Canadian, US GC holder travelling to Canada

[pinkfloyd4me]

I have looked but can't find the answer to this question.

I am a US PR and have a GC since 2004. I am a Canadian Citizen. My Canadian passport expired a couple years ago. I have not gotten it reissued because I plan to apply for American Citizenship.

With the new WHTI laws, I know I have to show my valid GC upon re-entering the US once my visit is over. But what about entering Canada? Will the US GC be sufficient, along with drivers license and birth certificate? I plan to cross at Niagara Falls NY/Ontario by car. I will have my adult daughter (18) and my two other children (15 and 14) with me. They have birth certificates, and they are also US PR (they all have GC along with me).

If I travel after June 1, 2009 and the new law is enacted, will I be able to enter Canada? It seems crazy that I would be denied when I am a citizen but I cannot find the answer to this question. Please help! Thank you.

 

[deba_sinh]

Interesting question. Here's my 2 cents. You are a Canadian citizen, so you have the right to enter Canada. Even you do not have a passport, do you have a citizenship certificate? the wallet size citizenship card that you received when you became a Canadian citizen? I am assuming you are a naturalized Canadian. When you try to enter Canada you will most likely be asked about your citizenship and the border official may want to see some proof. In my opinion your citizenship card is still valid for US/Canada border travel by land even if you do not have a valid passport. Now after June 1, passports are absolutely mandatory. If you do not have a Canada citizenship card, then you might run into trouble. Sometimes border officials are satisfied with oral declarations of citizenship, however, it is advisable that you carry some form of proof. It would be a good idea to call the Canada border agency at your port of entry (look up bridge crossing info on the web which lists ph nos. of both US and Canada side) and ask for specifics or talk to a Canadian lawyer about current laws and their interpretation at the border. btw, it would be a good idea to keep your passport current since it is the universally accepted proof of citizenship no matter where you are traveling. Good luck.

 

[Triple Citizen]

You do know that you will still be a Canadian citizen even after becoming a US citizen?

I am a US PR and have a GC since 2004. I am a Canadian Citizen. My Canadian passport expired a couple years ago. I have not gotten it reissued because I plan to apply for American Citizenship.