Driving to US - Spouse of US Citizen

[cdnSpinalTap]

Hello,

My wife and 3 kids are US citizens and I am a Canadian citizen. We need to get down to the US prior to the end of October to get the kids their SSN's so that they can claim the US Child Tax credit - or we miss out on it for good. The best case for us would be to drive to Havre or Great Falls from Calgary - least amount of time and the cheapest option, versus flying.

I know if we flew, we could all get into the US without issue. My understanding from this link here is that the current US travel restrictions do not apply to US Citizens and spouses or parents of US citizens. They way I read this is that I would be able to accompany them if we decided to drive.

Has anyone had experience with driving across the border, either being a non-resident US citizen or a non-resident spouse of a US Citizen? Also, the question assumes we would do all the correct testing - so not concerned about that part of it, just being able to get across the border.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Starwind]

The link you included pertains to people who have been in the list of 33 countries in the last 14 days. Canada is not in that list. I am not sure if that information applies in your case, so it would definitely be something you would probably want to clarify.

The information that does apply is this: https://ca.usembassy.gov/message-to-u-s-citizens-in-canada-level-2-travel-advisory-august-10-2021/ and https://ca.usembassy.gov/travel-restrictions-fact-sheet/ . It states "Citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States" are exempt but does not say anything about their immediate family members.

I am a dual US-Canadian citizen who lives in Canada, but I have not yet tried entering the US since lockdowns started in March 2020 [by choice, I know I am able to if I wish to]. If I were in your position, I would contact CBP (https://www.cbp.gov/) at the US border crossing POE I planned to use and ask them directly whether crossing would be allowed or not. If they say yes, I would also prepare for the possibility that on the day of the agent you actually deal with may say no. You may also want to contact CBP's toll free number and ask, or email them -- I have had good success in the past with both options when I have had questions.

Good luck.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Thanks, I appreciate the information. I will look into it.

 

[Cathyn35]

I’m a US citizen, married to a Cdn, kids are dual citizens. We live on the border (Cdn side) and i can unequivocally tell you that a Cdn citizen cannot cross by land. When we brought my DD to Fla for college, my husband had to take a train 3 hours to Toronto then fly to Detroit airport which is a 30 min drive from our home. We picked him up at airport. I had called the Detroit crossing CBP directly and was told they would not allow him in by land.
same this summer when we visited my family in Buffalo but this time he flew TO to Chicago then connected to Buffalo while we drove . Apparently being in multiple airports and planes is safer than driving in your car with immediate family.
It has been a long time since I got my kids their SS no’s but I swear we didn’t need to go in person. But I’m sure you wouldn’t go through all this if you didn’t need to.

 

[Cathyn35]

Hello,

My wife and 3 kids are US citizens and I am a Canadian citizen. We need to get down to the US prior to the end of October to get the kids their SSN's so that they can claim the US Child Tax credit - or we miss out on it for good. The best case for us would be to drive to Havre or Great Falls from Calgary - least amount of time and the cheapest option, versus flying.

I know if we flew, we could all get into the US without issue. My understanding from this link here is that the current US travel restrictions do not apply to US Citizens and spouses or parents of US citizens. They way I read this is that I would be able to accompany them if we decided to drive.

Has anyone had experience with driving across the border, either being a non-resident US citizen or a non-resident spouse of a US Citizen? Also, the question assumes we would do all the correct testing - so not concerned about that part of it, just being able to get across the border.

Thanks in advance.

Also previous poster is correct — the link you shared unfortunately doesn’t apply to you or your situation.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

I spoke to an agent at the Sweetgrass Border Crossing and he said that my wife and kids could drive across the border with no issue and no requirement to show negative test results or vaccination status. Me, as the husband/father and a Canadian citizen would not be allowed to cross with them.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

I’m a US citizen, married to a Cdn, kids are dual citizens. We live on the border (Cdn side) and i can unequivocally tell you that a Cdn citizen cannot cross by land. When we brought my DD to Fla for college, my husband had to take a train 3 hours to Toronto then fly to Detroit airport which is a 30 min drive from our home. We picked him up at airport. I had called the Detroit crossing CBP directly and was told they would not allow him in by land.
same this summer when we visited my family in Buffalo but this time he flew TO to Chicago then connected to Buffalo while we drove . Apparently being in multiple airports and planes is safer than driving in your car with immediate family.
It has been a long time since I got my kids their SS no’s but I swear we didn’t need to go in person. But I’m sure you wouldn’t go through all this if you didn’t need to.

