anyone cross the border this year yet...

[UP Conductor]

Was a passport required? Just trying to get a first hand account from anyone that has crossed the border this year and if a passport was required this year or not. So far all I've heard or read is "well I think it's 2007 that a passport will be required".

Thanks in advance

Dave

[Hemlock]

I cross about once a month. No passports are required either way. Birth certificate and a photo id is all. (If they even ask for that much)

[Wild Thing]

I cross at least once a month and it's never been easier. Drivers license is totally enough, but also have a Xerox of your birth certificate just in case. For kids, Bcertificate is plenty.

A little update on the passport thing (which is a US issue, so don't blame the Canadians.) First, the earliest anything will happen is Dec. 31, 2007, so you have nearly two years.

Second, the passport requirement is Dead on Arrival in Congress, so that's almost certainly not going to happen.

Third, the posisble alternative to a passport will be a national ID card, although even that is being panned because of the cost and huge inconvenience for occasional travelers.

A much better compromise is in the works. The chairman of the House committee dealing with the issue, Rep. Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, has agreed to a compromise whereby states would add one thing to all drivers licenses -- country of birth. In essence, that's all Homeland Security really wants. They can already use the state drivers license number for a total, global criminal serach. Michigan has agreed to be the test state.

So, please contact your congressmen and ask them to support this common sense alternative that will keep border crossing cheap and easy for all of us on both sides!