Planning Your Trip to the 2010 Annual Meeting in Toronto

Entry Requirements: Travel Documents, Passports, and Visas

Visitors must have valid travel documents to enter Canada to provide proof of their citizenship. Document requirements vary depending from which country you are traveling, the reason for your visit, and the length of your stay, and may include passport or a birth certificate, photo ID, and/or a visa.

Expedited Passport Processing (US Residents Only)

The US Department of State new processes requests for expedited service, including overnight delivery to and from the Passport Agency, in about two to three weeks door-to-door. In addition to regular application fees, the cost of the expedited service is $60 per application plus overnight delivery costs. Please note that expedited passport processing is considered complete when the passport is ready to be picked up by an applicant or when it is put in the mail to the applicant. The door-to-door two-week estimated timeframe for receipt of your passport takes into consideration the following:

  • Additional time it may take to receive your passport application at a Passport Agency/Center when you apply for Expedited Passport Processing through a designated Passport Acceptance Facility
  • Additional time it may take to mail the passport to you

Effective June 16, 2008, the Department's standard for expedited passport processing completion, as defined in 22 CFR 51.56, is five business days from either:

  • Receipt of your passport application at a Passport Agency/Center; or
  • If the passport application is already at a Passport Agency/Center, the date your request for expedited passport processing is approved.

Note: Customers who apply for a renewal by mail must clearly mark "Expedite" on the outside of the mailing envelope, for the Expedited Passport Processing times to accurately apply.

Learn more about expedited passport processing at the US Department of State website.

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Special No-Fee Passports for US Federal Government Employees

In order to attend the Annual Meeting on business, it may be necessary for US government employees to obtain an official United States government no-fee passport from their appropriate agency office. Government employees should contact the appropriate office within their agency to discuss proposed dates of attendance and to confirm whether or not they will need this official passport. Please note that from the time of application, it could take up to six months to receive a new no-fee passport. Government employees are encouraged to contact their agency offices today for qualifications, use policies, and application instructions.

Government employees who will be attending the 2010 Annual Meeting in a nonofficial capacity (e.g., annual leave), may be able to use a personal regular-fee passport—however, it is recommended that each employee check with his/her respective agency to confirm.

Customs, Immigration, and Admissibility

Upon entering Canada, you will be required to go through customs and immigrations. Before you land, your flight crew will distribute a Travelers' Customs Declaration Card for you to complete. Declaration Cards are also available at the airport upon your arrival.

Important Information About Entering Canada

Anyone with a criminal record (including a drunk driving conviction) may be excluded from entering Canada. If you were convicted of or committed a criminal offense outside Canada, you may overcome this criminal inadmissibility by applying for rehabilitation or you may be deemed to have been rehabilitated if at least ten years have passed since you completed the sentence imposed upon you, or since you committed the offense, if the offense is one that would, in Canada, be an indictable offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than ten years. Find out more about this topic at Visiting Canada FAQ: Overcoming criminal inadmissibility.

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Currency

  • Toronto's currency is the Canadian Dollar; currency exchange is available at banks and kiosks throughout the city and at the airport
  • For denominations under five dollars, the currency are coins
  • US dollars are accepted in most Toronto establishments; however you will receive change in Canadian funds and exchange rates will differ from merchant to merchant
  • Cash machines/ATMs are available in most banks, hotels, and shopping centers; please note that ATMs at the airport only accept ATM cards with the MasterCard logo on them

Important note: Don't forget to call your bank and credit card companies to let them know you will be traveling to Canada.

Health Insurance

Be sure and check with your health insurance provider about policies coverage away from home—particularly if you're insured by an HMO and/or Medicare/Medicaid.

Luggage

Restrictions for carry-on baggage policies and weight and size limits for checked baggage are different for international flights than for domestic flights. Be sure and check with your individual carrier as to weight and measurement restrictions and associated costs for overages.

Measurements

Canada uses the Metric system for weights and measures. If you choose to drive in Canada, be aware the speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour instead of miles per hour.

Medication

If you are entering Canada with prescription drugs and syringes: Keep the medication in its original, labeled container; include medical certificate with syringes showing they are for medical use and have them declared to Canadian Customs officials; bring an extra prescription in case your medication is lost and/or to attest to your need to take such prescriptions; and carry the generic name of prescription medicines.

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Mobile Phone Service

Make sure your mobile phone works in Toronto by contacting your service provider directly to inquire about the following:

  • Coverage maps for National, North America, Canada, & International voice and data plans
  • Your current plan, rates, and costs so you understand the rates and charges to upgrade or change your plan to provide coverage in Toronto
  • If changes to your plan will incur immediately or if charges are prorated
  • How roaming coverage works so you are comfortable with the call and data charges
  • Messaging (Text/Picture) costs and charges while in Toronto
  • How to update your device to register changes made to your plan

You may also want to visit your service provider online to better understand international calling plans, charges, coverage maps, and more. Below are links to more information from the top four plan providers in the US:

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Safety

Toronto's universal number for police, fire, and medical emergencies is 911.

Tax Rates and Tax Rebates

Most goods and services sold or provided in Canada are subject to the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST). In Toronto (Province of Ontario), goods are also subject to an additional 8% Provincial Sales Tax (PST).When you leave Canada, you may be eligible for a tax refund on the goods you bought in Canada if you export them within 60 days. For more information, ask for a copy of the publication called Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada from the Canada Revenue Agency, or call (800) 66VISIT (1-800-668-4748).

Time Zone

Toronto is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (the same as Detroit, New York, and Florida).

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For More Information
Member Services

memberservices@aan.com
(800) 879-1960
(651) 695-2717