Using green card on United kiosk traveling to Canada
May 28, 2019, 12:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
Using green card on United kiosk traveling to Canada
Hello,
I just flew to Canada on United, and during the check-in process at the kiosk, I put United States when I asked for country of residence, but it didn't ask me to put my green card info or anything. During online check-in, I was only asked if I had a visa or an eTA, and I chose the latter. Still didn't ask me to input a number or anything. After asking me to scan my passport, the kiosk still asked me to scan a visa. So I scanned my green card and it didn't go through.
I was in a rush (and there were other people waiting) and I forgot to ask the employee what to do about this if there's anything to do.
Has anyone had any similar issue with their green card? And is there a way to get it through the kiosk, or do I just have to line-up and have an employee do it every time?
I just flew to Canada on United, and during the check-in process at the kiosk, I put United States when I asked for country of residence, but it didn't ask me to put my green card info or anything. During online check-in, I was only asked if I had a visa or an eTA, and I chose the latter. Still didn't ask me to input a number or anything. After asking me to scan my passport, the kiosk still asked me to scan a visa. So I scanned my green card and it didn't go through.
I was in a rush (and there were other people waiting) and I forgot to ask the employee what to do about this if there's anything to do.
Has anyone had any similar issue with their green card? And is there a way to get it through the kiosk, or do I just have to line-up and have an employee do it every time?
May 28, 2019, 12:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
Hello,
I just flew to Canada on United, and during the check-in process at the kiosk, I put United States when I asked for country of residence, but it didn't ask me to put my green card info or anything. During online check-in, I was only asked if I had a visa or an eTA, and I chose the latter. Still didn't ask me to input a number or anything. After asking me to scan my passport, the kiosk still asked me to scan a visa. So I scanned my green card and it didn't go through.
I was in a rush (and there were other people waiting) and I forgot to ask the employee what to do about this if there's anything to do.
Has anyone had any similar issue with their green card? And is there a way to get it through the kiosk, or do I just have to line-up and have an employee do it every time?
I just flew to Canada on United, and during the check-in process at the kiosk, I put United States when I asked for country of residence, but it didn't ask me to put my green card info or anything. During online check-in, I was only asked if I had a visa or an eTA, and I chose the latter. Still didn't ask me to input a number or anything. After asking me to scan my passport, the kiosk still asked me to scan a visa. So I scanned my green card and it didn't go through.
I was in a rush (and there were other people waiting) and I forgot to ask the employee what to do about this if there's anything to do.
Has anyone had any similar issue with their green card? And is there a way to get it through the kiosk, or do I just have to line-up and have an employee do it every time?
I was surprised when I went to Vancouver at Christmas. Canada now requires me to have an eTA. As an Australian citizen I do not need a Visa for Canada but did need to register with Canada for travel to Canada and receive an eTA. It is a Canadian document that I was able to get online.
It has nothing to do with your green card which allows you entry to the USA.
May 28, 2019, 1:14 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
My issue isn't the eTA, which I have and it's fine. The issue is checking in and getting a boarding pass through the United automated kiosk to Canada or anywhere else that's visa-free for green card holders. I wasn't able to scan my green card because the kiosk asked me to scan a visa, even though I specified "eTA" instead of "visa" whenever I was asked about it.
May 28, 2019, 1:14 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,509
Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. need an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. They must present a valid Green Card and a valid passport at check-in.
May 28, 2019, 1:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
I flew to Toronto last week and needed to have my passport details for checking in for the flights to Canada which is already in the UA system. The eTA was already in the system from my December flight. I did not need to input my GC details for travel to Canada as Canada only cares about my non-US passport and the eTA issued by them.
For my return from Canada to the USA OLCI required my GC details which are already in the UA system.
GC is irrelevant to Canada.
For my return from Canada to the USA OLCI required my GC details which are already in the UA system.
GC is irrelevant to Canada.
May 28, 2019, 1:31 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
I was surprised when I went to Vancouver at Christmas. Canada now requires me to have an eTA. As an Australian citizen I do not need a Visa for Canada but did need to register with Canada for travel to Canada and receive an eTA. It is a Canadian document that I was able to get online.
It has nothing to do with your green card which allows you entry to the USA.
It has nothing to do with your green card which allows you entry to the USA.
That is definitely not true across the board. For example, my wife needed a visa to visit Canada prior to getting her green card. After that, she needed to show her green card but no longer needed a visa.
May 28, 2019, 1:35 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
So you need either need a Visa for Canada, or if Visa is not required you still need an eTA which is not the GC.
I needed the eTA again last week.
