Passport question ( yes another one sorry lol)

[mom2brats]

If I am flying out of Buffalo do I need a passport??? I did not need one last time and was sure that I didn't need one now but a friend just called me POSITIVE that we would need a passport to fly out of the States. If this is true I am in BIG BIG TROUBLE!!!!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

You need picture ID to fly within the States, and just a picture ID and birth certificate (I think, it's been a while) OR a passport to drive across the border. You should be fine without a passport. I know that they pushed back the date that you NEEDED a passport to get across the border by car. Good luck!

 

[iluveeyore]

You do not need a passport at this time to fly within the US or to cross the border by land. The due date for passports is tentatively set for June/09, or until the US and Canada decides if they need another form of ID. So, no, don't need a passport, just photo ID for over 18 and birth certificates for 18 and under. When crossing at the US border by car, you do need a birth certificate and a driver's license together. Have a great trip.

 

[lisalonglash]

If I am flying out of Buffalo do I need a passport??? I did not need one last time and was sure that I didn't need one now but a friend just called me POSITIVE that we would need a passport to fly out of the States. If this is true I am in BIG BIG TROUBLE!!!!

Here you go:
http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx?lang=eng

From Passport Canada link above:
As of January 31, 2008, Canadians entering the United States by land and marine ports of entry will be required to present:
a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence AND a birth certificate or a citizenship card; OR
for persons aged 18 and under, a birth certificate or a citizenship card only; OR
a valid passport.

From the same site, here's the info for air travel:
Canadian citizens travelling by air to, through or from the United States must present one of the following documents:

A valid Canadian passport; or
A valid NEXUS card when used at participating airports.

 

[mom2brats]

You do not need a passport at this time to fly within the US or to cross the border by land. The due date for passports is tentatively set for June/09, or until the US and Canada decides if they need another form of ID. So, no, don't need a passport, just photo ID for over 18 and birth certificates for 18 and under. When crossing at the US border by car, you do need a birth certificate and a driver's license together. Have a great trip.

Ok see that is what I thought!!! But according to this

From the same site, here's the info for air travel:
Canadian citizens travelling by air to, through or from the United States must present one of the following documents:

A valid Canadian passport; or
A valid NEXUS card when used at participating airports.

It sounds like I might need a passport.

SIGH I am so confused LOL doesn't take much these days.

Has anyone gone in the last month or so and did you NEED a passport????

Thanks

 

[minnie56]

Yes- you do need a Passport!

 

[maryliz]

Ok see that is what I thought!!! But according to this

From the same site, here's the info for air travel:
Canadian citizens travelling by air to, through or from the United States must present one of the following documents:

A valid Canadian passport; or
A valid NEXUS card when used at participating airports.

It sounds like I might need a passport.

SIGH I am so confused LOL doesn't take much these days.

Has anyone gone in the last month or so and did you NEED a passport????

Thanks

You do NOT need a passport if you are driving over the border, and flying from Buffalo to a destination within the USA. You will need photo ID to get through security, and you will need a government issued photo ID PLUS your birth certificate at the border crossing. The above is stating that you need a passport only if you are flying TO or THROUGH the USA FROM Canada, or flying back INTO Canada FROM the USA. USA to USA destinations by plane only require photo ID. I'm assuming you're not flying from Buffalo to another destination outside of the USA.

No worries, you're fine, as long as you have the required photo ID and birth certificate. However, I highly recommend getting your passport very soon. It makes life so much easier when crossing the border.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

You do NOT need a passport if you are driving over the border, and flying from Buffalo to a destination within the USA. You will need photo ID to get through security, and you will need a government issued photo ID PLUS your birth certificate at the border crossing. The above is stating that you need a passport only if you are flying TO or THROUGH the USA FROM Canada, or flying back INTO Canada FROM the USA. USA to USA destinations by plane only require photo ID. I'm assuming you're not flying from Buffalo to another destination outside of the USA.

No worries, you're fine, as long as you have the required photo ID and birth certificate. However, I highly recommend getting your passport very soon. It makes life so much easier when crossing the border.

Very good explanation... thank you, I was having a hard time explaining!

 

[OntFamily]

I flew out of Buffalo 3 weeks ago. You do not need a passport.

When you think about it logically, a passport is a document that validates a persons citizenship. Proof of citizenship is only required when crossing a border into another country (which includes flying from a Canadian airport to an Amercian airport). However, when flying domestically within the USA no proof of citizenship is required.

 

[canadianmom2three]

Just got back from flying out of Detroit last week, no passport needed. Flying to Chicago tomorrow out of Detroit, and my co-worker was CONVINCED that I would be unable to go as I don't have a passport...I am CONVINCED I will be fine (aside from having to put up with her for 4 days ).

