GC, Canadian Visit and Indian Passport

[rpranesh]

As a GC holder, i know that you do not need a visa to travel to Canada, but do i need to carry Indian passport along with GC while entering or returning?

[sg_orl]

Carrying Green card is a must, but it's better to carry the passport as well. Sometimes they look at the passport too.

[ImmiGuru]

I just crossed to canada and back and the canadians did look at my passport but the Americans did not. I advise to carry the passport just in case they ask for it.

[pv1976]

Originally Posted by rpranesh

As a GC holder, i know that you do not need a visa to travel to Canada, but do i need to carry Indian passport along with GC while entering or returning?

Carry the passport. Its always a good idea since you are a non-citizen.

[Aibolit]

I just came back from Canada with my family. Neither side asked for passports when GC's were presented.

[schandrag]

I crossed over to Canada at the Rainbow brdige, Niagara Falls. I presented my GC without the passport. I was not asked for it. I asked the immigration officer whether a paasport was necessary and he said no, not at land crossings from the US. On the return to USA it is clear that you do not need to present your passport, only your GC The USCIS website states this clearly. I did not ask the Customs and Border protection officer at the crossing on my renetry the next day as there was a huge line and he seemed to be in a rather grumpy mood.

[pv1976]

Originally Posted by schandrag

I crossed over to Canada at the Rainbow brdige, Niagara Falls. I presented my GC without the passport. I was not asked for it. I asked the immigration officer whether a paasport was necessary and he said no, not at land crossings from the US. On the return to USA it is clear that you do not need to present your passport, only your GC The USCIS website states this clearly. I did not ask the Customs and Border protection officer at the crossing on my renetry the next day as there was a huge line and he seemed to be in a rather grumpy mood.

Ok..OK.
But, what is the problem in carrying that small passport with you?!! Its no big deal. Just carry the passport and travel at ease.

[cgiz]

When re-entering the US at land crossing. Were you asked how long you were absent type of questions, where do you live etc? Did the US immigration officer swipe green card?

[schandrag]

Well I went to Canada again the following weekend. this time at the border crossing into Canada the immigration officer did not even ask for our passports. There were six of us in the van, my wife and I who were american permanent residents, our two sons who were US citizens wna d my in laws who are Indian citizens with a Canadian visitors' visa. She did not even ask us these details. She just asked how many were in the van and whether we all had documents to reenter the USA and waived us through. Took less than a minute. This was at the crossing from I-81 into Canada in Upstate NY. Upon reentry it was a long long wait due to the volume of cars but agian it took less than a minute. Our cards were not swiped. He only looked at my in-laws' visas for 10 seconds. glanced at our GCs and did nothing with the kids' passports. Only asked us where we live, did not bother to listen to the reply. I have gone on several trips abroad and always the reentry into the US has been hassle free.