I am traveling with my Canadian girlfriend to Canada for the first time. I am British. What should we do when...
I am traveling to Canada (YYZ) with my Canadian girlfriend for the first time for a week. What I'm wondering is what do we do at immigration? They have different lines for Canada/USA, and then rest of the world. As I'm British, I obviously fall under the 'rest of the world' category.
Which of the following options should we do?
- Should we both go through immigration together in the Canada/USA queue?
- Should we both go through immigration together in the Rest of the World queue?
- Or should we both go through immigration separately?
Thank you.
customs-and-immigration canada canadian-citizens passport-control
asked 4 hours ago
podomunropodomunro
737
New contributor
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
I am traveling to Canada (YYZ) with my Canadian girlfriend for the first time for a week. What I'm wondering is what do we do at immigration? They have different lines for Canada/USA, and then rest of the world. As I'm British, I obviously fall under the 'rest of the world' category.
Which of the following options should we do?
- Should we both go through immigration together in the Canada/USA queue?
- Should we both go through immigration together in the Rest of the World queue?
- Or should we both go through immigration separately?
Thank you.
customs-and-immigration canada canadian-citizens passport-control
asked 4 hours ago
podomunropodomunro
737
New contributor
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
You’re not a family so you don’t qualify to join her in the Canadian line even if non Canadian family members traveling together were allowed.
– Honorary World Citizen
4 hours ago
Separate lines would be safest and easiest.
– Hilmar
4 hours ago
1
Going in the same line is the best, in my view, as you will be in contact till at least meeting the officer, sometimes you can even go forward together. (If no good answer comes, ask the staff in the wait for passport control area, but as far as I know everybody can use the 'rest of the world' line.)
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
@Willeke indeed. I recently used the non-Canada-and-US line with my (non-Canada-or-US) wife. The officer said we'd made the right choice (I think because the other line had kiosks, and they would not have been able to process her). I certainly did not get in trouble for using that line with my US passport. Neither would a Canadian with a Canadian passport. The closest we got to any trouble was the officer asking us how we met the friends we were visiting. I said "through my wife" and my wife said "I don't remember." Then she let us in!
– phoog
2 hours ago
@Hilmar if you look at Kate Gregory's answer, you'll see that going together is probably easiest and quickest, since the officers might want to interview the Canadian citizen to confirm the British citizen's stated intentions. There is no penalty to a US citizen using the non-Canadian-non-US line, as I can confirm from recent experience, so there is surely none for a Canadian citizen doing the same.
– phoog
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I am traveling to Canada (YYZ) with my Canadian girlfriend for the first time for a week. What I'm wondering is what do we do at immigration? They have different lines for Canada/USA, and then rest of the world. As I'm British, I obviously fall under the 'rest of the world' category.
Which of the following options should we do?
- Should we both go through immigration together in the Canada/USA queue?
- Should we both go through immigration together in the Rest of the World queue?
- Or should we both go through immigration separately?
Thank you.
customs-and-immigration canada canadian-citizens passport-control
asked 4 hours ago
podomunropodomunro
737
New contributor
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I am traveling to Canada (YYZ) with my Canadian girlfriend for the first time for a week. What I'm wondering is what do we do at immigration? They have different lines for Canada/USA, and then rest of the world. As I'm British, I obviously fall under the 'rest of the world' category.
Which of the following options should we do?
- Should we both go through immigration together in the Canada/USA queue?
- Should we both go through immigration together in the Rest of the World queue?
- Or should we both go through immigration separately?
Thank you.
customs-and-immigration canada canadian-citizens passport-control
customs-and-immigration canada canadian-citizens passport-control
asked 4 hours ago
podomunropodomunro
737
New contributor
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
podomunropodomunro
737
New contributor
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
podomunropodomunro
737
New contributor
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
podomunropodomunro
737
asked 4 hours ago
podomunropodomunro
737
737
New contributor
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
podomunro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
You’re not a family so you don’t qualify to join her in the Canadian line even if non Canadian family members traveling together were allowed.
– Honorary World Citizen
4 hours ago
Separate lines would be safest and easiest.
– Hilmar
4 hours ago
1
Going in the same line is the best, in my view, as you will be in contact till at least meeting the officer, sometimes you can even go forward together. (If no good answer comes, ask the staff in the wait for passport control area, but as far as I know everybody can use the 'rest of the world' line.)
