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Keeping US Passport or change to Canadian?

jnt211

Star Member
Dec 17, 2015
125
11
New York
App. Filed.......
08-08-2018
Hello,

My husband and sons have just received their PR cards. They are US citizens and I am dual US/Canada. We all only have US passports. Now that we will be living in Canada do we need to obtain/travel with Canadian passports or can we continue to use our US?

Thanks!
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,558
7,195
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Hello,

My husband and sons have just received their PR cards. They are US citizens and I am dual US/Canada. We all only have US passports. Now that we will be living in Canada do we need to obtain/travel with Canadian passports or can we continue to use our US?

Thanks!
They aren't Canadian citizens, so of course they cannot obtain Canadian passports.

You can immediately apply for citizenship for your sons but your husband will be required to meet the residency requirements to qualify for Canadian citizenship.
 

Buletruck

VIP Member
May 18, 2015
6,666
2,521
You will need a Canadian passport for travel via commercial carrier to Canada (the US is the only exception). If you travel to foreign destinations, unless you travel trough the US, you’ll need a Canadian passport to return.
 

jnt211

Star Member
Dec 17, 2015
125
11
New York
App. Filed.......
08-08-2018
They aren't Canadian citizens, so of course they cannot obtain Canadian passports.

You can immediately apply for citizenship for your sons but your husband will be required to meet the residency requirements to qualify for Canadian citizenship.
Got it, the comment below (and others I had read) gave me the impression that has Canadian PR's they could/should get passports, but I didn't think that was possible. And for myself, is there any reason that I need to give up or switch to a Canadian passport instead if I hold dual citizenship? I always have, I just now will be residing in Canada instead of the US.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
92,538
20,358
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Got it, the comment below (and others I had read) gave me the impression that has Canadian PR's they could/should get passports, but I didn't think that was possible. And for myself, is there any reason that I need to give up or switch to a Canadian passport instead if I hold dual citizenship? I always have, I just now will be residing in Canada instead of the US.
Suggest you read the following:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/dual-canadian-citizens-visit-canada.html

My husband is dual and travels with both passports. There's no need to "switch". You simply hold two valid passports.
 

jnt211

Star Member
Dec 17, 2015
125
11
New York
App. Filed.......
08-08-2018
Suggest you read the following:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/dual-canadian-citizens-visit-canada.html

My husband is dual and travels with both passports. There's no need to "switch". You simply hold two valid passports.
Thanks, that link was helpful, though it does seem to indicate that there is an exception for American-Canadian dual citizens indicating that it is not required to hold a Canadian passport. Is there a reason your husband travels with both?
 

jnt211

Star Member
Dec 17, 2015
125
11
New York
App. Filed.......
08-08-2018
You will need a Canadian passport for travel via commercial carrier to Canada (the US is the only exception). If you travel to foreign destinations, unless you travel trough the US, you’ll need a Canadian passport to return.
Is this accurate, though if I fly say, between Canada and Mexico that I can't do it with a US passport if I am a dual citizen living in Canada?
 

zardoz

VIP Member
Feb 2, 2013
13,304
2,166
Canada
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FAM
Visa Office......
London
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16-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
31-07-2013
LANDED..........
09-11-2013
Is this accurate, though if I fly say, between Canada and Mexico that I can't do it with a US passport if I am a dual citizen living in Canada?
Why is any of this an issue? If you are a Canadian citizen, just get a Canadian passport...
 

jnt211

Star Member
Dec 17, 2015
125
11
New York
App. Filed.......
08-08-2018
Why is any of this an issue? If you are a Canadian citizen, just get a Canadian passport...
It's not an issue-- just seeking clarification. When traveling with my husband and son (who have different citizenship status than I do) I didn't know if it would be simpler if we all traveled with passports from the same country. I also didn't know if there were issues with holding/actively using passports from two different countries simultaneously.
 

zardoz

VIP Member
Feb 2, 2013
13,304
2,166
Canada
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
16-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
31-07-2013
LANDED..........
09-11-2013
It's not an issue-- just seeking clarification. When traveling with my husband and son (who have different citizenship status than I do) I didn't know if it would be simpler if we all traveled with passports from the same country. I also didn't know if there were issues with holding/actively using passports from two different countries simultaneously.
You will always enter on a single passport but there is no issue with carrying both.
Just enter on whichever is most convenient for you.
 

jnt211

Star Member
Dec 17, 2015
125
11
New York
App. Filed.......
08-08-2018
You will always enter on a single passport but there is no issue with carrying both.
Just enter on whichever is most convenient for you.
So, to clarify... I currently live in the US (moving to Toronto in December) which makes applying for a Canadian passport challenging (because of the guarantor factor). I will be traveling between Mexico and Canada shortly after moving-- can I do this on an American passport? I can bring my Canadian Citizenship certificate for re-entry into Canada, correct?
 

keesio

VIP Member
May 16, 2012
4,795
396
Toronto, Ontario
Category........
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CPP-O
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Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
09-01-2013
Doc's Request.
09-07-2013
AOR Received.
30-01-2013
File Transfer...
11-02-2013
Med's Done....
02-01-2013
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
12-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
15-08-2013
LANDED..........
14-10-2013
So, to clarify... I currently live in the US (moving to Toronto in December) which makes applying for a Canadian passport challenging (because of the guarantor factor). I will be traveling between Mexico and Canada shortly after moving-- can I do this on an American passport? I can bring my Canadian Citizenship certificate for re-entry into Canada, correct?
Yes, you should be able to do so. There is a tiny chance that, when boarding the aircraft, if you disclose that you are a Canadian citizen, they will want to see some proof of that. But with a US passport, it is very unlikely they will even bother asking.