U.S. travel ban may cause issues for some Canadian permanent residents

June 28th, 2017  |  Travel

On Monday the United States Supreme Court ruled to allow a limited version of President Trump’s controversial travel ban to take effect. The 90-day travel ban for those hailing from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen is said to be necessary to increase security and assess the screening process for those hoping to obtain a United States visa from said countries.

"It's kind of an interesting compromise," said Stephen Green, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer. "Anyone applying for a visa has to have generally some form of connection or reason to go to the United States."

With the 90-day United States travel ban coming into effect Thursday morning, some Canadians, with permanent residence status, may experience trouble traveling south of the Canadian border.

Green explains that Canadian permanent residents, who are from the six countries included in the travel ban, may not be able to enter the United States over the next 90 days. Those allowed a visa need to have a strong connection to someone in the U.S. and a legitimate reason for entering the country.

"The permanent resident from Iran who applies for a visa who has no connection but just wants to go to Disneyland, they're not going to be allowed," Green went on to say.

Green describes those who may have troubles crossing into the United States as a “very very small amount” of Canadians. Those who have family, or currently attend school, or have work permits in the U.S. should not have any issues at the border.