Returning to Canada after years abroad

"You've already expressed a reluctance to deal with your embassy, for whatever reason, so who cares how long it would take in your bribe-ridden country? But even if you do, it takes time -- ask them."

Look, I'm sorry if something I said irritated you. I'm not saying it doesn't take time to make a passport. How much time is the issue. 2 months seems untypically long, for any country. The Canadian embassy here didn't sound helpful. This was not the first time. The embassy here doesn't seem tolerant of people like me, who accidentally have two citizenships. Or rather, it's not the embassy which is intolerant and unhelpful, it's the locals staffing the embassy who are. A number of friends have experienced similar difficulties. It seems a much better idea to make a Canadian passport later, when I'm living in the US (for college, which is my real purpose of travel - the Canadian holiday's just a stop to visit old friends), at a Canadian embassy in the US. And so if I'm refused entry to Canada it's actually OK - I can just stay in Seattle before I travel again to my final destination at my US college. I won't throw a tantrum.

I'm not actually acting lazy or stubborn not willing to get a Canadian visa for my home country passport. Besides the embassy issue, I'm traveling in 1.5 weeks. It's way too short a time. And if I enter Canada on a foreign passport, acting like a foreign tourist - isn't that also dishonest in another way? Will that count against me when I actually try to obtain a Canadian passport as a Canadian later? Most countries expect you to enter as a citizen of that country if you indeed have citizenship.

The reason why I keep asking about being allowed to enter Canada without a passport (but just a proof of citizenship) is because the Canadian government doesn't sound to be very restrictive itself about this. For example, http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/security-sec ... s-eng.html. It keeps mentioning that travel companies wouldn't allow a Canadian to board a plane going to Canada without a Canadian passport. But it never says that the immigration would actually deny entry - just that there might be hassles with the airlines/travel companies. It would be pretty odd not to mention rejection by Canadian authorities itself. When I was a kid (10 years ago) a lot of people were entering Canada with a foreign passport and just a birth certificate/proof of citizenship. Yes, you said that times have changed. But even one of the most significant changes, like Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, doesn't seem to affect Canadian entry requirements.

Thanks for your replies so far

And if I enter Canada on a foreign passport, acting like a foreign tourist - isn't that also dishonest in another way? Will that count against me when I actually try to obtain a Canadian passport as a Canadian later?

canada does not care about this.

When I was a kid (10 years ago) a lot of people were entering Canada with a foreign passport and just a birth certificate/proof of citizenship. Yes, you said that times have changed. But even one of the most significant changes, like Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, doesn't seem to affect Canadian entry requirements.

I guess you haven't visited for a while. Because of the US's higher security requirements, Canada has been forced to adopy stricter measures, so that US doesn't impose even tighter restrictions at the border.

Now, Strictly speaking, entering canada by car can be done without a passport. Question is whther they will accept your documentation as sufficient. After all, it would appear the anyone can bribe an official of your country to isse whatever they need. canada knows this. Your birth cert it self is not enough, and your country's ID may be suspect.

Well, I understand the issue about whether the documentation is sufficient. But in case I implied otherwise, my Canadian birth certificate was issued by Canadian authorities in Canada. It's not a document issued by my country, which you correctly stated that one can obtain through illegal means. Shouldn't this increase my chances better? There is also a birth certificate issued by the embassy of my home country in Canada, but that's a different document.

As for my foreign passport, well I don't think my country's reputation is a problem since so far the passport has been accepted by other countries including the US. It's not that bad.

You have trouble quoting me accurately.
I said "your birth cert itself is not enough". I did not say your birth cert was no good, just insufficient.

All the best.

I called the Border Information Service yesterday. They said it's fine to present just proof of citizenship. I hope this will work well. Thanks for your help

Oh, and by the way - do you know whether it's OK for me to enter the US twice with my foreign passport (first when I fly into Seattle, second when I return from Canada)? I have a multiple-entry student visa for the US, but I'll be entering Canada as a Canadian, so will it be OK for me to reenter US as a citizen of my original country? The US doesn't issue exit stamps or collect I-94 departure cards at the US-Canadian border right? In fact I think I read somewhere that when going to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days you don't need to hand in your I-94.

Yes, they issue I-94 when you enter US from any country, including canada. You will be entering US as a non-Cdn in the first instance (with passport and visa) and will be issued an I-94, which you should give to the Cdn officer as you leave US (you don't need it); and as a Cdn in the 2nd (if you have a Cdn passport) where you proabably will not be issued an I-94, unless your residence is questionable. Once you have a cdn passport I-94s for tourist activities will be rare.

But I probably will still enter US as a foreign national instead of Canadian the second time (regardless of whether I can apply for a Canadian passport when I'm in Canada), because it's as that nationality that my F1 student visa was issued, as well as my I-20 form - so I should hold on to my I-94 all the time right?