PASSPORT AND VISA

A travel document is an identity document issued by a goverment or international treaty organization to facilitate the movement of individuals or small groups of persons across international boundaries, following international agreements. Travel documents usually assure other governments that the bearer may return to the issuing country, and are often issued in booklet form to allow other governments to place visas as well as entry and exit stamps into them. The most common travel document is a passport, which usually gives the bearer more privileges like visa-free access to certain countries. However, the term is sometimes used only for those documents which do not bear proof of nationality, such as a refugee travel document.

USCIS issues four types of travel documents:

• Advance parole
• Refugee travel document
• Re-entry permit
• Carrier documentation

 

Advance Parole

Advance parole allows you to travel back to the United States without applying for a visa. A transportation company (airlines) can accept an advance parole document instead of a visa as proof that you are authorized to travel to the United States. An advance parole document does not replace your passport. 

Please note that having an advance parole document does not guarantee that you will be allowed to reenter the United States. At the airport or border, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will make the final decision about whether to allow you to reenter the United States. 

Refugee Travel Document

USCIS issues refugee travel documents to people with refugee or asylum status and to lawful permanent residents who obtained their Green Cards based on their refugee or asylee status.

You must have a refugee travel document to return to the United States if you:

• Have refugee or asylee status but are not a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder); or
• Are a derivative asylee or refugee.

If you do not obtain a refugee travel document before you leave the U.S., you may be unable to re-enter the United States or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

Re-entry Permit

Permanent or conditional residents should apply for a re-entry permit if they will be outside the United States for one year or more. While it is valid, a re-entry permit allows you to apply for admission to the U.S. without having to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Carrier Documentation

Carrier documentation allows an airline or other transportation carrier to board permanent residents who have temporarily been outside the United States and whose Green Card or re-entry permit has been lost, stolen or destroyed.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the Department of Homeland Security agency responsible for securing the borders of the United States while simultaneously facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. CBP is a diverse organization of law enforcement professionals, trade specialists, intelligence analysts, agricultural scientists, and other employees responsible for a wide-ranging set of missions that protect the nation while ensuring its economic health. CBP’s goals include preventing terrorism; unifying as one border agency; balancing trade and travel with security; protecting America and modernizing and managing for results.

Types of passports and travel documents

Canada issues around five million travel documents a year. Of these, 98% are regular (blue) passports.

Canada-issued travel documents include:

• four types of passports issued to Canadians
• two types of travel documents issued to refugees or stateless persons living in Canada

Canadian passports

Regular passport

We issue regular (blue) passport to Canadian citizens for casual travel, such as:

• vacations
• business trips

The regular passport has 36 pages. The validity depends on the age of the passport holder:

• adults, age 16 years or older, can choose a 5-year or 10-year passport
• children, aged 0 to 15 years, are issued passports for a maximum of 5 years
• Diplomatic passport
  We issue diplomatic passports to:
  • diplomats
  • high-ranking Government of Canada officials
  • representatives and delegates of the Government of Canada
  You can use diplomatic passports for travel to:
  • a post abroad
  • international governmental organizations  and conferences of a diplomatic nature
  The issuing office decides the validity period.
    
  
  
  Special passport
  We issue special passports to:
  • senators
  • members of Parliament
  • people employed by the Government of Canada who are in a non-diplomatic capacity and travelling:
  • to a post abroad
  • on an official mission
  The issuing office decides the validity period.
   

 VISA

Visa is an official document provided by the country you wish to visit, granting you temporary permission to enter the country for a certain amount of time. Visas vary depending on the length of stay and the purpose of your visit. They can be paper documents or just a stamp in your passport, depending on the country.

Visit as a tourist

How to apply for a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and what to expect when you arrive in Canada.

1. Find out if you can apply for a visitor visa

2. Make sure you need a visa to visit Canada 

3. Before you apply, find out which entry document you need to visit Canada. This could be a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization. The entry document you need depends on:

• the type of travel document you plan to travel with
• the country that issued your travel document
• your nationality
• your method of travel to Canada for this trip

4. What is a temporary resident visa / visitor visa?

A temporary resident / visitor visa is an official document stamped in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to travel to Canada.

Most travelers require a visitor visa to travel to Canada. You may also need a visa if you are transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.

5. Basic travel requirements

You must meet some basic requirements to travel to Canada. You must:

• have a valid travel document, like a passport
• be in good health
• have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country
• convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
• have enough money for your stay.
• The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.

You may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

Some people are not admissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:

• criminal activity
• human rights violations
• organized crime

You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.