Get your Passport

[brucesallen]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070122/ap_ ... rt_rules_3
Anybody that plans to go to Mosport, Calabogie or Tremblant needs to have a passport in order starting this year to get back into the US.

[jadams]

I looked on that site, and this apparently only applies to travel by air at this point. Looks like next year will be a definate requirement though.

Quote from the site below:


For now, the rules affect only air travelers. Land and sea travelers will not have to show passports until at least January 2008. Air travelers who cannot produce a passport will be interviewed by customs agents, who will decide whether to let them into the country.

[Dave_G]

For now, the rules affect only air travelers. Land and sea travelers will not have to show passports until at least January 2008. Air travelers who cannot produce a passport will be interviewed by customs agents, who will decide whether to let them into the country.

That's what the rule says. However, that's not necessarily what's happening at the border crossings. Last summer when I was returning from Mosport the U.S. Customs agent chewed me out mercilessly for not having a passport. He did let me back in the country (presumably because the law said he had to), but he was awfully snippy about it. Since then I've carried my passport to Canada just to avoid such encounters again.

[chaos4NH]

Dave is absolutley correct. I travel to Canada every 4-5 weeks and it is becoming increasingly more difficult without a passport. Having one makes the return to the US a MUCH easier experience.

[StephanAlfa]

jadams wrote: "For now, the rules affect only air travelers. Land and sea travelers will not have to show passports until at least January 2008. Air travelers who cannot produce a passport will be interviewed by customs agents, who will decide whether to let them into the country".
DAVE G responded: "That's what the rule says. However, that's not necessarily what's happening at the border crossings. Last summer when I was returning from Mosport the U.S. Customs agent chewed me out mercilessly for not having a passport. He did let me back in the country (presumably because the law said he had to), but he was awfully snippy about it. Since then I've carried my passport to Canada just to avoid such encounters again".

FOLKS:
I carry a Canadian passport and I must say US citizens have had it pretty easy for a long time: crossing international borders (Canada and Mexico) using driver's license and birth certificates... You don't know how easy time you have been having UNTIL it's time to be like other world travelers.
Get a passport! It is so easy here in the USA (unless you have criminal issues). And it will be much easier for you to cross borders especially carrying/hauling stuff. By the way, speaking of hauling stuff across the border, consider using a "Certificate of Registration" that you should get is stamped at the US side of the border BEFORE going into Canada so that you don't get hit having to prove ownership or your goods. Here's the link: https://forms.customs.gov/customsrf/get ... 5-form.xft
To get a US passport form you can get it at your nearest post office (or on line?). Follow the instructions from there. Apply now iof you plan to go to Canada anytime this year!

On the anecdotal side ...If you are too shy to show a US passport while in line I think they still sell a passport cover with the Canadian passport insignias, etc...
Oh, CANADA!