children with CRBA's....

[Rlelle09 28]

My children were born in Canada and their father is a USC. When crossing the US border can they show their CRBA along with their Canadian passport? Or do they HAVE to have and present US passport?

Your response is greatly appreciated.

[ausikimmons 1]

HI! My son also has a CRBA, and any US citizen must enter the country with a US passport. That's what I have been told and it is also what I have read. Hope this helps!

[mtlguy 59]

if they have Canadian passports, that would do just fine.

[Rlelle09 28]

HI! My son also has a CRBA, and any US citizen must enter the country with a US passport. That's what I have been told and it is also what I have read. Hope this helps!

Thank you!

if they have Canadian passports, that would do just fine.

To enter the US?

[P&DSigler 11]

Yes, my neices children have canadian passports and use them to go into the US. They are getting US passports because the family is now moving to the US but they have entered on the Canadian passports more than once

[Rlelle09 28]

Yes, my neices children have canadian passports and use them to go into the US. They are getting US passports because the family is now moving to the US but they have entered on the Canadian passports more than once

My family and I will be moving to the states as well (once our i-130's get approved) do you think it will be a problem if when we are moving we use the Canadian passports for the children and then get the US ones later??

[P&DSigler 11]

My family and I will be moving to the states as well (once our i-130's get approved) do you think it will be a problem if when we are moving we use the Canadian passports for the children and then get the US ones later??

I don't think that it will matter but if you have the time you could do it now. I do think that me neice said that both parents have to go to the consulate/embassy to file the paperwork so that may not work for you.

[Rlelle09 28]

I don't think that it will matter but if you have the time you could do it now. I do think that me neice said that both parents have to go to the consulate/embassy to file the paperwork so that may not work for you.

It is doable for me as my husband is residing here in Canada with me. We would much prefer to get the Canadian passport right now, because its much cheaper and $210 US is kind of steep right now when we consider all the money this process is costing us.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

So, I don't know, maybe Canada is like a huuuge exemption or something, but I thought when a USC files for an I-130 (that is to allow immigrate the immediate relative/relatives) then your kids, as US citizens cannot enter without a US passport, since they cannot "immigrate" with you, they are citizens. Visiting from Canada, to US might be okay going with a Canadian passport, but I'm not sure this would fly when immigration is in the making...but I don't know...just know from other countries this is the situation when it comes to immigration...

[Rlelle09 28]

So, I don't know, maybe Canada is like a huuuge exemption or something, but I thought when a USC files for an I-130 (that is to allow immigrate the immediate relative/relatives) then your kids, as US citizens cannot enter without a US passport, since they cannot "immigrate" with you, they are citizens. Visiting from Canada, to US might be okay going with a Canadian passport, but I'm not sure this would fly when immigration is in the making...but I don't know...just know from other countries this is the situation when it comes to immigration...

I'm pretty sure there are no exemptions for Canada, but I will be going to the US consulate here in Toronto tomorrow morning and this is something I will be sure to ask. Just to make sure I follow you, are you saying that just because I will be going through the POE with a visa my children who will be entering with me must have a US passport and cannot use their Canadian passports, even though they were born in Canada?

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I'm saying it because sounded to me that your children are dual citizens, that is, they are not just Canadian but also US citizens (because of their dad). So, when it comes to YOU immigrating and filing for immigration (I-130), your kids cannot tag you along on a Canadian passport since they are not "immigrating" with you. They are US citizens, and they will not need a dependent visa to immigrate along with you. They are entering to their "home country" as US citizens. However, because of this nature, they cannot enter with a Canadian passport, but only with US passport....am I clear? I suck at giving my point across....sorry!

I'm pretty sure there are no exemptions for Canada, but I will be going to the US consulate here in Toronto tomorrow morning and this is something I will be sure to ask. Just to make sure I follow you, are you saying that just because I will be going through the POE with a visa my children who will be entering with me must have a US passport and cannot use their Canadian passports, even though they were born in Canada?

And yes, definitely ask this tomorrow....let me know, now I'm curious how this actually works...best to you!

[Rlelle09 28]

I'm saying it because sounded to me that your children are dual citizens, that is, they are not just Canadian but also US citizens (because of their dad). So, when it comes to YOU immigrating and filing for immigration (I-130), your kids cannot tag you along on a Canadian passport since they are not "immigrating" with you. They are US citizens, and they will not need a dependent visa to immigrate along with you. They are entering to their "home country" as US citizens. However, because of this nature, they cannot enter with a Canadian passport, but only with US passport....am I clear? I suck at giving my point across....sorry!

And yes, definitely ask this tomorrow....let me know, now I'm curious how this actually works...best to you!

