Dual citizenship... USA/CAD - which to use?
Jul 5, 2012, 9:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: L.A., CA.
Posts: 125
Dual citizenship... USA/CAD - which to use?
We'll be flying into YVR in Sept... staying a few days and then boarding a cruise ship, where we'll be sailing down the coast and disembark in California (I've lived in the U.S. for several years). The cruise ship has my US passport because I do have to use that passport to re-enter the U.S.
So... can I use my CAD passport when we enter YVR by air? Would like to use it because I figure the customs/immigration lines will be shorter. But, will I mess myself up using my CAD passport to enter YVR?
Thanks for any input.
So... can I use my CAD passport when we enter YVR by air? Would like to use it because I figure the customs/immigration lines will be shorter. But, will I mess myself up using my CAD passport to enter YVR?
Thanks for any input.
Jul 5, 2012, 9:12 am
#2
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,803
The US expects US citizen to use a US passport when entering.
Pretty sure Canada has the same rule, i.e. that you must enter Canada using your Canadian passport.
Brazil has the same rule. In contrast, most European countries don't care.
Pretty sure Canada has the same rule, i.e. that you must enter Canada using your Canadian passport.
Brazil has the same rule. In contrast, most European countries don't care.
Jul 5, 2012, 9:52 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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It won't, however, speed up your entry, as immigration at YVR is divided by 'residents' and 'non-residents.'
A Canadian citizen not living in Canada is a 'non-resident.'
Jul 5, 2012, 9:55 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,261
Standard is always to use the passport of the country that you are entering.
Most countries require this of dual citizens.
Coming into YVR, it makes no difference, since Canada is just about the only
country that does not have express lanes at immigration for its own citizens/residents. You are in the same line regardless.
Most countries require this of dual citizens.
Coming into YVR, it makes no difference, since Canada is just about the only
country that does not have express lanes at immigration for its own citizens/residents. You are in the same line regardless.
Jul 5, 2012, 10:24 am
#5
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Jul 5, 2012, 11:19 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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When's the last time you arrived at YVR Customs and Immigration? There absolutely are separate queues for residents & non-residents.
Jul 5, 2012, 1:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,261
Not in quite a while, I think the last time I arrived at YVR from overseas was about 3 years ago. My last time through was SEA-YVR-ICN, using the
sterile connection lane.
A great improvement if now done as you say
Jul 5, 2012, 2:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
There is an article in the National Post (July 5) about the issues of US citizenship and passports. If you are a US citizen by birth, then your Canadian passport has that information and a US border agent will expect you to use a US passport. Because the US requires tax filing by all citizens, regardless of residence, they use the border to check for those who have renounced their citizenship to avoid the tax requirement and so on. If your birthplace is elsewhere, it is unlikely to be detected. Entering Canada, if you are a resident then you need a passport that shows that you are entitled to live in Canada, if you claim it is your residence.
Jul 5, 2012, 3:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2011
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When entering Canada the CBSA agent has two questions to ask:
1) do I let this person in Canada or send them on their way?
2) do they have to pay duty/are the brining in something they shouldn't?
A Canadian citizen has an automatic right of entry into Canada. Nobody else does (except the Queen). That means the agent will only care about what you're bringing in.
If you identify as a US citizen then the agent must still concern themselves with whether you should be let into the country.
All that is to say all the other posters are correct
1) do I let this person in Canada or send them on their way?
2) do they have to pay duty/are the brining in something they shouldn't?
A Canadian citizen has an automatic right of entry into Canada. Nobody else does (except the Queen). That means the agent will only care about what you're bringing in.
If you identify as a US citizen then the agent must still concern themselves with whether you should be let into the country.
All that is to say all the other posters are correct
Jul 5, 2012, 9:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Posts: 930
Strictly speaking Canada does not require dual citizens to enter using their Canadian passports but as others have pointed out there are practical reasons for doing so in almost all cases (the only exception I can think of is if one was traveling on official government business for the other country).
Jul 6, 2012, 10:03 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: AA, UA, Hilton, Choice, Wyndham
Posts: 415
I've had an expired Canadian passport for a long time (dual citizen, US resident, haven't live in Canada for well over a decade). Whenever entering Canada, I use my US passport. No problems. I've had more problems coming back into the US with customs/border protection, despite being a US citizen. I think that as Bytepusher says, there's no official policy for entering Canada as a dual citizen.
The US demands that you enter/leave the US on a US passport.
The US demands that you enter/leave the US on a US passport.
Jul 7, 2012, 5:46 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Of course, it's all pretty irrelevant in real-world terms.
Jul 12, 2012, 12:53 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,344
When entering Canada the CBSA agent has two questions to ask:
1) do I let this person in Canada or send them on their way?
2) do they have to pay duty/are the brining in something they shouldn't?
A Canadian citizen has an automatic right of entry into Canada. Nobody else does (except the Queen). That means the agent will only care about what you're bringing in.
If you identify as a US citizen then the agent must still concern themselves with whether you should be let into the country.
All that is to say all the other posters are correct
1) do I let this person in Canada or send them on their way?
2) do they have to pay duty/are the brining in something they shouldn't?
A Canadian citizen has an automatic right of entry into Canada. Nobody else does (except the Queen). That means the agent will only care about what you're bringing in.
If you identify as a US citizen then the agent must still concern themselves with whether you should be let into the country.
All that is to say all the other posters are correct
Jul 12, 2012, 7:36 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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