Conference kaosws::canada

	Have you tried calling a U.S. consulate/embassy with this problem?

	Tony

    Normally, a Canadian Driver's license is satisfactory, however,
    a conversation (read "argument") with a U.S. Air bozo last week
    at Logan yielded the information (from U.S. Customs ) that the
    real minimum is a Canadian Birth Certificate or Naturalization
    Certificate. A passport is not required.
    
    What is a Canadian Citizenship I.D. card ?
    
    Scooter

    
    
    My father was born in Canada, I applied for Canadian citizenship
    to the Canadian High Commision in London. They sent on a Certificate 
    of citizenship and a ID card. The ID card (same size as a VISA card)
    has a photo, name and DOB on it; it also states on it this guy is 
    Canadian citizen and to afford him the full rights bla bla....
    
    	-Ray.
    
    

    If you are a Canadian citizen, you don't need a visa to travel between
    the U.S. and Canada.  Every time I've gone, all I've had is my birth
    certificate.  Maybe it's different if you land from a third country??
    
    Glenn

    re: .-1 (Glenn)
             
    
    If you land from a third country, then you are not "travelling between
    the U.S. & Canada".
    
    I'm going down to Buffalo today. If I remember, I'll check with
    the border moderator dudes & report back.
    
    Scooter

	I was born in the UK and came to Canada when I was 9 months old.
As I was born prior to 1947, I have British citizenship.  I took out
Canadian citizenship in 1968, what I received is probably identical to
what you have (except for the mug shot and other personal details).

	This citizenship card will permit you to enter the US and Canada,
it's all I have ever used when requested by the border Gestapo.  There are
usually only two questions that you will be asked:

	"Are you a Canadian citizen?"  or a two part question,

	"Where were you born?" and then  "Are you a Canadian citizen?"

	Since you are a Canadian citizen and you can prove it, the only
other situation that could arise is a question about your present place
of residency, but that won't prevent you from entering either country.


Pat

    Hi Ray,
    
    I was born in the States but my mother took me back to Canada when
    I was a few months old. I became a Canadian citizen in 1971 and
    also possess an I.D. card. I have never had any trouble moving abck
    and forth across the border. However, when I went across with my
    wife who is Irish, the American border people held us up for a good
    while and then told us that even though my missus was a landed
    immigrant in Canada she still needed a visa to get into the U.S.
    You, however, are a Canadian citizen and the I.D is proof of that
    so I can't forsee any difficulty crossing over. But you might just
    hit one character who likes making life difficult etc....
    Hope you don't. 
    
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Ted

    Well, I did check U.S. & Canadian customs & immig. at the following places:
                                                      
    Pearson Int'l Airport - Toronto
    The border crossing near Niagara-on-the-Lake
    The Peace Bridge (Buffalo-Fort Erie)
    
    They were amazingly consistent - 
    
    A Canadian Citizenship I.D. card or a Canadian birth certificate or a 
    Canadian Passport fully acceptable in either direction. 
    
    Driver's Licenses, Immigration Papers, SIN card, etc. may lead to a 
    delay, depending (on what - most didn't say - one guy said "if you 
    look nervous or not").
    
    Scooter                            
    

 
       Thanks everybody for your help,
    
    		go raibh maith agaibh,
    
    		-Ray.
    
    

    >>   go raibh maith agaibh,
    
     Same to you fella , with knobs on !
    
    ;-)
    
    Scooter

    As a follow up to the initial question.
    
    Does anyone know the story about crossing from the USA in a rented car.
    The folks here in Germany when i booked the car said check it out when 
    you get there...which isn't too helpful.
    
    Do you have to show papers or what?..The car is rented with unlimited
    milage so maybe I should say nothing
    
    slainte
    
    Mick

    Generally speaking, you can drive rentals back and forth to/from
    Canda and the US without any problems.
    
    Take all the car insurance offered and some credit cards/charge
    cards such as Mastercard and AMEX offer insurance coverage free
    if you charge the rental to the card. In this case one would decline
    the insurance. Check with your card company.
    
    International drivers license would be wise.
    
    The main thing to be concerned with here is whether or not you require
    VISA's to get to/from each country, being that you are not a
    resident/landed immigant of either.
    
    Have fun, and please drive safely, responsibly, and legally.
    
    Regards, Richard Tomkins

    
    
    Good Stuff!
    
      The lads at the canadian embassey said we need no extra visa if we
    have a USA one..just got to show we have a return ticket.
    
    Thanks for the info again.
    
    Mick

Neither the U.S. nor Canada require an International Driving License.

In addition, the various optional insurances offered by the car rental
companies are of no consequence.  What the Canadian authorities will be
interested in is evidence of Canadian insurability, specifically with
regard to liability for damage to others.  This is not part of the
optional coverage -- all U.S. and Canadian car rental companies are
required to carry liability insurance.