My kids will not be tagging me along (not quite sure what you mean by that) what I'm saying is once I receive my visa and finally leaving Canada when we get to the POE can I show my childrens CRBA and their CANADIAN PASSPORTS for THEM to enter the US and I will show my own for me to enter..? I think I may have confused you in the beginning lol! I'm sorry! I will definitely update you.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I am still confused...when I said "children tagging you along" what i meant is that once your I-130 approved you want to physically move over from Canada to US. Now, you would do that because your intention is not for visiting US, but to actually move there, right? I'm asking all these now to make sure I get what you are trying to do. And so your children will not move to the US with you? Is that what you are saying when you say "my kids will not be tagging me along". Sounds to me that no, this is not the case. You children will enter the US (in order to move to the US) with you. Now, that implies you and your children are moving to the US for good which in your case is "you are immigrating to the US as an immigrant". And this is where I assumed that since your children would move to the US with you and hence "immigrate" to the US, they cannot really "immigrate" since they are US citizens. And hence, I replied that they need their US passports. If they use their Canadian passport (or CRBA- which I have no idea what that is, and maybe herein lies the problem in our miscommunication) then they are "immigrants". Which is sort of a contradiction for a US citizen to immigrate to the US. All right, let's see where this conversation leads us...and sorry if I still misunderstand you and your intention...>.<

I'm trying to help, but looks like I greatly fail at it...o.O

[Rlelle09 28]

I am still confused...when I said "children tagging you along" what i meant is that once your I-130 approved you want to physically move over from Canada to US. Now, you would do that because your intention is not for visiting US, but to actually move there, right? I'm asking all these now to make sure I get what you are trying to do. And so your children will not move to the US with you? Is that what you are saying when you say "my kids will not be tagging me along". Sounds to me that no, this is not the case. You children will enter the US (in order to move to the US) with you. Now, that implies you and your children are moving to the US for good which in your case is "you are immigrating to the US as an immigrant". And this is where I assumed that since your children would move to the US with you and hence "immigrate" to the US, they cannot really "immigrate" since they are US citizens. And hence, I replied that they need their US passports. If they use their Canadian passport (or CRBA- which I have no idea what that is, and maybe herein lies the problem in our miscommunication) then they are "immigrants". Which is sort of a contradiction for a US citizen to immigrate to the US. All right, let's see where this conversation leads us...and sorry if I still misunderstand you and your intention...>.<

I'm trying to help, but looks like I greatly fail at it...o.O[/quote

No I think you've got it now. CRBA (consulate report of birth abroad) where

The children are recognized as US citizen because it is transfered to them from their father a USC. I guess I am saying it the way that I have is because my children have never lived in the US before, they have only visited.

In the eyes of immigration my children are not immigrating because they are citizens. I understand that we must show the CRBA when I am immigrating (my whole family will be moving to the states when my visa is issued), but I also wanted to know since they have dual citizenship, will their Canadian passports suffice for entry along with the CRBA?...

When I am physically moving my husband and children will be going into the US with me, as we all currently reside here in Canada. I do appreciate your help confused or not :-)

Edited June 3, 2014 by Rlelle09

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Hey there,

So seems like we are on the same page (not on the thread...the topic). So I think (again, with my confused state of mind) that if you are showing their CRBA, meaning you are trying to show the US border customs that the kids are US citizens, then they need their US passport. You are showing the CRBA in order for them to avoid visa issues. Which is logical. To my logic however, if you are showing CRBA for them to avoid visa issues when "immigrating" with you to the US (I put this in quotation as they are not really immigrating) then they need their US passport. I feel like the canadian passport "speaks" against of this. Again, I think and again...with my confused state of mind.

I am still confused...when I said "children tagging you along" what i meant is that once your I-130 approved you want to physically move over from Canada to US. Now, you would do that because your intention is not for visiting US, but to actually move there, right? I'm asking all these now to make sure I get what you are trying to do. And so your children will not move to the US with you? Is that what you are saying when you say "my kids will not be tagging me along". Sounds to me that no, this is not the case. You children will enter the US (in order to move to the US) with you. Now, that implies you and your children are moving to the US for good which in your case is "you are immigrating to the US as an immigrant". And this is where I assumed that since your children would move to the US with you and hence "immigrate" to the US, they cannot really "immigrate" since they are US citizens. And hence, I replied that they need their US passports. If they use their Canadian passport (or CRBA- which I have no idea what that is, and maybe herein lies the problem in our miscommunication) then they are "immigrants". Which is sort of a contradiction for a US citizen to immigrate to the US. All right, let's see where this conversation leads us...and sorry if I still misunderstand you and your intention...>.<
I'm trying to help, but looks like I greatly fail at it...o.O[/quote

No I think you've got it now. CRBA (consulate report of birth abroad) where
The children are recognized as US citizen because it is transfered to them from their father a USC. I guess I am saying it the way that I have is because my children have never lived in the US before, they have only visited.

In the eyes of immigration my children are not immigrating because they are citizens. I understand that we must show the CRBA when I am immigrating (my whole family will be moving to the states when my visa is issued), but I also wanted to know since they have dual citizenship, will their Canadian passports suffice for entry along with the CRBA?...

When I am physically moving my husband and children will be going into the US with me, as we all currently reside here in Canada. I do appreciate your help confused or not :-)