Dual Citizen Travelling back to Canada.....

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

It's the holiday season and I was thinking of going back to Canada to visit family and friends again soon...

But this time it will be different, as I'm travelling for the first time as a dual citizen and travelling with a baby.....

And I want to make the travels as smooth as possible, especially during this holiday season....

So before I go, I want to make sure I get this right, as I don't want any problems at the border:

To Canada (by land):

Identification:

Ant-Canadian Passport, NYS Enhanced Driver's License, Should I show them the original and/or photocopy of my US naturalization certificate too?

D- NYS Enhanced Driver's License, Does he need to show a copy of his US birth certificate too?

Baby A- US Birth Certificate

Declaration of Citizenship:

Ant- Dual? Both Canadian and American? Canadian only?

D- American

Baby A- American

Back To the USA (by land):

Identication:

Ant-NYS Enhanced Driver's License, Should I show them the original and/or a photocopy of my of my US naturalization certificate? Should I show my Canadian Passport too?

D- NYS Enhanced Driver's License, Does he need to show a copy of his US birth certificate too?

Baby A- US Birth Certificate

Declaration of Citizenship:

Ant- Dual? Both American and Canadian? American only?

D- American

Baby A- American

Anything else I need to know and/or declare and/or make a note of to myself and/or to border officials?

Any thoughts, ideas, etc. would be apperciated. Thanks for the help.

Happy holidays and happy holiday travels to everyone!

Ant (Confused for holiday travel..... )

Edited December 5, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[wmtc 0]

when of my friend is a dual citizen as well so when he crosses Canada he show's the Canadian passport, and when he crosses USA he shows his US Passport, don't know to much about dual citizen poe. all the best at poe!

[trailmix 77]

When you come in to Canada you are Canadian, when you enter the U.S., you are American - Passport to enter Canada, Green Card to enter U.S. - you don't mention it - don't you have a Green Card?

For your Husband, he will need his U.S. birth certificate.

For the baby - birth cert is fine.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

When you come in to Canada you are Canadian, when you enter the U.S., you are American - Passport to enter Canada, Green Card to enter U.S. - you don't mention it - don't you have a Green Card?

For your Husband, he will need his U.S. birth certificate.

For the baby - birth cert is fine.

She has a US passport now, or sounds like she's getting one soon.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your helpful and quick replies so far...

One more note:

As for the US passport, at first I wanted to do such, but finally decided against it. I'm afraid that I they will lose my original certificate, which I paid so much and took so long overall to get. Sigh, why can't they be satisfied with a photocopy or certified/notarized copy, instead of the original, despite applying for a passport in-person? Surely they can trust an in-person application, right? Other agencies are ok with that, so what gives with the passport agency?It's one thing to lose a $30 birth certificate, that can be replaced in a few weeks....It's another to lose a $400+ certificate of naturalization, that takes a few months to replace...Someone should complain about this...Seriously! Lol..Because of all this, I'm not taking that risk, and decided not to apply for a US Passport after all. Instead, I'm applying for an New York State Enhanced License (valid for 8 years, only $80 which also includes license renewal)...which works just as well for me for land travel between the USA and Canada, which is what I do my travelling most with anyways....

Lol..I don't know what's worse for me.....

US Passport

Negatives: Possibly losing a US Naturalization certificate during the application process, Having my former country of birth (not Canada) stated, Cannot apply at a passport agency office (too far away)....

Positives: It is valid for 10 years, A passport card which is more convenient and less expensive ($45+photos) option is available

Canadian Passport

Negatives: Having to beg, bribe, etc. for a Guarrantor and References, It is valid for 5 years only, Only the book option is available which is less convenient and more expensive ($100+photos)

Positives: Optional to include birth country, Can apply in-person at a passport agency office (not too far away..) which means I don't have to worry about my Canadian Naturalization certificate being lost during the application process

Passports aren't easy to get for me! Which is the lesser of two evils...lol...

And no, I don't have my green card anymore...Had to "exchange/give up" that for a US Certificate of Naturalization...

Doesn't seem fair that I [paid $545+ and waited 10 months for the card, only to get 5 months use out of it...

The least they could have done was give it back as a souvenier, or something, with it marked invalid/void...

Oh well, I didn't like it much anyways...caused way too much problems and confusion...lol....

Either way, good to know that ...Canada=Canadian Citizen....USA=American Citizen...and identify and declare accordingly... Thanks for the info!

Happy holiday travels everyone!

