Going on a cruise to Canada

[jasonb]

Question for the forum: I am going on an Alaska cruise starting in California and stopping by in Canada (BC) and ending in California.

I am a green card holder but I don't have my national passport anymore. Is it sufficient to use my GC to go on this cruise, entering Canada and coming back to the US?

The cruise ship customer service person keeps saying that you need a passport AND the Permanent Resident Card to board the ship. Is she mistaken?

Please help clarify!

jasonb

 

[cafeconleche]

The cruise company may require a passport on top of your GC. If that's their requirement, then you'll have to comply with it. Canada and the US allow you to use just a GC to enter. Of course, individual IOs may choose to ask for passports too. Personally, I think having a passport (or an RTD/RP) is always good.

 

[simsd]

Question for the forum: I am going on an Alaska cruise starting in California and stopping by in Canada (BC) and ending in California.

I am a green card holder but I don't have my national passport anymore. Is it sufficient to use my GC to go on this cruise, entering Canada and coming back to the US?

The cruise ship customer service person keeps saying that you need a passport AND the Permanent Resident Card to board the ship. Is she mistaken?

Please help clarify!

jasonb

Here's the deal. From what you're saying, you're not a citizen of either country. Since this is the case, once you cross into Canada you are subject to whatever there rules and regulations are based on your country of Citizenship. Don't confuse Permanent Residency with Citizenship. If you were to cross the border, they would ask you "What country of Citizenship"? If you said "U.S" then you would either show them your U.S. passport or your birth certificate and driver's license. Since your birth certificate would be from another country the whole game changes.

The green card just shows where you live - the passport shows where you are a citizen.