Passport????

[Disney_Mama]

I heard from a neighbour starting the new year you will need a passport to cross the border.. Has any one heard more about this. Should I start paperwork now for my kids? Going March break...

 

[runner26.2]

starting in 2007 Canadians (and everyone else) will need passport to enter Us

 

[Tabetha]

Here's an article for ya:

http://gocanada.about.com/od/bordercrossing/a/uspassports.htm

 

[CharlesTD]

Only if you are flying or on a boat/ship will you need it in 06 land grossing it is not necessary. As of 07 it will be mandatory even for land crossings.

 

[runner26.2]

From the article at the link posted above it appears air and sea travellers will require passport beginning December 31, 2006 and land travellers 1 year later on December 31, 2007.

So you're ok for now but things will change dramatically in a years time

 

[Disney_Mama]

Thanks for the info. Glad to know that I don't have to rush for this trip.

 

[PrincessNED]

My TA advised me to always take my pasport - I go by my second name and alot of my cc's and my dl have my middle name only.

Also if you go by your second name you have to fly under your first name - guess it has to do with their terrorist screening programs on the manifests.

 

[dhluvsDisney]

Okay, what about us, we are driving on Dec 29 to the U.S., and flying out then to Orlando. Do we need a passport then?

Linda

 

[SaraMc]

I was reading on the web site for passports that we need to have them by 2007 that the deadline that they had originally suggested of Dec 31,2005 would cause a backlog ect. Im flying out of Buffalo and cross over all the time. Yes I should get my passports but Im thinking that 80.00 to get it might be nicer to have for my trip.

 

[usetheforceluke]

We've been across the border quite a bit this year, and I've just got to the point that I have the passports out of the window for the official as we're driving up to the booth. She or he will invariably open them, scan them and then ask questions.

The one time that we went over without them, it was a far different set of questions than we 'were used to'. I felt awkward about it, and was more than pleased when we returned home.

From my point of view, my passport is a much better form of identification to prove that I'm Canadian as opposed to a driver's license, or a health card, and regardless of what anyone says, I think the cost just to get one is more than worth it.

Besides, when they make passports mandatory, try getting through the border without one.

Jim.

 

[dsneygirl]

Okay, what about us, we are driving on Dec 29 to the U.S., and flying out then to Orlando. Do we need a passport then?

Linda

If you're flying from Buffalo to Orlando it's a domestic flight and you don't need to prove citizneship that is only at the border with US Customs.

 

[dsneygirl]

The one time that we went over without them, it was a far different set of questions than we 'were used to'. I felt awkward about it, and was more than pleased when we returned home.

Interesting that has never been my experience and we probably cross once or twice a month. 2 weeks ago we crossed at Sarnia and were never even asked for ID (I had the DL and BC's in my hand).

 

[caine family of five]

Hey everybody
We just got dh passport from whitby and had it in two weeks. They said driving you will not need it until dec.31 2007.
It is a good idea to have it though,I plan on getting mine in new year that way they are not both due at same time. Haven't thought about kids though since they are teens and waiting till they are all over fifteen so we don't have to renew them will they are in high school. Also one dd is fifteen two weeks after our trip so we will wait and youngest dd is just turning fourteen.

We leave on jan 2 2006 and come back the 8th.
Christine

 

[cdnmickeylover]

You might want to consider getting your teens their passports now. I believe that the cost is cheaper if they are under 16 but they are still good for 5 years.

 

[tone.def]

From US Customs and Border Protection:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/west_hem_init/west_hem_faqs/dhs_faqs.xml

Q: When will the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative be implemented?
A: In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative 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 timeline will be as follows:

* December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

* December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all air, sea and land border crossings.