by FishingCanada on July 31, 2010
Identification, Passports and Visas
What identification is needed to cross the US/Canada border?
You should have at least one document from each of these categories to satisfy new Homeland Security procedures and facilitate crossing the United States / Canada Border:
Proof of Citizenship and Proof of Identity.
-Passport
-Birth Certificate
-Voters Certificate
-Naturalization Certificate
-Certificate of Indian Status
-Drivers License
Travel by Air:
If you are traveling to Canada by air, including in transit passengers who are transferring planes in the U.S., a valid passport or Air NEXUS card is necessary for return entry to the U.S.
Travel by Land and Sea:
Visitors can no longer use such documents as their birth certificates and drivers’ licenses to cross the Canada-U.S. border by land and sea (including ferries) – you must now obtain a US Passport.
American visitors will soon be required to verify their citizenship with a passport. Naturalized U.S. citizens should carry a wallet-size naturalization certificate. Permanent U.S. residents who are not citizens are advised to bring their Alien Registration Receipt Card, i.e. Green Card. (Resident aliens are required to carry their cards with them at all times.)
US Citizens:
Citizens and legal residents of the United States now require passports or visas to enter Canada as visitors. You should carry some additional identification such as birth, voter’s or naturalization certificate which shows your citizenship.
Other Countries:
Visitors from countries other than the US require a valid passport and in some cases a visitor’s visa. Visas are issued by Canadian Immigration offices, embassies and consulates.
Aliens will require an Alien Registration Receipt Card upon returning from a visit to Canada. For this information, contact U.S. Immigration
From countries other than the U.S, a valid passport is required in most cases. Citizens of certain countries may require both a valid passport and a valid Canadian Temporary Resident Visa. Contact the Canadian Embassy, Canadian High Commission, or Canadian Consulate in your country before departure to determine any passport and/or visa requirements that may apply.
CANADIANS RE-ENTERING CANADA
Canadian Citizens re-entering the country must present proof of citizenship (i.e. passport or birth certificate along with picture I.D., Certificate of Canadian Citizenship – regular size, along with picture I.D, certificate of Indian Status issued by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, or Canadian emergency passport).
Permanent Residents boarding a commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train and bus) bound for Canada require the wallet-sized, plastic, Permanent Resident Card (PR Card). (This card replaces the IMM 1000 Record of Landing as the status document needed by Canadian permanent residents to board a commercial carrier bound for Canada.)
Permanent residents not in possession of a PR Card may be required to visit a Canadian embassy or Consulate to obtain a limited-use travel document prior to being allowed to board a commercial carrier.
by FishingCanada on July 30, 2010
Visiting Canada for a Fishing Trip?
Here is a list of Personal Items you can bring across the USA/Canada Border.
Visitors to Canada may bring certain goods as “personal baggage”, duty and tax free, provided all such items are declared to Customs upon arrival, and are not subject to restriction.
A reasonable amount of personal items, supply of food (for personal use) and a full tank of gas.
Live earthworms are permitted, but only when packed in artificial bedding (no earth or soil). Frozen or salted minnows are allowed.
Gifts up to $60 (Canadian funds) each in value are duty free provided they do not contain alcohol, tobacco or advertising material.
There is no limit to the number of gifts that may be brought into Canada. However, any individual gift valued at more than $60 Cdn. will incur applicable duties and taxes, as will any gift consisting of tobacco or alcohol products or certain advertising material. (Duty and taxes levied would apply only to the amount in excess of $60 Cdn.)
Tips for Visitors to Canada with a minor criminal offense or DUI in the USA.
by FishingCanada on July 29, 2010
Visiting Canada with a DUI
Do you have a minor Criminal Offense, perhaps a DUI?
If you are heading to Canada for a fishing trip, and you or one of your traveling companions have a minor criminal offense, here’s what you need to know:
U.S. citizens who have criminal convictions may be allowed to enter
Canada, if they:
• have been confirmed “deemed rehabilitated” by a Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) officer at a Port of Entry;
• are eligible and have applied for rehabilitation, and have had their application approved;
• have obtained a Temporary Resident Permit; or
• have received a pardon, if the offense was committed in Canada.
Even with a minor criminal offense, it can be easy to cross the Border into Canada if you follow all the steps correctly. Follow these simple steps to avoid the hassle of being turned back at the Border! – learn what to do if you have a conviction for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, but you want to visit Canada, or you need to visit Canada for business.
If You Don’t Do It Right – It Could Take Six Months!
Here’s the first hot free tip from the DUI Process Book:
Individuals with criminal records wishing to enter Canada can apply for a waiver. This should be done a minimum of 3 – 4 weeks in advance of the intended visit and can take up to 6 months.
It should be noted that Driving Under the Influence convictions are considered a criminal offense in Canada. Individuals with criminal records without waivers can be refused entry.
If You Want To Go Fishing – Don’t Take A Gamble
Persons without waivers who have only DUI’s or other less serious criminal convictions and have no criminal convictions in the past 10 years may be considered rehabilitated when they reach the border – BUT this is at the Canada Immigration officer’s discretion.
It is extremely important to apply for a waiver and eliminate the worry of being refused entry, but if you have a DUI, and you are serious about going fishing in Canada – you want to stack all the odd in your favor… isn’t that right?
Get Advanced Permission
Here’s a super-powerful first step towards avoiding any trouble crossing the border into Canada; apply for a “Remote Area Border Crossing Permit” as soon as possible. This little document may help the Immigration officer in determining your admissibility to Canada since the Remote Area Border Crossing Permit requires normal background checks.
That’s just one of a series of steps detailed in the researched and documented DUI Process Book.
Foreign nationals who have criminal convictions in Canada or abroad, should determine if they are inadmissible before traveling to Canada. Foreign nationals should also be aware that entry to Canada may be denied to persons who have committed any act that is considered to be an offense under Canadian laws, such as driving while under the influence of alcohol.
All the answers and Border Crossing Tips are provided here in the DUI Process Book
Convicted for Driving While Under The Influence?:
