New Visa Requirements for Landed Immigrants of Canada

On March 17, 2003, a new rule became effective revoking a previous and long-standing regulation that has allowed certain permanent residents of Canada and Bermuda ("landed immigrants") who are citizens of British Commonwealth countries to enter the United States without a passport or visa. Nationals of Ireland and British Commonwealth countries who reside in Canada are affected by this change.

British Commonwealth countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji Islands, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, The Bahamas, The Gambia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

This action is viewed as an effort to heighten security at the U.S. borders. Foreign nationals affected by this change will be required to present a passport and a valid visa when applying for admission into the United States. Canadian citizens and citizens of the Overseas Territory of Bermuda will retain their current privileges and will not be required to present a passport and a visa to enter the United States.

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