My issue isn't the eTA, which I have and it's fine. The issue is checking in and getting a boarding pass through the United automated kiosk to Canada or anywhere else that's visa-free for green card holders. I wasn't able to scan my green card because the kiosk asked me to scan a visa, even though I specified "eTA" instead of "visa" whenever I was asked about it.
For all international flights UA always requests my passport details at OLCI to receive my BP.
(I learn something new all the time of FT.)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 28, 2019 at 3:10 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
May 28, 2019, 1:45 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
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But I needed to have an eTA when I went in December. New requirement as previously I did not need anything from the Canadian government because, as you point out, I have a passport issued by a Commonwealth country (Australia).
So you need either need a Visa for Canada, or if Visa is not required you still need an eTA which is not the GC.
I needed the eTA again last week.
So you need either need a Visa for Canada, or if Visa is not required you still need an eTA which is not the GC.
I needed the eTA again last week.
May 28, 2019, 1:47 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,509
But I needed to have an eTA when I went in December. New requirement as previously I did not need anything from the Canadian government because, as you point out, I have a passport issued by a Commonwealth country (Australia).
So you need either need a Visa for Canada, or if Visa is not required you still need an eTA which is not the GC.
I needed the eTA again last week.
So you need either need a Visa for Canada, or if Visa is not required you still need an eTA which is not the GC.
I needed the eTA again last week.
Since Australia is visa-exempt country, Canada will just need eTA from you. If a citizen of Kenya wanted to enter Canada, he will need a visa. But if the citizen of Kenya is also a US permanent resident, then he can apply for eTA and enter Canada without visa. Hence why US permanent resident is still relevant for entering Canada.
Bahamas also allows US permanent residents to enter without visa.
May 28, 2019, 1:50 pm
#10
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Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawful...United_States)
Last edited by Nayef; May 30, 2019 at 11:57 am
May 28, 2019, 1:50 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,462
Canada and Mexico are the major ones. There are some other Caribbean countries in addition.
May 28, 2019, 1:51 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,126
As I said before, I already have an eTA. I’ve had one since it was introduced in 2016. The kiosk didn’t ask me to input an eTA number or anything like that. And usually you scan a visa or a green card, and Canada is visa-free for green card holders (provided their passport doesn’t already give them visa-free privileges to Canada). So I do have an eTA but that didn’t solve my original problem.
May 28, 2019, 1:55 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
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My passport info was already saved in my United account, as is my NEXUS number (KTN). Though there’s no option to enter the eTA number or my green card number. Not in online check-in, not in my profile or at the airport kiosk. I think I was only asked for country of residence at the kiosk, and was given a choice to pick either “visa” or “eTA” when I tried to check in online. But despite picking eTA, the kiosk still asked me to scan a visa. When it asked me to scan my visa, I scanned my green card (there’s no barcode or anything for the eTA aside from a number that’s digitally attached to my passport) and it didn’t go through.
May 29, 2019, 6:28 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Two thoughts;
(1) Had your eTA expired.? You might need to renew it. It doesn't last for ever. I think three years is the max.
(2) An eTA is connected to a passport, not to a green card, so presenting a green card to the reader wil never work. Did you try scanning your passport instead?
(1) Had your eTA expired.? You might need to renew it. It doesn't last for ever. I think three years is the max.
(2) An eTA is connected to a passport, not to a green card, so presenting a green card to the reader wil never work. Did you try scanning your passport instead?
May 29, 2019, 6:59 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
Two thoughts;
(1) Had your eTA expired.? You might need to renew it. It doesn't last for ever. I think three years is the max.
(2) An eTA is connected to a passport, not to a green card, so presenting a green card to the reader wil never work. Did you try scanning your passport instead?
(1) Had your eTA expired.? You might need to renew it. It doesn't last for ever. I think three years is the max.
(2) An eTA is connected to a passport, not to a green card, so presenting a green card to the reader wil never work. Did you try scanning your passport instead?
2) I scanned my passport (the very one linked to the eTA) on the kiosk, which it always has to ask for, and it still asked me to scan a visa after. But the green card is still important to convey visa-free status since my passport on its own isn’t visa-free for Canada. So I believe it asked me to scan a visa because I scanned a passport that normally requires a visa to Canada.
I don’t believe the eTA is an issue because the kiosks/online check-in only asked whether I have an eTA or a visa, but didn’t ask for further details when I chose eTA. And, with United at least, the agents at the gate asked anyone who wasn’t a US citizen or Canadian citizen/permanent resident to show proof of their eTA. I showed them the eTA confirmation email in my phone.
Last edited by Nayef; May 29, 2019 at 7:06 am