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Canadian citiZen-Border pass by driving car without canadian passport

k2009

Full Member
Aug 29, 2014
32
0
My friends donot have enough time to apply for canadian passport and they need to goto seattle immedietly.

If canadian citizen just want to drive car to seattle from vancouver, can they just show canadian citizenship certificate, landing document and their home country passport(which no visa exempt country) when they come back?


What should they do at the canadian border? Is it difficult to go back to vancouver from seattle?
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,840
22,108
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
•By Land and Sea (including ferries) - Canadian citizens traveling to the U.S. by land or sea are required to present one of the travel documents listed below, and may generally visit the U.S. for up to six months. CBP will accept: Canadian passport, Enhanced Driver's License/Enhanced Identification Card, NEXUS, FAST/EXPRES and SENTRI enrollment cards.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/619/~/visiting-the-u.s.---documents-required-for-canadian-citizens-%2F-residents-%2F
 

jrjayl

Hero Member
Oct 6, 2011
524
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k2009 said:
My friends donot have enough time to apply for canadian passport and they need to goto seattle immedietly.

If canadian citizen just want to drive car to seattle from vancouver, can they just show canadian citizenship certificate, landing document and their home country passport(which no visa exempt country) when they come back?


What should they do at the canadian border? Is it difficult to go back to vancouver from seattle?
the answer is no. I would suggest urgent passport application you can get it the next business day.
citizenship certificate, landing doc cannot be used as travel document. if you show home country passport, you are not entering as a Canadian so you need to have a visa.
contact a canadian high commission and ask them how you can come back to Canada. I am guessing they would need to apply for a temporary passport or something like that.
 

k2009

Full Member
Aug 29, 2014
32
0
My friends got us visa in their home passport. No problem to get into USA.

I read from the newspaper that buffalo border allow canadian citizen who donot have canadian passport and has only canadian citizen certificate to drive to back to canada, but donot sure that seattle border can do the same or not.
 

alphazip

Champion Member
May 23, 2013
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If they can get into the U.S., then in my opinion, they will be able to return to Canada with their citizenship certificates and photo ID (foreign passports). I know that citizenship certificates aren't travel documents, and your friends are likely to be sent inside and asked questions, but I don't think they will be turned back. Remember, though, it's risky and not a sure thing. If the citizenship certificates are the modern type (with barcode, but no photo), CBSA will be able to confirm their authenticity at the border.
 

Toronto2014

Member
May 28, 2014
13
0
k2009 said:
My friends got us visa in their home passport. No problem to get into USA.

I read from the newspaper that buffalo border allow canadian citizen who donot have canadian passport and has only canadian citizen certificate to drive to back to canada, but donot sure that seattle border can do the same or not.
If he can get to US, the is no problem coming back to Canada, the CBSA officer will sent your friend to CIC officer to confirm your friend's status in Canada.

Please advice your friend to carry as many IDs as possible. Health card, driving licence ...