FACT SHEET U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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Office of the Spokesman
Before You Go:
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements:
American travelers to Canada should not depart the United States without a valid
passport or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document
(for land and sea border crossings), as these are needed for re-entry into the
United States.
For information on entering the United States and WHTI compliant documents,
including “Special Audiences, please see
http://www.dhs.gov/files/crossingborders/ or
www.getyouhome.gov.
For information on how to obtain or replace a U.S. passport, please see the
Department of State's webpage on Passport Services and Information.
Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of
citizenship and proof of identity. Children under sixteen need only present
proof of U.S. citizenship. U.S. citizens entering Canada from a third country
must have a valid U.S. passport. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens to
visit Canada for up to 180 days. Anyone seeking to enter Canada for any purpose
other than a visit (e.g. to work, study or immigrate) must qualify for the
appropriate entry status, and should contact the Canadian Embassy or nearest
consulate and visit the Canadian immigration web site.
Minors traveling with only one parent or without their parents may find it
useful to carry a written consent letter from the non-traveling parent(s)
authorizing their international travel. The letter should contain the minor’s
name and date of birth, the relationship to the minor, the statement of consent,
the parent(s) names and signatures, and a copy of the non-traveling parent’s
photo ID.
Anyone with a criminal record [including certain misdemeanours or Driving While
Impaired (DWI) charges] may be barred from entering Canada and must obtain a
special waiver well in advance of any planned travel. Refer to the Canadian
citizenship and immigration web site to determine whether you may be
inadmissible and how to overcome this finding. For further information on entry
requirements, travelers may contact the Canadian Embassy at 501 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001, tel. (202) 682-1740; or the Canadian consulates
in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami,
Minneapolis, New York, San Juan, or Seattle.
Traveling by Road:
Officials estimate Interstate-5 Peace Arch border crossing volumes during the
games will be at 124% of peak summer traffic, with similar increases expected at
all British Columbia-Washington State land borders within the Vancouver
vicinity. Visitors arriving by car should allow sufficient time for border
crossings in both directions. Northbound border crossing information can be
found at
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/border/ . Southbound border crossing
information can be found at
http://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/index-Border.html
Register with the Consulate:
The Department of State urges you to register with the U.S. Consulate in
Vancouver, preferably before you travel, via our Internet-Based Registration
System. This will help us locate you in the event there is a general emergency
or if someone in the United States needs to reach you about an urgent matter.
Travel registration is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S.
citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. Registration
allows you to record information about your country of residence or upcoming
trip abroad. You should leave a copy of your itinerary, a copy of your passport
data pages, and your contact information with family or friends.
Medical Care:
No Canadian health care provider accepts U.S. domestic health insurance.
Visitors who seek any medical attention in Canada should be prepared to pay cash
in full at the time the service is rendered. Traveler’s medical insurance is
highly recommended even for brief visits, including insurance for medical
evacuations. Medicare recipients should know that Medicare does not cover
medical expenses abroad. For more information, see the State Department’s flyer
Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad.
For the latest information regarding H1N1 flu, please visit
http://flu.gov or
www.fightflu.ca.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: IMPORTATION OF FIREARMS:
Firearms are much more strictly controlled in Canada than in the United States.
Violation of firearms restrictions may result in arrest, prosecution,
imprisonment, and deportation. As of January 1, 2001, visitors bringing any
firearms into Canada, or planning to borrow and use firearms while in Canada,
must declare the firearms in writing using a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration
form. Visitors planning to borrow a firearm in Canada must obtain in advance a
Temporary Firearms Borrowing License. These forms must be signed before a
Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at the border and no photocopies
are available at the border. Full details and downloadable forms are available
from the Canada Firearms Program. Canadian law requires that officials
confiscate firearms and weapons from persons crossing the border who deny having
the items in their possession. Confiscated firearms and weapons are never
returned. Possession of an undeclared firearm may result in arrest, prosecution,
imprisonment, and deportation.
Canada has three classes of firearms: non-restricted, restricted, and
prohibited. Non-restricted firearms include most ordinary hunting rifles and
shotguns. These may be brought temporarily into Canada for sporting or hunting
use during hunting season, use in competitions, in-transit movement through
Canada, or personal protection against wildlife in remote areas of Canada.
Anyone wishing to bring hunting rifles into Canada must be at least 18 years
old, must properly store the firearm for transport, and must follow the
declaration requirements described above. Restricted firearms are primarily
handguns;
however, pepper spray, mace, and some knives also are included in this category.
A restricted firearm may be brought into Canada, but an Authorization to
Transport permit must be obtained in advance from a Provincial or Territorial
Chief Firearms Officer. Prohibited firearms include fully automatic, converted
automatics, and assault-type weapons. Prohibited firearms are not allowed into
Canada.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: PORNOGRAPHY AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES:
Canada has strict laws concerning child pornography, and in recent years there
has been an increase in random checks of electronic media of travelers entering
Canada. Computers are subject to search without a warrant at the border, and
illegal content can result in the seizure of the computer as well as detention,
arrest and prosecution of the bearer.
Please contact the Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC, or one of Canada's
consulates in the United States for more information regarding customs
requirements, including information on carrying prescription drugs into Canada.