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
@Willeke indeed. I recently used the non-Canada-and-US line with my (non-Canada-or-US) wife. The officer said we'd made the right choice (I think because the other line had kiosks, and they would not have been able to process her). I certainly did not get in trouble for using that line with my US passport. Neither would a Canadian with a Canadian passport. The closest we got to any trouble was the officer asking us how we met the friends we were visiting. I said "through my wife" and my wife said "I don't remember." Then she let us in!
– phoog
2 hours ago
@Hilmar if you look at Kate Gregory's answer, you'll see that going together is probably easiest and quickest, since the officers might want to interview the Canadian citizen to confirm the British citizen's stated intentions. There is no penalty to a US citizen using the non-Canadian-non-US line, as I can confirm from recent experience, so there is surely none for a Canadian citizen doing the same.
– phoog
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
You’re not a family so you don’t qualify to join her in the Canadian line even if non Canadian family members traveling together were allowed.
– Honorary World Citizen
4 hours ago
Separate lines would be safest and easiest.
– Hilmar
4 hours ago
1
Going in the same line is the best, in my view, as you will be in contact till at least meeting the officer, sometimes you can even go forward together. (If no good answer comes, ask the staff in the wait for passport control area, but as far as I know everybody can use the 'rest of the world' line.)
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
@Willeke indeed. I recently used the non-Canada-and-US line with my (non-Canada-or-US) wife. The officer said we'd made the right choice (I think because the other line had kiosks, and they would not have been able to process her). I certainly did not get in trouble for using that line with my US passport. Neither would a Canadian with a Canadian passport. The closest we got to any trouble was the officer asking us how we met the friends we were visiting. I said "through my wife" and my wife said "I don't remember." Then she let us in!
– phoog
2 hours ago
@Hilmar if you look at Kate Gregory's answer, you'll see that going together is probably easiest and quickest, since the officers might want to interview the Canadian citizen to confirm the British citizen's stated intentions. There is no penalty to a US citizen using the non-Canadian-non-US line, as I can confirm from recent experience, so there is surely none for a Canadian citizen doing the same.
– phoog
2 hours ago
1
1
You’re not a family so you don’t qualify to join her in the Canadian line even if non Canadian family members traveling together were allowed.
– Honorary World Citizen
4 hours ago
You’re not a family so you don’t qualify to join her in the Canadian line even if non Canadian family members traveling together were allowed.
– Honorary World Citizen
4 hours ago
Separate lines would be safest and easiest.
– Hilmar
4 hours ago
Separate lines would be safest and easiest.
– Hilmar
4 hours ago
1
1
Going in the same line is the best, in my view, as you will be in contact till at least meeting the officer, sometimes you can even go forward together. (If no good answer comes, ask the staff in the wait for passport control area, but as far as I know everybody can use the 'rest of the world' line.)
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
Going in the same line is the best, in my view, as you will be in contact till at least meeting the officer, sometimes you can even go forward together. (If no good answer comes, ask the staff in the wait for passport control area, but as far as I know everybody can use the 'rest of the world' line.)
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
@Willeke indeed. I recently used the non-Canada-and-US line with my (non-Canada-or-US) wife. The officer said we'd made the right choice (I think because the other line had kiosks, and they would not have been able to process her). I certainly did not get in trouble for using that line with my US passport. Neither would a Canadian with a Canadian passport. The closest we got to any trouble was the officer asking us how we met the friends we were visiting. I said "through my wife" and my wife said "I don't remember." Then she let us in!
– phoog
2 hours ago
@Willeke indeed. I recently used the non-Canada-and-US line with my (non-Canada-or-US) wife. The officer said we'd made the right choice (I think because the other line had kiosks, and they would not have been able to process her). I certainly did not get in trouble for using that line with my US passport. Neither would a Canadian with a Canadian passport. The closest we got to any trouble was the officer asking us how we met the friends we were visiting. I said "through my wife" and my wife said "I don't remember." Then she let us in!
– phoog
2 hours ago
@Hilmar if you look at Kate Gregory's answer, you'll see that going together is probably easiest and quickest, since the officers might want to interview the Canadian citizen to confirm the British citizen's stated intentions. There is no penalty to a US citizen using the non-Canadian-non-US line, as I can confirm from recent experience, so there is surely none for a Canadian citizen doing the same.
– phoog
2 hours ago
@Hilmar if you look at Kate Gregory's answer, you'll see that going together is probably easiest and quickest, since the officers might want to interview the Canadian citizen to confirm the British citizen's stated intentions. There is no penalty to a US citizen using the non-Canadian-non-US line, as I can confirm from recent experience, so there is surely none for a Canadian citizen doing the same.
– phoog
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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I just checked with a Canadian living abroad who has come home for visits and brought his non-Canadian girlfriend with him. They lined up together in the non-Canadian passport line. This enabled him to confirm that she was visiting with him etc. When they entered the hall, they actually asked a staff member about lining up and he reports that she asked them "are you together?" and then "but are you together?" in that tone that people use to young couples. On getting a yes, she told them to line up in the non Canadian line and they also went to the desk together.
I have seen on Border Security where a couple lined up separately and customs went and found the other one to confirm the visitor's story that she had a place to stay and so on.
You didn't ask, but you should probably fill out one landing card for the two of you also. That's what the visitor I checked with did.
answered 2 hours ago
Kate GregoryKate Gregory
59.4k10160257
My recent experience (as a US citizen with a non-Canadian, non-US spouse) is consistent with this answer.
– phoog
2 hours ago
Thank you @Kate Gregory for your detailed answer. We'll use the non-Canadian line. For landing cards, I believe Toronto Pearson now uses touch screen terminals as a replacement for landing cards - at least that was my experience when I visited last year by myself.
– podomunro
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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I just checked with a Canadian living abroad who has come home for visits and brought his non-Canadian girlfriend with him. They lined up together in the non-Canadian passport line. This enabled him to confirm that she was visiting with him etc. When they entered the hall, they actually asked a staff member about lining up and he reports that she asked them "are you together?" and then "but are you together?" in that tone that people use to young couples. On getting a yes, she told them to line up in the non Canadian line and they also went to the desk together.
I have seen on Border Security where a couple lined up separately and customs went and found the other one to confirm the visitor's story that she had a place to stay and so on.
You didn't ask, but you should probably fill out one landing card for the two of you also. That's what the visitor I checked with did.
answered 2 hours ago
Kate GregoryKate Gregory
59.4k10160257
My recent experience (as a US citizen with a non-Canadian, non-US spouse) is consistent with this answer.
– phoog
2 hours ago
Thank you @Kate Gregory for your detailed answer. We'll use the non-Canadian line. For landing cards, I believe Toronto Pearson now uses touch screen terminals as a replacement for landing cards - at least that was my experience when I visited last year by myself.
– podomunro
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I just checked with a Canadian living abroad who has come home for visits and brought his non-Canadian girlfriend with him. They lined up together in the non-Canadian passport line. This enabled him to confirm that she was visiting with him etc. When they entered the hall, they actually asked a staff member about lining up and he reports that she asked them "are you together?" and then "but are you together?" in that tone that people use to young couples. On getting a yes, she told them to line up in the non Canadian line and they also went to the desk together.
I have seen on Border Security where a couple lined up separately and customs went and found the other one to confirm the visitor's story that she had a place to stay and so on.
You didn't ask, but you should probably fill out one landing card for the two of you also. That's what the visitor I checked with did.
answered 2 hours ago
Kate GregoryKate Gregory
59.4k10160257
My recent experience (as a US citizen with a non-Canadian, non-US spouse) is consistent with this answer.
– phoog
2 hours ago
Thank you @Kate Gregory for your detailed answer. We'll use the non-Canadian line. For landing cards, I believe Toronto Pearson now uses touch screen terminals as a replacement for landing cards - at least that was my experience when I visited last year by myself.
– podomunro
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I just checked with a Canadian living abroad who has come home for visits and brought his non-Canadian girlfriend with him. They lined up together in the non-Canadian passport line. This enabled him to confirm that she was visiting with him etc. When they entered the hall, they actually asked a staff member about lining up and he reports that she asked them "are you together?" and then "but are you together?" in that tone that people use to young couples. On getting a yes, she told them to line up in the non Canadian line and they also went to the desk together.
