Passports to enter USA

[tmli]

Just heard on the news that effective Dec.31 of this year Cdn's will require a valid passport to enter the USA. Apparently there will be an announcement tomorrow.

Think I will be applying for ours now to avoid the rush at the end of the year.

 

[OntFamily]

Which station/program?

 

[tmli]

CTV news at 11:00

 

[lilsonicfan]

I dunno about this, it would be insane to require this within one year....

 

[Hockeychic]

I was just coming on here to tell everyone also. DH heard it on the news this morning.

We are getting ours Friday.

 

[eleanor]

I always take my passport. It saves a lot of trouble.

 

[tmli]

It's for real. Canada am is running the story during there every half hour news breaks.

There is going to be a rush at the passport office.

 

[grover]

Just heard this on the radio station here this morning as well. Glad we have ours--not that we are going anywhere soon--but just good to have them!
G in W

 

[StuartMI]

Man that's crazy. Usually a birth cert + DL is good enough or at least it was when I lived up there.

I looked at ctv.ca, and thestar.com and didn't read anything on this, though. Does anyone have a web link?

 

[sammi]

Yes the news is true, so anyone travelling in the near future should start the passport app now. I think that it'a always a good idea to have a passport as it really does make entering the uS much easier and quicker.

I just wish that we could have a bit of a discount with the price and have the expiry date extended on them.

Here's the exerpt from the Globe and Mail:


NATIONAL POST
Latest News

Canadians will need passports to enter U.S.

Broadcast News

Tuesday, April 05, 2005



Canadians may soon need new documents to take a trip south of the border.

CTV News says as of December 31st, the U-S will require all Canadian citizens to have a passport in order to enter the country.

CTV provided no details, but says the new measures will be announced in Washington Tuesday.

The National Post lays out a different scenario.

The Post says under new regulations, the U.S. could require Canadians to carry a document that has more security features than the current driver's licence or birth certificate.

It says that could include some form of biometric identifier.

Currently it's recommended that Canadians carry a passport into the U.S., but other photo I-D such as a driver's licence is acceptable.

 

[StuartMI]

I just wish that we could have a bit of a discount with the price and have the expiry date extended on them.

Why should they offer a discount? I'm sure it's not the Canucks that are putting this into play, rather its the DHS and the rest of us Amuricans that are toughening things up.

 

[sammi]

Why not?

I do know that other countries have a much longer expiry date than Canadian passports....and yes I still think our government should lower the cost of passports......all countries should keep them more affordable.....especially if we will all need them to travel out of our own country.

 

[dhluvsDisney]

Yikes! My SIL just called me on the cell. She had not heard the effective date so she quickly went to grab an application. We leave in 38 days and I don't have one either or the kids. I came right here, and knew you guys would have the right info! Thanks as at least I know I don't have to panic. I didn't think it would be right away, as there is no way the government can process that many in a short notice time frame.

Do the kids need one too?

Linda

 

[Grumbo]

Why should they offer a discount? I'm sure it's not the Canucks that are putting this into play, rather its the DHS and the rest of us Amuricans that are toughening things up.

Yep its the Americans...
Once again blame the laxness of other countries so we'll make it a convoluted mess to enter the country.
If you look at the 9/11 people they were pretty well all in the country with legal papers. Its what they did once in the country they need to deal with.
Oh well have passports, and have had for years.
Just another step towards isolationism.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[StuartMI]

Why not?

I do know that other countries have a much longer expiry date than Canadian passports....and yes I still think our government should lower the cost of passports......all countries should keep them more affordable.....especially if we will all need them to travel out of our own country.

We pay $97 USD for a passport. Last time I renewed my CDN passport it was much cheaper. Even today when I look at the CDN passport website, it shows the current price is only $87. Of course, since I live in the US now I had to pay $97 CDN and my CDN passport is still a 5 year as opposed to US passports being 10 years. I guess the extra money that comes in for the passports goes towards the government sponsorship deals, etc.

 

[StuartMI]

Just another step towards isolationism.

Hey we're feeling pretty isolated now too with the CDN import taxes that are going to be put on US smokes and oysters!

Once again blame the laxness of other countries so we'll make it a convoluted mess to enter the country.

Come on, you can't honestly say Canada has a tighter border than the US and still keep a straight face. It is significantly easier to obtain residency in Canada than it is in the US. Oh well, just my $0.02. Of course, if those living in Canada resent the US because of the tighter borders, then don't come here. As I've said before, take the fam to Canada's Wonderland.

 

[MECH8T7]

We had to get them for our family trip to the U.K. last year and, now that we have them, we don't have to worry about carrying around the difficult to replace original birth certificates, citizenship cards, etc.

I guess this measure will mean that we won't be having many more of those "active" debates on this board about whether Canadian's should be getting a passport to go to WDW or a DCL cruise!

 

[langin]

we weren't planning on getting our passports since we are driving in August, do you think we should? I have my 3 DS birth cert and picture ID that I pay for at Service NB, it looks just like a Drivers lisence but says on it it is for ID purposes only, this is not a drivers lisence. Of course my passport that has 1 of my DS is expiring in June, so do I really need to spend the $$$ for 5 passports!!!!!

 

[maryliz]

Do the kids need one too?

I would be surprised if children under 16 were actually REQUIRED to have one. In all honesty, we got them for ourselves and our kids last fall, and neither airport security nor customs were interested in looking at the kids' whatsoever. I handed over all 4 passports and instead of the guy looking at each one, I was handed all of them back and told to find mine and DH's only and THEN hand them back to the guy. This was in the airport.

The kids were only $35 each though, so at least that's something of a break.

As someone has already pointed out, people who have gained legal access to a country can still cause a lot of trouble. I don't think making everyone crossing the border have a passport is going to prevent such tragic happenings from ever occuring again. Just MHO.

O

 

[Grumbo]

Stuart if you think that making Canadians get passports is a great idea, fine. I don't and your supercilious, self serving attitude towards your former homeland wears thin at times.
My point was and is that if the U.S. government thinks that having all Canadians get passports will quell the influx of terrorists into the U.S. they are deluding themselves. As I mentioned the 9/11 terrorists, which truly spawned this all were in the country using "legal" methods, and if they overstayed their visas or permits that is an internal matter that needs addressing.

As for the tarrifs look at the countries taking part. Canada, Japan, The EU countries.

As for Wonderland I appreciate your direction as to what we in Canada should do. Thankyou.

Cheers,
Grumbo