New Travel rules can i re-enter USA with my green card or do i need a passport?

J

jnj

Registered Users (C)
I am a canadian citizen living in usa and i have a us green card.I would like to go to canada for a week and return to usa by plane.But new rules went into effect on oct 1 2007 saying that all people including usa citizens need a passport to re-enter usa if coming by plane.My canadian pp is expired.Can i re-enter usa by plane with my green card?
thanks
 
I found this from on the following link http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/air_travel/documents_needed.xml

Documents You Will Need to Enter the United States

"Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI
U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents
Visitors/Non-immigrants

U.S. Citizens: The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will soon require all travelers to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted form of documentation to enter or reenter the United States. The program will be rolled out in phases. The proposed timeline is as follows:

As of January 23, 2007, ALL persons*, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.
As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons*, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

*Lawful permanent residents (LPRs), refugees, and asylees will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551), issued by DHS, or other valid evidence of permanent residence status or refugee or asylee status to apply for entry to the United States."

So i guess i can use the gc.The canadian consulate in L.A has been completely moronic in being unable to inform me that i could use my gc in lieu of passport for travel.Totally clueless.Just a complete useless,farce the canadian consulate is.I recommend canadians in the LA area who need to use the consulate get second opinions on whatever advice they dispense.They are as useful as burger flippers at mcdonalds-actually that is an insult to all burger flippers-sorry!
 
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well i just spoke to 5 air canada agents and they said i need a passport to enter the usa by air.So so much for the info on cpb website.
What a mess.
 
jnj said:
well i just spoke to 5 air canada agents and they said i need a passport to enter the usa by air. So so much for the info on cpb website.
Click to expand...

Air Canada employees are idiots. As an aside, my wife had no problems at all travelling to and from Toronto with only her GC.
 
yes,but as of oct 1st 2007 the rules have changed..has your wife flown since then?
 
"Why don't you get an expedited passport in Canada during the week you will be there?"

because i need a passport to get on a plane here to be able to go there.
the home i own up there is 2500 miles from LA...
 
OP it seems the new rules from what I hear make it mandatory for American citizens now traveling to Canada and Mexico to have passports. So I am guessing that so do you. Once in canada they will look only at your passport, and once you come back to the US they will look at your passport and your GC (I guess). Just play it safe if you still have time to get a passport.

Those are the rules, and airlines do ask you at check in if you have the proper identification required for your destination. Even back in the days, they did not let you board.
 
PraetorianXI said:
But sets the rules for Airlines to let you board a plane with destination to the USA.
Click to expand...

Then point me in the direction where this supposed rule supposedly changed.

CBP clearly says that an I-551 card is adequate documentation for a Canadian to re-enter the US by air (as it should be - it's more secure in their eyes than a Canadian passport). Right now we seem to be engaging in speculation based on the unfounded assertions of clueless airline clerks.
 
i dont think faa has anything to do with customs...i am really screwed...i have no valid,non expired canadian id ...i have gotten no help from the consulate...canadian rules for pports are quite strict and obtuse...i can imagine many canadians will be in my position...also in january you wont be able to cross by land without a passport so that should be fun as well...
 
From Homeland Security
Passport Requirements
All citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda are now required to present a valid passport when entering the United States at any airport as of January 23, 2007.
Click to expand...

Originally Posted by TheRealCanadian
Then point me in the direction where this supposed rule supposedly changed.
Click to expand...
From Homeland Security's website
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reminding air carriers and the traveling public that the temporary Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) accommodation allowing U.S. citizens to travel by air within the Western Hemisphere using a Department of State (DOS) official proof of passport application receipt will end as scheduled at midnight on Sept. 30, 2007. U.S. citizens who departed the country under this travel accommodation prior to Oct. 1 with a Department of State official proof of passport application receipt and government-issued identification will be readmitted with these same documents if returning to the United States after Sept. 30.
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DHS and DOS announced the temporary WHTI accommodation for air travel in June. The federal government made this accommodation due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand.
Click to expand...
The way in which the Jan 2007 rule was going to be enforced changed at the end of Sept. But this was just for US Citizens. Canadians where not given any extra time to obtain the appropriate documents. So, TheRealCanadian was correct in thinking that the rules did not change for Canadians.

Originally Posted by TheRealCanadian
CBP clearly says that an I-551 card is adequate documentation for a Canadian to re-enter the US by air
Click to expand...

The Homeland Security website states:
Other Acceptable Documents
In some cases, other documents may be accepted when entering or re-entering the United States by air.

A limited number of travelers may present either:

Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, Legal Permanent Residents will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551), issued by the Department of Homeland Security, or other valid evidence of permanent residence status to apply for entry to the United States.
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Click to expand...

Notice the phase "In some cases, other documents may be accepted..."

So, while it appears that the I-551 card should be sufficient, it's not a sure thing.

To the OP - If you plan on flying back up to Canada I would suggest two things. One - Print off the pages from the DHS website that allows you to use the I-551 in lieu of having your Canadian passport, and two - when you are in Canada get an expedited passport so that you have it before you return. To get it expedited, go to a local passport office and make sure you take your return flight ticket with you as proof that you need it back quicker than the 2 weeks they say they will do it when you apply in person.

Good Luck
 
TNguy78 said:
Notice the phase "In some cases, other documents may be accepted..."
Click to expand...

I noticed "Legal Permanent Residents will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551)" myself, but I think we're arguing semantics now. :)

If Air Canada won't let you on with just a Green Card, then find a real airline or do a flight near the border and drive across.
 
ya i d like to get a passport but i dont have the required non expired id to get a new passport ergo being stuck

I dont have anybody to come pick me up and nor to drive me back to a usa airport.
Kind of a quandry.

'... valid evidence of permanent residence status to apply for entry to the United States.
'

what do they mean apply for entry? sounds scary,no?

thats why i want a passport...

by the way canadian foreign affairs gave me a phone number for canadian immigration and it was a 5.00$ toll call-canadian services suck.
 
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