Passports to go to Canada?

[hedgehog]

When I was a kid in Buffalo, we crossed the border without a thought. Now I hear that passports will be required to cross the borders with Canada and Mexico. Is it true, and how is it playing in border cities?

[FloridaPat]

1. Sounds like the doors are starting to shut. Keep us inside so we

won't know what's going on. And all those able-bodied 20 somethings that can be drafted.

[markus]

2. Just if you plan on coming back

Actually, when I got my driver's license renewed in June, there were a couple of families in there getting their kids State of North Dakota photo IDs. Apparently, if your kids don't have that or a passport, they'd be denied readmitance.

Can't have pint size terrorists running around.

[shoelace414]

3. I drove to and from NY through Canada on vacation

I made four border crossings.. most of the time, the border agent didn't even get up. however, I did get asked for ID once. (I have a passport, but it didn't have to be a passport).

but it may have to do with the fact that I stayed in Candada less than 24 hours. <shrug>

[hedgehog]

5. I've heard vague mention that passports will be required for

re-entry in a year or so. It'll really put a crimp in checking out the American Falls from the Canadian side at Niagara Falls. A single passport run around $80 I think.

[shoelace414]

20. they are good for.. umm..

like 10 or 15 years..

[ToeBot]

25. 97$ and last 10 years, If you use a service it will cost more, but...

they can expedite the process. Apply well in advance, it seems getting a passport isn't as simple as it used to be. The form you need is DS-11.

[kestrel91316]

4. Yep, I think the passports are required in order to LEAVE the US, not ....

to enter Canada.

And this makes us better and more free than the Soviet Union exactly HOW???

[justinsb]

6. No you don't need them

it might be a good idea if you are planning on returning. It seems to make the US border guards more at ease, but you don't need one to come to Canada.

[quinnox]

7. not required yet, but encouraged

A friend of mine and I went to Canada a few years ago and they (The Canadian border agents) hassled us going into Canada, they searched my friend's SUV and treated us suspiciously, when going back to the U.S. the American border agent said it would be better if next time we had passports, but then waved us through.

Technically, it is not required but it apparently makes the process much smoother and quicker.

We are going back to Canada(Vancouver, B.C. area) in a couple weeks for vacation and both my friend and I have gotten passports because of this.

[getmeouttahere]

8. I thought you had to have your birth cert. or passport....

crossing into B.C. we had to have one of those...since I have a passport I just use it for Canada too. But it does sound like they are trying to keep us in. Time to get out!

[tx_dem41]

9. I have no problem with passports being required. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Yes. I just got back from Canada yesterday. I had no trouble going into

it but coming home I had to show a picture ID. The border guard asked us the typical customs questions and where we were born. That was it.

But we plan to get our passports before next year's trip since we want to make Canada our annual vacation destination.

[Carolab]

11. Same experience here. No trouble crossing but ID coming back.

They used the DL but said it's better to have passport or birth certificate "next time".

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. I don't have a DL but a State picture ID. We did bring birth certs too on

the advice of DUers. :)

[hedgehog]

12. This question really applies to people living along the borders

Some cross daily to go to jobs and others cross frequently for shopping or entertainment or to visit family etc. Having to purchase a passport would be a real hardship for a lot of people. I've heard that it is coming, but I haven't heard any complaints.

[Gormy Cuss]

16. They have backed off on making passports mandatory

In part because of the border residents. They are getting stricter about requiring either a birth certificate w/government photo ID or a passport. I've had friends get hassled when presenting just a photo ID, but never refused entry to or from Canada.

The newest scheme for border people is an RFID tag so they can cross back and forth with just a pass through a reader. I don't know whether they are seriously discussing this yet.

[China_cat]

13. Let's see,

jobs and trade and 'guest' workers can cross borders freely but citizens can't?

Makes sense in the looking glass world.

[tx_dem41]

14. They will be in the future...probably. From the State Department website.

New Requirements for Travelers Between the United States and the Western Hemisphere: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHI)

Travelers to and from Canada will be required to have a U.S. passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all U.S. citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere. The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. The U.S. passport is the document of choice because of the incorporated advanced security features.

For land border crossings to Canada, other documents that we anticipate will be acceptable under WHI are NEXUS and FAST program cards. No other document is currently available that will be an acceptable substitute for a U.S. passport, NEXUS or FAST card. However, we are using new technologies to create other acceptable travel documents. We will make public additional travel document options as they become available.

The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed implementation timeline is as follows:

December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.
December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.
December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.

[Bozita]

15. Looks like the Windsor Casino is gonna go belly-up

Same for the Windsor Ballet.

[hedgehog]

18. Our pastor had a special set of Fort Erie vestments

He bought them with all the Canadian money that ended up in the collection basket any time there was a big racing weekend at Fort Erie.

[bumblebee1]

19. I was told the same thing by a travel agent

My husband and I were originally going to Niagara Falls and Toronto for out vacation. The travel agent said it was a good thing we wanted to go now because as of 2007, passports will be required to travel to Canada. Due to my nephew's wedding being on the weekend of out return, we weren't able to go on the above mentioned trip.

[LifeDuringWartime]

21. passports make it much easier

but a birth certificate will do for kids, not sure about adults. i think my parents just used their drivers licenses when they went.

[TrogL]

22. Birth Certificate and one other ID will do but passport's easier

That's what they told me last time I crossed (trying to do it with an Alberta driver's license)

[FloridaPat]

23. Let me tell you what it's like in Russia. You need your passport to

go anywhere, including the next town. You need your passport to register at a hotel, get plane or train tickets. To me, anything that even starts in that direction is wrong. And since * and his buddies are destroying the Constitution, I think this is to keep us in check. They talk about protecting our borders against terrorists. But the Saudis were brought in here under government approval to train for al Qaida when they were our friends. THe enemy in this country for us is * and his enemy is us.

[yasmina27]

24. Passports to Canada

Indeed, we will need passports to return to the US (and probably go TO Can. and Mex. in retaliation) and elsewhere. Check the state dept. website for details.

I take middle school groups (grades 7&8) to Quebec every other year. For the last 2 trips, it has been HELL convincing some parents that we need ORIGINAL birth certs, not copies. I can only imagine the trauma of making them get passports! It may just price the trip out of range for middle school kids and their families.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi yasmina27!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dave Reynolds]

27. I had LASIK done in Windsor two years ago,

and to cross the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit I needed my birth certificate and driver's license with me, and at times was asked for them by the Canadians and other times by the Americans.