Despite the fact that the Trudeau government has received assurances that Canadian passport holders will not be caught up in an American travel ban temporarily banning citizens of seven countries from entering the United States, the issues are not quite clear for many Canadians and permanent residents travelling and working in the U.S.

Due to the recent travel legislation changes in the United States, individuals with passports issued by Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia are not permitted to travel to the United States at this time.

Persons with permanent resident status in Canada who have a passport from any of the countries listed above, including individuals with valid U.S. travel visas, cannot travel into the U.S. at present.  Those visas will be cancelled.

Canadian citizens from the listed countries should take caution and limit travel into the U.S. at this time as well as use the means of travel suggested below.

   If a Canadian citizen MUST fly into the U.S., they should travel via airports that have U.S. customs pre-flight inspection and avoid small airports.   The review would occur on Canadian soil, and a person may exit the airport without an issue.

If a Canadian citizen MUST drive to the U.S., via regular border crossing, if the entry is denied, it is expected that the individual  will be allowed to return directly to Canada.

It might be wise for individuals associated with these seven countries to avoid flying directly into the U.S., as doing so would put  an individual at the greatest risk of potential detention in the U.S.,  keeping in mind that  the interpretation of the U.S. executive order is determined by the individual U.S. officer. It is also possible that if entry is denied, the examining officer may have difficulty determining whether the person should be removed back to Canada or the country of birth/dual nationality of the traveller.

The Canadian government has been advised by the U.S. government that Canadians born in and/or with dual citizenship with one of these seven nations will be permitted to enter the U.S.  However, we need to be cautious as the executive order continues to take form.  We trust that these suggested means of travel will minimize your risks.