Once a PR what do i need to cross the border?

[essex0227]

I am British and now have my canadian pr. I want to go over to the usa, what do i have to get to do this?
I know from the Uk you need to do an ESTA but do i need to do the same here?
Thank guys.

[ccunnington]

From what I understand, PR doesn't give you the same rights as a full citizen as far as being visa exempt for example.  I do believe that you will still need to fulfill the requirements as a UK citizen to enter the US, but you should verify this with US Immigration.

[NBaker]

Indeed, in the same way as a green card holder from the US that is not visa exempt requires a visa for Canada so to would a non-visa exempt visitor for the the US with PR status in Canada need to meet their requirements.

You are travelling on your country's passport.

While the fact that you have status as a PR in Canada may assist with granting the visa since there is a basis to believe you are likely to return to maintain your status, one must still meet the requirements of the country related to visa unless you have citizenship.

With citizenship just satisfying the requirement that you would leave at the end of the visit would be needed, along with the valid passport.

[frege]

Indeed, in the same way as a green card holder from the US that is not visa exempt requires a visa for Canada so to would a non-visa exempt visitor for the the US with PR status in Canada need to meet their requirements.

You are travelling on your country's passport.

While the fact that you have status as a PR in Canada may assist with granting the visa since there is a basis to believe you are likely to return to maintain your status, one must still meet the requirements of the country related to visa unless you have citizenship.

With citizenship just satisfying the requirement that you would leave at the end of the visit would be needed, along with the valid passport.

Actually, the Canadian authorities are nicer to U.S. permanent residents than vice versa. Green Card holders are exempt from visas to enter Canada.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp#exemptions

[Steph C]

I crossed the US border with some international students a few months back, one Brit and one Norwegian. We had to step aside into a small office while they payed a fee for a visa. It was no big deal, the fee was around $7 and good for multiple entry for about 3 months. I know you can buy it in advance online, but not sure how. Anyways, it was no big deal to get that visa at the border.

[truesmile]

Some countries are subject to the US Visa Waiver Program. If you are from one of these countries, you will not require a US Visitor Visa to enter the US:

Andorra    Iceland    Norway   Australia    Ireland    Portugal
Austria    Italy    San Marino   Belgium    Japan    Singapore
Brunei    Latvia    Slovakia   Czech Republic    Liechtenstein    Slovenia
Denmark    Lithuania    South Korea   Estonia    Luxembourg    Spain
Finland    Malta    Sweden   France    Monaco    Switzerland
Germany    the Netherlands    United Kingdom   Hungary    New Zealand

[simb]

Actually, the Canadian authorities are nicer to U.S. permanent residents than vice versa. Green Card holders are exempt from visas to enter Canada.

you mean US greencard holder does not need a visa to enter canada ?
and what do you think canadian authorities are nice to US greencard holders ? do they ask many questions from them ? do they allow them easily enter canada knowing about spousal sponsership application is in process?

[frege]

you mean US greencard holder does not need a visa to enter canada ?
and what do you think canadian authorities are nice to US greencard holders ? do they ask many questions from them ? do they allow them easily enter canada knowing about spousal sponsership application is in process?

All I meant is that permanent residents of the U.S. are exempt from visas to enter Canada, but permanent residents of Canada aren't necessarily exempt from visas to enter the U.S.

[NBaker]

It really doesn't come down to a matter of 'niceness' it's a matter of differences in law, politics, foreign affairs etc..

Each country determines for whom visas are required or exempt much the same as the rest of the world sets their immigration laws.

Travel by car in many European countries and it would be rare to be stopped at a border, if someone was at a border to stop you in the first place. Often the concern is to be certain the car being driven has insurance.

Canada and more particularly the US is far behind the open border concept that exists in many places.