u/blissfully_happy

(Forgive me, this has nothing to do with the current suspension letter crisis, but I need to fill out my Australian visa and need help.)

I am a dual US/Canadian citizen and carry both passports. I reside in America (Alaska to be specific).

Next month I am flying to Australia via Vancouver and I have questions about my Australian ETA (visa) and what passports I should present and when. I’m very worried about following the law correctly.

Outbound (to Sydney, all flights are on Air Canada):
I depart Anchorage to Vancouver, have a 4.5 layover and then depart Vancouver to Sydney.

There is no exit passport control on the US side in Anchorage. However, I must present Air Canada with my passport and current ETA/visa to enter Sydney.

When arriving in Vancouver, since I am just transiting, I don’t need to go through immigrations and customs. Last year, I just swiped my passport through the e-gates and was able to access the departure gate for the Sydney flight. I needed to present my passport and ETA QR code on my phone to the agent to board. (This was before I got my Canadian passport.)

For the in-bound (Sydney to Vancouver) trip, it’s a little trickier.

Since my flight ends in Anchorage, I will need to present evidence that I am allowed in the US (ie, my US passport) when checking in at Sydney.

Vancouver has US customs and immigration, so the Vancouver to Anchorage flight is considered “domestic.” I don’t go through any immigration or customs in Anchorage.

In the past, I’ve gone straight to the US line upon arrival to Vancouver, cleared customs and immigration, and proceeded to my gate for the Anchorage flight.

Here are my questions:

1. My understanding is that if a Canadian citizen is arriving by plane in Canada, they must present their passport to immigration. (As opposed by land, one can apparently enter if they present their US passport and Canadian citizenship cert.) Is this correct?

2. On the outbound trip (Anchorage to Vancouver), upon arrival in Vancouver, which passport should I swipe at the e-gates? If it’s my Canadian one, is that the one I should also present at boarding? If so, shouldn’t my Aussie ETA be on that passport?

3. Upon return: When I land in Vancouver, do I continue straight to the US immigration side and never interact with the Canadian immigration side? Or do I need to go to the Canadian immigration side and then clear US immigration?

If it’s the latter of the two, does that mean my Aussie ETA should be on my Canadian passport so that I am entering and exiting Aus on the same passport?

Thank you for any help any of you can provide! If this isn’t the right sub, my sincerest apologies, I don’t know where else to post it, so if you can direct me elsewhere that would be great.

I am a private tutor. (Full time, as in, it’s my career. I work for myself).

One of the joys of my job is seeing students for more than just a year. I tend to work with students for 3-6 years. For example, I’ve been working with a student, Callie, since grade 8. She is a senior this year.

This morning, she had the absolute audacity to say, with a completely straight face, “I think I’ve always just done the work to pass, but haven’t actually learned the material. Is actually a lot easier once you just learn the material.”

Me: 😐

Her: 🤔

Me: 😐

Her: 🧐

Me: 😑

Her: 🫣

Me: “You don’t say.”

Her: “I know. I KNOW. You’ve been telling me this for years. I knew this was going to be a good I-told-you-so moment for you.”

Me: 🥰

Her: “I’m a TA and I’m trying to explain to the freshmen in algebra that they just need to learn the material but they won’t listen! And OH MY GOD WHY CAN’T THEY PUT THEIR NAMES ON THEIR PAPERS?!? Oh, oh, oh…. AAAAND, they can’t follow directions! They’re supposed to highlight the answers! Do they? NO. I took off points because they couldn’t follow the simple directions BUT THE TEACHER SAID I WAS BEING TOO HARSH! What do I do about these students?!?”

Me: “You go find every teacher who has ever taught you and you give them a hug.”

Her: “I’m going to tear my hair out. I just can’t with these kids.”

Me: 🤭

Her: 😫

Anyway, as the school year winds down, may all your students have this realization sooner rather than later, lol.