Passport Requirement waived to US

[Pavel]

Until June 2009, if not later:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/12/21/passport.rules/

[cwb27]

Saw this coming a mile away.

[GangStarr]

I don't see why they just create some sort of credit card sized ID that lets us cross the border. I mean wouldn't a new card with some sort of chip or RFID technology be more secure then our passports?

Passports are bulky, don't fit well in wallets, and expensive to replace.

and cwb... shouldn't you have seen it coming a kilometer away :p

[Pavel]

Passports are bulky, don't fit well in wallets, and expensive to replace.
And they're only valid for 5 years unlike in many countries, 10 years.

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

LOL Pavel, I came today to RFD just to inquire about this situation because there's a person that wants to go with me to the USA but only has his canadian citizenship card. Thanks for the info!

[Pavel]

You're welcome. :)

[tkyoshi]

I don't see why they just create some sort of credit card sized ID that lets us cross the border. I mean wouldn't a new card with some sort of chip or RFID technology be more secure then our passports?

Passports are bulky, don't fit well in wallets, and expensive to replace.

and cwb... shouldn't you have seen it coming a kilometer away :p

ICBC here is looking into creating an enhanced license. It just got recently approved by the government. Apparently it's going into pilot early 2008.

Basically your drivers licence will contain citizenship information. It will have RFID like a NEXUS card, and your information will show up on the Border Services computer as your approach. So if you are Canadian you won't need to drag along your passport for land borders with this new license.

[GangStarr]

ICBC here is looking into creating an enhanced license. It just got recently approved by the government. Apparently it's going into pilot early 2008.

Basically your drivers licence will contain citizenship information. It will have RFID like a NEXUS card, and your information will show up on the Border Services computer as your approach. So if you are Canadian you won't need to drag along your passport for land borders with this new license.

good info, that d/l should work for flights to the US as well. I'm always worried that some us customs guy will find my passport stamps to countries with "funny writing" (ie Cyrillic and Hebrew) suspicious

[CSK'sMom]

Ontario recently announced that they will be introducing a new enhanced drivers license early in 08. Nova Scotia is as well. If Homeland Security approves these new licenses the passport requirement supposedly will be dropped all together....

[Ch28]

ICBC here is looking into creating an enhanced license. It just got recently approved by the government. Apparently it's going into pilot early 2008.

Basically your drivers licence will contain citizenship information. It will have RFID like a NEXUS card, and your information will show up on the Border Services computer as your approach. So if you are Canadian you won't need to drag along your passport for land borders with this new license.

Took them long enough to figure that out

[Jay1234]

ICBC here is looking into creating an enhanced license. It just got recently approved by the government. Apparently it's going into pilot early 2008.

Basically your drivers licence will contain citizenship information. It will have RFID like a NEXUS card, and your information will show up on the Border Services computer as your approach. So if you are Canadian you won't need to drag along your passport for land borders with this new license.

With NEXUS card you still have to carry your passport. If you travel with a NEXUS card and don't have your passport and if it is requested, you get kicked out of the program for life.

Jay

[batman321123]

good info, that d/l should work for flights to the US as well. I'm always worried that some us customs guy will find my passport stamps to countries with "funny writing" (ie Cyrillic and Hebrew) suspicious

Hah, you're not the only one. :razz:

[tkyoshi]

With NEXUS card you still have to carry your passport. If you travel with a NEXUS card and don't have your passport and if it is requested, you get kicked out of the program for life.

Jay

That is correct for NEXUS you still need your passbord, but for the proposed enhanced drivers license you do NOT.

This program is targeted to people who only use Land/Ferry crossings and therefore may not want to apply for a Passport. This will be accepted as valid proof of citizenship, the card will contain citizenship information along with residency status. The details haven't been totally finalized yet but the pilot has started. On the US side, the enhanced license also allows other checks to be done as well like criminal checks when you arrive at the border.

BC may start issuing test cards within the next few months. In Washington the enhanced drivers licences are already being issued. They can be used to cross into BC from Washington.

If the program is successful you can look forward to it being expanded across the whole Canada/US Border. I believe Ontario is interested in the idea as well so they'll be watching the BC/WA pilot program closely over the next while.

[Ebola]

That is correct for NEXUS you still need your passbord, but for the proposed enhanced drivers license you do NOT.

This program is targeted to people who only use Land/Ferry crossings and therefore may not want to apply for a Passport. This will be accepted as valid proof of citizenship, the card will contain citizenship information along with residency status. The details haven't been totally finalized yet but the pilot has started. On the US side, the enhanced license also allows other checks to be done as well like criminal checks when you arrive at the border.

BC may start issuing test cards within the next few months. In Washington the enhanced drivers licences are already being issued. They can be used to cross into BC from Washington.

If the program is successful you can look forward to it being expanded across the whole Canada/US Border. I believe Ontario is interested in the idea as well so they'll be watching the BC/WA pilot program closely over the next while.

It really would be nice if alot of the US states got behind this initiative.

Most of their DL's have no magnetic strip, no chip, nothing. So you can't just swipe their card and run the checks.. you have to key it all in by hand.

I know i know.. boo hoo hoo.. but it takes alot longer, which creates backlog in traffic, which = more disgruntled people.

[Pete_Coach]

It really would be nice if alot of the US states got behind this initiative.

Most of their DL's have no magnetic strip, no chip, nothing. So you can't just swipe their card and run the checks.. you have to key it all in by hand.

