Canadian wants to come to US, lacks ID, in limbo
June 13, 2022 1:34 PM Subscribe
So, an online friend is from France, and just became a Canadian citizen. As part of the naturalization ceremony, they made him tear up his work permit card, so he has no Canadian identification until he gets his passport. In the gap before he's expecting to get his passport, he has an event he wants to attend in the US, but he isn't sure how the border situation will work given his lack of passport for his new country. Any experience with this or suggestions on how to get a passport expedited or how to cross into the US and back without problems? He would appreciate the advice.
Oh and getting a passport quickly is a nightmare right now but here's the info.
posted by warriorqueen at 1:54 PM on June 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by warriorqueen at 1:54 PM on June 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I received my certificate of citizenship at my naturalization ceremony so he can use it according to immigration. If it looks like the example, as mine does, he should be okay.
posted by Kitteh at 1:56 PM on June 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 1:56 PM on June 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
The US will permit Canadians who are NEXUS cardholders to enter the US. A Canadian citizenship certificate is a suitable document for proof of Canadian citizenship when applying for a NEXUS card. In addition, if your online friend is a dual citizen of France and Canada, he is eligible to enter the US via the Visa Waiver Program using his French passport.
posted by RichardP at 2:05 PM on June 13, 2022
posted by RichardP at 2:05 PM on June 13, 2022
I'd imagine he could use his French passport to get to the US and then a combination of French passport and citizenship card on returning to Canada.
If he wants to get his Canadian passport expedited and he has a day to kill then he can line up at a passport office 10 business days before his date of travel and apply for a passport on an urgent basis. The one wrinkle I could see is that as this would be his first ever passport in Canada it may take them even longer to process, and they are processing things very slowly right now.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:11 PM on June 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
If he wants to get his Canadian passport expedited and he has a day to kill then he can line up at a passport office 10 business days before his date of travel and apply for a passport on an urgent basis. The one wrinkle I could see is that as this would be his first ever passport in Canada it may take them even longer to process, and they are processing things very slowly right now.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:11 PM on June 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
The US will permit Canadians who are NEXUS cardholders to enter the US.
Unfortunately, all the Canadian NEXUS enrollment centers are currently closed and remote interviews simply aren't available.
posted by praemunire at 4:01 PM on June 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Unfortunately, all the Canadian NEXUS enrollment centers are currently closed and remote interviews simply aren't available.
posted by praemunire at 4:01 PM on June 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Note also that he can cross via land as a French citizen without an ESTA. He will need to fill out a paper I-94W at the border if he does so; this means parking and going into the offices at the crossing for processing. This form does ask about other citizenships, and it's possible that there will be some weird eligibility thing where he's not allowed to use this form; so it might be a good idea to apply for the ESTA in advance just so you know that you'll be able to cross.
For returning to Canada, a certificate of Canadian citizenship will suffice; a passport is (apparently) not strictly required.
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:01 PM on June 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
For returning to Canada, a certificate of Canadian citizenship will suffice; a passport is (apparently) not strictly required.
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:01 PM on June 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
It sounds like there will be a solution and a happy end. I am very hopeful! However, I will say this: if he doesn't have the right ID and no passport of any sort, please be very careful. US Customs and Border Protection has always been strict and nowadays even stricter with Europeans than before, especially at land crossings. When in doubt, wait it out because he doesn't want to get banned for x-years due to some detail, however stupid and outside of his control.
posted by smorgasbord at 5:12 PM on June 13, 2022
posted by smorgasbord at 5:12 PM on June 13, 2022
Response by poster: A follow-up -- the new Canadian got into the US and back into Canada without any issues. Thanks for all your advice here, it helped!
posted by hippybear at 10:22 AM on June 27, 2022
posted by hippybear at 10:22 AM on June 27, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
The US-Canada border does require a passport to cross so I'm not sure how he will do on his French passport but perhaps the certificate + his French passport will do.
posted by warriorqueen at 1:50 PM on June 13, 2022 [2 favorites]