While You're There:
The closest U.S. Consulate or Embassy to the city of Vancouver is the U.S.
Consulate General in Vancouver (see contact information at the end of this
document). U.S. consuls stand ready to assist Americans in a variety of
emergency situations abroad, including lost and stolen passports, illness,
temporary destitution, crime, or arrest. If an American citizen becomes
seriously ill or injured abroad, a U.S. consular officer can assist in locating
appropriate medical services and informing family or friends. If necessary, a
consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United
States. However, payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of
the traveler. Your medical insurance company can advise you on whether your
policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as
medical evacuation. For information on Canadian doctors and dentists, please see
the List of Doctors and Dentists in British Columbia and the Yukon for doctors
and dentists who have expressed interest in serving American citizen clients.
If your U.S. passport is lost or stolen, you will need to apply for a
replacement at the U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver or one of our other
offices in Canada before continuing your travel abroad or returning to the
United States. For more information, please see the State Department’s
Frequently Asked Questions. Note that the Consulate General in Vancouver will
offer expanded hours during the Olympics and Paralympics in February and March
2010.
American citizens who need financial assistance should explore commercial
options such as Western Union or other money wire services, credit card
advances, or automatic teller machines (ATMs).
In emergencies, the U.S. Consulate can help you contact family and friends to
have them send money. For more information, please see the Department of State's
webpage on Providing Financial Assistance to Americans Abroad and its link to
the Department's Overseas Citizens Services Trusts.
Please note that consular officers in our Consulate General in Vancouver and
other offices in Canada cannot act as travel agents, ticket brokers, banks,
lawyers, investigators, post offices, or law enforcement officers. They cannot
find you employment, provide you with residence or driving permits, search for
missing luggage, or settle disputes with hotel managers. They can, however, tell
you how to get help on these and other matters.
Americans traveling or living in Canada are subject to the Canadian legal system
and can be arrested for violating local law. The Department of State, the U.S.
Embassy in Ottawa, and the Consulate in Vancouver cannot prevent an arrest, have
charges dropped, or request an American be released from jail or prison.
However, U.S. consular officers can provide other types of assistance. For more
information, please see the Department's flyer on Assistance to Americans
Arrested Abroad. If you seek an attorney in British Columbia, please see the
Consulate General's list of lawyers for attorneys who have expressed interest in
representing American clients.
Despite the best preparation, crises like natural disasters, terrorist attacks,
or mass-transportation accidents can occur. For information on what you can do
in a crisis and how the U.S. Government can assist you, please see the
Department of State’s webpage on Crisis Awareness.
Security Assessment:
The U.S. Government remains concerned about the sustained international
terrorists threats directed against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. While
there have been no specific, credible terrorist threats to the Vancouver 2010
Olympic Games, in the post-September 11th world, the threat from international
terrorist groups at major public events is always a principal concern. As
security increases in and around Olympic venues, terrorists could shift their
focus to more unprotected Olympic venues, open public spaces, hotels, railway
and other transportation systems, churches, restaurants, and other sites not
associated with the Olympics. U.S. citizens planning to attend Olympic events or
to participate in any large-scale public gatherings during the Olympic Games are
advised to use caution and to be alert to their surroundings at all times. This
includes the periods immediately before and after these events.
Al-Qaida's demonstrated capability to carry out sophisticated attacks against
sizable structures – such as ships, large office buildings, embassies, and
hotels – makes it one of the greatest potential threats to the Olympics. Threats
could also emanate from extremists who may not be directly controlled by
al-Qaida, as occurred in the Madrid train bombings on March 11, 2004, and the
subway and bus bombings in London on July 7 and 21, 2005.
Domestic protest groups, supporting various political causes, may attempt to
disrupt the Olympics through demonstrations or other activities. While the
Canadian security services are highly skilled at protecting large events and
controlling demonstrations, even peaceful events can turn violent, and Americans
are therefore advised to avoid any areas of public protest.
One way to make your foreign travel safer and more enjoyable is to inform
yourself of what you will find when you arrive overseas. The Department of State
publishes a Consular Information Sheet for Canada that includes information on
usual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances,
usual currency and entry regulations, as well as crime and security – including
risk of terrorism and drug penalties. Consular Information Sheets include
information designed to help you make your own decisions about travel.
Useful Contact Information:
U.S. Embassy in Ottawa
tel.: (613) 688-5335
address: 490 promenade Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario
U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver
o tel.: (604) 685-4311
o address: 1075 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia
Department of State's Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management
o within U.S. and Canada: 1-888-407-4747
o from overseas: 001-202-501-4444
Department of State's National Passport Information Center
o within the U.S.: 1-877-487-2778
Local Authorities
o Police: 911
o Ambulance (fees may be applicable): 911
o Fire Department: 911
Useful Links
o U.S. Embassy Ottawa's website is
http://canada.usembassy.gov
o U.S. Consulate General Vancouver's website is
http://vancouver.usconsulate.gov/
o U.S. Department of State's website about travel and living abroad is
http://travel.state.gov/
o U.S. Department of State's website for passport information is
http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html
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