I know i know.. boo hoo hoo.. but it takes alot longer, which creates backlog in traffic, which = more disgruntled people.
While I find all the initiatives by Ontario and BC interesting, I really think that they are for the use by the Province as opposed to anything else. They may just be using the US entry as an excuse to get everyones information on a chip. What about the people who do not drive, they still need a passport.
Doing all this is one thing but, you really need to get the US Government on side with this and I am not as certain as others that they will (or should) give us Canadians passport exemptions.

[glaswegian]

Bush and his goons are calling for an earlier date. Anyhoo....I don't understand why people won't just get a passport anyway if you do a lot of travelling or the occasional cross into the US?

I happen to have 3 of this things from 3 continents now, and travelling and getting into any country is pain free for me.

[Ebola]

Bush and his goons are calling for an earlier date. Anyhoo....I don't understand why people won't just get a passport anyway if you do a lot of travelling or the occasional cross into the US?

I happen to have 3 of this things from 3 continents now, and travelling and getting into any country is pain free for me.

Hey might have been before... but he just signed this bill granting the extension.

[Pete_Coach]

Bush and his goons are calling for an earlier date. Anyhoo....I don't understand why people won't just get a passport anyway if you do a lot of travelling or the occasional cross into the US?

I happen to have 3 of this things from 3 continents now, and travelling and getting into any country is pain free for me.

You are so very right about the passport. What is the big deal? The people in the rest of the world need one. We are not special. It just seems that with the USA trying to protect itself, some Canadians get upset. Make the rule applicable tomorrow. We have no right to be critical of another Nations policies on who gets into their County. It is their right. I don't hear any complaining about Great Britain or Germany or Italy or India or Japan or China.

[webworm]

No big deal if you only need 1 passport but if you need for family of 5 it would cost $335.00 plus $47.50 (photos at CAA + tax) or $382.00. Close to $400.00 and it is only good for 5 years. If majority of travel is to US and fly out of US why bother when you absolutely don't need to.

[Pete_Coach]

No big deal if you only need 1 passport but if you need for family of 5 it would cost $335.00 plus $47.50 (photos at CAA + tax) or $382.00. Close to $400.00 and it is only good for 5 years. If majority of travel is to US and fly out of US why bother when you absolutely don't need to.

The point still is that it is the USA, they don't have to let you in. It is up to you to prove and provide whatever they want. You are not a citizen of the USA and even they need a passport to get back in. Nothing personal against you or your family, just a rule for ever person on earth.
Oh, and the US of A really does not care how much it costs you to come to their Country.

[Jay1234]

No big deal if you only need 1 passport but if you need for family of 5 it would cost $335.00 plus $47.50 (photos at CAA + tax) or $382.00. Close to $400.00 and it is only good for 5 years. If majority of travel is to US and fly out of US why bother when you absolutely don't need to.


Just be lucky that the US is not demanding that Canadian's apply for visa's to go the US. On top of the passport fee, you would also need to pay a visa application fee.

Some countries (like China) require a visa to enter, you would need to add another $250 for the visa application ($50 each person), and another $47.50 for photo's for the visa.

Jay

[Ebola]

The point still is that it is the USA, they don't have to let you in. It is up to you to prove and provide whatever they want. You are not a citizen of the USA and even they need a passport to get back in. Nothing personal against you or your family, just a rule for ever person on earth.
Oh, and the US of A really does not care how much it costs you to come to their Country.

Just be lucky that the US is not demanding that Canadian's apply for visa's to go the US. On top of the passport fee, you would also need to pay a visa application fee.

Some countries (like China) require a visa to enter, you would need to add another $250 for the visa application ($50 each person), and another $47.50 for photo's for the visa.

Jay

I agree with both of you.

Canadians in general hold a priveledged attitude towards travel in the US.

Based on my experience, Americans are much more likely to have passports than Canadians.. and the typical Canadian response is "we shouldn't need one."

I would like to see Canadian passports be given a longer valid duration however.

[Nikita]

good info, that d/l should work for flights to the US as well. I'm always worried that some us customs guy will find my passport stamps to countries with "funny writing" (ie Cyrillic and Hebrew) suspicious

LOL...I always worry about them turning me back when they see my stamps from Cuba.

[asdfvcx]

Based on my experience, Americans are much more likely to have passports than Canadians
However, both the US and Canadian governments disagree.

For some reason, neither seem to release exact numbers, but in both these links the Canadian and American officials agree the percentage of Canadians is considerably higher.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0609-e.htm
http://www.fpc.state.gov/fpc/44342.htm

[HighFlyer]

You are so very right about the passport. What is the big deal? The people in the rest of the world need one. We are not special. It just seems that with the USA trying to protect itself, some Canadians get upset. Make the rule applicable tomorrow. We have no right to be critical of another Nations policies on who gets into their County. It is their right. I don't hear any complaining about Great Britain or Germany or Italy or India or Japan or China.
Exactly. We are still the only foreign country exempt from the fingerprint requirement (unless you need a visa or apply for NEXUS). Everyone else has to get up close and personal with the camera and fingerprint reader.

[glaswegian]

Ignorance is bliss for those that think they have the right to just waltz into someone else's country and not have to conform like every other person from elsewhere >:(

[Ebola]

However, both the US and Canadian governments disagree.

For some reason, neither seem to release exact numbers, but in both these links the Canadian and American officials agree the percentage of Canadians is considerably higher.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0609-e.htm
http://www.fpc.state.gov/fpc/44342.htm

That's fine , never said my response was scientific.