theForum » Travel » Travelling to the rest of the world » Travel to Canada » Just back from Canada

Just back from Canada

BenS — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 09:03:09 GMT

Hello all,

I just wanted to give an account (and reassurance) of travelling to Canada on holiday, using an eTA.

It was incredibly quick and easy and took less time than returning to the UK!

I did the eTA in advance, which is now mandatory (similar to the ESTA for the US). It was approved in seconds.

When I landed in Canada, I was directed to a machine to fill out a joint immigration/customs declaration, which takes 30 seconds. This is now entirely automated with no human interaction. You scan your passport into the machine and tick "no" to the questions about carrying live animals, firearms, etc. The machine gave me a little bit of paper that looked no different from a shop receipt.

I was then directed to a human who was sitting at an old-style wooden table. No passport machines anywhere. I gave her my passport and the receipt - she glanced at the receipt and passport for 2 seconds, smiled and said "thank you, enjoy your vacation". Not even a passport stamp!

So the customs/immigration process is 100% automated and takes 30 seconds max, while the human visual check takes 2 seconds.

The Canadians really are some of the friendliest people, even their border security staff!

RE: Just back from Canada

Hola — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 09:03:09 GMT

[quote]

[b]Normallife - 4 Apr 18 12:58 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]AB2014 - 3 Apr 18 11:00 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]BenS - 2 Apr 18 1:45 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Hola - 2 Apr 18 9:38 AM[/b]

Interested in how you answered the question - have you ever been charged, committed or found guilty of a crime when applying for the ETA to get into Canada ...
Did you say yes and provide details, or just ' risk it ' and say no on the basis of your conviction being spent ?
I want to visit and have the same dilemma, hence reason for asking
Thanks

[/quote]

I 'risked it' .......... ;-)

[/quote]

The Canadians have some information on being 'deemed rehabilitated' online here. You can ask them, although you might want to use a different name and email address, just in case, or you can assess yourself. Of course, if you just deny everything then they probably won't know about your record.

[/quote]

Need your advice/opinion guys. When I was convicted I naively sent an email to the US and Canadian embassies asking if I'd ever be able to travel to their countries for a holiday. The Canadian embassy replied and said I needed to be deemed rehabilitated. The US embassy didn't reply. My problem now is that I would someday like to travel to these countries but I won't want to declare my conviction. My worry is that they may have saved my details down from the single email I sent over 5 years ago. It included my offence and my first name, and how old I was at the time (didn't give date of birth). The email address I used included my full name but it also had a number with it as well. Do you think it's likely the US and Canadian embassies would have saved those details down onto their system? Or is the email I sent too unreliable? Considering there's probably loads of people with my name. What do you guys think?

[/quote]

I've read of many people who would risk it, esp as it was 5 years ago and you weren't completely crystal on your name. For US follow the advice again of many and fly via Dublin as you clear customs ( or not ) in Dublin so if you're going to get refused at least you only have a short haul back.
Provided you weren't ever put on an Interpol warning when you travelled you should be fine I'd say

RE: Just back from Canada

Normallife — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:58:24 GMT

[quote]

[b]AB2014 - 3 Apr 18 11:00 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]BenS - 2 Apr 18 1:45 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Hola - 2 Apr 18 9:38 AM[/b]

[/quote]

I 'risked it' .......... ;-)

[/quote]

RE: Just back from Canada

Hola — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 16:43:25 GMT

[quote]

[b]BenS - 2 Apr 18 1:45 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Hola - 2 Apr 18 9:38 AM[/b]

[/quote]

I 'risked it' .......... ;-)

[/quote]

Thanks for the reply, understand :)

RE: Just back from Canada

AB2014 — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 11:00:37 GMT

[quote]

[b]BenS - 2 Apr 18 1:45 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Hola - 2 Apr 18 9:38 AM[/b]

[/quote]

I 'risked it' .......... ;-)

[/quote]

RE: Just back from Canada

BenS — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:45:50 GMT

[quote]

[b]Hola - 2 Apr 18 9:38 AM[/b]

[/quote]

I 'risked it' .......... ;-)

RE: Just back from Canada

Hola — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 09:38:01 GMT

RE: Just back from Canada

BenS — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 08:51:39 GMT

HI John,

It looks like Toronto now have the system, but only for Canadian citizens at this time:

https://www.torontopearson.com/abc/

The machines on the video are the exact same ones they have in Montreal, except citizens of any country can use them.

Vancouver has now followed suit (available for citizens of all countries): https://www.yvr.ca/en/blog/2017/new-border-process-for-arriving-passengers-at-yvr

Hopefully Toronto will bring it in for everyone soon!