Also I don't find having passport makes border travel any easier. I have never ever had a problem with presenting the birth certificate and license, and we cross fairly often. My parents have passports, and experience the same delays as the rest of us. OTOH, Nexus would be a dream, I keep waffling, we are 5 minutes from the border, and go across a fair bit, I am just lazy, and don't really want to part with the $$, but then when I am in line and see all the nexus cars just going thru, I'm envious for sure!!

 

[minnie56]

While they DO keep extending the requirement deadline for land crossings...much of how smoothly it goes for you depends on whom you encounter processing you and what kind of day they are having!

My DH and his co-worker crossed a month ago at Fort Erie. The other fellow's Passport had expired 11 days prior. The Officer-obviously a 'legend in his own mind' was very rude. Asked why he had not "Kept on top off such a vital Document lapsing" and on he went. Then he said the Computer had selected their car for a 'random check'..and in they went. Now, they had time to spare...me, I just think it is uneccesary to run the risk that I meet the 'one' having the bad day!

Everyone should have a Valid Passport. JMO

 

[CDNmouse]

Yes- you do need a Passport!

Flying from Buffalo to Orlando no pasport is required.

Travelling from Canada to USA via car you do not currently need a passport (yet).

I suggest getting one however as it really makes crossing into the USA so much easier.

Gary

 

[laura001]

You do NOT need a passport if you are driving over the border, and flying from Buffalo to a destination within the USA. You will need photo ID to get through security, and you will need a government issued photo ID PLUS your birth certificate at the border crossing. The above is stating that you need a passport only if you are flying TO or THROUGH the USA FROM Canada, or flying back INTO Canada FROM the USA. USA to USA destinations by plane only require photo ID. I'm assuming you're not flying from Buffalo to another destination outside of the USA.

No worries, you're fine, as long as you have the required photo ID and birth certificate. However, I highly recommend getting your passport very soon. It makes life so much easier when crossing the border.

You are exactly right! You are also right about just taking the time to get your passport....it really makes life so much easier!

 

[canadianmom2three]

Well, for a family of 5 to get passports, would be $500, and for us, it wouldn't make it that much easier that I can justify paying that much right now. We live right on the border, and cross fairly frequently both for shopping, and also for travel. We have yet to encounter any problems with using our birth certificates and licences. Yes, there are rude agents at the counter, and we have been pulled aside for "randomly selected" searches, but imo this has very little to do with the birth certificate vs. passport, and most to do with how DH or I have chosen to answer the questions. Last time we got pulled it was because DH had attempted to be humorous, and obviously the agent didn't appreciate the joke....otoh, my parents who both have up to date passports have been pulled over for just as many 'random' searches as we have, it's just luck of the draw sometimes. The last time we were pulled in for anything aside from paying taxes/duty was probably 2 years ago, and we are over at least once a month, if not more. As far as processing time, there are days when they spend upwards of 5 minutes per car, it doesn't seem to matter what your ID is, and then there are days where they barely glance at the ID and let you thru...the only change I have really noticed is there are NEVER days anymore where they don't ask for ID...They keep pushing back and back the deadline, and there is all that talk of a 'new' secure ID...for $500 at this point, I am happy to wait and see, if I watch carefully that can almost pay for my flights to orlando ;-)...jmo

 

[b-1]

I also didn't want to part with all of the passport money at once. and I also did not want all the passports to need renewing at once. so I have staggered our passports throughout two years. We all have passports and I renew 2 a year. one in the spring and one in the fall.

 

[jmtf2004]

While they DO keep extending the requirement deadline for land crossings...much of how smoothly it goes for you depends on whom you encounter processing you and what kind of day they are having!

My DH and his co-worker crossed a month ago at Fort Erie. The other fellow's Passport had expired 11 days prior. The Officer-obviously a 'legend in his own mind' was very rude. Asked why he had not "Kept on top off such a vital Document lapsing" and on he went. Then he said the Computer had selected their car for a 'random check'..and in they went. Now, they had time to spare...me, I just think it is uneccesary to run the risk that I meet the 'one' having the bad day!

Everyone should have a Valid Passport. JMO

I agree with you wholeheartedly - when you present passports, it's just so much simpler and faster to go through the border and security checks at the airport. When you present a passport they have no need to see anything else, and there is no question about your identity or your citizenship...end of story. With other forms of ID they often seem to ask more questions, take a bit more time to scrutinize, which is a waste of valuable time (not just yours and your family's, but that of everyone in line behind you)

When I got my husband's passport renewed (he was in the hospital just before it was going to expire, so I took care of it for him) the guy at the passport office asked me if I wanted to keep the old one. I asked what I would use the old one for. He told me that the expired passport was still considered valid as a form of identification and *could be used to cross the border if we drive across* I thought that sounded reasonable - and still simpler than using the driver's license + birth certificate if we did drive across before his new passport arrived (we live about 10 minutes from the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie). Turns out we never tried it...and his new passport arrived within about 2 weeks, so we won't need it. I would have been livid if we had crossed, presented the expired passport as ID, only to be told off by the border guard!