If you're renting from one of the major companies (Avis, Hertz, National,
Budget), the entire fleets are insured for both countries.  You should
still have an endorsement allowing travel to Canada amongst your rental
papers.  You can ask for it after you've filled out and signed all the
paperwork, just to make yourself feel comfortable that they haven't raised
the rates on you.

/john

    Can aybody help with Information ? The Canadian and US Immigration
    authorities need "TIME"...........in terms of light years.
    
    My Mother is a US citizen, and plans to visit me in Canada for Summer.
    During her stay in Canada, can she apply for Canadian citizenship?
    I have a landed Immigrant status, and have been living in Canada
    for Approx. 1 year. As she is a widow and is 62 years of age does
    she qualify????.
    
    I feel Canada is a better country to say the least.......!
    
    Thanks in advance 
    
    Jeff 
    

    No, she cannot apply that way ...
    
    First she must apply for landed immigrant status, and that MUST be done
    from a Canadian consulate or High Commission in the US.  She will then
    be allowed to live full time in Canada but not as a citizen.
    
    After 3 years continuous residence as a landed immigrant ... and she
    has to exclude periods spent out of the country, and she has to show
    that she did not cease being resident in Canada ... then and only then can
    she apply for citizenship ...  just as you must wait another 2 years
    before you can apply for citizenship.
    
    Canada has no automatic citizenship provisions such as by marriage to
    a Canadian, or by period of residence, except by birth in Canada, or
    birth abroad to a Canadian father or mother (subject to time limits
    and registration).  Canada does distinguish between resident status
    categories, such as landed immigrant, and citizen, although all are
    protected equally under the charter of rights and freedoms.  Generally
    all other categories may not vote ... only citizens have voting rights.
    
    Also, note that Canada does not require anyone to relinquish previous
    citizenships when they become Canadians, and therefore, they still
    hold all previous citizenships unless they are formally renounced.
    There are many countries which will automatically renounce your
    citizenship if you become a citizen of another country ... the US
    used to require such renounciation. (I don't know if this still
    applies).  Becoming a Canadian Landed Immigrant does not require
    such renounciation ... only taking Citizenship.
    
    Beware that many people who have become Canadians therefore have
    dual nationalities and are therefore subject to the laws of their
    country of other citizenship, if and where they might apply ...
    such as military conscription etc.
    
    So, in short, she must apply at a Canadian Consulate in the US for
    Landed Immigrant Status.  She would not be eligible for citizenship
    until after 3 years of continuous residence in Canada.
    
    I cannot remember all the rules, but I believe she would be eligible
    under the Family Class with sponsorship ... If you cannot meet the
    sponsorship conditions and she is the last remaining member of your
    family, I believe she would be eligible anyway.  As I said, I cannot
    remember all the rules ... it has been several years since we went
    through it all ...  You could get the details sent to you by calling
    Employment and Immigration Canada and asking them to mail to you the
    information leaflets ...
    
    Yes the process is slow ... for many reasons ... and remember she can
    be rejected ... I am told they are sticklers for certain health related
    conditions like TB.  After the application has been filed, and she has
    had her medical, she can visit you for protracted periods (up to 180
    days if memory serves) and you can obtain health insurance from
    either Blue Cross or John Ingle Insurance for visitors to Canada.
    
    Then, when her visa comes through, she can walk out across the border
    and then return as a landed immigrant!  That step is essential ...
    she must enter Canada officially as a landed immigrant, and that
    means crossing the border.
    
    Good luck ... 
    
    Stuart

By going through the process of becoming a citizen of another country, you
lose your U.S. citizenship.  The U.S. does not recognize dual citizenship,
although it does recognize that other countries may claim that U.S. citizens
have dual citizenship.

/john

    John, as I understand it, the US does recognize dual citizenship, but
    only on an individual basis on special dispensation.  There are a
    number of recognized British-US duals ... one was Jennie Churchill,
    Winston Churchill's mother.
    
    I knew several years ago that the US took this approach, but I hadn't 
    heard in recent years if this had been changed.
    
    Stuart

    ;-2
    
    Slightly incorrect.  As long as you inform the US PRIOR to becoming
    a Canadian, write a letter saying you still intend to be a citizen,
    ie pay taxes or what ever excuse you want, they are very unlikely
    to revoke your citizenship.  Once you have your court date, you
    write the letter and in theory no problem.   All this is due to
    some Supreme Court decision (US) basically saying you must actually
    revoke your citizenship by word, deed etc not just fall into default.
    
    
    Isn't there some MP in Ontario, I think had something to do with
    a leadership race, who is dual US/Canadian?
    

    I seemed to remember hearing about some change ... but couldn't for
    the life of me remember what the details were, or when ...
    
    

re .19

I think (but could be wrong) that what you are referring to applies in cases
where an American "automatically" becomes a citizen of another country by
virtue of that country's laws, e.g. marriage to a citizen of another country.

Moving to another country and applying for citizenship in that country
including taking an oath of allegiance to that country is likely to affect
U.S. citizenship.

/john

    I am under going the process right now as we speak.  So .... I hope
    your wrong and I am right!