Do I need to show both Passport Book and card at the border?

[epmarshall]

Hi all,

I've been using a passport card to cross the border into Canada from the US. I've done this 3 times before and have been stopped one of those times. However, I got across the border the following day when I tried again the time I was stopped.

I recently got a passport book, though, as I was told on this forum that I would need the book for my future PR application rather than the card. My question is this. Do I need to show that I have both the book and the card at the border? I'm planning on just showing the book as of now. But I don't want a situation to crop up where the border officer thinks I'm trying to be dishonest by not showing the card and I want to make sure the past border entry issue won't arouse suspicion like I just got the book to hide that or something.

Thanks for reading. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rhcohen2014]

i would imagine you can use either or? i would recommend double checking if your passport book automatically cancels out your passport card. i hardly doubt cbsa will assume you got a passport book to "hide something", when you can very easily say you got it because you intend to apply for PR or so you can travel by plane outside of the us. it doesn't matter "why" you got it. if it was issued by the US government and is valid, there's no reason for them to question why you decided to get one.

the fact you were stopped at the border probably did not soley have to do with the fact you were using a passport card rather than a book. most likely there was another reason. this usually happens because of multiple trips in a short amount of time or lack of proof of ties to the US. using a passport book doesn't guarantee you won't be stopped or refused entry again. it is dependant on why you want to enter, how long you plan to stay and what the immigration officer thinks your intentions are.

yes, a passport book IS required for PR.

 

[epmarshall]

Thanks rhcohen! Just wanted to make sure of that. When I got the book, they said it wouldn't cancel my card so I should be good there.

Also, I know it wasn't because of the card that I was stopped. It was because I mentioned that permanent residency was in my long term plans. Very bad move because they pretty much didn't believe anything I said after that point especially since I was nervous. I messed up the wording when I should have stuck to terms like visiting, but I know better now. I got the evidence they wanted and it was fine the next day so hopefully I'll be prepared for any future border crossings.