News & Politics - Traveling to Canada from the U.S. Border Regulations?

Jacie515 · 07-11-2007, 04:54 PM

My friend and I are travelling by car to Canada next month. We don't have passports. We heard on the news(we thought) that you only have to have 2 proofs of citizenship to cross the border. Is this right? When crossing do you have to present your original birth certificate or can it be a copy?

*Ledi* · 07-12-2007, 05:57 PM

Coming to Canada is a piece of cake, but going back to your country is a different story which I find ridiculous.

Maybe we should turn this thread into a discussion about this situation.

elisheva · 07-13-2007, 09:25 AM

The government has set up a useful page for travellers to Canada here: Customs - Information for Visitors to Canada

This page looks like it answers your question:

Quote:

If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada; however, you should carry proof of your citizenship such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization or a Certificate of Indian Status, as well as a photo ID. If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you must bring your permanent resident card (i.e. green card) with you. For more information on admissibility into Canada, read the fact sheet called Managing Access to Canada. It is available on our Web site at Welcome to the Canada Border Services Agency | Bienvenue � l'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada.

***Raonaild*** · 07-13-2007, 11:22 AM

Eventually, you probably will need a passport to cross the border, at least to get back into the US. But for now, you only need it when travelling by plane, not when crossing by car.

Jacie515 · 07-23-2007, 04:40 PM

Here's my question. I am flying to Canada in early Sept but may not have a passport with me. I applied last week(to have it expedited also)but I doubt I'll have it in time for my trip. I can still fly without a passport as long as as have documentation proving I've applied for it, correct?

***Chris*** · 07-24-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacie515 (View Post)

Here's my question. I am flying to Canada in early Sept but may not have a passport with me. I applied last week(to have it expedited also)but I doubt I'll have it in time for my trip. I can still fly without a passport as long as as have documentation proving I've applied for it, correct?

Check with your airline. Valid photo ID may be fine. I don't think that proof of having applied for a passport would be considered valid ID.

***Raonaild*** · 07-24-2007, 04:20 PM

As Chris suggests, check with your airline. But I have also heard that proof of applying for a passport may be sufficient for now, because the US passport offices have been backlogged just like the Canadian ones have due to the new rules.

**AmeliaBeck** · 07-24-2007, 05:26 PM

Okay I am confused on something. My family is traveling to Canada from American by air in less than a week. I'm not over 18 so I was wondering, do I need some proof of idenity besides my social security number? Like a drivers license or something?

***Raonaild*** · 07-24-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmeliaBeck (View Post)

Okay I am confused on something. My family is traveling to Canada from American by air in less than a week. I'm not over 18 so I was wondering, do I need some proof of idenity besides my social security number? Like a drivers license or something?

You need a passport, or at least proof that you've applied for one (I checked), even if you're 16 or under - there's more information here.

The issue is not getting into Canada (I think we still only require photo ID, birth certificate, etc. from US citizens), without a passport or application the problem will be getting back into the US.

Jacie515 · 07-24-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmeliaBeck (View Post)

Okay I am confused on something. My family is traveling to Canada from American by air in less than a week. I'm not over 18 so I was wondering, do I need some proof of idenity besides my social security number? Like a drivers license or something?

I'm pretty sure you at least have to have proof that you've applied for your passport to fly into Canada and get back into the U.S. I hate to tell you this but if you are flying next week and still haven't applied for a passport it's probably too late. It takes between 12-13 weeks to get a passport in the U.S. now. You can get a passport expedited but even then I was told today by my local passport office that it takes about 4 weeks. If you do not have your actual passport in hand you must have proof from the Department of State's website that it has at least been applied for and even then the man I talked to today told me it takes between 7-10 days for that to show up in their system so you can print off the document you need as proof the passport's been applied for. You MUST at least have this document, along with your driver's license to fly. If you don't have these and are flying in less than a week I'm afraid to tell you there's a very big chance you won't be able to go.

*Ledi* · 07-24-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmeliaBeck (View Post)

Okay I am confused on something. My family is traveling to Canada from American by air in less than a week. I'm not over 18 so I was wondering, do I need some proof of idenity besides my social security number? Like a drivers license or something?

Social Security Numbers are not IDs and I'm pretty sure that's stated on the cards as well. I suggest taking your health card and drivers license if you have one. I'm pretty sure they're going to ask you for a passport if you fly to the US though.

Jacie, I don't think you have anything to worry about. As I said above, coming to Canada is very easy. All they ask for at the border is a piece of ID and it can be anything official - it doesn't really matter. You'd need the passport more to go back to your country than come to Canada.

Jacie515 · 07-25-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Ledi* (View Post)

Social Security Numbers are not IDs and I'm pretty sure that's stated on the cards as well. I suggest taking your health card and drivers license if you have one. I'm pretty sure they're going to ask you for a passport if you fly to the US though.

Jacie, I don't think you have anything to worry about. As I said above, coming to Canada is very easy. All they ask for at the border is a piece of ID and it can be anything official - it doesn't really matter. You'd need the passport more to go back to your country than come to Canada.

Hey! I'm flying now and just applied for my passport but thanks anyways.

amerliabeck if you are flying you must at least apply for a passport. After you apply you have to have proof from the Department of State's website that you have applied for it(it takes 4-5 weeks to even show up that you've done this on their website if you do regular service. If you choose to have yours expedited it takes 7-10 days before it shows up on their site). You must have the document printed off from the Department of State's website and a government form of photo-id to fly.

**AmeliaBeck** · 07-25-2007, 04:54 PM

Ah okay. And yes, I had applied for my passport in the beginning of last month

I don't have it yet but I have proof of applying for it

Thanks you guys, you helped me out a ton


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