Dual Citizenship and Travel to Canada

W

warlord

Registered Users (C)
[Posted this in Life after Citizenship, but someone suggested I try it in here]

Just a question if anyone who has dual citizenship with Canada.

I got my USC last year and this summer will make my first trip back to Canada as a USC. I know they suggest to bring both passports (use Canadian one to get into Canada and US to get back into the US etc), but I was wondering if anyone has used just the US passport to get into Canada and back to the US?

I do have both passports, but really would rather not bring 2 of them and just stick to the US passport. Has anyone tried this and if so how did it go? I have only heard of one story where they found out the person was dual and got a lecture on the Canadian side that they should declare themselves as Canadian etc.

One of the big things is I probably won't be wanting to re-new the Canadian passport next time it expires, so just didn't know if anyone has had success (or unsuccess) stories about just using a US passport?
 
warlord said:
[Posted this in Life after Citizenship, but someone suggested I try it in here]

Just a question if anyone who has dual citizenship with Canada.

I got my USC last year and this summer will make my first trip back to Canada as a USC. I know they suggest to bring both passports (use Canadian one to get into Canada and US to get back into the US etc), but I was wondering if anyone has used just the US passport to get into Canada and back to the US?

I do have both passports, but really would rather not bring 2 of them and just stick to the US passport. Has anyone tried this and if so how did it go? I have only heard of one story where they found out the person was dual and got a lecture on the Canadian side that they should declare themselves as Canadian etc.

One of the big things is I probably won't be wanting to re-new the Canadian passport next time it expires, so just didn't know if anyone has had success (or unsuccess) stories about just using a US passport?
Click to expand...

I don't see an advantage in carrying your Canadian passport if you're living in the US. It would be different if you were living in Canada near the US border but traveled daily to the US for work or if you were thinking of relocating to Canada permanently.
Also, if you live in the US and only presented your Canadian passport when entering Canada, I would think customs will question your status in the US and want proof. (US passport).
 
In fact, does a US citizen need a working permit to work in Canada ? Does anyone what the process is?
 
fbanna79 said:
In fact, does a US citizen need a working permit to work in Canada ? Does anyone what the process is?
Click to expand...

Yes, if you only hold US citizenship you need a work permit to work in Canada. However, dual US/Canadian citizens don't require work permits for either country.
 
Most countries insist the citizen enter with that country's passport and you can use the US pp to return to the US. But the pt is does Canada ask for a valid passport from its citizens entering from the US? Perhaps you could just use the expired CN passport? It is an idea I had not sure if it is really how the law works.
 
aabbcc11 said:
Most countries insist the citizen enter with that country's passport and you can use the US pp to return to the US. But the pt is does Canada ask for a valid passport from its citizens entering from the US? Perhaps you could just use the expired CN passport? It is an idea I had not sure if it is really how the law works.
Click to expand...

If you're a dual US/Canadian citizen residing in US, there's no reason for Canadian customs to ask for your Canadian passport if you show them your US passport.
 
The reason I ask is someone was lecturing me on why you need to use the Canadian passport entering in Canada because of their one time experience when they got lectured by Canadian Immigration using the US passport. Now I'm just curious if this is the norm or not. I can't recall if my US passport mentions my country of birth on it at all. If it does, then Canadian officials could see I was born in Canada by just looking at my US passport.

I just would like to know what others have done and if anyone has just used the US passport if they've ever had an issue at all...
 
warlord said:
The reason I ask is someone was lecturing me on why you need to use the Canadian passport entering in Canada because of their one time experience when they got lectured by Canadian Immigration using the US passport. Now I'm just curious if this is the norm or not. I can't recall if my US passport mentions my country of birth on it at all. If it does, then Canadian officials could see I was born in Canada by just looking at my US passport.

I just would like to know what others have done and if anyone has just used the US passport if they've ever had an issue at all...
Click to expand...

Did that person reside in the US at the time? Did that same person mention he was a Canadian citizen to Canadian customs? If you stick to the basics by declaring you are a resident of the US and a US citizen to Canadian customs there's no reason for them to ask for a Canadian passport.
 
Bobsmyth said:
Did that person reside in the US at the time? Did that same person mention he was a Canadian citizen to Canadian customs? If you stick to the basics by declaring you are a resident of the US and a US citizen to Canadian customs there's no reason for them to ask for a Canadian passport.
Click to expand...

I don't have my passport handy at the moment, but doesn't it still list your country of birth in the passport? If so, by opening it the Canadian Immigrations could see you were born in Canada and question that. That's what I assumed might have happend to that other person, but I don't recall if your country of birth is listed or not for sure...
 
Rather than answer your question, I will pose one to you.

If you approach a Canadian POE with a Canadian passport, you have a right to enter Canada and no CIC officer can deny you that right.

