Returning home for a visit

Been here (in florida) for a tad over 5 years and kinda getting the itch for a visit home to Ontario. I have my green card, just sent off the papers to get my Canadian passport. From what I've been reading, I don't really need my passport yet, my green card, Florida licence, should be enough to get back in the States. But what about getting into Canada? Is anything needed for this end? Will they (Canadian Customs) be doing a check on me as a U.S. resident seeing how I've been out of the country for so long? Reckon I'm just curious as to what some of the questions they might be asking!

They will probably check but everything should be okay as long as you have some kinda of proof you are a Canadian citizen. Do you have your birth cert?

I have my birth cert, but don't have my Ontario licence which has long expired.

are you driving or flying?

If you're driving, you should be fine, but if you're flying, you'll need a passport when returning to the US.

Your green card should say on it that you're Canadian. Mine does.

For some reason I assumed he was driving haha. But yeah if you are flying, you have to have a passport. You driver's license isn't going to make a difference really in this case. Your birth cert. will be fine at any land border along with your green card.

Keep this in mind. Everything may be fine right now, but make plans to stay in Canada longer, if need be, due to a red alert status. Getting back into the U.S. may be a bit stickier then.

Just a thought.

Good luck,
Mike

red alert status? what are you talking about? There is no indication of a red alert (severe risk) coming and even if it was in place, do you honestly think they are going to close borders? They are merely going to be more suspicious at the border and they will practice more discretion. The poster has nothing to worry about.

Firstly, a red alert could happen in an instant. Do you have a short memory?

I lived in Windsor, ON when 9/11 happened. Even now, it would take time for the added security (ie. National Gaurd.as in the past) to get out of bed, put on their uniforms, get a briefing, and man their posts.

When 9/11 happened, there were thousands of cars and trucks lined up to get accross. They were lined up all the way to Maidstone. The Red Cross and Salvation Army had to set up portable toilets and hand out water bottles and sandwiches, and that didn't happen right away. And, don't count on getting a hotel room when there is that much pressure on their availability.

All I was doing was warning that they may wish to make contingency plans in case their return to the US is delayed.

That's what I'm talking about. The poster has something to CONSIDER (not worry about, as you put it). And, if I were traveling across the border, I would take tons of I.D., including utility bills from the US address. More is better.

And, as I said,"Just a thought".

Cheers,
Mike

Mike, 9/11 isn't something that happens on a daily basis. If something of that nature does happen again, it's unfortunate and yes it could happen in an instant. But never once traveling to or from the US have I thought disaster was going to strike, and planned for disaster. The chances of something happening the day the poster goes across the border or tries to come back to the US are pretty small, in my eyes. While it is good to be prepared, most of us have enough to be concerned about without having to make contingency plans.

Also, if something of a catastrophic nature did happen, a utility bill isn't going to help you out. I have never seen anyone at the border (and until I moved to the US 6 months ago, I was taking a trip once a month here for three years) carrying phone bills , water bills, etc. to prove that they are completely legit.

Sorry I was a tad bit aggressive in my last post, but you have to understand.a lot of people on the internet try to scare people when it comes to processes that can be quite simple. A lot of extra concern or worry can make people nervous if they think something is going to happen, when everything is going to be completely fine. I know that I am already nervous when I go over the border to begin with so I don't personally need any extra hoopla about what could possibly happen.

Thanks for the replys. I will be driving there. I guess I'm just really curious about what the customs people do when checking out the people crossing boarders. I pull up, a Canadian with U.S. plates on vehicle, I'm wondering how he can check me out if all I have is a birth cert from Canada and a green card from U.S. and the only valid licence is from U.S. I'm starting to see some importance to having a passport.
And yes Mike, you have a point when travelling, there always is a "what if". No one crossing on 9/10 knew what was coming the day after.

Dave