Using green card on United kiosk traveling to Canada
May 30, 2019, 12:10 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
May 30, 2019, 8:42 am
#18
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
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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.
TBH, I have never used my GC for Visa free entry (except the USA). Which countries allow Visa free entry for GC holders?
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.)
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.
TBH, I have never used my GC for Visa free entry (except the USA). Which countries allow Visa free entry for GC holders?
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.)
May 30, 2019, 9:25 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
May 30, 2019, 11:56 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,029
I think so? It was a 4-day return trip with separate tickets, one on United and the other on Air Canada.
As I mentioned before, this didn't hinder my ability to enter Canada itself, but United's online check-in and airport kiosk were awkward because they didn't ask to provide my eTA number or my permanent resident number, even though I entered my NEXUS card number, which conveys that I'm visa-free to Canada anyway.
As I mentioned before, this didn't hinder my ability to enter Canada itself, but United's online check-in and airport kiosk were awkward because they didn't ask to provide my eTA number or my permanent resident number, even though I entered my NEXUS card number, which conveys that I'm visa-free to Canada anyway.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 30, 2019 at 10:09 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
May 30, 2019, 3:51 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
Separate tickets? This may have dinged you at the kiosk. If the system was only able to see the OW to Canada, it may not accept your Green Card, as it wouldn't be valid for a stay > 6 months and the system has no way of knowing how long you will stay.
Visa required, except for Passengers with a Permanent
Resident/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551) issued by the USA
and an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). They are visa
exempt for a maximum stay of 6 months.
Resident/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551) issued by the USA
and an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). They are visa
exempt for a maximum stay of 6 months.
May 30, 2019, 5:28 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,029
I'm not completely certain because neither the online check-in nor the kiosk at any point of the process asked me at all if I had a green card even. It was the same when I flew to Toronto 3 years ago on the same airline/ticket/confirmation number for a weekend roundtrip.
Last edited by Nayef; May 30, 2019 at 5:34 pm
May 30, 2019, 8:02 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,104
I'm confused. Why would a kiosk ask a Saudi passport holder traveling to Canada if he/she has a US Green Card?
May 30, 2019, 8:14 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,029
The check-in process for United and the airport kiosk ask about country of residence, which I put as USA, but afterward they doesn't ask to input anything further, yet TIMATIC does.
May 30, 2019, 8:19 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Before someone asks how many Saudi passport holders with green cards are traveling on UA to Canada to make this an issue, don’t forget, that ‘Saudi’ can be replaced with [other country that requires a visa for Canada], and that universe gets a whole lot larger.
Now maybe it’s easier to default so that these folks get ‘see an agent’. But assuming UA kiosks (or the app) can handle accepting ETA info, why wouldn’t it?
May 30, 2019, 8:24 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,029
potentially since the entry requirements to Canada for a traveler holding just a Saudi passport vs. those holding a Saudi passport and US green card are different? And UA needs to at some point before boarding ensure that the traveler is meeting the specific requirements?
Before someone asks how many Saudi passport holders with green cards are traveling on UA to Canada to make this an issue, don’t forget, that ‘Saudi’ can be replaced with [other country that requires a visa for Canada], and that universe gets a whole lot larger.
Now maybe it’s easier to default so that these folks get ‘see an agent’. But assuming UA kiosks (or the app) can handle accepting ETA info, why wouldn’t it?
So I was wondering if anyone in my situation was able to streamline the process or if it turns out I used the kiosk incorrectly or something.
I did send an email to United about this, but it'll probably be a while before I hear anything from them. I doubt there's anything current I can do to circumvent needing to see an agent when checking in for a flight to Canada, which can be a pain if the lines are too long.
May 30, 2019, 8:25 pm
#28
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,104
potentially since the entry requirements to Canada for a traveler holding just a Saudi passport vs. those holding a Saudi passport and US green card are different? And UA needs to at some point before boarding ensure that the traveler is meeting the specific requirements?
Before someone asks how many Saudi passport holders with green cards are traveling on UA to Canada to make this an issue, don’t forget, that ‘Saudi’ can be replaced with [other country that requires a visa for Canada], and that universe gets a whole lot larger.
Now maybe it’s easier to default so that these folks get ‘see an agent’. But assuming UA kiosks (or the app) can handle accepting ETA info, why wouldn’t it?
May 30, 2019, 8:28 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,029
Okay, I understand that element of the process. However, these kiosks are checking in people traveling to who knows how many countries around the world. Certainly not just Canada. So this GC issue for a non-visa waiver national still seems like a small item in the big scheme of things... one that a real agent might be best to handle.
Either way, I'm glad my NEXUS card makes things a bit easier and I can hardly wait to get US citizenship so this hassle can be mitigated.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 30, 2019 at 10:10 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
