4 ms·

canada has serious issues. I wanted to go for a conference there + meet a few startups. Turns out you need 2 months to get a tourist/business visa!

liquimoon 13y ago
Thanks for commenting. Did you know about the Startup Visa? http://www.techvibes.com/blog/foreign-startup-visa-program-2013-04-01 http://www.techvibes.com/blog/foreign-startup-visa-program-2...
byroot 13y ago
From the states ? Because from europe you can go there without visa.
- cdmckay 13y ago
  I'm pretty sure Americans can come to Canada without a visa. I know (firsthand) that Canadians can definitely go there without one.
  - liquimoon 13y ago
    I think you will need a passport though. Visa no.
    - stan_rogers 13y ago
      Yes, you need a passport these days (or a Nexus pass if you're a frequent crosser). It's new, and it's mostly because Canadians need a passport to enter the US in the security theatre aftermath of 911. Until recently all you needed was a birth certificate or citizenship status card to go either way; the visa was implicit.
    - vibrolax 13y ago
      Residents of some border states (WA, MI, NY, VT)and some Canadian provinces (BC, MB, ON, QC) can also obtain "Enhanced Drivers Licenses" that can be used as entry documents at land and water crossings. A US Passport Card is also convenient if you're prone to forgetting your passport. Nexus can also be used between many US and Canadian airports. Nexus holders can register with US Global Entry just by checking a box on the application. My favorite Nexus benefit is avoiding hours of waiting in line at major US/Canada border crossings, especially on holiday weekends. One potential drawback for some people is that applicants to Trusted Traveler programs receive a criminal background check. US government Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Info: http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/eng_map.html http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/eng_map.html
jmspring 13y ago
I find it hard to believe you couldn't attend a conference and visit a couple of startups on a normal entry from the US, unless you are not a US citizen? I've been to Vancouver many times as a tourist, a few times for conferences / standards meetings, no problem, no visa required. This doesn't sound right.
- rogerbinns 13y ago
  A visa is required for business visits, unless all you are doing is "meetings". However they'll usually sell you one at the airport.
  - snogglethorpe 13y ago
    So of course, everything becomes a "meeting"... ><
    - rogerbinns 13y ago
      You get grilled at immigration. Of course the second time through you know the exact terminology to use!
- GoodIntentions 13y ago
  Depends how you answered the questions and what type of border services agent you got. A former employer of mine had U.S. based employees that were subject experts / trainers on proprietary systems - Written internally, used internally. We had to do training sessions via teleconference after the border services turned our trainer back. Our Legal followed up with border services and was given the requirement that we advertise nationally for someone to fill the training role for a period of i-can't-recall how many weeks then re-apply if not able to fill the role from a hardworking but unemployed fellow Canadian. It was utter crap. Time we didn't have to look for a person who didn't ( couldn't ) exist seeing as it was a new system, written outside Canada. Trainers had crossed previously to fill similar roles without issue. go figure. We ended up doing it over the phone..
pedalpete 13y ago
tourist visa and business visa are two different thing, it isn't a tourist/business visa. As a Canadian travelling to the US for business, we have the same process. But if you're going to a conference, you're fine, I used to do it all the time (from Canada to the US). Who told you it was going to take two months?
redthrowaway 13y ago
We're in the middle of a long strike by our diplomats and consulate workers, which is pushing visa processing times far longer than they usually are. It should fix itself once they and the gov't reach a new deal and the backlog is dealt with.

liquimoon 13y ago

Thanks for commenting. Did you know about the Startup Visa? http://www.techvibes.com/blog/foreign-startup-visa-program-2013-04-01 http://www.techvibes.com/blog/foreign-startup-visa-program-2...

byroot 13y ago

From the states ? Because from europe you can go there without visa.

cdmckay 13y ago
I'm pretty sure Americans can come to Canada without a visa. I know (firsthand) that Canadians can definitely go there without one.
- liquimoon 13y ago
  I think you will need a passport though. Visa no.
  - stan_rogers 13y ago
    Yes, you need a passport these days (or a Nexus pass if you're a frequent crosser). It's new, and it's mostly because Canadians need a passport to enter the US in the security theatre aftermath of 911. Until recently all you needed was a birth certificate or citizenship status card to go either way; the visa was implicit.
  - vibrolax 13y ago
    Residents of some border states (WA, MI, NY, VT)and some Canadian provinces (BC, MB, ON, QC) can also obtain "Enhanced Drivers Licenses" that can be used as entry documents at land and water crossings. A US Passport Card is also convenient if you're prone to forgetting your passport. Nexus can also be used between many US and Canadian airports. Nexus holders can register with US Global Entry just by checking a box on the application. My favorite Nexus benefit is avoiding hours of waiting in line at major US/Canada border crossings, especially on holiday weekends. One potential drawback for some people is that applicants to Trusted Traveler programs receive a criminal background check. US government Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Info: http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/eng_map.html http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/eng_map.html

jmspring 13y ago

I find it hard to believe you couldn't attend a conference and visit a couple of startups on a normal entry from the US, unless you are not a US citizen? I've been to Vancouver many times as a tourist, a few times for conferences / standards meetings, no problem, no visa required. This doesn't sound right.

rogerbinns 13y ago
A visa is required for business visits, unless all you are doing is "meetings". However they'll usually sell you one at the airport.
- snogglethorpe 13y ago
  So of course, everything becomes a "meeting"... ><
  - rogerbinns 13y ago
    You get grilled at immigration. Of course the second time through you know the exact terminology to use!
GoodIntentions 13y ago
Depends how you answered the questions and what type of border services agent you got. A former employer of mine had U.S. based employees that were subject experts / trainers on proprietary systems - Written internally, used internally. We had to do training sessions via teleconference after the border services turned our trainer back. Our Legal followed up with border services and was given the requirement that we advertise nationally for someone to fill the training role for a period of i-can't-recall how many weeks then re-apply if not able to fill the role from a hardworking but unemployed fellow Canadian. It was utter crap. Time we didn't have to look for a person who didn't ( couldn't ) exist seeing as it was a new system, written outside Canada. Trainers had crossed previously to fill similar roles without issue. go figure. We ended up doing it over the phone..

pedalpete 13y ago

tourist visa and business visa are two different thing, it isn't a tourist/business visa. As a Canadian travelling to the US for business, we have the same process. But if you're going to a conference, you're fine, I used to do it all the time (from Canada to the US). Who told you it was going to take two months?

redthrowaway 13y ago

We're in the middle of a long strike by our diplomats and consulate workers, which is pushing visa processing times far longer than they usually are. It should fix itself once they and the gov't reach a new deal and the backlog is dealt with.