Canada WHP with entry via USA | Canada - Lonely Planet Forum

ONLINE

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:49:12 +0000

I have read various threads and opinions regarding travel to Canada on the Working Holiday Program (WHP) via the USA I am curious to hear the experiences that individuals have had in doing so. It is quite unfortunate and disappointing that there are so many threads relating to this subject, however posters never seem to provide an update of their experience.

I have an e-mail from US Customs & Border Control stating that a one-way ticket should be fine to transit the USA, however it is recommended that you take documentation such as the Letter of Introduction to the WHP as proof of onward travel. However, from what I have read, terminating your journey in Canada would be a breach of the VWP as it would exceed the 90 days permitted in the USA and bordering/adjacent countries and islands. This would then mean that providing the Letter of Introduction to prove onward travel to Canada would be shooting oneself in the foot!

I would be interested to hear actual experiences from Australians living in Canada, and also experiences from Australians who attempted to transit/holiday in USA prior to commencing their WHP in Canada, but were refused/denied.

1) Did you travel under the Visa Waiver Program?
2) Did you travel on the B2 Visa?
3) Did you travel on a one-way or round trip ticket?
4) What was your experience with US officials?
5) For those who entered under VWP, have you re-entered the USA since entering
Canada?

I have researched this subject extensively and am simply interested in experiences.

ONLINE

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 06:13:42 +0000

Im in Canada under the WHP. I entered via the rail border crossing between New York City and Montreal and spent 2.5 weeks in Canada then went back to the US for the day, then back to Canada and then left again for 2 months and entered again via the USA without my actual visa, since it was posted to my friend in Montreal and I hadnt been back to Monteal to collect it. US customs wanted to know everything and got confused a bit when I was explaining we have a working visa for Canada but overall we had no problems whatsoever. As long as you have the ESTA for the USA and you be polite during their "interrogations" youll be fine. This all happened in January and have re-entered in March, so its all very recent.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.

ONLINE

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:54:35 +0000

I am about to give you the only correct answer on this subject:
There is no specific policy for people transiting the US to use Canadian WHVs.
Technically, you need a visa. Practically, border officials are more lenient to those with WHVs, but they still have every right to deny you for failing to heed the conditions of hte VWP if they see fit. Border officials have the final discretion, and denied entry under the VWP cannot be protested (denied entry also makes you ineligible for the VWP in the future).

Anecdotal evidence does not matter because of this, and may or may not be misleading. (What if you're told you'll be fine, like #1 did, then you are denied because you don't have your onward ticket departing within 90 days? Anecdotal evidence of something taken on a case-by-case basis is not valid.)

Further, without an onward ticket or a proper visa, airlines may not let you board for the US. They are on the hook (fines) if you must be sent back.

The safest thing to do is to get a visa. Have your WHV in your passport before you go to help the process.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.

Pro tip