Canadian Passport??

[52luge]

I just heard yesterday on the news that they will be requiring passports to get into Canada now. I thought it was to be enacted this week sometime. Am I mistaken. We are heading up this summer and our resort told us we would not need them until June 2009. Jeez I wish they would make up their mind.

[Wild Thing]

AHHHHHHHHHH!

Get the facts!

It's the U.S. that is changing the rules, not CANADA.

Starting Jan. 31 you need a birth certificate and a drivers license to get into the U.S. by land. If you want, you can use a passport instead. Kids need just a birth certificate, nothing else.

Starting in June, 2009, the passport, or smaller passport card, will be necessary.

It's that simpel. Absolutely no more posts needed on this topic!!!!!

[52luge]

Sorry,

Its just I had 3 different people tell me yesterday the same thing and I heard a blurb on the radio, I guess they were just changing the fee schedual as of today. I suspected it wasn't true but thats why I asked here. O.K. no more passport talk.

[grousehunter]

wildthing...are you sure Canada isnt making us have them this year?

[minneman]

all the info you need is at travel.state.gov/passport . com

there is also a link to the Department of Homeland Security there as well for more info!

The latest change is that they are not accepting oral verification of residency on the US side anymore. you now need a current picture ID (DL) and a Birth cirtificate at the us customs.

If you have the info the US requires you to get back in, you shouldnt have problems on the Canada side getting in.

[BobT]

I think what we have to keep in mind is that sooner or later the law will require a passport to return to the US. Save yourself the headache of a last minute effort and get it now. It's valid for 10 years and inexpensive to renew once you have it. Also keep in mind that similar to making last minute flight changes when the law does change, they may be cautious of new passports. Having it early is a better option.

Bob

[L_Cappo]

better order a passport now.cause it takes awhile before you will receive it.

[Tman2]

We went across last week, and while they have a little grace period, but I'd get the passport for sure. You'll need to provide some sort of proof of citizenship. While they probably won't keep you out of the country, it will take a bunch of time to prove your allowed to come back in, making the process less than enjoyable.

GET YOUR PASSPORTS!! That will immensely help solve border crossing issues.

[Hemlock]

Not to discredit your report, but....a birth certificate and a photo id still keeps them happy. That is all you need!

[BobT]

That is true, Hemlock, but the movement is toward requiring the passport to return to the US. The deadline for it has been delayed a couple times already and it would seem that sooner or later it will happen and then I'm sure Canada will follow suit shortly thereafter.

Even though it isn't required to get into Canada or back into the states now, it makes things much easier to have the passport. Fewer questions asked.

Bob

[Lotwfisher]

Just got notified today when crossing the border INTO the US a proof of Citizenship is required. If you show your drivers license it must be accompanied with a birth certificate. Passports qualify for sure and seem to be the best thing to use.

[Hemlock]

I agree with you 100% on passports making it easier. I have one, as does my wife, and two boys. Much easier, but what I don't want is a drop in tourism "up here" due to lack of understanding. THere are a lot of people that think it's mandatory to have a passport to go to Canada, when that is still completely false. In fact, they keep pushing the date back from 2006 to who knows when, and there's chatter that instead of passports, we all get a "smart" id. Who knows, not us.

Again, you are correct on the ease of a passport, but still not required.

[Wild Thing]

Hemlock,

I'm amazed how much misinformation is out there. Every day someone re-states the wrong information on this site. Uffda.

I agree there is storng pressure to drop the passport requirement completely, which would be GREAT. It's an assinine rule.

Other options, includng smart information chips on drivers licenses, are much better and cheaper if the states will get involved.

Already, the passport card is available for half the price of a passport for anyone out there who does NOT plan to fly but only cross the border by car.

You (US residents) can also get a passport card even if you have a valid passport. Some guys are doing that becasue they want to fit it in their wallet and not carry the larger passport.

By U.S. LAW the earliest they can require a passport to re-enter the U.S. is June, 2009!!! More than one year away.

And again don't blame the Canadians, this is a Homeland Security rule.

[fishermn]

Anyone heard if or how the U.S. plans to deal with Remote Area Border crossing? As I understand it right now you are supposed to report in person to the closest Border Station when you come back into the US at a remote border crossing. I cant believe there are many people actually doing this for day snowmobile or fishing trips.

[Hemlock]

If you have a RABC permit right now, you don't have to check in. That's what most people who are at the angle do. It eliminates the task of checking in.

Not sure what the future holds for that though.

[fishermn]

Hemlock, thats the case for going Into Canada, but its not the case when returning to the U.S., at least according to the Customs and Immigration folks I talked to at Grand Portage, they expect you to actually report in person. I was tempted to ask how many people they ever see that do this, but I bet I know the answer (none). I know in these areas where you can use an RABC to cross by snowmobile that there are dozens of people crossing back and forth every day. Canada has done the right thing and created the RABC, but the U.S. doesnt appear to be addressing this issue in a reasonable way...

For summer travel, the U.S. has the I-68 permit which allows you to report via telephone, but if you dont have one, you are expected to report to the nearest border station in person. However, this only applies in the summer (May 1 - November 1 or something roughly like that)

[Hemlock]

Thanks for clarifying fishermn. I had it in my mind we were talking about checking into Canada, but I think your assumption of checking back into the US after a day in Canada is probably pretty accurate. Weird how there isn't a similar system for getting back into US.

[Dock Boy]

I fish the Canadian side for Lake Trout 1-2 times a week leaving out of Crane Lake, MN. I check into customs everytime I come back to the states Crane has a US customs office. Also during the summer time you can drive a boat into Canadian waters fish and drive back with out checking back into US customs. As long as you don't touch any of there land or gunnel up to a boat. Of course you can't bring live minnows across, but you can bring nightcrawlers with out any bedding.

[BobT]

 Quote:

As long as you don't touch any of there land or gunnel up to a boat.

You ever wonder if some of the rules were created just to create rules? Good grief. How do you enforce a rule like this?

Bob

[fishermn]

Yeah I agree, it seems like they need to extend the I-68 thing to be year around. I have no problem with checking back in, but its kinda difficult when the border station is 100 miles away from where I am able to cross the border...

[Down Deep]

Lots of people fly from the US to Canadian Cities for a fishing trip. Passports are required for all air travel.

[moderation]

I just did my application for a passport today. Very easy application and very short time to do. I went to the local county auditors office and did the paper work, they did the pictures too. Total cost was $105. Easier to get it before it's needed. By the way I got the passport book and should get it in 4-6 weeks.

[moderation]

Just for information. I got my passport on March 10, a total of 11 days to get. Things are either getting much faster over all or I got in at the right time of the year.