So...........Anyone cross w/o a Passport?

[kristieleeoz]

Hi !

I am dying to know if anyone crossed by car and flew out of Buf/Rochester.

I would love some first hand accounts of how the border guards are handling this situation.

I am so sick of the cold, can't wait till April 20th!!

Kristie

 

[dsneygirl]

We went to BUF shopping last Sat (Feb 3) with just our drivers license. Didn't even bat an eye and didn't ask for our BCs or for the baby's BC. No problems whatsoever.

 

[CanadianGuy]

The passport situation is only for those Canadians departing a Canadian airport and flying into or over U.S. airspace.

Travellers by car or sea are not yet affected by the passport rules. They are expected to introduce passport requirements for driving across the border in January of 2008.

As far as boarding a plane once you are IN the United States ... I think you would be foolish to try without a passport. While you certainly may succeed in one airport, it would NOT be fun to get to Orlando and then be denied boarding for your flight back to Buffalo because they are interpreting the rules differently down there.

That COULD happen and it would really stink. So I'd get a passport even if I was driving across to board a flight in the U.S.

In fact, a woman in the building where I work, flew to Orlando from Canada just before the passport rules came into effect. She didn't have a passport and claimed she was told the rule didn't apply to hear because her departure flight was before the rule went into effect. (riiiiiiight)

Well, when she tried to board a plane to come home.. a day after the rule came into effect, she was denied boarding.

She eventually got on a plane but not before spending 36 hours in the airport fighting with officials. Not how I would want to spend my vacation.

Why risk it?

J

 

[adamsloco]

As far as boarding a plane once you are IN the United States ... I think you would be foolish to try without a passport. While you certainly may succeed in one airport, it would NOT be fun to get to Orlando and then be denied boarding for your flight back to Buffalo because they are interpreting the rules differently down there.

Here's what Passport Canada has to say:

Frequently Asked Questions
If I enter the US by land without a passport, will I require a passport to board a US domestic flight (i.e. Buffalo to Orlando)?

No, the new US passport requirement applies to passengers on international flights only. Passengers boarding US domestic flights are not legally required to have a passport, however, all passengers must show proof of their identity. We recommend you contact your airline to determine their identification requirements.

Can be found at Passport Canada's Website


I'll bet a passport will satisfy the identification requirement of any airline.

Thanks,

 

[CanadianGuy]

Good catch Adam.

I just can't understand why people will spend thousands of dollars on a vacation and risk being denied boarding because of an 87$ passport.

J

 

[OntFamily]

Good catch Adam.

I just can't understand why people will spend thousands of dollars on a vacation and risk being denied boarding because of an 87$ passport.

J

It could be because if you have 4 or 5 people, the passport cost is almost $500.

We crossed the border @ Niagara Falls last Sunday, with drivers license only -- no issue. Also, there is no need to have proof of citizenship for flying domestically within the USA -- only photo ID for proof of identification.

 

[Bubbie]

We crossed at the Windsor/Detroit boarder Jan 30 to feb 5. We DID NOT have our passports and got across with NO HASSELS what so ever. We flew Spirit airlines and they DID NOT ask for a passport. We had NO problem flying to Orlando and back WITHOUT one. You DO NOT need a passport. Hope this helps.

 

[dawnedwards]

I agree 100% that for most families we are not talking about an $87 passport, we are talking about 87x how ever many people are in your party. Further since mail in passports are taking 60 days it is also the gas and potentially a lost days wage to go and stand in line all day at one of the passport centres.

They centres are well located for us in South Central Ontario, but up north and outside of Ontario some people have to drive 4-5 hours to find an office.

 

[CanadianGuy]

All good points -- enjoy the passport-free travel for the next 12 months.. but by next January you WILL need one to drive across the border.. Everyone in your family will.

Future trips to the states will have to budget in the cost of passports for the family.

And if you think the lines are bad now.. just wait till November. It will be insane.. and everyone will be running around with a trip booked in 2 weeks and a 90 day wait for a passport ... complaining how they didn't have enough notice etc.

Those in remote communities can do a mail-in application NOW and have your passport before spring. Come this fall, the delays will be staggering... and nobody will have planned ahead.

I work on the same floor as the passport office here in New Brunswick. People were coming in asking for emergency passports because they had a vacation to Disney all paid for that starts in 2 weeks and they hadn't got a passport yet. The passport office doesn't issue emergency passports because you forgot to get one.

