Passport/ Entry Docs Needed?
 

HELP? US resident driving to Canada this weekend for short vacation. Only have my drivers license. Passport and birth certificates are locked away in another state; can't get them in time. Will my drivers license be enuf for getting into Canada, and then getting back into the States.

I don't think you'll be going...<BR><BR>http://travel.state.gov/tips_canada.html

You may or may not be able to cross the boarder with only a driver's license. We just returned from a trip to Toronto, then another trip to Niagara Falls, Canada and have passports. However, my sister-in-law only had birth certificate and driver's license. She showed her driver's license and kept her birth certificate in her purse. Even at the crossing to USA that had a sign "100% identification check in progress." <BR><BR>You probably won't have a problem getting into Canada. Returning to USA could be a problem.

We are US citizens who went to Canada in June. Entering Canada we presented passports, which were carefully checked. We were asked about 8 - 10 questions. Returning, there was a bit of a line, about 10 cars per lane. I offered our passports but the agent didn't want them. We were only asked our citizenship and waved through. Everyone seemed to be getting through in seconds. I had expected far more questions upon entering the US.

To re-enter US you need something that proves you are a citizen - driver's lic. does not do this. A passport or birth certificate does. I have heard of people getting voter registration card from town hall where they were registered to vote, but that will only work if that is where you are now.

Thanks for the advice. I know I don't need a passport to get into Canada, but I do need proof of US citizenship, such as a birth certificate, in addition to the driver's license (or photo ID, which is usually the driver's license). The confusion lies in mixed messages... A friend just got back from Ottawa 2 weeks back and was only asked to show her drivers license (altho she did have a passport just in case, but was not asked to show it). I will see if I can't get an expedited copy of birth certificate from Vital Records where I was born. (and if not, well Niagara Falls New York is just as lovely as Toronto!) Thank you all who answered

I just returned from Canada. We flew between Calgary and Atlanta. In Calgary, I rented a car and drove over the border 6 times, 3 crossings each way.<BR><BR>For anyone crossing by air, my advice is simple: take your passport. <BR>Otherwise, take a photo ID and your birth certificate. <BR><BR>Entering Canada by car is usually straight forward. I have crossed by car many times, and at no time has a Canadian official asked me for any documentation. <BR><BR>Re-entering the USA at a highway crssing in these post 9/11 days is a different story. I was asked for ID papers. I simply showed my passport and went on after what struck me as a prolonged conversation. I asked one immigration officer what I would have needed had I not had my passport. He said "You need a photo ID and your birth certificate."<BR><BR>I do not know what would happen if you had only a photo ID. Would the immigration officer stop you from re-entering? I don't know. I think it would depend on who was on duty and whether or not you could talk your way in. <BR><BR>I would be very much interested in hearing the story of someone who tried to re-enter the US with only a photo ID in this irrational post 9/11 era.<BR> <BR>

I just returned from a weekend in Montreal, crossing the border at Champlain, NY. I'd read on previous threads and elsewhere that passports or 2 other forms of ID (one with photo) would expedite re-entry, so I brought our passports along. Entering Canada was no problem - couple of questions and an "enjoy your visit" from the customs officer, no need to show driver's license. Our return into the US wasn't much different. I gave our passports to the officer, who asked us a few questions then sent us on our merry way.<BR><BR>Bottom line: a photo driver's license and a birth certificate should sufice. In this day and age, though, it would probably be wise to have a passport readily available for any international travel, even spur-of-the-moment trips to our friendly Northern neighbor.<BR>Hope this helps.<BR><BR>BAM

We just returned from a visit to Niagara Falls. We entered Canada via the Rainbow Bridge - a family of five, husband, wife and three boys, ages 16, 12 and 10 in a 2000 Plymouth Voyager. The first thing the official said was, "May I please see everyone's identification?" We were surprised since we have heard many times that entering Canada presents barely a question while entering the US is where they are so careful. I gave the man my Drivers License and as my wife was getting all of our birth certificates and her Drivers License together he asked us to open the side door of the van so he could see inside (the windows are tinted). We did so and he proceeded to ask, "Are these your children? Where are you going in Canada? Where are you staying? How many days? Do you have any firearms with you? Do you have any tobacco or alcohol with you? (I told him we had a few beers in the cooler.) Then he was silent as he took a moment to inspect each of the ID's. Then he handed them back and said thank you and allowed us to proceed.<BR>Four days later, we crossed back into the US via the Peace Bridge at Buffalo. The man said hello and asked us what our citizenship was. I replied, "Pennsylvania...US" and he asked, "are you bringing anything in with you?" I replied, "Just a pair of sunglasses and a chocolate bar that we bought at the duty free shop." He said, "Have a nice day" and that was it.<BR>Go figure.

Yep, that's the nature of border crossing through Canada and the USA for you. Each time is different. Border patrol staff may ask to see your ID, or they might be happy with a spoken word answer. There's no way to no for sure if you'll be asked to present your ID, or even more specifically, proof of citizenship... but would you rather chance it? That's why it's best to be prepared for it on the off chance they DO ask you.

We just returned on Sunday from Canada. My husband and I showed our license and were only questioned about any purchases made during our visit. Our children (ages 11 and 15) were asked who we were? luckily they didn't give the answers they would have been dying to give (aliens, old folks, etc...) so we passed through in less then a minute. We also thought there would be more questioning and checking at the border and were quite surprised. We still took our passports and birth certicficates just in case but to be honest...what a great place to spend more time in!

More often than not, documentation is not requested. But, if it is, you had better have t.

Well, I'm guessing Bob had his passport in his hand when "no one asked for any documentation".

Nope! Each of the 3 times I went into Canada a week or so ago I deliberately had no documents visible to see what would happen. I was never asked for anything. As I recall, I was driving 2 of the 3 times.<BR>Entering the USA, same situation. I showed nothing until asked.<BR>And the US officials asked each time.<BR><BR>Given that there is no written record kept of passport numbers at highway crossings, my appraisal is that the man on duty could let you go by with nothing if he wanted to.<BR>Or he could detain you for more questions.<BR>

Land border crossings between the US and Canada are notoriously variable. I cross by land at least once a month or so. The bottom line is: have the required documentation with you at all times.<BR><BR>What is actually asked of you depends mostly on:<BR><BR>1. your looks (yep, profiling is a big one)<BR>2. who & what is visible in the car<BR>3. the officer<BR>4. the time of day<BR>5. the border crossing itself<BR>6. the orders that they have received that day (that's another big one)<BR>7. you<BR><BR>Most importantly, each side of the border does it's own thing - waved through one way, tenth degree on the way back. There's no telling until you're actually there.<BR><BR>So, have your documentation handy. I'm often not asked for it, but I always have it. Wouldn't want to go through any hassle otherwise - and a MAJOR hassle it would be.<BR><BR>BTW - when I was crossing ten days ago (ON-NY), there was an armed soldier at the left elbow of the US Customs officer (and by armed, I mean that he was holding onto his rifle with both hands). Not only did I have to show my passport, but I also had to open my trunk and respond to detailed questions. At this crossing, I'm usually asked only four questions: where do I live? citizen? what is my purpose? and am I bringing anything in - that's it. Why was it so different this time?? Don't know but think #6 had come into play that day.