To ask if any one has pleased crossed rainbow bridge USA to Canada and back?

InterIgnis · 27/08/2025 03:18

blubberball · 27/08/2025 03:06

Please does any one know what documentation we need to be able to do this. We have UK passports and ESTA visas, but my partner is panicking that this might not be enough? Has any one please done this recently who knows the rules? Thanks 🙏

ESTA and passport will be fine for the U.S. side For Canada you need a visitors visa or eTA.

www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/about-visitor-visa.html

eachtigertires · 27/08/2025 03:22

Yes, I have many times. Once with a cat. A passport and esta is all you will need.

eachtigertires · 27/08/2025 03:23

Oh, and an eta for the Canadian side.

McSpoot · 27/08/2025 03:27

eachtigertires · 27/08/2025 03:22

Yes, I have many times. Once with a cat. A passport and esta is all you will need.

Canada and the US are different countries - the ESTA is no use for entering Canada, so you need more than "A passport and esta".

OP - you'll also need a Canadian ETA (link provided by first response).

ETA - I see that the PP corrected herself in a second post, as I was typing my response. Many Canadians are a bit touchy when mistaken as being part of the US these days :)

islander99 · 27/08/2025 04:55

Are you driving? If so you’ll need to complete an I94. We have crossed the border twice there in the last few months.

Original poster

blubberball · 27/08/2025 09:55

Thank you. We're just walking across the bridge to see Niagara falls from the Canadian side for a few hours.

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McSpoot · 27/08/2025 10:11

You’re flying into and out of the US? And only entering Canada on foot? And you’re UK citizens? Fine with just your passport to enter Canada.

https://ircc.canada.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Original poster

blubberball · 27/08/2025 10:28

Thank you. We're anxious tourists so this is all extremely helpful

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SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 27/08/2025 10:32

Oh lord. I thought you were talking about a completely different rainbow bridge here. And then someone mentioned a cat and ….

Original poster

blubberball · 27/08/2025 10:34

Haha I know the one you mean. I think it's called rainbow bridge? I mean, it sounds friendly enough. The process of travelling between different countries make me so nervous

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MauriceTheMussel · 27/08/2025 10:40

SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 27/08/2025 10:32

Oh lord. I thought you were talking about a completely different rainbow bridge here. And then someone mentioned a cat and ….

Snap!

McSpoot · 27/08/2025 10:54

blubberball · 27/08/2025 10:34

Haha I know the one you mean. I think it's called rainbow bridge? I mean, it sounds friendly enough. The process of travelling between different countries make me so nervous

It got its name because you can often (not sure how often this is) see a rainbow in the spray from the falls. Pretty sure that the bridge itself isn't especially pretty but, to be fair, usually not paying all that much attention (and we didn't always cross at the bridge - depended on traffic/lines).

Roseyposeypie · 27/08/2025 11:18

As McSpoot said. Just passport and valid ESTA for return to US. We were also worried about this but it was very easy (it was just pre-Trump though).

Original poster

blubberball · 27/08/2025 11:19

If I knew then what I know now about Trump etc, I never would have booked this trip in all honesty. It was booked before he got in again.

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Original poster

blubberball · 27/08/2025 11:20

McSpoot · 27/08/2025 10:54

It got its name because you can often (not sure how often this is) see a rainbow in the spray from the falls. Pretty sure that the bridge itself isn't especially pretty but, to be fair, usually not paying all that much attention (and we didn't always cross at the bridge - depended on traffic/lines).

Show quote history

Thank you. That makes sense

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zzpleb · 27/08/2025 11:36

Do either of you have the slightest reason you might get pulled up by US border control? Because if they decide not to grant you entry at the Canadian border they'll detain you in a facility on the other side of the USA for weeks.

Hopefully it would flag up when you first enter the USA and you would be sent back to your originating country, but weird things have been happening recently with people entering from Mexico or Canada.

islander99 · 27/08/2025 15:09

blubberball · 27/08/2025 09:55

Thank you. We're just walking across the bridge to see Niagara falls from the Canadian side for a few hours.

We were at the Falls yesterday (British, but I live about an hour away.) The view is much better on the Canadian side! The whirlpool aero car is a less well
known attraction and it was terrific. You can buy a we go bus pass to get around. Have a great time!

Namechangedasouting987 · 27/08/2025 15:35

My DD is in Canada, has just started at Uni there and went from Canada to US and back by car twice to play in sports matches.
We were panicking tbh. Rest of team are Canadian so have free access between US and Canada
First time waved through into US.
Second time pulled in to office to have fingerprints taken and a bit of a grilling. She had a valid ESTA for US as well as her eTA for Canada (and study permit).
Same route, same land border. Different outcome.
It was all fine in the end. But slightly scary for an 18 year old. The US is bonkers right now.

Original poster

blubberball · 27/08/2025 16:51

It is bonkers, and it is a concern. My partner had to go to the London embassy to get a special visa, because he once had an overstay in America over 10 years ago

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Sunshineandalltherainbows · 27/08/2025 16:55

If you're coming from Canada into America and then back to Canada via foot you will need to pay an additional charge at the immigration desk i think it was around 20 dollars cor the 4 of us. Annoying for a quick trip over but very easy. We stayed in Canada in May this year and walked over Rainbow Bridge into America and then back over the bridge to our hotel. There is also a bridge toll charge type thing but that was only like a dollar each.

Original poster

blubberball · 28/08/2025 04:48

We did it and everything was ok. Thanks to everyone for the reassurance 💐

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McSpoot · 28/08/2025 04:50

blubberball · 28/08/2025 04:48

We did it and everything was ok. Thanks to everyone for the reassurance 💐

Glad it went well and I hope you enjoyed it.

Original poster

blubberball · 28/08/2025 04:53

It was a beautiful day, thank you 💐

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spoonbillstretford · 28/08/2025 04:53

SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 27/08/2025 10:32

Oh lord. I thought you were talking about a completely different rainbow bridge here. And then someone mentioned a cat and ….

Yes, I was most puzzled too.

IcyPenguin101 · 28/08/2025 05:34

Sunshineandalltherainbows · 27/08/2025 16:55

If you're coming from Canada into America and then back to Canada via foot you will need to pay an additional charge at the immigration desk i think it was around 20 dollars cor the 4 of us. Annoying for a quick trip over but very easy. We stayed in Canada in May this year and walked over Rainbow Bridge into America and then back over the bridge to our hotel. There is also a bridge toll charge type thing but that was only like a dollar each.

This! This happened to me last year although I crossed by car. I had to get out of the car and wait more than an hour in a waiting room that was packed so no seats. As I hadn’t arrived into the US via an airport, I had to pay the additional charge and be fingerprinted. If all you are doing is going to look at the falls from another angle, I wouldn’t bother as you could be held for hours and it’s not like you can turn back when they direct you to the waiting room.