RE: Just back from Canada

JohnL — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:13:08 GMT

Interesting, so perhaps Montreal do the automated system and Toronto don’t, simile to how some UK airports have the e-gates and others do not. I have the ESTA already which also came through as accepted, but I may just give it a go direct to Canada as the saving is minimal and will certainly cause me less worry in the run up to the journey. But good news nonetheless on Canada.

RE: Just back from Canada

BenS — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 10:11:50 GMT

Hi, I flew directly from Gatwick to Montreal.

I haven't been to the US since my conviction so can't speak for that. I know the US and Canada share quite a lot of information with each other, so maybe if one country knows/doesn't know, the situation is the same in the other country, but honestly I have no idea.

You do need an ESTA even just to transit the US when it's not your actual destination. In the address field, write "In transit". https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1094/~/do-i-need-to-apply-for-esta%3F

RE: Just back from Canada

AB2014 — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 11:50:57 GMT

[quote]

[b]JohnL - 12 Mar 18 9:35 PM[/b]

BenS, this sounds remarkable easy! I’m planning a trip to Canada in September this year and will have ‘not had to notify’ for 24 months by then, almost to the day. I’ve googled what you’ve mentioned and cannot seem to find anything about these automatic immigration clearance machines... did you fly from the UK to Toronto direct or go via somewhere else?I’ll be visiting my brother who has lived in central Canada for a few years, so want to make sure i don’t have any issues. I’ve got the ETA and this came through straight away as accepted.Another question... have you been to the US since not having to register? I’ve found some cheaper flights that go via the USA, and then on to Toronto, but the thought of going via the USA sends shivers down my spine due to how strict I’ve heard they are, plus the fact that I read somewhere that the US and UK this year established some sort of more in-depth criminal record sharing...

[/quote]

JohnL, I think you're talking about this. It's just about better reporting of British people convicted in the US and US citizens convicted in the UK. Not sure, but you might still need an ESTA as well as an eTA if you transit the US, or so it says here.

RE: Just back from Canada

JohnL — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 21:35:23 GMT

BenS, this sounds remarkable easy! I’m planning a trip to Canada in September this year and will have ‘not had to notify’ for 24 months by then, almost to the day. I’ve googled what you’ve mentioned and cannot seem to find anything about these automatic immigration clearance machines... did you fly from the UK to Toronto direct or go via somewhere else? I’ll be visiting my brother who has lived in central Canada for a few years, so want to make sure i don’t have any issues. I’ve got the ETA and this came through straight away as accepted. Another question... have you been to the US since not having to register? I’ve found some cheaper flights that go via the USA, and then on to Toronto, but the thought of going via the USA sends shivers down my spine due to how strict I’ve heard they are, plus the fact that I read somewhere that the US and UK this year established some sort of more in-depth criminal record sharing...

RE: Just back from Canada

CC — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 21:33:47 GMT

[quote]

[b]BenS - 1 Nov 17 12:05 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Deb S - 1 Nov 17 8:13 AM[/b]

Thanks for the update Ben.

Great to have heard from someone that's been through the process. Any plans to visit again??

Debs

[/quote]

No problem Debs.

Definitely want to visit again! Wonderful place and people, and so huge that there are always new places to see. And at 40 times bigger than the UK with half its population, it's lovely and quiet - just you and the bears.

[/quote]

Hi I`m glad to hear this Ben, I have family there and wouldn't mind a visit. Its encouraging to hear the process is relatively straightforward. Glad you had a nice time.

RE: Just back from Canada

Yankee — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 14:04:05 GMT

[quote]

[b]BenS - 31 Oct 17 8:08 AM[/b]

[/quote]

Great to hear the process is smooth. I'm curious - do you currently have any unspent convictions or travel notification requirements (or was it smooth because of a 'clean' record now)?

BenS — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 12:05:56 GMT

[quote]

[b]Deb S - 1 Nov 17 8:13 AM[/b]

Thanks for the update Ben.

Great to have heard from someone that's been through the process. Any plans to visit again??

Debs

[/quote]

RE: Just back from Canada

Deb S — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 08:13:47 GMT

Thanks for the update Ben.

Great to have heard from someone that's been through the process. Any plans to visit again??

Debs

RE: Just back from Canada

AB2014 — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 11:06:26 GMT

[quote]

[b]BenS - 31 Oct 17 8:08 AM[/b]

[/quote]

Glad to hear your trip went well. I've never been to Canada, but the Canadians I have met over the years have all been great people. It's good to know that the eTA process is smooth, quick and effective - it's just a shame to know that the visa process isn't.:angry: