:Hi everyone, this is my first time at something like this, I have question that i am hoping someone can answer for me. I have a friend who has overstayed her visa in the USA, she is wanting to fly back here to the UK by Toronto, but is worried she will not be allowed to enter Canada if they see she has overstayed. She will only be entering to catch her flight and will be going directly to the Airport on crossing the border, can anyone advise on if she will have any problems??? Her reason for flying via Toronto is she is afraid that in the current climate it maynot be wise to get on a flight leaving by a USA airport, I have tried to reassure her but she is too afraid.

I stand corrected on this, but canadian immigration are not interested in what happened to her in the states, and because she is carrying a british passport, she is waived the visa anyway, when she comes into canada, so that is not a problem at all.

As long as she is just doing transit like you said, and not planning to start doing what she did in the states that made her overstay in the first place. It's not worth it to be honest, as you don't know when else you might want to come back here.

So yes she should be OK for the transit issue !

But would she have to show her passport when she crosses the border on the US side to come to Canada? If so, then won't they see the overstayed Visa then? And if so would the US border people allow her across to Canada?

If they don't check on the US side then I am sure you are right. The Canadian border people will just look at her British Passport will allows her to come into Canada without a visa.

For example, if you cross over from niagara falls bridge to the other side, you only show your pasport to the US officials, and when you are coming back, the canadian ones check it.