Canadians flying into the US
 

I know that this is a bit off topic but I thought that I should ask anyways since there must be some Canadians that would know the answer.

For Canadians flying into the US from Europe, what immigration forms do we have to fill in as we are not apart of the visa waver program but are a part of the western hemisphere travel initiative?

I don't know the exact code of the form, but it will be the same form you fill out when you fly trans-border from Canada to the USA - the blue and white one with your name, address, hotel, etc.

The annoying issue, though understandable, is that Canadians have to go through the "non-citizens" line, where the people in front are photographed, fingerprinted, and have their visa forms checked, while Canadians only need to present the form and passport... so it will take longer than the US citizens line, unless you're lucky and have a plane with no "foreign" citizens.

Canadians only need to fill out the blue form.

Says who? This Canadian always gets in the U.S. citizens line and have never been told I was in the wrong line. BTW, I learned that trick on these pages years ago never havinf tried it before but it's worked like a charm for me so far.

Interesting discussion.. I posted this similar experience on the BA Forum a few weeks ago.. I flew BA from LHR-JFK and noticed that there was sign for Canadian and American passport holders.. and this was the first time that I used the American passport line. I asked in the BA Forum whether this was a new development, and didnt get the answer.

It does appear that Canadians can use the American lines.. although I cannot find any proof other than on BA T7 at JFK

This has worked for me at all pre-clearance locations other than... DUB.

There I was told to go back to the end of the non-citizens line... which makes me nervous each time I do it at MIA, ATL, JFK, etc., given that the lineups tend to be much longer.

Simon

That depends on the station.

Worked for us too flying into Boston two weeks ago from Frankfurt.

That's not quite correct; canadian citizens arriving via CLT who are *not* in-transit, or are in-transit overnight must fill out an I-94.

This might be the case at other stations as well (I know it's not the case at ORD, DFW and MIA), I got a fuzzy answer back from DHS when I inquired if this was the case in other locations other than CLT.

So, if I am flying into LAX from SYD (connecting onto DEN and YTO) on a Canadian passport I can simply use the American passport line and skip all the bother with fingerprints and photographs?

I've never seen the "joint" entry point signed that way, but because Canadian passport holders only have to fill in the same white card as Americans, and not the green ones, nor go through the photo/fingerprint process, only the snottiest of INS agents would likely give you a hassle. Personally, I've always used the visitors entry when coming through a US gateway airport but found the lines actually shorter than for the US Residents ones.

At pre-clearance, I've got my NEXUS card! (Too bad the kiosks are not available at non-Canada/US entry points.)

I did in March on the way back from AKL via SYD at SFO on the way back home to YEG and have done it many others times including ORD, SEA and LAX. As I said in maybe a dozen times DHS/INS agents have never said a thing, though I'm sure it is an imperfect system and YMMV.

I remember way back when I flew via HNL to YVR from SYD, they only requested I show them the blue form and the passport. But again, this was the days before they started fingerprinting and photographing. At least us canuckistans don't need to worry about the additional hassle, yet.

Sanosuke!

Canadians do not need to fill out an I94(white form) or an I94W(green form) unless you hold some kind of a visa (like an H1B, E1, etc.). Canadians entering the US only need to fill out the customs declaration card (blue form, with white text fields).

I got berated for attempting this at JFK a year or so ago. The agent working the line told me to go the the US citizens line but when I reached the officer he asked me how I could be so stupid and sent me to the back of the foreigners line nearly causing me to miss my connecting flight.

I don't mean to "hi-jack" this thread, but I do have a related question and don't want to start a new thread.

I'm planning on flying with UA from YYZ to HKG (via SFO). How painful is the transit (going thru immigration and stuff). I have done this route before but it was 10 years ago.

You'll be clearing US immigration and customs in YYZ. You drop off your luggage after clearing US customs, and I believe you won't be seeing your bags until you arrive in HKG, after clearing HK immigrations. Look in the UA/San Francisco forum for more info on switching from the domestic terminal to the international terminal.

Anybody have any additional experiences with using the US citizens line instead of foreigners line?

Have never tried going to the US one nor been told by an officer that I could go there in the future.

At PHL, I've used "whichever line is shorter". I'm a CDN citizen on a TN visa. I told the agent "I wasn't sure which line to use" (when using the US line), and he said "Yeah it's OK".

JP

When entering the US at LAX from AKL, I have frequently used the US line as opposed to foreigners. I travel on a Cdn passport.