Thanks for the response - consistent with the message I got as well (posted above).

Two of my kids are over the age of 12 and the requirement for them to apply for a SSN is that it has to be in person.

 

[Cathyn35]

Thanks for the response - consistent with the message I got as well (posted above).

Two of my kids are over the age of 12 and the requirement for them to apply for a SSN is that it has to be in person.

Ah, yes, I got my kids’ SS numbers when they were babies as I work in the US and needed it for taxes.
I wish you the best. It’s a giant pain in the *** with these rules

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Ah, yes, I got my kids’ SS numbers when they were babies as I work in the US and needed it for taxes.
I wish you the best. It’s a giant pain in the *** with these rules

Thanks...luckily we just returned from Disney World, so we are familiar enough with flying, it was just the driving I could not nail down. Just as an aside - we did not get the SSN's in Florida as it seemed every office in the vicinity was closed due to COVID. That would have been handy.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Hi, here a little late. I'm the dual citizen spouse of a Canadian, parents to dual citizen kids. My DH had to stay home alone when we went to the US to see my family a month ago. No driving across for him, while we could cross by car with no tests or proof of vaccination.
As for the kids, I'm assuming they already have their Certficates of Birth Abroad if born in Canada, or they have U.S. birth certificates. Are there no U.S. Consulates on your side of the country? Here in Ontario you have the Embassy (Ottawa) or the Toronto Consulate for these types of paperwork. They even accepted an OHIP card as one form of identification for (U.S.) passports.
I wish you guys good luck, however the trip comes about.

 

[Starwind]

Hi, here a little late. I'm the dual citizen spouse of a Canadian, parents to dual citizen kids. My DH had to stay home alone when we went to the US to see my family a month ago. No driving across for him, while we could cross by car with no tests or proof of vaccination.
As for the kids, I'm assuming they already have their Certficates of Birth Abroad if born in Canada, or they have U.S. birth certificates. Are there no U.S. Consulates on your side of the country? Here in Ontario you have the Embassy (Ottawa) or the Toronto Consulate for these types of paperwork. They even accepted an OHIP card as one form of identification for (U.S.) passports.
I wish you guys good luck, however the trip comes about.

US Embassies and Consulates in Canada do not process SSN applications [they used to, but that stopped a number of years ago]. For US citizens in Canada, SSN applications must be done via the Social Security Administration offices in the US. For a NEW (ie first time) SSN applications, if a person is 12 years and over the application must be done in person at an SSA office [which would therefore be in the US]. For kids under 12 the application for their initial SSN card can be done by mail.

Certain other types of US Citizen Services, such as US passport applications, are still processed by the embassies/consulates in Canada. I renewed my US passport several months ago via the US Embassy in Ottawa -- had it back in less than two weeks !! It was very strange being the only person in the US citizen services room !!

 

[TammyLynn33]

Hello,

My wife and 3 kids are US citizens and I am a Canadian citizen. We need to get down to the US prior to the end of October to get the kids their SSN's so that they can claim the US Child Tax credit - or we miss out on it for good. The best case for us would be to drive to Havre or Great Falls from Calgary - least amount of time and the cheapest option, versus flying.

I know if we flew, we could all get into the US without issue. My understanding from this link here is that the current US travel restrictions do not apply to US Citizens and spouses or parents of US citizens. They way I read this is that I would be able to accompany them if we decided to drive.

Has anyone had experience with driving across the border, either being a non-resident US citizen or a non-resident spouse of a US Citizen? Also, the question assumes we would do all the correct testing - so not concerned about that part of it, just being able to get across the border.

Thanks in advance.

can I ask you a question ? You guys can claim the us tax credit even if the kids don’t live in the USA ? I have a sick feeling my ex applied for the boys and well certainly didn’t pass the money on
I wonder if I can somehow find out if the kids Ssn are being used

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

can I ask you a question ? You guys can claim the us tax credit even if the kids don’t live in the USA ? I have a sick feeling my ex applied for the boys and well certainly didn’t pass the money on
I wonder if I can somehow find out if the kids Ssn are being used

Hello. This is what my accountant is telling me. To date we have received all of the COVID benefit cheques from the US at their direction, so at this point I have no reason to doubt them.

I have no idea how you would check that. Good luck to you.

 

[TammyLynn33]

Hello. This is what my accountant is telling me. To date we have received all of the COVID benefit cheques from the US at their direction, so at this point I have no reason to doubt them.

I have no idea how you would check that. Good luck to you.

just sickens me he’s probably depositing it all and thousands behind on child support