Questions Regarding Travel to Canada

[Chevy70 0]

Hi everyone. I'm a 2-year Green Card holder (got it last Summer) and I am planning a trip to Canada later this month (via Greyhound). My Canadian passport is still in my maiden name ... I never bothered changing it to my married name because it hasn't expired yet. Is this fine? I've been married for a year and five months and will be traveling with my husband. Also, if I'm able to travel with my current Canadian passport, does it matter what last name I give when getting my tickets? Must the tickets have my maiden name or my married name?

Thank you and take care.

[Saylin 1,605]

Hi everyone. I'm a 2-year Green Card holder (got it last Summer) and I am planning a trip to Canada later this month (via Greyhound). My Canadian passport is still in my maiden name ... I never bothered changing it to my married name because it hasn't expired yet. Is this fine? I've been married for a year and five months and will be traveling with my husband. Also, if I'm able to travel with my current Canadian passport, does it matter what last name I give when getting my tickets? Must the tickets have my maiden name or my married name?

Thank you and take care.

Doesn't matter what name is in your passport. Many people don't change their last names to their married name. I never have. All of my documents (passport, green card, SSN, driver's license, etc) are all in my maiden name, even after more than 3 years of marriage. I have no plans at the moment on changing to my married name.

But you MUST book your tickets in the same name as on your passport otherwise you'll encounter issues.

Is your green card in your married or maiden name?

[Chevy70 0]

My Green Card is under my married name so it will not match the last name in my passport. I will of course have my marriage certificate to show the name change just in case. As long as they do not give me problems and question why I haven't applied for a new Canadian passport then all is good ... I haven't returned to Canada since being in the US almost 2 years ago.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

If you are purchasing airline tickets they need to agree with the name in your passport. As long as your green card and your passport names are different, you should carry a copy of your marriage certificate in your passport as well.

If you are flying domestically and driving across a land border, then you can buy your tickets in either name as long as you have photo ID in that name. Since you are driving over the border, you can use either your passport or your green card. You need to use your green card returning to the US. I am not sure if Greyhound requires you to have tickets in the same name as your passport or not. You should give them a call and ask them.

Canadian immigration shouldn't question you about why you haven't changed your name in your passport. Not everyone does. As long as you have a paper trail that ties you to both names (marriage certificate) you'll be fine.

Enjoy your visit home .

Edited July 10, 2013 by Kathryn41

[Chevy70 0]

Out of curiosity, why should the name on the bus ticket match the name in the passport? In the past, no one at the border has ever looked at my Greyhound ticket. By using my maiden name for the round trip tickets, would the U.S. border agent question why I didn't use my married name? (that is, if they were to ask to see my return ticket for whatever reason)

**Just read your post, Kathryn. Thank you for that information. I appreciate it. I will be sure to ask them what would be the best course of action. I'm sure they know best. At least, I hope so.

P.S. Thank you. I'm excited to see my family. It has been too long! My husband is excited too.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Chevy70

[Lemonslice 4,583]

In Canada, leaving for the USA, bus drivers always looked at my ticket + Nexus Card/Passport/Green Card, whatever I was showing them before boarding - they do have a list of passengers and I think they give it to the agent at the border, before we get out of the bus. Last time I took the bus was this spring and they definitely checked my ticket and ID. I can't remember them checking anything but the ticket leaving from the USA to Canada, but I've only done it once, years ago.

Other difference is that going into Canada, they had us take all of our luggage out of the bus, while coming into the USA, we had to leave everything in there.

ETA: I kept my name, so the name problem didn't apply, but if the name on the ticket matches your passport or green card and you present your marriage certificate, I think you would be fine.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Boston~Montreal

[Chevy70 0]

Thanks for your reply, Boston~Montreal. Maybe I'm stressing a tad too much I know that for air tickets the name on the ticket MUST match the name in the passport. I can't seem to find a definite answer for land travel to Canada from the U.S. (and back) Hopefully I'll get a definite answer at the Greyhound station. I don't want my trip to end up badly - there are some pretty scary stories on the Internet

P.S. Assuming you live in Boston, I reside there too

Edited July 10, 2013 by Chevy70

[Lemonslice 4,583]

Hey neighbour! To be honest, the bus drivers doing the boarding were just checking the IDs quickly, not with as much scrutiny as an airport check-in/boarding agent - I think they don't want to leave you at the border - the agent at the border is the one looking at all the details

Another thing you might want to look into while you're in Canada is to renew your passport there, I know it's cheaper that way (it would depends on how long you're staying, where is the passport bureau, if it's expiring soon, and such though...).

[hikergirl 277]

That would be a good plan if you can pull it off on your visit (getting a new passport).

If you want to change your name in your passport you need to do the full application and not the simplified renewal.

It’s a bit of a pain in the butt with having to get your photos signed by your guarantor and such. Probably easier to do it in from Canada.

Also, you have a choice between a more expensive 10 year passport or a cheaper 5 year passport now depending on your finances.

[Autumnal 25]

I traveled on a Canadian passport in my maiden name and carried the green card in my married name with my marriage certificate as a precaution dozens of times. Crossing back and forth into Canada from the US, even flying, isn't a problem. 99% of the time, the customs/immigration officials gave my passport a once-over and that was that. My declarations forms and green card got me home into the US without a fuss. The only times I encountered extra questioning was usually at the border via a land crossing, which was easy enough to remedy by showing my marriage certificate.

It should be a painless re-entry. As other posters noted, you must make your reservations in your passport (maiden?) name.

[Marilyn. 340]

That would be a good plan if you can pull it off on your visit (getting a new passport).

If you want to change your name in your passport you need to do the full application and not the simplified renewal.

It’s a bit of a pain in the butt with having to get your photos signed by your guarantor and such. Probably easier to do it in from Canada.

Also, you have a choice between a more expensive 10 year passport or a cheaper 5 year passport now depending on your finances.

when you look at the per year cost though the 10 year is cheaper..