Ant

[Flames9_RN 358]

Well since your a USA citizen and if you want to travel out of the USA, i think you will require an USA passport. You CAN NOT use the Naturalization certificate as proof to enter the USA. they stated that numerous times during my ceremony! They highly encouraged everyone to get a USA passport ASAP if you planned on doing any traveling.

I have a USA passport and a Cdn one. Use the Canada to go into Canada (and I will use that one when I travel) and use the USA passport for coming back into the USA

Yes you have to send the Naturalization cert in along with ur passport application, thats just the way it is. They return the passport and naturalization certificate in separate envelopes, just in case 1 does get lost! The turn around was very quick for me. I wasn't worried about loosing the Naturalization cert. But thats just me,that never even crossed my mind,lol

[trailmix 77]

Yeah I can't believe I asked about your green card - so yes your NYC enhanced license will suffice for getting back in.

Anyway, if you apply for your U.S. passport in person - they won't take your original certificate, if you read the guide you have to present it, but they will only keep the photocopy that you will also provide:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Edited December 5, 2009 by trailmix

[ashenflowers 5]

Have a look here: "Be Aware and Declare" http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

And also, I reiterate the 'when in Canada you're Canadian, when in the US, you're American' statement. My fiancé and his parents are all dual citizen (American originally). The first time they crossed the border after they got their Canadian citizenship his mom was excited and when they asked 'what's your citizenship' she said "We're dual citizens!!! "...

Do. Not. Do. This.

Edited December 5, 2009 by ashenflowers

[Flames9_RN 358]

Trailmix to the rescue

[Krikit 1,163]

The first time they crossed the border after they got their Canadian citizenship his mom was excited and when they asked 'what's your citizenship' she said "We're dual citizens!!! "...

Do. Not. Do. This.

You overthink things, Ant. Get the US passport. The system works. And just in case you missed it the other times in all those other threads (as well as this one) you tell them you are CANADIAN when entering Canada. They don't want to hear all about how you became an American citizen and what you wore. They only want to know if you're Canadian. Same at the US border. DON'T give them a song and a dance. Hand them your US passport and don't say anything about your Canadian citizenship. Or your other citizenship for that matter. You are AMERICAN.

Have a nice trip.

Edited December 5, 2009 by Krikit

[warlord 72]

Why are you not getting the same day passport then if you are leaving out of the country soon? If you show proof that you have a trip, you can pay extra to get your passport expediated usually the following day. You need the passport to enter the country and the Nat certificate usually will not be enough. People are saying they are not letting people in with the Naturalization Cert, so you may want to really look more into that.

I just use my US passport for entry into both countries. I'm not going to carry around 2 passports everytime I go there to visit. My cousin does the same thing as I, and never have any issues. Just makes things easier...

[SapphireDreams 71]

Why are you not getting the same day passport then if you are leaving out of the country soon? If you show proof that you have a trip, you can pay extra to get your passport expediated usually the following day. You need the passport to enter the country and the Nat certificate usually will not be enough. People are saying they are not letting people in with the Naturalization Cert, so you may want to really look more into that.

I just use my US passport for entry into both countries. I'm not going to carry around 2 passports everytime I go there to visit. My cousin does the same thing as I, and never have any issues. Just makes things easier...

She doesn't need a passport if she's travelling by land with an Enhanced NYS Driver's License. It's one of two states that have an enhanced license that people can use in lieu of a passport because it borders Canada.

[antda 13]

More Replies....

Flames9_RN-Yes, I know that I can not use my naturalization certificate as proof to enter the USA, as I was briefly told too. And yes, I was encouraged to get a US passport if I wanted to travel, and was mentioned that if I apply for such, that I would have to send my original certificate. I know, that is the way it is, and I wish there was some other way around it. If only they would find some other more secure way of sending such a certificate back. It's one thing to lose a $30 US birth certificate that can be replaced in a few weeks, but another to spend $400+ to replace a US naturalization certificate that could take several months or longer. Even something as simple as a tracking number would help for the naturalization certificate, like they do for the passport...but not for the naturalization certificate (which costs more and is harder to replace)....boggles me....Oh well...Until they change the rules about that, and with the DOS has my one and only naturalization certificate for a month for normal service (lol..forget about spending another $60 for expedite)...then the Passport Office just lost another customer. Either way, good that in your case, you got your naturalization certificate back quickly, and got your passport too. And thanks for the info as to how to travel with such as a dual citizen. Good luck with all your travels as a dual Canadian/American citizen too!

