canadian needing to get home ASAP

[crissy 0]

Hi there, just found out today that my mother was put on life support, my passport has expired and don't have time to wait to get an expidided one...can I being a Canadian citizen travel back home with out a passport..will renew my old one in Canada to get back in the states

[Found Frolicking 1]

Hi there, just found out today that my mother was put on life support, my passport has expired and don't have time to wait to get an expidided one...can I being a Canadian citizen travel back home with out a passport..will renew my old one in Canada to get back in the states

I don't know the most about this stuff, so hopefully someone else replies who knows for sure... but I believe traveling without a passport is really difficult. Having never been on a plane, I can't say for sure you can't take a flight without a passport, but I don't think you can. And while you can, I believe, get into Canada via driving without a passport (you can use photo ID --- like a driver's license, and a birth certificate), the U.S. is no longer allowing people in without a passport. Since that rule only passed a few years ago, some people don't know and try to get through without it, but they're given a really hard time from what I've read.

[Hypnos 6,576]

A green card holder does not need to show a passport when they enter the US, only their green card (8 CFR 211.1(a)).

https://help.cbp.gov...anent-residents

You should check with the airline first though, as they may have their own requirements.

Edited January 13, 2013 by Hypnos

[YpsiFella 20]

Its a little uglier than you think. I went through this in May 2011. Whoever said that your challenge is the airlines is correct. Although Canada officially does not state it, the border folks will tell you that Canada has signed on to a multinational agreement that requires a passport to be shown. Having said that, the advice I was given by Border Services over the phone is that if you tell them you are a Canadian citizen they will take you to secondary to verify but they cannot deny you entry. I had a copy of my birth certificate so that ended the discussion at the border. I got in without going to secondary. It was not a warm and friendly discussion one though. Take the expired passport along. Call the airlines to see if you will have trouble boarding with just a green card and an expired passport but once again it is up to the counter agent whether they will let you board or not. Get there really early in case you have to spend some time at it. If you live in the US you do not have access to expedited passport renewal at a passport office in Canada either but that will be no issue for you. You can renew when you get back to the US. I learned my lesson - I will renew early from now on. It is not worth the stress.

I should also have said that one option is to fly close to the border and drive across in a rental car. That way you have no issue with the airlines and you will certainly get through at a highway border crossing. In my case I was headed for Vancouver so I could have flown to Seattle and driven across at Blaine WA.

[Kimbear 53]

Can you go to a canadian consulate near you? they might be abler to help you with this. I believe some one else did this in the last year as well for this father. Not sure who it was though.

[Ms Hogan 295]

Are you in the US trying to get home or elsewhere?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am sorry to hear about your mother.

You can enter Canada without a Canadian passport as long as you can prove your Canadian citizenship. As Back_to_KY said, though, your problem will be with the airlines. If you are at all able to fly to a close US border city and drive across the border, your green card will be fine for admissions in both directions and that would save you any potential hassle and delay with the airlines. The cost of the flight to a border city plus the car rental is almost always cheaper as well then flying directly into Canada. If your mother lives too far away from the border to make that feasible, however, it is still available as an alternative if you have problems with the airlines.

Yes, you should be able to get your passport renewed while in Canada.

Good luck. I hope your Mother's condition improves.

Are you in the US trying to get home or elsewhere?

She is a Canadian in the US as a permanent resident (10 green card holder) trying to get home to her mother in Canada.

Edited January 14, 2013 by Kathryn41

[Penguin_ie 5,985]

You are a Canadian in the USA, trying to get back to Canada, right?

Do you still have your expired Canadian passport? If so, they should let you in. They may give you a hard time but you are a citizen of the country and can prove it with an )albeit expired) passport.

[Ms Hogan 295]

My suggestion was definitely to drive across the border and fly the rest of the way or fly to somewhere near a border and drive across and THEN fly the rest of the way or drive if you could. I think driving across would be easier than battling the airlines who want the passports. I don't know. Wish I could be of more use.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

My suggestion was definitely to drive across the border and fly the rest of the way or fly to somewhere near a border and drive across and THEN fly the rest of the way or drive if you could. I think driving across would be easier than battling the airlines who want the passports. I don't know. Wish I could be of more use.

Yes, good suggestion too. I hope Crissy was able to make arrangements and is on her way to her mother now . . .

[B & G 200]

Hi there, just found out today that my mother was put on life support, my passport has expired and don't have time to wait to get an expidided one...can I being a Canadian citizen travel back home with out a passport..will renew my old one in Canada to get back in the states

Airlines should not give too much trouble. They follow Canada's TIM which is issued by Border and Customs. Canada does require your passport to be valid upon arrival. Even if you are a Canadian national. However, the passport exemptions lists that canadian certificate of birth can be used as well as a US Green Card.

My advice take all three, birth certificate, expired passport and GC. Explain to airline staff your emergency, if they are hesitant ask them to call immigration at your POE in Canada and ask for a reference to permit you to enter..(yes, we airline staff can do that.. we have internal telephone numbers for such a thing) and since you will have the required documents..you should not have a problem obtaining entry.

I hope it all works out for you..

[crissy 0]

Thank you all for your quick responses, I also contacted the Canadian Consult and they told me , by air you must present a passport by land you do not...so I am gonna just fly to minot and then rent a car to cross over...

I also live to far from a consult here in Illinois to get the expedited one , which will take about 3 to 5 days ..

thanks all

Airlines should not give too much trouble. They follow Canada's TIM which is issued by Border and Customs. Canada does require your passport to be valid upon arrival. Even if you are a Canadian national. However, the passport exemptions lists that canadian certificate of birth can be used as well as a US Green Card.

My advice take all three, birth certificate, expired passport and GC. Explain to airline staff your emergency, if they are hesitant ask them to call immigration at your POE in Canada and ask for a reference to permit you to enter..(yes, we airline staff can do that.. we have internal telephone numbers for such a thing) and since you will have the required documents..you should not have a problem obtaining entry.

I hope it all works out for you..

I will also take all documents with me ...even have my old Id from Canada as well..

Thank you all for your quick responses, I also contacted the Canadian Consult and they told me , by air you must present a passport by land you do not...so I am gonna just fly to minot and then rent a car to cross over...

I also live to far from a consult here in Illinois to get the expedited one , which will take about 3 to 5 days ..

thanks all

[Ms Hogan 295]

I'm glad to see you figured out a way to get home to your mom.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Safe travels and I hope your Mom is doing better when you see her.