Border Crossing Question

FergusFurmann

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Jun 18, 2005
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Hi,

What's the current situation on crossing into Canada with just a US drivers license? Somebody suggested that I need a passport now? I'm planning on visiting GTA next week.

Thanks.

ff
 

someone

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Jun 7, 2003
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FergusFurmann said:
Hi,

What's the current situation on crossing into Canada with just a US drivers license? Somebody suggested that I need a passport now? I'm planning on visiting GTA next week.

Thanks.

ff
In a couple of years the U.S. is going to require both Canadians and returning Americans to have passports. Right now I think they only require proof of citizenship and photo ID. I don't think Canada requires anything more (they definitely don't require Americans to have passports) but I'm sure some Americans will post the details on that.
 

einar

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May 4, 2002
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A driver's license was never proof enough to cross the US/Cdn border, though plenty of people were waved through this way in pre-terrorism days. If you don't have a passport, or an expired passport, you need a birth certificate proving your birth -- and therefore your US or Cdn citizenship by birth -- in either country.

Along with the b.c., they would want to see some legitimate, governmental photo ID. Like a driver's license.

But get a passport. Crossing borders is precisely what they are for. In the US they are valid for a lengthy 10 years. Five in Canada. Show a passport and you will have fewer hassles.
 

tboy

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Aug 18, 2001
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Yeah, at Canadian border crossings all you need is your al-queda lifetime membership card and a couple of bars of semtex and you're IN! Oh wait, I forgot, you can cross easily too if you have proof of your lengthy criminal record in your country of residence...

Word of advice tho if you are actually a persecuted refugee or a businessman wanting to invest in Canada forget it. You will have to jump through hoops and then your chances are slim that you will be allowed to stay (that is IF you get in at all).
 
einar said:
A driver's license was never proof enough to cross the US/Cdn border, though plenty of people were waved through this way in pre-terrorism days. If you don't have a passport, or an expired passport, you need a birth certificate proving your birth -- and therefore your US or Cdn citizenship by birth -- in either country.
For the few with biz dealing with custom people, no need for id. Fastfood delivery guys often wave thru.

Quebec birthpapers have to be renewed with photos on it, as there're many questionable record keeping and forgery. Others with birthcert needs 2nd piece photo id.

Canadian citizenship with photo for those not born in North American. My preferred id. With passport, they waste time and unless questions why I was in various countries.

If you have been pulled over for duty cheat or smuggle alcohol/smokes, do NOT drive that vehicle as your licence will be flagged, high likelihood of pull over for inspection.
 
Last edited:

Master Baiter

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Dec 20, 2001
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They require you to show two pieces of photo ID ie passport, citizenship card, drivers lic. I don't think they accept birth certificates anymore 'cause they're not photo ID... try explaining the baby in the pic is you. LOL

Passport gets you almost anywhere, easiest piece of internationally accepted ID.
 

einar

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I believe the percentage of Canadians holding a passport is higher than the percentage of Americans. A staggering number of Americans have never heard of passports, and probably find them some sort of international conspiracy to keep them from using their cars to drive to England from Arizona.

There is a great resistance to passports in the US.
 

freshbreath

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Mar 2, 2004
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I saw a statistic where a staggering number of americans have no desire to travel overseas, ever
that's why when you're young and you backpack to europe (as is the tradition), all you encounter are australians and other canadians
so that's why most of them don't bother with passports
 

someone

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I recall reading a statistic that only 1/3 of the members of Congress have a valid passport. Thus, I would not be surprised if the numbers for the average American were much lower.
 

papasmerf

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someone said:
I recall reading a statistic that only 1/3 of the members of Congress have a valid passport. Thus, I would not be surprised if the numbers for the average American were much lower.

Well now that was dumb.
 

someone

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papasmerf said:
Well now that was dumb.
I you mean it is dumb that Americans elect leaders that know nothing about the rest of the world, I agree. However, in this respect they are just represenatative of the average American voter.
 

papasmerf

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someone said:
I you mean it is dumb that Americans elect leaders that know nothing about the rest of the world, I agree. However, in this respect they are just represenatative of the average American voter.


And speaking of dump: SEE THE QUOTED POST.
 

someone

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papasmerf said:
And speaking of dump: SEE THE QUOTED POST.
I was not speaking of "dump" but "dumb". I'm not sure what "dump" is in this context but if you want to know what "dumb" is, I suggest looking in the mirror.
 

papasmerf

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someone said:
I was not speaking of "dump" but "dumb" I'm not sure what "dumb" is in this context but if you want to know what "dumb" is, I suggest looking in the mirror.
There we go, a purposly misspelled word and what do I get?? A personal attack. Shows how low some do go.
 

someone

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papasmerf said:
There we go, a purposly misspelled word and what do I get?? A personal attack. Shows how low some do go.
"purposly misspelled word " sure. You might ask who started the personal attacks. God, your a fool.
 

papasmerf

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someone said:
"purposly misspelled word " sure. You might ask who started the personal attacks. God, your a fool.
I called your post, which was an attack on the American people dumb. I did not attack you, as you did, me, once you became frustrated.
 

someone

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papasmerf said:
I called your post, which was an attack on the American people dumb. I did not attack you, as you did, me, once you became frustrated.
How is quoting a statistic "an attack on the American people"? You can't really be foolish to believe that (although given that you believe the world was made in 7 days, I guess that is possible). If you really think statistics are attacks on the American people, I guess you want to ban all surveys. Speaking of frustration, you're the one that never attempted to debat the statistic.
 

papasmerf

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someone said:
How is quoting a statistic "an attack on the American people". You can't really be foolish to believe that (although given that you believe the world was made in 7 days, I guess that is possible). If you really think statistics are attacks on the American people, I guess you want to ban all surveys. Speaking of frustration, you're the one that never attempted to debat the statistic.

QUOTED?? Mabe.

But it was your last line combined with the first I called dumb.



Quote:Originally Posted by someoneI recall reading a statistic that only 1/3 of the members of Congress have a valid passport. Thus, I would not be surprised if the numbers for the average American were much lower.

Then of course I considered this dumb too



Quote:Originally Posted by someoneI you mean it is dumb that Americans elect leaders that know nothing about the rest of the world, I agree. However, in this respect they are just represenatative of the average American voter.


You just want to insult it seems.
 

someone

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papasmerf said:
QUOTED?? Mabe.

But it was your last line combined with the first I called dumb.



Quote:Originally Posted by someoneI recall reading a statistic that only 1/3 of the members of Congress have a valid passport. Thus, I would not be surprised if the numbers for the average American were much lower.
So you’re saying that you believe the average person is more likely to have a passports than their leaders? Well, then why don’t you provide some statistics to back this up?

papasmerf said:
Then of course I considered this dumb too



Quote:Originally Posted by someoneI you mean it is dumb that Americans elect leaders that know nothing about the rest of the world, I agree. However, in this respect they are just represenatative of the average American voter.


You just want to insult it seems.
Given that you’re the one who has started and is carrying on flame wars in two different forums with different people at the same time, you should talk. The fact is that I have lived in the U.S. and have collected many personal examples of how little Americans know of the rest of the world. Have you ever lived in a single foreign country or spent any significant time abroad? Do you at least have a valid passport?
 
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