Passport needed to return from Canada

[Fraxinus]

Well, not yet.  But I heard a story on the radio this morning that you will need one by 2008.  Not sure if this is a good thing or not.  If it helps with security, I suppose it's good.  It won't make too much difference to me but I do go to Canada occasionally.  Less than two hours of ride puts me in La Belle Province.
Hmmmm.  I'll have to get me one of them passports so's I can get some of that good poutine. 8) 8)

[slowzuki]

Yup it is kinda strange thinking you need a passport.  There are people in Canada that have to travel daily to the US for work etc.  Some live on Canadian land landlocked (or rather river locked!) in the US and have to pass customs to visit friends in Canada.

[redpowerd]

yea well whats a passport cost, i got one back in high school and i think it was 80 bucks, minus the picture. i have a few friends that go to school and work in canada, now you just need proof of id to get back into the states

[Cedarman]

This reminds me of the ole frog in the pot thing. We keep losing freedoms bit by bit. Compare now to a few years ago, to 20 years, to 50, to 100. Our lives are being controlled more and more. What happens if you lose your passport? To controll terrorists, I think it is much better for each of us to simply be more vigilant of the people we meet, what they are doing, what they say, what they buy, etc. Working together will be more useful than controlling the masses with freedom impinging laws.  Just my thoughts.

The water is slowly getting hotter.  Will we jump or cook?

[sprucebunny]

Seems to me it would save eveyone alot of aggravation if they gave you a "return home" card or stamp or something when an American WENT to Canada.
Around here, picture ski passes are very common. It would be fairly easy and cheap to make those on the spot at the border.

[redpowerd]

so............whens the tea party? 8)

[beenthere]

Lots of people around the world want to get into the USA. It comes as a surprise to many that just saying one lives in the USA isn't enough, and we do take it too much for granted.

Seems getting into Canada first is easier, and then crossing into the USA is the next step.
Crossing from Mexico seems pretty wide open, and that is where the attention appears to be aimed (Canada crossings may be affected, but usually that border has been more workable, IMO).

I suspect with the jealousy around the world, and the desires to have what we have, there will be more and more 'protectionism' and 'guarding' of our borders. I wish it were not that way, and we should have seen it coming long ago.  Now we may be the frog in the pot. I hope not.

[Frank_Pender]

If we hung more of the hides of the Coyotes on the fence, perhaps we would not have as many wanting to get across. ;D

[leweee]

Passport is now manditory for canadians going to US >:( A year ago the federal goverment raised the price of a passport 25% : Keeps us poor folks close to home (not to mention the price of GAS)

If we hung more of the hides of the Coyotes on the fence, perhaps we would not have as many wanting to get across. Grin

Only works on coyotes Frank

[submarinesailor]

Just went through this Canada passport thing for a friend of mine.  I cheated – my wife works for Customs and Border Protection, CBP.   Go to www.cpb.gov.  Look under the travel tab and it should give you all the info you need.

IF I UNDER STAND IT CORRECTLY : ??? : ??? - If you are a US citizen and you travel to Canada, you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate and a government issued id like a State Drivers licenses,  to get back into the country.   The current cost for a passport is $97.00 for people over 16 years of age.  $82 under 16.  6-8 week is the normal processing time.

subsailor

[J_T]

My son has had a passport for years when leaving the US he leaves a copy at home and the day he is to return and all records of the trip he has or he uster. Ck's word :D :D

[Texas Ranger]

We have been blessed in the freedoms we have in the US, many around the world fight and die trying to come here, and perhaps we have taken that freedom for granted.

When stationed in Europe, in  the military, we could travel all over western europe with nothing more than our military id.  That is no longer the case.

Terrorism affects us all, and in order to hinder/halt the bad guys, we lose a little of our freedom.  Personally, the passport is a good idea, they can be falsified, they can be stolen, but, we are better at detection than we used to be.  And a passport has made it easier on those of us who cross the border fairly regularly and don't have to carry id's, birth certificates, and marriage license.

[OneWithWood]

Cedarman, we are on the same wavelength.

The passport thing has some merit as it is easier than carrying all the other bits of info and should make crossing relatively straight forward.  Of course once the readers are all installed it will mean big brother knows your where abouts when you cross a border.  I don't think this will curtail terrorists from entering.  If they want in there are umpteen ways to cross our borders unseen.  If we were serious about securing the borders there would be more of a crackdown on illegals crossing from Mexico.  I doubt that will happen because illegals are a big source of cheap tax free labor.

