Border question..not for me!

[SKFamily]

Ok... driving through the Coutts crossing with no Birth Certificate or Passport, on July 4th - smart idea or not? Driver's License and Health Card but that's it. Driver wants to use his FAA ID or credit cards as additional ID or get a letter from a commissioner of oaths saying he is who he says he is. I got grumped at for suggesting they could have a problem "if" checked, and the chances of being checked on July 4th are probably a little better than usual. So just for my own info I'm wondering what you think of this little plan.

 

[Amberle3]

Very bad idea.

For one thing, the border will likely have tighter security as it's a big day for the US.

For another thing, neither of the items mentioned proves Canadian citizenship.

If he tries to use the credit card as ID, depending on how grumpy the officer he's dealing with is it could be contrued as a bribery attempt (not hard to get a cash advance on the card from the machine in the office).

The only items the prove Canadian citizenship are birth certificate, passport, or citizenship papers. That's it. You have to have one of those - especially on the 4th of July - or chances are you will be turned away at the border.

The other concern would be getting back into Canada - just because you have the DL and health card doesn't mean you're a citizen. If you can't prove your citizenship, they don't have to let you back into the country.

Case in point: My DF. He's a US citizen, living and working in Canada, with landed immigrant status. He is not a Canadian citizen. He has a Canadian DL and health card. When he goes across the border he still has to show ID showing his citizenship. On the way back into Canada he has to show his landed immigrant card as well.

After all, I don't think you have to turn in those items when you move out of the country. For all the customs agents know, he could be a foreign citizen that was workingin Canada, lost his job and had to leave the country, and is trying to get back in and claiming he's a Canadian citizen.

In the past 3 years I've driven across the border many times. I've always been asked for ID. Sometimes the questions are pretty basic, sometimes they're a little more indepth. But I've always been asked for correct ID.

 

[SKFamily]

This is one time I won't be happy to be right. If they're turned away at the border it will put a dampner on a few people's holiday. But cluing into ID issues on July 1st when you plan to leave on the 4th or 5th doesn't do anybody any good.

Fortunately it's not us. All of our ID is already in the fanny pack.

 

[ChisJo]

A few months ago, 3 days before my holiday to Las Vegas, I realized that the passport office had my Birth Certificate. After calling immigration and US border personelle, they told me they absolutely will not let anyone cross the border without the proper citizenship information. One HAD TO BE a birth certificate (if no passport was available) or citizenship papers. Since I was waiting for my passport to be processed and they had my birth certificate, I was in a panic. Those were my citizenship papers. I was hysterical. I live in Alberta, and was born in Saskatchewan, so getting a birth certificate issued within a couple of days seemed out of the question. This was on a Thursday - we were leaving on a Sunday. I ended up, luckily, getting in touch with Vital Statistics in Saskatchewan, and they issued my Birth Certificate for me and had it couriored to me in Alberta by the next morning, for a hefty fee, might I add.
Anyways, like Amberle mentioned, trying to cross the border into the States on Independence day weekend without proper citizenship probably is not going to happen.
Good luck to your friend.
Jo

 

[totalia]

Bad idea. You WILL be turned back.

 

[mcms]

I wouldn't even attempt it. Even if by some fluke you get across you might encounter real problems trying to come back.

 

[SKFamily]

Yikes, my IL's won't be happy. Thanks for the info.

Gotta get ready - we leave for my parent's in 2 hours - they take us to the airport when we get back. See ya in a couple of weeks!

 

[PhotobearSam]

Have a great trip...

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Definitely not a good idea to attempt a border crossing into the USA when the security is heightened. US Homeland Security received info that a suspected Islamic terrorist was attempting to cross into the US south of Montreal -- but you can bet that all border crossings will be on heightened alert.

 

[SKFamily]

He had a letter from a lawyer who doesn't know him from a hole in the ground, stating that FIL is who he says he is and would be in the states for such and such a time.... and away he went. FIL was pulling his holiday trailer, they asked if anyone was in it, he said no, and the border guard said "have a nice holiday". If this is heightened security I can see why they worry about their safety.

 

[CindyAnn]

Wow! I'm really surprised they let that go! On our last several Buffalo shopping trips we've been asked for ID for each person in the vehicle - ever since 9/11. It's been carefully scrutinized, too. Even the Disney fan immigration officer in Detroit who engaged me in a long conversation about AK (he'd been to WDW 18 times, if I recall) still made sure we all had the correct ID.