Strict security

[lisaes]

I was wondering how strict security and customs are going into the US. I am flying out of Toronto into the US. My travel agen says that a passport is not required, only birth certificate and picture i.d. Has anyone ever had trouble with just this identification?

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I believe your TA has correctly interpreted the letter of US immigration law to you as it pertains to Canadian citizens -- however, I believe some US INS officers are using a different interpretation and asking for passports. I think the BC and appropriate photo ID will be sufficient, but we must always keep in mind that the passport is the internationally recognized form of identification. Don't leave home without it.

Neil

 

[SKFamily]

I was told the same thing by my TA, and Canada Customs. But I was also told to be sure that I have our health care cards and social insurance cards. Social Insurance cards aren't good as identification, but they are issued in our name by the Canadian Government. Canada Customs said hand them all four and let them pick what they want to use. She also said that if a Canadian Citizen with proper ID is turned away solely for lack of a passport then that citizen should be contacting the Canadian government for help. The US's own laws state that we don't require passports and they are expected to follow that law. (yes, I know.. it still happens) They can ask for a passport, but that doesn't mean we have to have one. Simply say "I was told that as a Canadian citizen I didn't need a passport, only to be sure I have the rest of my ID".

My brother's GF is an American living in Canada. She called US INS to see if he needs a passport to go "home" with her for visits. They said no - it is not required for Canadian citizens, and INS officers are not supposed to be turning Canadian citizens away for not having them. He's gone a couple of times (driving) and never had a problem - even with legal problems in the past two years.

 

[Amberle3]

A couple of points on this:

- All that is currently required for entrance to the US is an original birth certificate (no photocopies) and government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license).

- Having said that, the US government can decide at any point to require a passport from Canadians. They can do this without warning and lead time. So if they decide on Monday that you need a passport, you need a passport. Period, end of story, thanks for playing. No amount of complaining will help.

- If you have time to get a passport, do it. They cost $85 and a little bit of time from your day, and are good for 5 years. That's $17 a year, or $1.42 a month. That's less than getting a Tim Horton's coffee a month! They need roughly 10 working days to issue a passport, although you can pay a fee (I think it's currenlty $15) to have it expedited.

- SKFamily, whoever told you to take the SIN and health cards was wrong. SIN cards are NOT acceptable as proof of citizenship, as you can simply be a resident of Canada have a SIN card. My fiance is an American living in Canada, he has a SIN and a provincial health card. All those do is prove residency, not citizenship and as such cannot be used for ID. Well the health card can if it has your picture and is used as the photo ID along with a birth certificate (if you don't have a driver's license).

- On the subject of landed immigrants (those residing in Canada but not Canadian citizens) - especially Americans - yes it's true that they don't need a passport to enter the US (for the Americans). They can't get a Canadian passport anyway, since they're not citizens of Canada. BUT they do require the Permanent Resident Card to re-enter Canada if they're travelling by commercial carrier. Without it they can be denied into the country, even though they live here.

Information on the Permanent Resident Card can be found at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/prcard.html

 

[SKFamily]

Actually it was the Canada Customs person who told me to carry "ALL" of our ID. I know it isn't all acceptable as ID, but does prove at least residency like you said. And health cards need to be carried for other reasons, anyway. And when my brother's girlfriend was talking to INS last month she was told that there would be a reasonable amount of warning if they were to decide that Canadians need passports. Which apparently could happen by next summer.

 

[Amberle3]

Sorry if it came across wrong, I didn't mean to imply that you shouldn't take them. I just didn't want people thinking they could use them to prove citizenship. You'd be amazed at what I've seen people try and give US Immigration as ID, including: Club Z cards, Canadian Tire cards, etc.

And while the US probably will decide to give us a fair amount of warning before they require passports, they aren't required to. Other countries have changed their entrance requirements with no warning and left people in a lurch. If, heaven forbid, there's another attack on the US or even a real substantiated threat, I can see them instituting an immediate requirement for them.

I've been hearing next year as a target date for the requirement of passports for some time now. That's one of the reasons I've been trying to encourage people to get passports NOW, because once the US announces that it will require them then wait times will increase dramatically.

I got a new passport earlier this year. I think I spent a total of an hour at the passport office. Took 15 minutes to get the photo, and then of course the time required to get the guarantor's signature on the photo and application. All in all it was a very minor inconvenience compared to the ease of using a passport. Plus of course it's nice knowing that I can travel pretty much anywhere with it.

 

[MikeJ]

Originally posted by Amberle3
My fiance is an American living in Canada, he has a SIN and a provincial health card. All those do is prove residency, not citizenship and as such cannot be used for ID. Well the health card can if it has your picture and is used as the photo ID along with a birth certificate (if you don't have a driver's license).

Actually, SIN/SSN cards don't even prove residency. We lived in Baltimore for a couple of years back in the mid-80s, and both of us were issued SSN numbers. We both still have those cards although we are now Canadian citizens living in Canada.

- Mike

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I have to agree with Amberle3 about the passports. While I know that the US will probably give us warning about a passport requirement they don't have too. I don't want to be stuck at WDW (or do I??) and not be able to get home (or more importantly to WDW) because I didn't have a passport. We got ours 2 years ago when my DS was travelling with a friend to Florida and I wanted him to have photo id -- he doesn't have a driver's license or picture health card. It's a small price to pay for piece of mind.

We also haven't had a problem crossing the border and it seems much faster since we got passports -- we usually drive.

 

[Snowwark]

The passport question comes up fairly often, and I agree with the above posters. Sooner or later we'll all need them, and yes, the peace of mind alone is worth it.

Passports!!

 

[SKFamily]

Just for the record, I called the airport today and spoke to US Customs about this. (thinking that if we need them, we don't have many Friday's left that dh doesn't work before we go, and Friday would be the only day to do the one hour trip to go to a Government office) There are no plans of requiring passports from Canadians Citizens any time soon, we don't need to worry for travel this summer; they have never heard of a Canadian Citizen with proper ID being turned away (driver's license, birth certificate) simply because of no passport, and there would be notice given. The reason for this is because the US Government doesn't want Canada turning the tables on them and doing the same thing with no warning. There would be more Americans inconvenienced than there would be Canadians if American citizens suddenly needed a passport to come across for a day of cheap shopping. (I wonder about that)

Just what I was told today.