Q & A: Canadian Permanent Resident Visiting the USA

Q. I am a citizen of India and recently I settled in Canada as a Permanent Resident. I have a good full time job in Software with a Canadian Company. I need to go to USA for four days to attend a conference. The question is, do I need to obtain any kind of VISA to enter USA?

Answer: Citizens of a commonwealth country (I.e., India) with PR status in Canada are not required to obtain a passport visa to appear at the US port of entry. At the port of entry, an immigration official will determine your eligibility to enter the USA, and the duration of your allowed stay.

When you appear at the port of entry, you should be in possession of documentation regarding the conference, your ties to Canada, and a return ticket, if possible.

[Comment: Exemption from the requirement to obtain a passport visa does not mean automatic admissibility to the USA. As is the case with any applicant for temporary admission, with or without a visa, an immigration official at the port of entry to the USA is subject to determine admissibility and the duration of such.

Permanent Residents of Canada who are not citizens of a Commonwealth country, and who are not otherwise exempt from obtaining a passport visa, should arrange a visitor visa in advance of appearing at the US port of entry.]