Do Cdns require a biometric passport to enter the US now?

[EastCoastCdn]

I've been reading some stories recently about UK residents being told they won't be allowed to enter the US as they don't have a biometric passport and that as of April 1, 2016 they're required. My daughter needed a new passport this year and it is a biometric one - identified with the camera icon on the cover of the passport. The rest of us do not have the biometric version and our passports do not expire until June 2017. I've been trying to find information on the government website and airline website but can't find anything specifically to answer my question. Our trip is in late August and I'm trying to determine if we need new passports. Does anyone know where I can find out for certain?

 

[Canadian Girl]

I wouldn't worry. When they changed the rules to require a passport to enter the USA, there was a lot in the media with dates etc. I think the new passports will have the chip but the old ones are valid until they expire. The only thing I was told is that the cruises like passengers to have at least six months left on their passports before they expire.

 

[bcwife76]

No. I was reading a thread about this on another message board - this does not apply to Canadians who are Canadian citizens. If, however, you are a landed immigrant and not a Canadian citizen,then it could affect you.

 

[FigmentSpark]

No. I was reading a thread about this on another message board - this does not apply to Canadians who are Canadian citizens. If, however, you are a landed immigrant and not a Canadian citizen,then it could affect you.

So only people who do not carry a Cdn passport? If you are a citizen, but born elsewhere, would this affect you?

 

[Starwind]

Here is the US Dept of State page that explains the Visa Waiver program and the need for an e-passport to use the WVP (e.g. for UK citizens) as of April 1, 2016: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

Here are the Canadian (and Bermuda) citizen entry requirements to the US (US Dept of State webpage): https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/canada-bermuda.html

And passport requirements (basically, a WHTI compliant document): https://ca.usembassy.gov/visas/passport-requirements/

US CBP page for Canadian and Mexican citizens: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/canadian-and-mexican-citizens

US CBP page in WHTI: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative

From reading the above it looks like a valid Canadian passport is sufficient. Canadian epassports only became available July 1 2013 (they did a limited amount of testing before that), and with 5 year validity they start expiring in 2018... so quite a few Canadians will still have the non-epassports.

SW

 

[Starwind]

A more definitive answer for Canadians, from the US' ESTA page:

http://www.esta.us/canada.html

QUOTE (I added the red colour to make that sentence stand out):


Important Facts for Canadian Citizens:

• In most cases Canadian passport holders are not requited to hold a U.S. visa to enter the United States directly from Canada.
• Canada is not a part of the Visa Waiver Program and Canadian passport holders do not need and cannot apply for ESTA.

What documentation are Canadians required to show to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in order to be admitted into the United States:
Canadian visitors must present proof of citizenship (e.g. passport, birth certificate or naturalization certificate) and a government issued photo ID (e.g. passport, driver's License or provincial health card) at the U.S. Port of Entry if entering via a land border crossing. A valid Canadian passport is required when arriving in the United States by air or from outside of the Western Hemisphere. After June 2009 a Canadian passport is required for all air, land and sea entries. A Canadian passport does not need not be valid beyond the duration of the planned trip to the United States and it does not need to be machine-readable.

U.S. Entry Requirements for Canadian Landed Immigrant
Landed immigrants in Canada with a passport from one of the 37 Visa Waiver countries must apply for ESTA if entering the United States via air or sea. Land border crossings do currently not require an approved ESTA, but Form I-94W (the green form) and Customs Form 6059B must be completed at the U.S. point of entry. Canadian Landed Immigrants from non-visa waiver countries are requited to apply for a U.S. visa.



SW

 

[EastCoastCdn]

@Starwind, thank you for the information. Much appreciated

 

[bcwife76]

So only people who do not carry a Cdn passport? If you are a citizen, but born elsewhere, would this affect you?

@Starwind posted some helpful links, she explained it much better than I could!