J

 

[kristieleeoz]

I'm getting ours "just in case" and to avoid an "I told you so" from my husband

We are leaving April 20, so I am hoping that if I get on the ball this week I can have it back in time. We got our photos today.

Really, though....what a huge pain in the *** this has become!!

Kristie

 

[SandraC]

The Original Poster asked about recent border crossing/passport experiences, not for a debate.

I'm interested in the OP's question too!

BTW, if 20,000 people a day are going for passports, and there are 32,825,900 people in Canada...provided EVERYONE gets a passport, it will take 4.5 years to process them all.

Sandra

 

[maddiel]

BTW, if 20,000 people a day are going for passports, and there are 32,825,900 people in Canada...provided EVERYONE gets a passport, it will take 4.5 years to process them all.

Sandra

Oh good. Then since some countries won't let you enter with less than six months on your passport, the whole county will have to start the 4.5 year process of renewing them....

M.

 

[abbyndrewmom]

As far as boarding a plane once you are IN the United States ... I think you would be foolish to try without a passport. While you certainly may succeed in one airport, it would NOT be fun to get to Orlando and then be denied boarding for your flight back to Buffalo because they are interpreting the rules differently down there.

That COULD happen and it would really stink. So I'd get a passport even if I was driving across to board a flight in the U.S.

In fact, a woman in the building where I work, flew to Orlando from Canada just before the passport rules came into effect. She didn't have a passport and claimed she was told the rule didn't apply to hear because her departure flight was before the rule went into effect. (riiiiiiight)

Well, when she tried to board a plane to come home.. a day after the rule came into effect, she was denied boarding.

She eventually got on a plane but not before spending 36 hours in the airport fighting with officials. Not how I would want to spend my vacation

Sorry but you are talking about two completely different situations. You can't compare flying domestically within the USA to someone flying internationally one day after a new passport law came into effect. I can completly understand why your friend had a problem especially if she was flying on an American Carrier. The new US passport rules can cause confusion between people entering the USA needing a passport but not needing one to return to Canada. If the personnel at the airport were not familiar with Canadian laws I can see why this would be very confusing.

However the original poster is asking about crossing the border by land in Buffalo before flying domestically in the United States. You are not required to show a passport to fly domestically. If you were most Americans would be in big trouble as most people do not have passports and I am sure that many of those that do have them don't carry them while traveling domestically!!!

We are leaving April 20, so I am hoping that if I get on the ball this week I can have it back in time. We got our photos today.

I would be very careful you are cutting it close to the 60 day mark, I hope you are going to go to apply in person at a passport office and not send them in the mail. You will be in a far worse situation if you send in your application with your birth certificates and don't receive anything back by your vacation time!!

To answer you original question, I just had a friend who flew from Buffalo to Seattle this past week with just her BC and DL and had no problem at either airport or the land border.

 

[kristieleeoz]

Thanks for your thoughts. Funny how this whole passport thing is firing people up. I guess people just like to be right.

I am shooting for Friday to have the whole thing done. There is a passport office very close to my work, so I have no excuse. Thanks for the input!

 

[riu girl]

Has a date been set in Jan 2008 when a passport will be required for a land crossing (driving from BUF to Ontario)?

Thank you

 

[OntFamily]

Has a date been set in Jan 2008 when a passport will be required for a land crossing (driving from BUF to Ontario)?

Thank you

At present, it looks like they're going to delay the implementation of that part of the law until at least June 2009. Some US senators want that part of the regulation eliminated (and retain the current regulation for crossing at a land border).

 

[SandraC]

What did they used to say during WWII?

Oh yes...."Papers....show me your papers!"

I'm still waiting for the OP's question to be answered and not debated.

Sandra

 

[highland3]

We drove across at the 1000 Islands Bridge and back and had no issues whatsoever.

 

[CanadianGuy]

To answer the OP's question specifically..

I cross the border via land frequently. They are handling it as they always have. Birth certificate, drivers license or passport are currently accepted.

Passport is not required for land crossings.

According to Passport Canada...

Phase 2: Between January, 2008 and June 2009*, Canadians will require to have a valid passport or other approved secure document to enter the United States by all modes of travel including land or sea, including ferries and pleasure craft.

* Date to be confirmed by the US Government

J

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I'm still waiting for the OP's question to be answered and not debated.

Actually if you look back, posts # 2, 6 & 7 all directly answered the OP's question in saying they've crossed by land w/o passports and had no problems whatsoever...

As for her question being debated, I fail to see the problem with people discussing other aspects of the issue on one of "The DIS Discussion Forums" as this is called...