[Ron Wenrich]

My understanding of Europe is that there are no passports to travel around the countries of the EU.  Even after the big train station explosion in Spain, there isn't any changes.

They get less government and we get more.  What is wrong with that picture.   >:(

[sawguy21]

leewee, I have had no problems with my picture id and a birth certificate.. Somebody at your crossing got their panties in a knot?

[Fraxinus]

I have crossed the border many times, both before 9/11 and since, and I have never even been asked for my driver's license, to say nothing of a birth certificate.  I've always had a copy available, at least since 9/11, but never have been asked.  Must be the honest, innocent look. ;)  The only thing they ask me is where I'm going (or where I've been), what for, how long, and am I a U.S. citizen.

[Corley5]

Two years ago on our last trip to Medicine Hat, Ab for a tractor the U.S. customs guys told us when we were coming back in that if we were going to make many trips of this sort that a passport would be a good idea and eventually they would be required.  They knew what was coming down then.  The year before when we came back in two different guys wanted to play good cop bad cop with us : but couldn't find anything wrong with the paperwork 8) and didn't even ask for ID in the end ;).  Going into Canada we weren't even asked for ID just what our business was, how long were we going to stay and were we going to leave anything in Canada.  Both time we crossed at the Wild Horse Port of Entry.  The perfect definition of the middle of nowhere and wouldn't you know one of the guys the second year was from Greenville, Mi : ;) ;D.  With the price of fuel I doubt we'll be hauling any old iron home from that far away for a while :(

[Brucer]

Various excerpts from a CBC news item dated yesterday ...

"Currently, Canadians and Americans are able to enter the United States with little more identification than a driver's licence or a birth certificate."

"Canadians without a passport will be barred from entering the United States after Dec. 31, 2006"

"And by 2008, most Americans who visit Canada won't be able to re-enter their country without a passport."

However, the Canadian government says it will likely require Americans to have passports to enter Canada after Dec. 31, 2006 as well, mainly because the two governments establish reciprocal rules on border issues. So Sprucebunny's "return home" card idea probably won't happen.

[OLD_ JD]

  I'll have to get me one of them passports so's I can get some of that good poutine. 8) 8)

Fraxinus it's maybe time to open a poutine dinner and ure area ...iam at only 5 mille from the border and i  amaze but the nomber of american who cross the border to go at are local restorante just to eat some of that stuff 

[sawdust]

My wife and I have been to the States on many occasions. Getting into the states is quick and easy.... getting back home is a real slow proposition. I think the powers that be put those employees that nobody else wants out at those little border crossings. Fewer people to antagonize out there.

[Jason_WI]

Parts of the Patriot Act that was hastly signed in after 9/11 is going to expire after 12-31-05. I think every one needs to take a look at what freedoms our elected officials are willing to give up for a few bad people.

I realize that it has helped track down these deviant people but why is it that the gov knows exactly which farm an imported cow came from and can't track these deviant people that cross our borders..........

Jason

[Fraxinus]

  I'll have to get me one of them passports so's I can get some of that good poutine. 8) 8)

Fraxinus it's maybe time to open a poutine dinner and ure area ...iam at only 5 mille from the border and i  amaze but the nomber of american who cross the border to go at are local restorante just to eat some of that stuff 

There are a couple of diners in northernmost NH and VT that have decent poutine but none down here where I live.  It's probably a good thing, too :D :D
The best poutine I had was the first that I ever had and that was in Warwick, Quebec.  Nobody in the place spoke English and my French is quite limitee   One of the waitresses was brave and volunteered to come wait on us so that she could practice her English.
I have a tractor friend who lives just north of Lac Megantic.  I went up to see him a couple of years ago.  He has a Renault N70 diesel tractor.  I have only seen one in this country and it was being used for parts.

[firtol88]

Though I agree it should be harder to get in the country, these idiots think they are doing something by making it harder on people trying to get in legally. I have seen accounts listing an average of 500,000 illegal immigrants a year, most of which come across from Mexico (not necessarily Mexicans), until we do something about our southern border it's all just smoke and mirrors.

Still don't see why this doesn't get more attention; it is a problem we need to solve.

