I was just reading a paper from Toronto and it seems, in most of the letters to the editor, the Canadians were quite upset about the new passport requirements. So are some Americans. Why complain, just get a passport!!!!

Absolutey agree! These passport regulations have been talked about for a couple of years now, people should just spend their energy on getting a passport instead of whining about it.

I think instead that we all should get riled up about it. We are not at war, have too much in common for some bureaucrat to decide that after so many years that we cannot be trusted to travel from the US to Canada and back without having some other bureaucrat knowing all about us. When is the last time Canada tried to invade the US or the US to invade Canada?

Some Canadians who took the time to write to the editor - no one I know has complained about it - gotta agree with comments one and 2 - just get a passport.

Big deal - I have always used my passport when crossing the U.S. border. The U.S. has a perfect right to ask visitors for any documentation they want to enter their country. If you don't like it, then don't go.

I agree with rm_mn; for Fodor's folk who like to travel, we know that getting a passport is relatively straightforward, a minor hassle and expense that is totally worth it to us, who have developed a great love of travel. I think however we are not representative of the Canadian/US population as a whole.

I'm afraid to say though, what's happening, according to a friend who lives in a border community in Quebec, is that some folk who up to now have crossed into the US for shopping, social activity a few miles away are sadly planning on simply not going to the US anymore as a solution. Some have never had a passport, are not international travellers otherwise and feel it's an added hassle/expense they don't want that's being imposed on them, resenting the bureaucratic intrusion. I even have friends here in Montreal who I doubt will ever get a passport (don't have interest especially in travel, wouldn't ever take the time to get the passport, money's tight, a variety of reasons)... but who have gone with me to the States in the past on a road trip because all they need was a birth certificate.

It's a pity in my mind (while borders have become more fluid in Europe in my lifetime!). My two cents. Daniel

What you are missing in this post is the difference between the Very liberal policy of Canada VS the very strict US policy regarding foreign visitors.... Canada has a half-open door to some countries viewed as hostile by the US and with an easy US/Canada border crossing, those who intend harm to the US could cross... this isn't about shoppers and eating out.... after all, no one wishes harm on Canada, but anti-US sentiment creates a line out the door.... maybe its overkill, but a $30 passport card for eight years of easy passage seems very reasonable...

Of course, political correctness comes into play here. Officials in both the USA, Canada, the UK and many western countries have been very irresponsible regarding whom they've let into their countries. Islamic extremist terrorist intentions have been known for years yet the USA let in the 911 hijackers, the UK let in those or the families of those who did 7/7 through their immigration policies and now Canada has islamic extremist terrorist cells. While most muslims are not terrorists, most terrorists today are muslims and islamic extremism constitutes the biggest threat. If western nations had been smart, they wouldn't have allowed certain peoples to come in the first place. Since they did, the USA/Canada should require passports only from certain peoples who make up the group that produces the most terrorists while the rest can just use their birth certificate and driver's license. It makes no sense to treat "Louise Smith, a christian retiree from Nova Scotia the same as "Mohammad Atta" from Saudi Arabia or Pakistan but political correctness demands this. It's gotten to the point that common sense in this area is deemed "right wing" extremism when in fact it's just common sense. I mean if a red haired man robs a store, it would be silly for the police to stop blondes and brunettes and women because they didn't want to "profile red haired men." If common sense had prevailed in the last couple of decades, we'd never have had 911 and we'd all be a lot safer. I'll swear, PC is going to kill us.

<i>but a $30 passport card for eight years of easy passage seems very reasonable...</i>

Is that the American fee for a passport? Because an adult Canadian one is $87 for five years.

I wish the American fee was that low. The fee is currently at $100, plus what you have to pay for the passport photo. If you need your passport a little quicker, there is a $60 expediting fee too.

I can get a passport card for $45 that is only good for land or sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

I believe that your US passports are good for 10 years so $100 isn't all that bad. In Canada we pay the $87 plus the cost of the picture and it is only good for 5 years.

i always travel with my passport makes it easier as customs on BOTH sides like it better. traveling is hard enough without encountering border personnel who take it as an insult when they have to check I.D other than a passport.

We live about an hour and a quarter from the Canadian border (Eastern townships) and 2 1/2 hours from Montreal. We go to Canada frequently, and our older son attended McGill. Our family all have passports so the change in regulations won't affect our ability to travel to Canada.

It will however make it impossible for us to take some of our kids' friends with us to Montreal or for the schools to schedule field trips there. It is easy to say "just get a passport" but the cost is prohibitive for many people. This seems too bad and unnecessary

"This seems too bad and unnecessary"

On one hand, I can understand the need for a passport because of increased terrorism and both the USA and Canada's lax immigration laws have allowed the formation of terrorist cells. On the other hand, it does seem silly when the USA doesn't enforce its' southern border. It's like locking the front door and leaving the back door wide open. I'm sure we already have plenty of terrorists who have already entered through Mexico. Sad but true.

And actually our passports are really good for 5 years. Many countries seem to insist that you have 6 months left on your passport when you enter. So it's really only 4 1/2 years.

The US is 10 years for adults, 5 years for kids.

Need some help here, I am a US citizin , My wife is a permanent resident (green Card) here in the US. She has her passport from the Philippines ( passport from Philippines). Will we need to get her a visa to go to Canada for about four days???

US passport $100, passport card $45 in person, $72 vs $20 by mail. But there is a catch: if flying from US into Canada, one must have a passport. A card will work only for land entrance.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html

I think one of the biggest concerns, especially in southern Ontario, is the expected drop in American visitors to Canada. Same days visits from the U.S. are a huge part of the Ontario tourism industry.

I mistakenly thought that Canada had imposed the new passport requirement rule, but then learned it was the Americans. http://travelvaccineforum.wordpress....da-and-mexico/
Don't really regard our northern neighbor as a foreign country. www.travelclinicsofamerica.com