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how easy is it to go into the USA from CANADA?

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we are flying to calagary in CANADA but want to visit the USA as well ,
can anyone tell us if we will just have to show our passports at border control if we drive to USA from CANADA or are there other checks:confused:
we plan to return to calgary to fly back to UK

Comments

  • angel
    angel Posts: 2,017 Forumite
    As far as I remember we just had to go in and pay some money at the border, about £8 I think, answer some simple questions and off we went. Coming back into Canada was free!
    :smileyhea "here, hare, here" :smileyhea
  • thanks angel
    it looks like we should have no problems at the border getting into USA and out again into CANADA
  • Claudie
    Claudie Posts: 1,316 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Canadians need their passport but I would double check to make sure you won't need a Visa. There was talk you may need the new hologramned passort to gain US entry (if you are a UK passport holder).

    http://www.ppt.gc.ca/usa/trip_planning.aspx?lang=e

    More details are available on the VWP and other aspects of US immigration at the following wesbites :

    US Embassy in London: https://www.usembassy.org.uk
    Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit
    US Department of State: US State Department

    Have a lovely holdiay!
    The smallest deed is greater than the grandest intention ~ Anonymous
  • Claudie
    Claudie Posts: 1,316 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    This was what I was looking for...

    Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

    Important Notice:
    International travelers, who are nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, seeking to travel to the United States without a visa, should review this important information on passport requirements for travelers under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). All VWP travelers, regardless of age or type of passport used, must present individual machine -readable passports. Previous one-time exemptions for first-time VWP travelers without MRPs ended June 26, 2005. In addition, depending on when VWP travelers’ passports were issued, other passport requirements apply:

    Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06 – requires integrated chip with information from the data page (e-Passport).
    Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 – requires digital photograph printed on the data page or integrated chip with information from the data page.
    Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 – no further requirements.
    Temporary, emergency, official and diplomatic passports are exempted from biometric digital photo and chip requirements, but must be machine-readable.
    Italian, French and Temporary German Passports
    If a traveler cannot meet all of the requirements, he/she must obtain a visa for entry to the United States, and cannot travel without a visa on VWP. See Visa Waiver Program on the DHS, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website for additional information.


    http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html
    The smallest deed is greater than the grandest intention ~ Anonymous
  • thanks Claudie
    we have a UK passport which is Machine-readable not the new hologramned passport
    i have been on the web site about USA visa but i am more confused about it
    we are flying to canada rather than USA because we want to get to great falls montana usa but the journey is a lot cheaper if we fly to calagary and relatives meet us and drive us to montana
    if we fly london to great falls montana ,we have to change planes twice which adds hours on the flight time ,plus it costs alot more
    unless someone knows a better route to get from london to Great Falls montana ,i would love to hear from them
  • This was in 2005 - I crossed over by walking along Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls. All I had to do was fill in the visa form, answer some questions, have my pic taken and my right index finger print taken. I then paid $6 (have the right money, they don't give change) and walked out into the USA. If you are going back to Canada and are planning to re-visit America within 90 days, remember to tell the Canadian authorities that you are so that they leave the visa stub on you passport. If not, then make sure they take it out otherwise you may well be listed as an 'illegal' in America as they'll have no record that you've left. This could cause problems should you wish to visit again at a later date.

    A few days later I crossed the border on the main Vancouver - Seattle highway crossing and they didn't even bother with any questions when they saw the visa form stub attached to my passport.
    Vedra Nativa
  • thankyou The_Lambton_Worm
    for your advice ,we will be going back to canada to fly back to the uk ,so we will make sure they take out the visa form stub on our passports when we cross the border back into canada
    we do not want to be classed as
    'illegal' in America as we hope visit the USA again
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