We HAD to go to to Canada after all the trouble we went to to get our passports updated and located. Going over, the check-in with Customs went fine. It was when we got ready to return that the trouble began.
We went to the Victoria Clipper check-in line early (that was a good move) and got our tickets and passports ready. The officer looked at Ed's Canadian passport and asked to also see his Permanent Resident Card (often referred to as a Green Card). He didn't have it!
He had been advised that, just as you shouldn't carry your original Social Security card with you, you shouldn't carry your Green Card either. Neither his US Military ID nor his driver's license helped at all. The card was in the RV in Seattle but that didn't help either.
Ed had read everything on the Canadian passport website and the booklet that came with his passport. Not once did it mention anything about a Resident Card.
The officer said that luckily there was time to take care of the necessary steps but there could be an administrative fine of $545! We were asked to wait in a side office. They let us suffer for about 20 minutes.
Finally, an officer came and filled out all the many forms required. Since it was a first "offense", they gave a one-time waiver on the fine. (We didn't push it, but when we went to Montreal a couple of years ago, no Resident Card was ever mentioned.)
Anyway, I was glad that they let my Canadian Angel Man back into the good 'ole U.S. of A!
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