GUWonder

Effective in several weeks, Canada may be halting Canada's dual-citizens from flying into Canada from abroad on non-Canadian passports:

http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/...ir-travel.html

For the small segment of dual-citizen Canadians who may have trouble getting Canadian passports and only have non-Canadian passports in hand, it looks like surface transport from the US to Canada may be part of the future.

Canada can't legally deny entry to recognized Canadian citizens, but it can increasingly try to frustrate the return of some Canadian citizens -- sort of as how it goes with the US.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/wo...y#.V7hJhmWovLQ

cdn1

Dual citizens from 3rd world countries (who require visas to enter Canada on their origin passports) are using their Canadian passports anyway.

Only dual citizens who hold "western"/developed/G8 type passports are affected by this new rule, and news outlets are saying its a cash grab.

Exactly what problem was being created if they continued to use their other passports anyway? They'd still have to meet airline criteria to fly to Canada anyway.

NY-FLA

Well, I have a Nexus, which has always provided hassle free cross border experiences for me, and now it's not a valid travel document? And the Canadian certificate of citizenship, which is the proof the Canadian passport office requires of non Canadian born citizens to receive a passport is not adequate proof of citizenship for travel? I'd buy an ESTA, but as a Canadian citizen, I can't get one. Sorry, Canada, you developed the Nexus framework, too late to change the rules now, with a redefined definition of what constitutes a valid "travel document"
The Canadian government seems to want (in my specific case) U.S. airline employees to enforce nonsensical Canadian immigration regulations...
My experience is that airline employees consistently make issues that the front-line border agents do not have a problem with.
This may be an interesting ride....

Often1

Air carriers simply enforce the letter of Canadian law as the Canadian government advises the carriers. That is because the carriers are fined when an individual presents himself for admission to Canada without proper documents, even if Canadian authorities later admit the individual.

Put in its most basic terms, carriers have no discretion to waive the rules but border authorities do.

This is pretty much true the world over. If you can get yourself in front of the relevant border authority, you may make your case. The problem is getting that chance.

GUWonder

Where are documented examples of common carriers being fined by Canada for transporting recognized Canadians without a passport or NEXUS card?

... if only that were basically how it goes.

But carriers and border authorities can exercise discretion.

Indeed.

flyerCO

Carriers have no such discretion. The Immigration officers do. However if they let you fly and you can't get in, they get a major fine, plus have to cover costs to fly you back.

GUWonder

They do have discretion, which is why some carriers' reps end up denying travel even to people who have prima facile evidence of being admissible at the ticketed destination. Not familiar with some carriers denying air travel from the US to Canada when the passenger only has her/his NEXUS for presentation? Meanwhile the same travel docs are accepted by other carriers and/or other carrier reps for the very same city pairs.

The "major fines" are not all that major for the US-Canada flying airlines; and very often the fines are not even charged and collected even when the airlines have transported an inadmissible person.

reclusive46

I find American Airlines doesn't even seem to care about flights from the US to Canada. When flying to Canada from the US on a one way ticket they don't ask for anything other than a passport. Delta and United always asks for a PR card or work permit.

flyerCO

They do if you're not a US citizen. They don't have to worry about US citizens because there's the possibility going to return via land crossing, or that will even apply for work permit at border crossing.

flyerCO

No that's not discretion. Discretion would mean they could allow you to fly despite not having the correct documents.

Legally when flying only a passport is acceptable, even for Canada. Nexus cards, passport cards, drivers licenses, etc are good only for land and sea crossings.

GUWonder

That is not true. Nexus cards are good for entry via air travel too.

When flying into Canada, Canada accepts US birth certificates with just a regular US driving license. It's been the air carriers that frustrated such travel by air into Canada without a passport and/or Nexus; and it's been the USG that has frustrated such travel by air into Canada without a passport or NEXUS.

That's not always true either. And they sometimes ask this even of US citizens.