Passport for petitioner

[lisakopavi 0]

I'm a U.S. citizen and I plan on attending the interview in Montreal with my Canadian fiancee. I don't currently have a passport, do I need one to enter the Embassy (Consulate)?

[reeses16 8]

I'm not 100% sure. But I think you do. Since Jan. 2007, passports were required for travel to Canada and Mexico; which is why there was such a surge & backlog in passport processing.

[Dan J 277]

I'm not 100% sure. But I think you do. Since Jan. 2007, passports were required for travel to Canada and Mexico; which is why there was such a surge & backlog in passport processing.

Actually, Air only until january of 2008. But the air rule has kinda been suspended as long as you shown that you have applied for a passport.

I dont know about a passport to get in, but I wouldn't be surprised if they asked you to show it.

[Tinker 0]

You can email the Montreal consulate and ask.

Do you already have an interview date?

I myself don't think you'd need one. Not when you can travel across with just your D.L and your B.C.

That wouldn't make much sense *shrug*

You can post the question in the Canada Forum, I'm sure someone there will know for sure.

Edited September 10, 2007 by Tinker

[~Nini~ 2]

I know when my fiance and I went to our interview at the Vancouver consulate, they asked to see his passport for ID purposes.

[Bill y Bella 0]

You should get one since even if you do not need it now eventually you will need a passport for travel to Canada.

The passport backlog has recently been reported to have cleared out so you might still have time to obtain one before the interview. I also think they have an option of paying for expedited procesing.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

If you're in any country and wish to enter an American Embassy or Consulate, you must first show identity in the form of a passport.

[trailmix 77]

If you're in any country and wish to enter an American Embassy or Consulate, you must first show identity in the form of a passport.

Not true. Perhaps it is in their guidelines, I don't know - however I went to the Calgary Consulate at least 4 times and never once showed my passport (and neither did my Mother or my Husband who went with me at different times).

Furthermore - it would be really tough to show your passport at the Consulate/Embassy if you were applying for a Passport.

Edited September 10, 2007 by trailmix

[Jason-Sasha 1]

If you're in any country and wish to enter an American Embassy or Consulate, you must first show identity in the form of a passport.

Not true. Perhaps it is in their guidelines, I don't know - however I went to the Calgary Consulate at least 4 times and never once showed my passport (and neither did my Mother or my Husband who went with me at different times).

Furthermore - it would be really tough to show your passport at the Consulate/Embassy if you were applying for a Passport.

Hmmm... I thought that you were only permitted inside without a passport if you've lost it or for other emergencies. If you can enter a U.S. consulate in canada casually, without one....that's news to me. And I'm sorry for giving bad info. I'm only speaking from my experience in approx. 5 European US consulates.

[journeyman 0]

If you're in any country and wish to enter an American Embassy or Consulate, you must first show identity in the form of a passport.

Not true. Perhaps it is in their guidelines, I don't know - however I went to the Calgary Consulate at least 4 times and never once showed my passport (and neither did my Mother or my Husband who went with me at different times).

Furthermore - it would be really tough to show your passport at the Consulate/Embassy if you were applying for a Passport.

Hmmm... I thought that you were only permitted inside without a passport if you've lost it or for other emergencies. If you can enter a U.S. consulate in canada casually, without one....that's news to me. And I'm sorry for giving bad info. I'm only speaking from my experience in approx. 5 European US consulates.

Sasha's info I believe is true anywhere else in the world except Canada. My Guess, Soon it'll be implemented in US consulates in Canada too.

[~Nini~ 2]

Hmmm... I thought that you were only permitted inside without a passport if you've lost it or for other emergencies. If you can enter a U.S. consulate in canada casually, without one....that's news to me. And I'm sorry for giving bad info. I'm only speaking from my experience in approx. 5 European US consulates.

Sasha's info I believe is true anywhere else in the world except Canada. My Guess, Soon it'll be implemented in US consulates in Canada too.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that you can enter a US consulate in Canada casually. As I mentioned previously, both myself and my fiance were asked to present our passports at the entrance to the Vancouver consulate. I'm sure that in lieu of a passport one would be expected to present other government-issued ID.

Is there a documented source that says that a passport is required for admittance into a US consulate? All we've discussed so far are counterpoint experiences which may not necessarily be standard throughout all consulates.

Personally, I'd recommend to the OP that he send an email to the MTL consulate and see what they say.

[pushbrk 12,243]

Hmmm... I thought that you were only permitted inside without a passport if you've lost it or for other emergencies. If you can enter a U.S. consulate in canada casually, without one....that's news to me. And I'm sorry for giving bad info. I'm only speaking from my experience in approx. 5 European US consulates.

Sasha's info I believe is true anywhere else in the world except Canada. My Guess, Soon it'll be implemented in US consulates in Canada too.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that you can enter a US consulate in Canada casually. As I mentioned previously, both myself and my fiance were asked to present our passports at the entrance to the Vancouver consulate. I'm sure that in lieu of a passport one would be expected to present other government-issued ID.

Is there a documented source that says that a passport is required for admittance into a US consulate? All we've discussed so far are counterpoint experiences which may not necessarily be standard throughout all consulates.

Personally, I'd recommend to the OP that he send an email to the MTL consulate and see what they say.

I would second that recommendation but even more strongly recommend the OP obtain a US passport ASAP. He may be able to drive to Canada now but in case of an emergency, he would be unable to fly there and won't even be able to cross the border by car after the first of the year.

Consulate vary widely in the way they are set up and what they allow. Certainly, US Citizens who have had their passports stolen or lost are permitted to deal with Consulates. Citizen services in Guangzhou, China are inside a combination office building hotel. I was permitted to enter the building and go up the escallator to see the area where immigrant visa interviews were conducted or turn left to the Citizens services section. I had no business there except to observe the lay of the land but would have needed to show at least some sort of identification to pass through security.

A US Citizen with a foreign fiance or spouse who has not passport, needs one ASAP.

[trailmix 77]

I wouldn't go so far as to say that you can enter a US consulate in Canada casually. As I mentioned previously, both myself and my fiance were asked to present our passports at the entrance to the Vancouver consulate. I'm sure that in lieu of a passport one would be expected to present other government-issued ID.

Is there a documented source that says that a passport is required for admittance into a US consulate? All we've discussed so far are counterpoint experiences which may not necessarily be standard throughout all consulates.

Personally, I'd recommend to the OP that he send an email to the MTL consulate and see what they say.

I agree with you Nini & Bee and Pushbrk and I also agree that it would be a good idea to email Montreal for a confirmation and take that email with you to the interview - assuming they say come on in! Their website says that 1 U.S. citizen can accompany you in, with Photo I.D. - however as we all know this stuff changes from day to day.

[Tinker 0]

Contacting Montreal depends on when the OP's fiance's interview is.

You can no longer contact them by phone. (or is that just regarding our visa's?)

The whole email thing is hit or miss, if they'll answer the OP in time.

Check under embassy info on here, it will have the phone number and the email addy.

Best of Luck *S*

[lisakopavi 0]

You can email the Montreal consulate and ask.

Do you already have an interview date?

I myself don't think you'd need one. Not when you can travel across with just your D.L and your B.C.

That wouldn't make much sense *shrug*

You can post the question in the Canada Forum, I'm sure someone there will know for sure.

Thank you very much for your help, do you know the email addy for the Montreal consulate by any chance? Good luck with your interview!!