Well since your a USA citizen and if you want to travel out of the USA, i think you will require an USA passport. You CAN NOT use the Naturalization certificate as proof to enter the USA. they stated that numerous times during my ceremony! They highly encouraged everyone to get a USA passport ASAP if you planned on doing any traveling.

I have a USA passport and a Cdn one. Use the Canada to go into Canada (and I will use that one when I travel) and use the USA passport for coming back into the USA

Yes you have to send the Naturalization cert in along with ur passport application, thats just the way it is. They return the passport and naturalization certificate in separate envelopes, just in case 1 does get lost! The turn around was very quick for me. I wasn't worried about loosing the Naturalization cert. But thats just me,that never even crossed my mind,lol

Trailmix-Lol..that's ok about the green card. Actually, I'm still getting used to that idea too...Feels kind of weird, to carry green cards for 3 years..Only to have it taken away..in exchange for a document that I cannot carry with me...lol...

Thanks for the link. The problem there, is that they would still require my original naturalization certificate, regardless, to be sent in to the DOS and as mentioned here as such: "All documentation submitted as citizenship evidence will be returned to you. These documents will be delivered with your newly issued U.S. passport or in a separate mailing."

In other words, yes, it would be returned to me, but it would be returned by mail, which could possibly be lost, when they send it back to me when I get my passport in the mail. The only other solution, is to go to the nearest passport agency and apply there, and get my certificate returned the same day, and not having to worry about it being lost. Unfortunately, the nearest passport agencies to where I am (New York City and Philly) are too far away (about 5-10 hours or so by car, and the other locations are even more far away) for me to get there now. However, if I do go into those areas in the future, I could possibly consider such applying in-person and get my certificate back the same day.

Funny though, how it is easier for me to apply in-person for a Canadian passport (which is about 1-2 hours away) than it is to apply in-person for a US passport (which is about 5-10 hours away)...lol......

Yeah I can't believe I asked about your green card - so yes your NYC enhanced license will suffice for getting back in.

Anyway, if you apply for your U.S. passport in person - they won't take your original certificate, if you read the guide you have to present it, but they will only keep the photocopy that you will also provide:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Ashenflowers-Lol..Thanks for the link...I forget that Canada is now a 'foreign land' to me now as an American.....So yeah, I will have to treat Canada, as a place that I am going to visit, and not home anymore, and declare accordingly...Lol...Guess I won't be declaring "dual" anytime soon either nor would I be doing dances to the border folks either. Good though that your fiance and his parents are dual American/Canadian citizens too, which would probably make it easier for them to travel (though minus the "dual" declaration when travelling for his mom...lol..). Are you going to be dual too later?

Have a look here: "Be Aware and Declare" http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

And also, I reiterate the 'when in Canada you're Canadian, when in the US, you're American' statement. My fiancé and his parents are all dual citizen (American originally). The first time they crossed the border after they got their Canadian citizenship his mom was excited and when they asked 'what's your citizenship' she said "We're dual citizens!!! "...

Do. Not. Do. This.

Krikit-Lol..True, I tend to overthink things. But when something as important as immigration and travel are at stake, it's better to be "safe than sorry" there. Yes, the system does work, as it does for many other people. As for me, I don't know, as I've had both bad luck and good luck with these sort of matters. Either way, I'll have to outweigh the pros and cons, in ultimately deciding if I apply for a US passport. For now, my answer is no, but who knows in the future. Lol...Don't worry, no stories to the border guards...Just want to get in an out of the coutries with no problems at any of the borders...(though if I type my story here on vj..that's something else..lol....). Ok, I got it....Canada=Canadian....America=American....No songs and dances...lol...

And yes, I plan to have a nice trip back to Canada too..Should be interesting to travel back there...Likewise, have a nice trip on all of your travels too.

You overthink things, Ant. Get the US passport. The system works. And just in case you missed it the other times in all those other threads (as well as this one) you tell them you are CANADIAN when entering Canada. They don't want to hear all about how you became an American citizen and what you wore. They only want to know if you're Canadian. Same at the US border. DON'T give them a song and a dance. Hand them your US passport and don't say anything about your Canadian citizenship. Or your other citizenship for that matter. You are AMERICAN.

Have a nice trip.