If you approach a Canadian POE with a US passport, you are seeking a benefit. Granting entry is at the discretion of the CIC officer.

Now you tell me. What is better for you in your opinion?

warlord said:
I do have both passports, but really would rather not bring 2 of them and just stick to the US passport.
Click to expand...
 
Some countries including the US require BY LAW that if you are citizen of their country X, you must enter their country with a passport of country X. If Canada has such a law, your only legal choice is to use the Canadian passport when entering Canada, and the US passport when returning to the US.
 
I was wrong

The US consulate in Canada website states the following about dual citizenship, although it doesn't say why:

Dual Citizens

If you are a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen you should always present yourself as a Canadian citizen when entering Canada and as a U.S. citizen when entering the United States.

http://www.amcits.com/enter_canada.asp

My guess is that as a dual citizen,if you fall into legal trouble while in Canada, you cannot expect the US government to intervene on your behalf. The same goes for a dual citizen entering the US: if you get into legal trouble while in the US, don't expect the Canadian government to step in. This is therefore the recommendation of both countries to show your Canadian passport while entering Canada, and US passport while entering the US.

So much for hoping to only have to apply for one passport while going to Canada:(
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bobsmyth said:
The US consulate in Canada website states the following about dual citizenship, although it doesn't say why:

Dual Citizens

If you are a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen you should always present yourself as a Canadian citizen when entering Canada and as a U.S. citizen when entering the United States.


My guess is that as a dual citizen,if you fall into legal trouble while in Canada, you cannot expect the US government to intervene on your behalf. The same goes for a dual citizen entering the US: if you get into legal trouble while in the US, don't expect the Canadian government to step in. This is therefore the recommendation of both countries to show your Canadian passport while entering Canada, and US passport while entering the US.

So much for hoping to only have to apply for one passport while going to Canada:(
Click to expand...
Well, you will need to declare yourself as a Canadian citizen when you enter Canada, but you will not necessarily need to show a Canadian passport. Unlike the US, Canada does not require US or Canadian citizens to present passports when entering from the US. However, the recent changes in passport requirements by the US government has effectively changed the law for virtually everyone except dual citizens, since a Canadian cannot travel by airplane to the US without a passport (eventually, this rule will be extended to land and sea crossings as well). In the case of a dual citizen, when you enter Canada you need only show proof of citizenship (i.e. a birth certificate and photo ID) and declare that you are a Canadian citizen. By doing so, you have met all legal requirements to enter Canada as a Canadian citizen. Since you'll have a US passport, it's not an issue to travel back to the US.

Both triple citizen and Jacolantern are correct: it is a legal requirement to declare yourself a Canadian citizen when entering Canada (and a US citizen when entering the US) and a Canadian passport is the only document that essentially guarantees the right of return to Canada. That being said, you do not need to apply for or retain a Canadian passport once you get your US passport - that is your choice.

Where things get tricky is when you travel to a third country (i.e. Mexico). Some countries have strange laws when it comes to dual citizenship. I have heard that some countries will recognize only citizenship of the country that has more of a "hold" on you (i.e. where you work, live, and pay taxes) while others treat you as a citizen of the country whose passport you showed at their border. In any event, I think it is best to enter and leave a third country on one passport rather than enter as a citizen of country A and depart as a citizen of country B, depending on whether exit controls are used. Doing so may even cause problems for you, I imagine.
 
I think it would be safe to have a couple of passports on hand. They're not THAT expensive, and you just need to get one every few years. It would help with visa issues and stuff, like, if you need to travel while one passport is in a consulate, etc. And, what if you lose one, or it becomes full? You can use the other one. I wish I had two passports :( Haha, actually, I wish I had even one...
 
Triple Citizen said:
Rather than answer your question, I will pose one to you.

If you approach a Canadian POE with a Canadian passport, you have a right to enter Canada and no CIC officer can deny you that right.

If you approach a Canadian POE with a US passport, you are seeking a benefit. Granting entry is at the discretion of the CIC officer.

Now you tell me. What is better for you in your opinion?
Click to expand...

Astutely put. As a citizen of Canada, you are endowed with certain rights that can never be taken away. I personally don't understand why someone would give up those rights simply because of an 'extra' passport.

The only way around this situation is to renounce one's Canadian citizenship. This way, the poster can use the US passport forever.
 
LolaLi said:
Astutely put. As a citizen of Canada, you are endowed with certain rights that can never be taken away. I personally don't understand why someone would give up those rights simply because of an 'extra' passport.

The only way around this situation is to renounce one's Canadian citizenship. This way, the poster can use the US passport forever.
Click to expand...

Well that's the thing, there is no reason why they would deny me entry. Getting a 5 year Canadian passport has been a hassle in the past (finding grantors who still remember me who live in Canada etc) and other hassles. I'd rather just stick to a 10 year US passport. And yes I know you do not need one to enter Canada, but eventually you may.