*border not boarder

[sawguy21]

 "Both time we crossed at the Wild Horse Port of Entry.  The perfect definition of the middle of nowhere"
And you didn't want to go nowhere but you found it :D

[Phorester]

They're gonna let you out of the USA without a passport, but you need one to get back in?

Why couldn't they just accept an American drivers license to get back into the USA from Canada? 

[estiers]

I was listening to CBC the other day when they were talking about this and the majority of the Canadian callers seemed to be upset about the cost they will incur.  I guess, and correct me if I am wrong, but their passports cost somewhere around $80 and last for 5 years.  Whereas, the US passpost costs somewhere around $85 and lasts for 10 years. Quite a difference in cost to cross the border, if you ask me.

[beenthere]

Maybe we should get a 'chip' buried beneath our skin that can be 'read' when we come back into the country where we 'belong'.  I hear that dogs and animals now have chips that are pretty small (I think dairy cows in some large operations have them for getting the correct feed and keep track of milk production). 

: :

Phorester
A Wisconsin drivers license can easily be obtained without proof of citizenship. People can get a WI drivers license simply by passing the tests and showing they are registered to vote in another country, such as Mexico. Once they have the drivers license, they can then show that when they board an airlplane as 'proof' of who they are, which seems to defeat the very reason such proof is being requested (thinking terrorist here). At least the WI legislature is considering doing something about this 'flaw', but they don't want to give anyone in the state that isn't a citizen a 'stigma' that they are not like everyone else.  ??? ???

""They're gonna let you out of the USA without a passport, but you need one to get back in?""
I think the deal here is to protect from wrong people entering, so one is asked for proof of citizenship when entering.  I remember wondering the same thing, until I realized that upon returning to the country I grew up in, that the border guard doesn't know that, and I need proof for him/her that I am a citizen and am going home.

[firtol88]

I was listening to CBC the other day when they were talking about this and the majority of the Canadian callers seemed to be upset about the cost they will incur.  I guess, and correct me if I am wrong, but their passports cost somewhere around $80 and last for 5 years.  Whereas, the US passpost costs somewhere around $85 and lasts for 10 years.

Considering the value of a canadian dollar that looks to be roughly equal costs.

[Phorester]

Thanks, BEENTHERE.

30 - 40 years ago in Virginia, there was a minor flap about drivers licenses and using them for ID.  At that time, the Dept. of Motor Vechicles said; we do not issue drivers licenses for identification purposes, we issue them  only to show that the person is qualified to drive in Virginia. If somebody else wants to use the license for identification purposes, it is their problem.

Times have changed.

[OLD_ JD]

what i eard is pasport is require to enter in canada for all.... BUT the just dont apply the law if ure from u.s.a..
native can cross canadien,american and mexico border just by showing there indien ID card.... :-\

[Corley5]

"Both time we crossed at the Wild Horse Port of Entry.  The perfect definition of the middle of nowhere"
And you didn't want to go nowhere but you found it :D

The customs houses are all that's there for miles.  Just open rolling prairie otherwise.  Kinda creepy to a guy who comes from the woods.  No place to hide ;) ;D

[Brucer]

Maybe we should get a 'chip' buried beneath our skin that can be 'read' when we come back into the country where we 'belong'.  I hear that dogs and animals now have chips that are pretty small

My dog's got one -- they seem to be pretty standard now, inserted between the shoulder blades. The breeder told me that when the first ones were used they tended to "float" within the fatty layer under the skin. Sometimes they'd end up around the dog's chest. Makes you think twice about having one of yer own -- where's it going to end up (think gravity), and what path's it gonna take to get there?  :

Considering the value of a canadian dollar that looks to be roughly equal costs.

That was last year :D. Canada's not the cheap vacation it used to be  ;D.The Canadian dollar is worth about $.82 US this week. That works out to about $13 US / year for a passport in Canada, versus about $8.50 US / year in  the United States.

[leweee]

Considering the value of a canadian dollar that looks to be roughly equal costs.

That was last year :D. Canada's not the cheap vacation it used to be  ;D.The Canadian dollar is worth about $.82 US this week. That works out to about $13 US / year for a passport in Canada, versus about $8.50 US / year in  the United States.

Brucer.....we are canadian.....we are use to paying more for everything. :

[firtol88]

...we are canadian.....we are use to paying more for everything. :

Thank a liberal; it's the price of socialism.