Passport to US?

[tigger2on]

Is it necessary to have a passport to go to the States? or can you just use your birth certificate?

 

[Susan--Ontario]

As of today you only require your birth certificate and some form of government photo ID.

Many people's concern is that the US may change their policy at any time and then there will be a huge backlog at the passport office. If you have time and the money I'd recommend getting a passport. It is so great when you get to the border, hand over your passports, they look at them and then you're quickly on your way.

We always take our passports and leave our Birth certificates at home. If we lose our passports we can replace our passports relatively easily. If we lose our birth certificates we get to join that long line.

As RoyalCanadian has said he had pretty rapid service last week getting his passport. Good luck!!

 

[SKFamily]

We just got back - no passport required, only one person even really looked at our ID. Most didn't even ask for our kids'. FIL just came back from a US trip and had no problem.... July 4th weekend, no birth certificate.... no problem. He had a letter from a lawyer who has never actually met him before but was willing to state that FIL is who he says he is and would be in the states for such and such a time, and they took that.

I wouldn't bother with a passport - even US officials say that they would give Canadians an adequate time window to obtain a passport. But if it makes you feel better, get one. When we were asked for "passports", we told them we didn't have them but had everything else, and they said "your birth certificate is just as good".

 

[SkylarKD]

We got them for our last trip to the States. Often you get more of a hassle at the border if you only have your birth certificate and driver's licence. Technically that's all you need, but you'll get less of a hassle with a passport, and you'll have it in case they change their policy quickly.

 

[mississaugamom]

I'd suggest getting the passport if there's still time. As of now, passports are expected to be a requirement for the 2005 Repositioning cruises, if not all Disney Cruise for non-US citizens. If you go to a passport office rather than mailing them, they don't keep your original documentation (or didn't last year when I renewed ours) so it's still available in case the passport doesn't arrive in time.

good luck!

Arlene