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Is USA passport required to re-enter USA by plane from Canada if i am US/Canadian citizen?
- Thread starter jnj
- Start date
It depends. In theory, USCs need passports to re-enter but a waiver is available. It is cheaper to just get a passport than a waiver. Even a waiver can be waived.
Most if not all northern border states now issue REAL ID compliant DLs and IDs which will be accepted at land border crossings. However, you could have difficulty when traveling by plane. Using your Canadian passport to exit Canada by plane is OK, the re-entry could be problematic. You should identify yourself as a USC upon entry and use the designated USC lane. They might send you to secondary inspection which would add some processing time but it should not be TOO long of a delay.
Bottom line: They won't prevent you from entering because of it. If it is not emergency travel, it is best to obtain your passport before travel abroad.
Most if not all northern border states now issue REAL ID compliant DLs and IDs which will be accepted at land border crossings. However, you could have difficulty when traveling by plane. Using your Canadian passport to exit Canada by plane is OK, the re-entry could be problematic. You should identify yourself as a USC upon entry and use the designated USC lane. They might send you to secondary inspection which would add some processing time but it should not be TOO long of a delay.
Bottom line: They won't prevent you from entering because of it. If it is not emergency travel, it is best to obtain your passport before travel abroad.
CalGreenCard
Registered Users (C)
I only have canadian passport and california drivers license.Dont have time to get passport in time.
When are you leaving? There are various ways of getting the passport expeditiously.
I wouldn't recommend boarding an international flight to Canada without a US passport. If it's a life or death emergency I'd recommend flying to the nearest US airport and then renting a car from there, and taking your chances (as BigJoe5 said) on the way back.
If it's not a life or death emergency--and I never consider a business trip to be a life or death emergency--waiting a few days to get a US passport is the smart call IMHO, esp if you have no other ID.
There is another option for OP in case the travel needs to be urgent - to travel to Canada on a Canadian passport and then apply for a US passport at a consulate by presenting naturalisation certificate. Technically, the OP will still be in violation of US regulations which state that a US citizen needs to exit the USA on a US passport, but I doubt this scenario will result in any problems. After all, the OP is the US citizen and the Dept of State will have no choice but to issue him/her a passport. In the worst case, the OP will need to pay the penalty to the CBP, but again, I doubt this issue will even be raised at the re-entry.
Do not present your Canadian passport upon entry to US unless you want to face a lecture from a CBP officer on how you must have a US passport since you are now a USC.I only have canadian passport and California drivers license.Dont have time to get passport in time.
You can apply for and get a US passport within 1 day at one of the national passport centers.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_913.html
CalGreenCard
Registered Users (C)
Expidited passport will cost me way too much-200$
Can i enter canada with cdn passport and re enter USA with my Nat. Certificate?
If it were a matter of life and death, I'd take my chances with the Natl certificate.
If it were a matter of $200, I'd make the small financial investment to get my papers in order.
Just my opinion. Others may have a different opinion.
When entering Canada, you should present your Canadian passport. As for returning to the USA, naturalisation certificate is not a travel document, so you will not be allowed to board the plane. If you want to drive back, then you will be admitted with naturalisation certificate after undergoing extensive questioning and possibly being ordered to pay $500 penalty. But if you don't want to pay $60 extra for expedited service, then you will not want to modify your return path because it will be even more expensive.Can i enter canada with cdn passport and re enter USA with my Nat. Certificate?
Expidited passport will cost me way too much-200$
Can i enter canada with cdn passport and re enter USA with my Nat. Certificate?
The passport agency is doing something special this Saturday (Sept 17th==Citizenship Day) and they are open instead of closed as usual AND are taking walk-ins without appointments.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/09/172126.htm
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cafeconleche
Registered Users (C)
It's $195 for a 1 day passport book (plus $30 for a card if you want). It's definitely worth it!
The passport agency is doing something special this Saturday (Sept 17th==Citizenship Day) and they are open instead of closed as usual AND are taking walk-ins without appointments.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/09/172126.htm
what is so special about this aside from it being open on a saturday?Do they do thing faster than at the post office?
When entering Canada, you should present your Canadian passport. As for returning to the USA, naturalisation certificate is not a travel document, so you will not be allowed to board the plane. If you want to drive back, then you will be admitted with naturalisation certificate after undergoing extensive questioning and possibly being ordered to pay $500 penalty. But if you don't want to pay $60 extra for expedited service, then you will not want to modify your return path because it will be even more expensive.
This info is wrong.
My lawyer told me all i need is my Nat certificate or even a photo copy of it and the receipt for my passport application.I also called the US border office in Toronto and they confirmed this.
Also i applied for my passport on the 17th and got it on the 28.Amazing and i didnt apply for the expedited service.
The passport agency is doing something special this Saturday (Sept 17th==Citizenship Day) and they are open instead of closed as usual AND are taking walk-ins without appointments.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/09/172126.htm
You are probably in a better position to say if there was anything special done that day as you took advantage of it and got your passport 11 days later WITHOUT paying to expedite.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/09/172126.htm
what is so special about this aside from it being open on a saturday?Do they do thing faster than at the post office?
You are probably in a better position to say if there was anything special done that day as you took advantage of it and got your passport 11 days later WITHOUT paying to expedite.