates in the United States

The Canadian Embassy and Consulates General in the United States are committed to helping the thousands of Canadians who cross the border into the United States each day and to providing a variety of services to assist you during your stay.

U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada

Authoritative information on U.S. laws and regulations can only be provided by American officials. For further information, contact:

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