I have used the US citizens line in the past after being told I could by the agent at the head of the lines. There was no problem upon getting to the desk. The immigration agent at the desk didn't even blink when I handed him my Canadian passport, just went into his usual line of questioning.

Greg

At which airports of entry does the INS generally allow Canadian citizens to use the American citizen/green card holder line, and at which ones the INS does not allow this?

ORD pulls CDN's out of the longer line into the US line when the US line is short. it would be nice if it was automatic but i can appreciate the US persons right to a speedy line and my alien access on an occasional basis.

Totally agreed - wouldn't it be nice if Canada C & I did the same for Canadians?

At least at YVR they do. But because of the way they have set it up, they can easily "switch" boothes from Canada to foreigner or vice versa to deal with traffic flow.

I've been instructed to use US Citizen lines at Cruise Terminals in Los Angeles and New Orleans, so it's not just restricted to Airline entry.

That is incorrect with respect to the post you were replying to. CLT does in fact have a port policy that an I94W must be filled in by Canadians unless they are in direct transit to Canada (eg next flight out). If you are staying overnight in the US, or even travelling to a border city, you are not exempt from filling out the I94W at CLT. Each port of entry appears to have the right to determine their own policies which would also explain the disparity between some airports allowing Canadians to use the US passport holder line and others not.

At Port Canaveral as well.

I tried that once (last year) on arrival in LAS. We had flown in from YVR on PAL (the flight did not pre-clear @ YVR). There was a 'line checker' making sure everyone was in the correct line (we were in the US citizen line) and when I showed her our CAN passports she kicked us out into the 'foreign' line.

I guess whether or not a CDN passport gets to use the U.S. lines can sometimes also depend on the mood of the immigration officers and the ones manning the lines as well during that particular time.

That makes no sense at all. I'm not saying that you are wrong about CLT requiring that, but such a policy makes no sense at all. The I94W form is for visitors from visa waiver countries (hence the "w"), and Canada is specifically not a visa waiver country.

If they really are enforcing this policy continuously, and not just once by happenstance, I suspect that Charlotte gets few enough Canadians clearing immigration that they have never yet figured out the difference between Canada and a visa waiver country. CLT has few enough international flights relative to its size in the first place, and all the Canadian flights are (I believe) pre-cleared in Canada.

I am unable to find any reference anywhere on the US CBP web site to individual ports being able to decide which countries are in the visa waiver program. Can you maybe help us with a reference to that?

I don't have a reference other than can share the same experience as mattm00se.. I was sent to the back of the line to re-fill in the proper form and when I asked why I was told it was port policy. She explained that it is not needed for immediately returning to Canada but otherwise was a requirement at CLT.

Interesting. I once had a minor incident in HNL when an AC agent had mistakenly assumed I was Canadian at check in in SYD. The DHS computer system therefore flagged me as ineligible to enter the US with an I94W. They had to correct the initial error - which was slightly involved - before I could go on my way.

Perhaps CLT uses the I94W for some internal purpose rather than its intended use, but from my experience it would seem that the DHS system will deny you entry if you are Canadian and trying to use the form.

So ... do they keep the entire form, or do they leave the departure portion with you, to be handed in when leaving the country? (The latter is the standard procedure with the I94W.)

I was left with the departure portion and submitted it a few weeks later when flying back from LAS-YVR. The agent did not bat an eye.

Could be a ICE supervisor who doesn't know how to do his job snce the CBP website does state "Entry of Citizens of Canada
Citizens of Canada are exempt from the visa and passport requirement of Immigration and Nationality Act (section 212(a)(7).)" . I've arrived in PIT which saw just a few more international arrivals (back about 6-8 years ago) than CLT a few times and never had any problems.

Some time ago, I emailed an INS email address about the access to the US citizen/resident line (at US ports of entry) to Canadians - no reply. I guess I can call the 1-900- ... .... INS number, which gives general info on visas, entry requirements to USA etc, forms for Canadians to fill out if entering from a nonCanadian border port of entry. It would be nice to have a general INS email address, where there is a likelihood of a timely response - then such a (positive, if possible) response can be considered a documented answer - which can be used if the INS agents denies use of the US line by the Canadian.

I work at CLT in immigration i.e. the person who interprets and tells you what line/officer to go to. In any case I came upon this forum and decided to explain what happens at CLT.