I'm just used to Canadian officials being a bit clueless with US status and even though they would know I was living here on a Green Card (when I was on one) they would ask how long I was away, what am I bringing back, rather then how long I will stay in Canada and am I bringing things in. I think they get confused that I do not live in Canada anymore.

I don't know, I'll research more, but thanks for the inputs. I just was curious if anyone has just used the US passport and how their experience was. And no not renouncing the citizenship, I can still be one and not own a passport from them in their eyes...
 
warlord said:
Well that's the thing, there is no reason why they would deny me entry. Getting a 5 year Canadian passport has been a hassle in the past (finding grantors who still remember me who live in Canada etc) and other hassles. I'd rather just stick to a 10 year US passport. And yes I know you do not need one to enter Canada, but eventually you may.

I'm just used to Canadian officials being a bit clueless with US status and even though they would know I was living here on a Green Card (when I was on one) they would ask how long I was away, what am I bringing back, rather then how long I will stay in Canada and am I bringing things in. I think they get confused that I do not live in Canada anymore.

I don't know, I'll research more, but thanks for the inputs. I just was curious if anyone has just used the US passport and how their experience was. And no not renouncing the citizenship, I can still be one and not own a passport from them in their eyes...
Click to expand...
Yep, it is a hassle. Although they changed the rules around for renewing passports for citizens living in Canada (don't need a guarantor anymore), they don't apply to citizens outside the country. If you have a doctor or a dentist in the US who is a US citizen, you may also use this person as a guarantor (just a thought to make your life a little easier...)

There is a debate on right now in Canada about the whole concept of dual citizenship. Ever since the evacuation of many Canadian citizens from Lebanon a few years back (many of these people had given up their ties to Canada, but pulled out their passports when the war broke out), many people have questioned the concept of dual citizenship. I don't think taxpayers in Canada like to feel that they are subsidizing expatriates with few ties to the country. My own feeling is that they will not change the law to prevent dual citizenship, as this would be politically very stupid. However, one thing they might do is raise the fees on passports issued to expatriates (from $100 to $500)...this would be to cover the cost of consular assistance / evacutions etc.
 
Yummyk, current rules for Canadians living outside of Canada allow a relative with a Canadian passport to be a guarantor, even if living in the same premises as the applicant.

Your guarantor must:

Hold a five-year Canadian passport that is valid* or has been expired for no more than one year, on the day you submit your application;
Have known you personally for at least two (2) years.
In the case of a child, have known you (parent or legal guardian) personally for at least two (2) years and have knowledge of the child;
Be a Canadian citizen 18 years of age or older;
Have been 16 years of age or older when he or she applied for his or her own passport.
In the case of a child, in cases where provincial family services have placed a child for adoption with a family, until the adoption is final (probationary adoption), the Provincial Director of Family Services, the Director of the Family Services Agency or the Director of the Incorporated Institution (in Québec) may also sign as guarantor.

Family members and those residing at the same address as yourself may be your guarantor provided he or she meets the specified requirements.Please note however that if you are the parent or legal guardian applying for a passport for your child, you cannot act as guarantor.

Why is it in human nature that we seem to get along well until we cost some token money to a country and then everyone jumps up and down to remove privileges. It happens everywhere, not only in Canada, it happens here with immigrants receiving benefits. I think it is rather selfish and it is exploited by unscrupulous politicians. How can we know how Canadian those expatriates felt? Even that, how can one differentiate which Canadian deserves consular help and which not?

yummyk said:
Yep, it is a hassle. Although they changed the rules around for renewing passports for citizens living in Canada (don't need a guarantor anymore), they don't apply to citizens outside the country. If you have a doctor or a dentist in the US who is a US citizen, you may also use this person as a guarantor (just a thought to make your life a little easier...)

There is a debate on right now in Canada about the whole concept of dual citizenship. Ever since the evacuation of many Canadian citizens from Lebanon a few years back (many of these people had given up their ties to Canada, but pulled out their passports when the war broke out), many people have questioned the concept of dual citizenship. I don't think taxpayers in Canada like to feel that they are subsidizing expatriates with few ties to the country. My own feeling is that they will not change the law to prevent dual citizenship, as this would be politically very stupid. However, one thing they might do is raise the fees on passports issued to expatriates (from $100 to $500)...this would be to cover the cost of consular assistance / evacutions etc.
Click to expand...
 
Well that would make things a lot easier to get a passport. Last time a few years back, my parents had to search and make a lot of phone calls to find someone that remembered me since my old dentist no longer did. They had to settle for a family friend who was a vet. So considering my parents are in their 80's, there will be a point where I won't be able to have them find someone to sign.

Now with the new way, I can always just get a friend in Cananda or my brother or cousin to sign it then. Cool...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top