Home Information Center Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The Canadian Embassy in Washington has carefully prepared this FAQ to offer you all of the resources at our disposal to answer your questions in an easy to access format. Answers in this FAQ are by far the fastest and easiest way for you to access the Embassy's information and we hope you will find it helpful.

Do you need Canadian tax forms?
The General Income Tax and Benefit Package for 2004 is available on the Canada Revenue Agency website. The Embassy does not have paper copies of these forms available. The averaged exchange rate for 2004 is US$1 = C$1.3015.

Are you a Canadian interested in taking a tour of the White House?
Unfortunately, after the events of September 11, 2001, the White House closed to public tours. As of September 16, 2003, the White House reopened itself to public tours, however these tours are only availible for groups of 10 or more. Additionally, it takes the Embassy several months to secure a tour, and it is not always possible for every group. Should you have plans to come to Washington in the future with a group of 10 or more, and you have several months notice, e-mail us.

Are you a teacher in search of reference material for your classroom?
Are you planning an international fair and are looking for materials on Canada?
Are you a student looking to do a report on Canada?
Although we do not maintain paper resources to send out, the Embassy has a wealth of electronic resources to help you, and we encourage you to check out the @Canada guide, which contains a great deal of information about Canada.

Also, the Information Center portion of our website is a great source for materials about Canada. The website is very comprehensive and we trust you will find it helpful.
We also recommend that you examine the website of the Government of Canada.

Are you looking for a Canadian diplomatic mission (Embassy, Consulate, High Commission, Trade Office)?
Please go to the Canadian government resources page of the Information Centre section and Canadian Representatives Abroad.

Are you in search of information about immigrating to Canada?
Do you want to work in Canada, but are not a Canadian citizen?
Please consult the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. CIC that can give you all the information you will need with regards to applying for the right to immigrate to Canada and to work there. This website also has other contact information for Citizenship Immigration Canada.

You can also consult the website of the Immigration section at the Embassy here in Washington.

Are you a businessperson looking for resources about doing business or about businesses in Canada?
The Business Resources section of the Information Center will be a helpful starting point for your research.

Did you recently travel to Canada and are interested in receiving a refund on your GST?
To claim your GST refund, you should consult the Canadian Revenue Agency.
Please be advised that this website and a great deal of other information dealing with travel to Canada are available as links through the Information Center.

Are you a Boy Scout working on your Citizenship in the World merit badge?
The Embassy does not maintain hard copies of informational materials to send out about Canada. However, in response to numerous requests like yours that we receive, we created the comprehensive Information Center website, which to help answer all your questions. For additional information go to the website of the Government of Canada.
The @Canada guide, designed for teachers from across the U.S. who are interested in adding Canadian Content to their curriculum is also very informative.

Are you a student interested in attending university/college in Canada?
Although the Canadian Embassy is not involved in admitting students to Canadian universities, it does provide basic online information on matters such as tuition, visa requirements, financial aid, living expenses, study abroad opportunities, and admissions procedures. It also provides links to particular universities. Please visit the Embassy's Study in Canada section if you would like to learn more.

Another useful web site for general information on studying in Canada, as well as specific information on individual universities, is www.studyincanada.com.

Finally, the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada is a valuable resource that allows you to search for information on particular programs, degrees, or institutions. This site also includes an interactive map, which is useful for locating – and linking to – universities across Canada.

Do you have a long-lost friend or relative in Canada and you want to ask the Canadian Government to help find them?
The government of Canada, through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, does provide a service of forwarding letters to the address the individual has on file with the Social Insurance Registry. However, there is no guarantee that this service will actually allow the letter to reach the person.

Another avenue you may wish to pursue is to use the Canadian phone directory online.
Good luck.

Are you a gun owner planning to travel to Canada?
The Canada Firearms Centre has the information you will need regarding importing a firearm into Canada.

For additional information about travel to Canada, please consult our Travel to Canada website. Good luck and happy travels.

Do you need to know about duties you will be charged when bringing goods to Canada?
You would be best advised to consult the Canada Border Services Agency, as they are in charge of collecting duties and managing entry into Canada. CBSA contact page

Are you looking for information on bringing your pet to Canada?
Please consult the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Animal Products, Animal Health and Production Division.

Are you retiring, but worked in Canada in the past and are now interested in claiming your benefits?
You should consult the Canada Pension Plan website for information on your entitlement to receive CPP benefits and a retirement pension.

I have been the victim of a scam or I have information about a scam that seems to have originated in Canada.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), responsible for performing many of the same duties as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States, maintains a website on scams and frauds which fall under their jurisdiction, including ways to contact the RCMP to report any new information you may have.

I will be travelling to Canada as a United States citizen, on either the short or long term. What documentation do I need?
Please consult the Canada Border Services Agency.Specifically, you should look at information for visitors to Canada.If you will only be visiting for a short time, you might go directly to the Do you want to visit Canada? page.The short answer to this question is that although a passport is not specificially required to enter Canada for US citizens, US citizens must be able to prove their nationality and identity upon request. US citizens should also keep in mind any requirements US Customs may have in place regarding their return.