Vancouver--passport?
 

We will be vacationing up in Washington and plan to go to Vancouver. We live in California. Do we need a passport?

yes

Dont need a passport if you are driving-

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

The answer above is correct, assuming you are a US citizen (lots of people who live in California are not). If you are a citizen of some other country, the rules will vary depending on your citizenship and immigration status.

I am confused. I am a US citizen, and we will be driving a rental car.

Be sure your rental agreement specifically permits you to drive the car into Canada.

You do not need a passport to drive into Canada, but proper documentation is required to return to the USA, such as an original birth certificate with seal, until the passport requirements for those driving goes into effect.

When are you going?

Why not just go ahead and get a passport? You'll be ready in case you want to wisk away to Paris someday :-)

Partial information is almost as bad as no information or wrong information.

You need ID and proof of citizenship when driving - drivers license plus birth certificate, for instance. It may or may not be asked for; the question &quot;where were you born&quot; is standard, asking for proof is less common but not unknown. Blaine (I-5 crossing point to Vancouver) is extremely busy and they don't have time to examine everybody's documentation. But as with all border crossings, <i>there are exceptions...</i>

A passport is really the best bet - no questions about sufficiency. You'll need one eventually anyway - why not now?

You say &quot;we&quot;. Does this include any children? Just be aware that they need papers just as adults do - birth certificate and picutre ID.

And - families with children are often asked for proof to be sure kids aren;t being kidnapped by non-custodial parents.

My teens and myself do have passports, husband does not. We were planning on going the beginning of July. The best is to get a passport, but hubby lost his original birth certificate, so I better get this paper work going.

You still have time to get a passport for your husband. And whether or not he lost his original birth certificate, depending on when that birth certificate was obtained, he may have to get a new one anyway. I believe that California now requires birth certificates with a raised seal rather than a stamp as was previously done. When my husband got his passport last year, he had to order a new birth certificate.

If you need help getting a new birth certificate www.vitalcheck.com may be able to help...Have fun ! Vancouver is WONDERFUL !!