passport needed?

Old Jun 20th, 2002, 07:57 PM
  #1  
Pat
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passport needed?

I am an American citizen. Do I need a passport to travel to Canada?
 
Old Jun 20th, 2002, 08:00 PM
  #2  
ron
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No. You need proof that you are a US citizen, e.g., birth certificate, and proof that you are who you say you are, i.e., official photo ID.
 
Old Jun 21st, 2002, 07:11 AM
  #3  
gary
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But if you have a passport it's definately a good idea to bring it. It's the ultimate proof of citizenship.
 
Old Jun 21st, 2002, 07:58 AM
  #4  
Bob Brown
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Hi Pat. Technically, you do not need a passport to enter Canada and return to the USA. But, even before 9/11 there were two sets of rules on a de facto basis. Air travelers were often given a hard time of it if they did not have a passport, while at highway crossings I have yet to have my identity papers actually read.

I have found that for air travel between the USA and Canada, it just makes life a lot simpler if I have my passport.
In Calgary and Toronto I have noticed that I breezed through while people without passports were asked quite a few questions. Even those with birth certificates and a government issed photo ID, e.g. driver's license, were asked a few questions.

At highway crossings in Montana and Washington, I have yet to have my identity papers actually inspected. I did, in 2000, get the 3rd degree at the I15 crossing when entering the US. Basically, the US official wanted to know what an American was doing driving a Canadian car. Also he was full of questions about how I got there. (I had rented the car at the Calgary airport.)
I was pulling out my passport, and my wife had the rental contract out, when grumpy waved us through.

Although he did not actually look at the insides of the documents, the man could see what they were. I think having my passport put a stop to the inquisition.

The only time a Canadian official has asked me anything other than the standard firearms, tobacco, and alcohol questions ocurred when we were entering BC from Montana. We were asked if we had any fruit. Yes we did, and we had to eat 12 plums because they were not allowed in.
(Our adult son manfully ate one of them!!)

Once at the crossing between Glacier and Waterton some guy in a psychedelic colored van smarted off to the Canadian border officials in response to the standard questions about firearms, alcohol and tobacco. I did not understand all of the exchange, but the tone was argumentative, even belligerent. The customs officials decided to detain the van for a full shakedown. As I drove off, the insides of the van were rapidly becoming the outsides. There were 4 uniformed officials giving the van a very thorough going over, and they seemed to be enjoying their work. It broke up the boredom.

So, on a defacto basis, having my passport makes life easier, and don't give the Canadian officials any smart comments. Don't give the American ones any either; as a breed they are less friendly than the Canadians in my experience. I think US immigration officers and customs types go to surly school before they are qualified.


 
Old Jun 21st, 2002, 06:40 PM
  #5  
Rich
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I don't know that I'd say that Canadian border guards are as a rule nicer than the American ones. I've had rude ones on both sides. I remember once we were driving across into Manitoba and the (Canadian) guard asked us where we were from. When we said North Carolina, she asked, "So, do you usually drive around with guns in the car down there?" I wanted to reply, "No, do you usually drive around with harpoons in the car up here?" How ignorant.

Anyway, a passport is always a good idea because it's the document they can argue with least. Every time I've ever flown into Canada I've been asked for proof of citizenship, but I've never been asked to show any documents while driving across the border. Better safe than sorry, though, and don't make the common mistake of thinking your driver's license is proof of citizenship, because it's not. I've seen people denied boarding a transborder flight because all they had was a driver's license.
 
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