I have seen on Border Security where a couple lined up separately and customs went and found the other one to confirm the visitor's story that she had a place to stay and so on.
You didn't ask, but you should probably fill out one landing card for the two of you also. That's what the visitor I checked with did.
answered 2 hours ago
Kate GregoryKate Gregory
59.4k10160257
I just checked with a Canadian living abroad who has come home for visits and brought his non-Canadian girlfriend with him. They lined up together in the non-Canadian passport line. This enabled him to confirm that she was visiting with him etc. When they entered the hall, they actually asked a staff member about lining up and he reports that she asked them "are you together?" and then "but are you together?" in that tone that people use to young couples. On getting a yes, she told them to line up in the non Canadian line and they also went to the desk together.
I have seen on Border Security where a couple lined up separately and customs went and found the other one to confirm the visitor's story that she had a place to stay and so on.
You didn't ask, but you should probably fill out one landing card for the two of you also. That's what the visitor I checked with did.
answered 2 hours ago
Kate GregoryKate Gregory
59.4k10160257
answered 2 hours ago
Kate GregoryKate Gregory
59.4k10160257
answered 2 hours ago
Kate GregoryKate Gregory
59.4k10160257
answered 2 hours ago
Kate GregoryKate Gregory
59.4k10160257
59.4k10160257
My recent experience (as a US citizen with a non-Canadian, non-US spouse) is consistent with this answer.
– phoog
2 hours ago
Thank you @Kate Gregory for your detailed answer. We'll use the non-Canadian line. For landing cards, I believe Toronto Pearson now uses touch screen terminals as a replacement for landing cards - at least that was my experience when I visited last year by myself.
– podomunro
2 hours ago
add a comment |
My recent experience (as a US citizen with a non-Canadian, non-US spouse) is consistent with this answer.
– phoog
2 hours ago
Thank you @Kate Gregory for your detailed answer. We'll use the non-Canadian line. For landing cards, I believe Toronto Pearson now uses touch screen terminals as a replacement for landing cards - at least that was my experience when I visited last year by myself.
– podomunro
2 hours ago
My recent experience (as a US citizen with a non-Canadian, non-US spouse) is consistent with this answer.
– phoog
2 hours ago
My recent experience (as a US citizen with a non-Canadian, non-US spouse) is consistent with this answer.
– phoog
2 hours ago
Thank you @Kate Gregory for your detailed answer. We'll use the non-Canadian line. For landing cards, I believe Toronto Pearson now uses touch screen terminals as a replacement for landing cards - at least that was my experience when I visited last year by myself.
– podomunro
2 hours ago
Thank you @Kate Gregory for your detailed answer. We'll use the non-Canadian line. For landing cards, I believe Toronto Pearson now uses touch screen terminals as a replacement for landing cards - at least that was my experience when I visited last year by myself.
– podomunro
2 hours ago
add a comment |
podomunro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
podomunro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
podomunro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
podomunro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
You’re not a family so you don’t qualify to join her in the Canadian line even if non Canadian family members traveling together were allowed.
– Honorary World Citizen
4 hours ago
Separate lines would be safest and easiest.
– Hilmar
4 hours ago
1
Going in the same line is the best, in my view, as you will be in contact till at least meeting the officer, sometimes you can even go forward together. (If no good answer comes, ask the staff in the wait for passport control area, but as far as I know everybody can use the 'rest of the world' line.)
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
@Willeke indeed. I recently used the non-Canada-and-US line with my (non-Canada-or-US) wife. The officer said we'd made the right choice (I think because the other line had kiosks, and they would not have been able to process her). I certainly did not get in trouble for using that line with my US passport. Neither would a Canadian with a Canadian passport. The closest we got to any trouble was the officer asking us how we met the friends we were visiting. I said "through my wife" and my wife said "I don't remember." Then she let us in!
– phoog
2 hours ago
@Hilmar if you look at Kate Gregory's answer, you'll see that going together is probably easiest and quickest, since the officers might want to interview the Canadian citizen to confirm the British citizen's stated intentions. There is no penalty to a US citizen using the non-Canadian-non-US line, as I can confirm from recent experience, so there is surely none for a Canadian citizen doing the same.
– phoog
2 hours ago