Canada is not a ''Visa-Waiver'' country. If you were the Immigration officials would be fingerprinting you all and taking your picture and you would be required to fill out the GREEN FORM in addition to your Blue Customs Declaration. Additionally a new rule goes in effecti n January for Visa-Waiver participants....you'll have to log online 72 hours before boarding your plane and register electronically, so CBP will know who you are and what you're about before simply jumping on the plane.

I repeat this only applies to countries in the Visa-Waiver program. Canada isn't in that program!

Yes it is true that you don't need a Visa to come to the US though if you are Canadian. However, Canadians are in a different category pretty much. Anyways, following 9/11 when CBP began cracking down on immigration and illegal aliens they discovered many Canadians came to the United States and just never went home. As a result at CLT they make Canadians who are staying overnight fill out the I-94 form unless they have tickets going to Canada or to a border city. They want accountability and have a record that the Canadian national did leave the US.

This rule has changed back and forth many times at CLT, so it is a little gray. Three years ago we didn't make Canadians do this, then it tirned into if you're going to be in the US more than 7 jours you have to fill it out. Then it became if you're only driving across the border or staying over 7 hours in the US. Then it became only if you are spending the night in the US.

This is where the policy stands right now. If you are staying overnight in the US...it doesn't matter if its a hotel in the border city or spending the night in the airport you have to fill out the form. Leave lines 9 and 10 blank because those are City Where Visa Was Issued and Date Issued of Visa, respectively.....and DING DING you guys don't have Visa even though you're using the Visa Form.

This is a fight pretty much everyday with Canadians over filling out these forms. I understand you guys probably haven't done it other places, but realize every port of entry and general area has its own director. As its been explained to me, the port has some flexibility in terms of how they carry out things and implement things.

Oh and by the way about slipping into line with the USCs...do so at your own risk. Again every airport is different, its best to ask first rather assume as its up the port to decide how they want to handle passengers. Some Airports have special lines for Diplomats, Permanent Residents, Canadians etc. Other airports let US Citizens and Residents go together, and let Canadians process in US lines or give them their own official/unofficial lines or have special Apec Cardholder lines.

In CLT, there's no profential treatment for Canadian citizens as they are Aliens as well. Foreigners have their own line, US Citizens and Residents share one, and then there is a Special Assist, Crew, Diplomat, Apec Cardholder Line which they all share.

As for calling or wanting to know defacto what lines Canadians can go in or can't etc...if anything you should call the Port of Entry you'll be going through...because they will be the best informed as to how things are done at that airport, sea terminal or whichever. Even then, they might just rehash the official rule but in practice it may be very different.

BTW Canadians are not exempt from the passport requirement either as mentioned by a poster... that went into effect 1 or 2 years ago. The US said people can't travel here on birth certificates etc anymore, and that Canadians need to have passports and so Canada reciprocated it and American's need passports to go to Canada too. Yes you guys are VISA exempt but not passport exempt anymore.

As for questions about entering etc...realize when you're flying from Canada to the US...you are precleared ie there are American agents in the Canadian city and they process you there. That way you come to the airport as a domestic flight. In any case if you are transiting through the United States back to Canada for example, you still have to go through Immigration and Customs. Following 9/11 the US abandoned its' transit policy. So all passengers on their first port of entry from a non-precleared foreign destination will have to go through CBP inspection before continuing onto their other flight. Yes, we have passengers for example from Britain who go to Mexico for vacation but fly through the US. They have to fill out their Visa Waiver form fill out a Customs Declration be processed then go onto their flight and turn in their departure record 15 minutes later to the gate agent for a flight to London. It doesn't matter where you're going if you're from an international flight that isn't precleared you have to go through that process!

Seminole, your comments outline one reason why Canadians get annoyed at CLT. They are using a form explicitly not designed for Canadians (the I-94), and one that no other point of entry seems to use and applying it ad hoc. If the US wanted to require Canadians generally to fill out I-94s, that is the US government's option and would at least be consistent and provide fair warning to Canadians that they really do need to keep form I-94C (a Canuck version). Of course, many people would likely choose not to travel to the US in response. But having just one port of entry trying to use a form that might simply be thrown out if you hand it in at any other place (E.G. fly out of SEA) is simply inane and likely to generate many false positives.

Apparently CLT has a particularly bad problem with Canadian illegal immigrants ... though it's hard to fathom why. No special mentions about Canadians on the Mecklenburg County sheriff's web page. A whopping 86 murders last year (12x as many as in comparably-sized Hamilton, ON), though, maybe that's the rationale for the local I-94W requirement? :rolleyes: