US citizen flying BKK -> TPE -> YYZ immigration worries
Sep 24, 2017, 12:07 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Sep 24, 2017, 6:47 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: BUF
Programs: SkyTean, Star Alliance, HHonors
Posts: 155
Sep 24, 2017, 6:53 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: BUF
Programs: SkyTean, Star Alliance, HHonors
Posts: 155
Even if all the hotels are sold out and I'm absolutely dead tired, I've got friends close enough to give me a ride if I really needed one. I'd owe them a BIG favor, but I'll be OK
EDIT: Just double-checked prices, and it looks like it won't be much more at all to get a hotel with parking & a 1 night stay after the trip vs. just an airport-adjacent parking lot. I'll be checking reviews and making a booking tomorrow.
Last edited by smc333; Sep 24, 2017 at 6:59 pm Reason: Added a note not worthy of a new post
Sep 24, 2017, 10:06 pm
#19
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,541
Please continue to follow this thread in the TS/S Forum
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Sep 25, 2017, 1:31 am
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I've got an upcoming flight and with my neurotic nature I'm working myself up with immigration worries.
I'm a US citizen flying to BKK in late October. My home airport is BUF but YYZ is only a 90 minute drive away, and an EVA flight from YYZ was a lot cheaper for premium economy than anything I found from BUF when I was booking.
My itinerary is to drive over the border to YYZ, then YYZ -> TPE ->BKK with my return the same airports, BKK -> TPE -> YYZ and then a drive home. I'm hoping to leave TPE airport on the return to see some sights but will only be in the airport on the way down.
I checked up on visa requirements and everything looked good. No transit visa required for US citizens with a passport to leave YYZ or to transit through TPE.
I've just used the tool that EVA links to on their site to check travel document requirements, and I'm seeing this for my last leg (TPE -> YYZ):
So now I'm worried that my plan to drive home won't be considered "acceptable evidence of onward/return travel" and I'll be stranded in TPE.
I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar situation, or if anyone has any advice. I feel like I'm worrying for nothing and I should be fine in TPE on my return but I'm pretty neurotic & starting to worry about this.
I'm a US citizen flying to BKK in late October. My home airport is BUF but YYZ is only a 90 minute drive away, and an EVA flight from YYZ was a lot cheaper for premium economy than anything I found from BUF when I was booking.
My itinerary is to drive over the border to YYZ, then YYZ -> TPE ->BKK with my return the same airports, BKK -> TPE -> YYZ and then a drive home. I'm hoping to leave TPE airport on the return to see some sights but will only be in the airport on the way down.
I checked up on visa requirements and everything looked good. No transit visa required for US citizens with a passport to leave YYZ or to transit through TPE.
I've just used the tool that EVA links to on their site to check travel document requirements, and I'm seeing this for my last leg (TPE -> YYZ):
- Visa is not required for Canada. Maximum stay of 6 months.
- Passengers not holding onward/return tickets or other acceptable evidence of onward/return travel may be refused entry.
So now I'm worried that my plan to drive home won't be considered "acceptable evidence of onward/return travel" and I'll be stranded in TPE.
I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar situation, or if anyone has any advice. I feel like I'm worrying for nothing and I should be fine in TPE on my return but I'm pretty neurotic & starting to worry about this.
Sep 25, 2017, 7:03 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YSB & YAM, Northern Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG Gold Elite, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 1,100
Might be worth considering hotel parking deals around YYZ
Something which many of us here on the "Canadian side" are aware of and could potentially be beneficial to the OP are the free parking deals offered by many hotels around YYZ. Essentially you stay overnight before and/or after a trip and park free for the duration of your trip.
The advantage of this is in not having a potentially long drive before departure and being guaranteed a good night's sleep after a TPAC before a long drive home on the QEW to Buffalo!
And of course you also have YYZ hotel documentation as additional support re being able to check-in at TPE.
(We moved from YYZ to YSB area 10+ years ago and have used these drive stay deals a lot. The best gave us 4 wks free parking for staying before and after our last HND trip!)
The advantage of this is in not having a potentially long drive before departure and being guaranteed a good night's sleep after a TPAC before a long drive home on the QEW to Buffalo!
And of course you also have YYZ hotel documentation as additional support re being able to check-in at TPE.
(We moved from YYZ to YSB area 10+ years ago and have used these drive stay deals a lot. The best gave us 4 wks free parking for staying before and after our last HND trip!)
Sep 27, 2017, 7:50 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: BUF
Programs: SkyTean, Star Alliance, HHonors
Posts: 155
Thanks for the advice everyone. Looks like I have a plan now. I'm going to make sure I've got my parking receipt ready for proof of onward travel and, if that's not good enough, I'll buy a refundable ticket from YYZ -> JFK or whatever, then sign up for in-flight WiFi and cancel it as soon as I can once in the air.
Sep 27, 2017, 7:53 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: BUF
Programs: SkyTean, Star Alliance, HHonors
Posts: 155
Something which many of us here on the "Canadian side" are aware of and could potentially be beneficial to the OP are the free parking deals offered by many hotels around YYZ. Essentially you stay overnight before and/or after a trip and park free for the duration of your trip.
The advantage of this is in not having a potentially long drive before departure and being guaranteed a good night's sleep after a TPAC before a long drive home on the QEW to Buffalo!
And of course you also have YYZ hotel documentation as additional support re being able to check-in at TPE.
(We moved from YYZ to YSB area 10+ years ago and have used these drive stay deals a lot. The best gave us 4 wks free parking for staying before and after our last HND trip!)
The advantage of this is in not having a potentially long drive before departure and being guaranteed a good night's sleep after a TPAC before a long drive home on the QEW to Buffalo!
And of course you also have YYZ hotel documentation as additional support re being able to check-in at TPE.
(We moved from YYZ to YSB area 10+ years ago and have used these drive stay deals a lot. The best gave us 4 wks free parking for staying before and after our last HND trip!)
(Plus there's a Perkins near the airport and ours closed years ago, so I'm guessing we'll wind up there due to nostalgia).
Sep 27, 2017, 9:32 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YQR
Programs: NEXUS; alas, no status anymore.
Posts: 1,181
As an American, you don't require evidence of onward travel when you visit Canada. You're entitled to come and stay up to six months. So I wouldn't worry about it.
If you flew into Toronto from Taipei and stayed a month to visit Canada, that'd be OK. It's equally OK to return to Buffalo the same day.
If you flew into Toronto from Taipei and stayed a month to visit Canada, that'd be OK. It's equally OK to return to Buffalo the same day.
Sep 28, 2017, 2:16 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New York
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott LTPP, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 1,078
As an American, you don't require evidence of onward travel when you visit Canada. You're entitled to come and stay up to six months. So I wouldn't worry about it.
If you flew into Toronto from Taipei and stayed a month to visit Canada, that'd be OK. It's equally OK to return to Buffalo the same day.
If you flew into Toronto from Taipei and stayed a month to visit Canada, that'd be OK. It's equally OK to return to Buffalo the same day.
Personal travel was the biggest hassle and NEXUS did not save me 100% of the time. They wanted to know why I was entering Canada, the license plate of my car, etc. by land, and when entering for a personal trip by air I got 20 questions on the bride/groom's name, exact street address of the reception, of the wedding, of my hotel, asked for proof that I would not become a burden on the state, etc. (even with NEXUS I've been searched reentering the US too).
I wouldn't sweat it, but in OP's case, I'd have my driver's license issued in the states, parking receipt from YYZ, and a printout of his itinerary. He'll probably pass CBSA @ YYZ and CBP @ US border fine, but having that evidence would probably make things a lot smoother if they have questions.
Oct 1, 2017, 7:59 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,621
You wouldn't even need to buy a "refundable" ticket. Before you leave your Bangkok hotel to go to the airport, you could buy a regular ticket on many American airlines from YYZ to somewhere in the USA. Show Bangkok check in staff the ticket on your phone if they ask. Then cancel it online within 24 hours for a full refund.
That's what I would do. I don't care if other people say "Oh, check in staff have let me fly without an onward ticket before."
This is always totally at the whim of the check in staff person you encounter. It doesn't matter if 1,000 of her colleagues will let Americans fly to Canada without onward tickets. You don't want to risk her looking at her system, then looking at her car keys and saying "No."
Another option here would be to just get to Bangkok airport a bit early and be prepared to buy the YYZ-USA ticket on the spot if challenged, then cancel it. They do have wifi there.
For your Taipei stopover, you can get a taxi to Taipei 101 and go up.
That's what I would do. I don't care if other people say "Oh, check in staff have let me fly without an onward ticket before."
This is always totally at the whim of the check in staff person you encounter. It doesn't matter if 1,000 of her colleagues will let Americans fly to Canada without onward tickets. You don't want to risk her looking at her system, then looking at her car keys and saying "No."
Another option here would be to just get to Bangkok airport a bit early and be prepared to buy the YYZ-USA ticket on the spot if challenged, then cancel it. They do have wifi there.
For your Taipei stopover, you can get a taxi to Taipei 101 and go up.
Oct 1, 2017, 3:10 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
No issue at all, I do this very often, driving from Michigan to YYZ, and park at hotels near the airport for their parking + hotel package deals. When you fly into Canada, US citizens go through the same immigration lines as Canadians.
If airlines ask about your onward (unlikely) itineraries, have your hotel + parking reservation ready.
If airlines ask about your onward (unlikely) itineraries, have your hotel + parking reservation ready.
Oct 1, 2017, 3:21 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,621
Oct 1, 2017, 3:29 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
This is always totally at the whim of the check in staff person you encounter. It doesn't matter if 1,000 of her colleagues will let Americans fly to Canada without onward tickets. You don't want to risk her looking at her system, then looking at her car keys and saying "No."
Another option here would be to just get to Bangkok airport a bit early and be prepared to buy the YYZ-USA ticket on the spot if challenged, then cancel it. They do have wifi there.
Another option here would be to just get to Bangkok airport a bit early and be prepared to buy the YYZ-USA ticket on the spot if challenged, then cancel it. They do have wifi there.
My experience is flying into Canada from IST, DXB, and Europe, no one ever questions if you're US citizen. Even arriving into YYZ if I show them my intention to driving back to US they usually just wave me through. However, if you hold passport other than US and Canada you'll usually go through very thorough/intrusive screening.
Oct 2, 2017, 12:22 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,449
Considering how stupid some checkin staff (mostly in the US) are regarding TWOV in China, technically yes, some BKK-staff might really be stupid too.
I'd rate the chances as small, and not do any preparation, apart from showing up early enough so in the case of an issue I could just buy a ticket right then and there (and cancel just afterwards) - I'd not bother with booking anything ahead, as the chance is probably below 1% that it creates problems, but it exists for sure.
I've had quite some questions when flying schedules that had me staying in another country without a connecting flight on the same ticket. Showing up the matching ticket always solved it. I suppose for CAN-USA, they'd understand you can just take a care over the boarder, so the chance they're actually asking is already smaller, and the chance for them actually having an issue with "I'll drive over the border with a train/car" is really tiny.
I'd rate the chances as small, and not do any preparation, apart from showing up early enough so in the case of an issue I could just buy a ticket right then and there (and cancel just afterwards) - I'd not bother with booking anything ahead, as the chance is probably below 1% that it creates problems, but it exists for sure.
I've had quite some questions when flying schedules that had me staying in another country without a connecting flight on the same ticket. Showing up the matching ticket always solved it. I suppose for CAN-USA, they'd understand you can just take a care over the boarder, so the chance they're actually asking is already smaller, and the chance for them actually having an issue with "I'll drive over the border with a train/car" is really tiny.