Warlord- I can't get a same day passport, as the only way to do such is through a passport agency. Unfortunately, the nearest passport agencies to where I am (New York City and Philly) are too far away (about 5-10 hours or so by car, and the other locations are even more far away) for me to get there now. However, if I do go into those areas in the future, I could possibly consider such applying in-person and get my certificate back the same day. Then there is the problem of having to prove such a trip. I travel to Canada by car, with my own vehicle, and my husband and I taking turns driving, and we get to Canada within a matter of 1-2 hours...So how exactly do I prove that, as there are no tickets or itineries available? Tough call there in convnicing them that I need a passport asap..Yes, I know that I can not use my naturalization certificate as proof to enter the USA, as I was briefly told too. And yes, I was encouraged to get a US passport if I wanted to travel, and was mentioned that if I apply for such, that I would have to send my original certificate. Though here in New York State, they offered something called an "Enhanced Driver's License", which is a driver's license only for US Citizens, but with an extra barcode on it (like the green card barcode), which is good for land travel between the USA and Canada. So, yeah, with that, I can come home to the USA, as a US Citzen, with the EDL, with no problems.....(and going to Canada, I will use my Canadian passport, but I cannot enter the USA with that..) Interesting point you brought up too, about just travelling to Canada with a US passport. Yeah, carrying around 2 passports can be a pain, and can be confusing too. Either way, they will let you into Canada with a US passport, especially since your US passport says your birth country is Canada, so should be no problems with that for you or your cousin either. But for me, it might be a little bit more of a problem, as I was not born in Canada, and the US passport will have to list something else as a birth country, which makes them wonder if I ever to travel back to Canada as a US Citizen, "what ties do you have to Canada?" So on that note, I still have to present my Canadian passport, to show this tie, even if my Canadian passport will expire someday. Lol..my Canadian passport works like my Canadian birth certificate, so yeah, I'll always have to travel with that, regardless. Blah....I'll always have issues when I travel.......Nothing ever comes easy to me that way.....

Thanks for the info as to how to travel with such as a dual citizen. Good luck with all your travels as a dual Canadian/American citizen too!

Why are you not getting the same day passport then if you are leaving out of the country soon? If you show proof that you have a trip, you can pay extra to get your passport expediated usually the following day. You need the passport to enter the country and the Nat certificate usually will not be enough. People are saying they are not letting people in with the Naturalization Cert, so you may want to really look more into that.

I just use my US passport for entry into both countries. I'm not going to carry around 2 passports everytime I go there to visit. My cousin does the same thing as I, and never have any issues. Just makes things easier...

SapphireDreams-Yes, you are right about the Enhanced NYS Driver's License. Glad that I live in NYS, and they offer such an option. Lol..NYS USA is "so close, yet so far" to Canada with "only a border that separates us"! Go figure....And yet because of this...There is something called "immigration" that we have to go through too...sigh....When you become a USC are you going to get an EDL too, since you are in NYS also?

She doesn't need a passport if she's travelling by land with an Enhanced NYS Driver's License. It's one of two states that have an enhanced license that people can use in lieu of a passport because it borders Canada.

To those of you who don't know what an EDL is- In a nutshell, this is what it is: Basically, it is a driver's license only for US Citizens in the USA or Canadian Citizens in Canada, but with an extra barcode on it (like the green card barcode), which is good for land travel between the USA and Canada, and is used in lieu of a US Passport. So for land and see travel, one can come home to the USA, as a US Citzen, or to Canada, as a Canadian Citizen, using the EDL, with no problems.....

One card...driver's license and travel document...all in one! Good for many years, easy to get, and less expensive too!

By the way, EDLs are offered in other states in the USA (New York, Michigan, Vermont, Washington)

and in other provinces (Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Maintoba) in Canada too.....

For more information about EDLs, you can read here.....http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/EDL_map.html

On that note, about an EDL:

I got my New York State Enhanced Driver's License Today.....

All in 12 days...From application to getting the card in the mail...That was quick!

And no worries about travel documents or a driver's license for the next 8 years...all for $80....Good deal here......

Now I can go back to Canada for a visit.....Just in time for my birthday tomorrow!!! What a great present, indeed!

My immigration journey is officially over! I am free to live and travel as a US CitizenCanadian Citzen!....

(Will worry about a US Passport later...In the meantime, the NYS EDL will do for land travel back to Canada!)

Good luck with all of your journeys and all of your travels too!

Ant

[Malrothien 6]

The EDL has an RFID in it.

[warlord 72]

The EDL has an RFID in it.

I guess not living near the border at all explains why I've never heard of this Enhanced Drivers Licence. Didn't know that one could use that, but cool if they do. Since yeah, if you don't live near a passport office, that can definatly make expediating it very difficult I'd imagine...