Anyone crossing the US/CDN border this summer may want to read this

[Madmike]

Attached article from the Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/GAM.20090326.BORDER26/TPStory/TPComment

[Al in AK]

                    We all got passports in 2006, for crossing the border when we road down for Inzane 6. It sure made things easier.
                                           Here we are in Dawson Creek,BC on our way back home.

[Madmike]

That's about 2 1/2 hours SW of where I live.

[Al in AK]

The Alaska US border is just up the hill from here. It use to be no big deal crossing. Were out in the middle of no were. These two have lived here all there lives. A Passport is the only way to go.

[SgtBunny]

I agree with it.

They have been talking about doing it both there and the Mexican border for years.

The one thing that needs to change is the cost and time it takes to get a passport.  It should be much faster and accessible than it is for the price they are now.

[Al in AK]

 Hey Madmike, We are still in the planing stage, but we should be in Dawson Creek before Noon on the 17th of July, heading south to the border crossing at Sweetgrass, Montana.

[Madmike]

Hey Madmike, We are still in the planing stage, but we should be in Dawson Creek before Noon on the 17th of July, heading south to the border crossing at Sweetgrass, Montana.

You heading to Edmonton?? 

[Al in AK]

Yes, probably spending the night in Red Deer.

[Big IV]

Cost probably isn't going down, but the passports are becoming faster.
I was telling someone they needed to go quick and get a passport for this summer because he's planning on going to Mexico to give it time. When he was getting the paperwork done for the passport they told him it was faster than it used to and he had plenty of time.
No personal experience. I need to check and see if my passport is going to expire this year. I've had it a while now. Haven't used it in a while now, but I want to keep the option. My wife has one.

[Madmike]

I think they can refuse you entry if you don't have at least 6 months left on your passport.  It may depend how long the visitors visa is good for. 

The Canadian Government is getting quicker on issuing our passports - I got my new one in a month through the mail.  They have changed the guarantor requirements some, we used to need a "professional" like a Doctor etc. to sign them, now you can use anyone that is not a relation, has known you for more than 2 years and (I believe) holds a passport themselves.  I sent back my old passport before it had expired and used 2 friends that I have known for more than 25 years as guarantors and it seemed to expedite things as I don't think that they were contacted.

There are a lot of questions now about the enhanced drivers licenses that they are planning on offering as an alternative to the passport.  These are a Provincial issue and can only be used for travel to the US whereas the Passports are a Federal document and are good worldwide.  People are expressing concerns about privacy issues with the Drivers Licenses.  My understanding is that they identify the bearer by radio interface (proximity) with a coded ID # which allows the receiver (Customs and Immigration) to check through the database and ID the bearer through records and technological tools like facial recognition software etc.  I believe that the concern is that someone breaks the code and gains access to all sorts of personal data.  At least one province has decided against issuing them.  I don't know if they are being considered by the US border states or are just a Canadian thing.  I think it was "an added option at additional cost" as a convenience thing for folks that cross the border all the time - kinda like an updated Nexus pass it makes the process faster.

[Lil D]

Live in Western NY.  Obtained our passports - no big deal - about 6 weeksl  Not as bad as you think.  Just plan ahead. 

[Rowdy]

  The 19 yr old boy and his buddies tried to go into Canada last night for spring fling near Niagra Falls - he called last night and said they turned him away - of course he does not have a passport and he looks like the typical teen with the baggy close and pants around his ankles ???
Of course he did not give me any details - a lot of wholes in his story 

  Good kid - but a teenager   

[Wizzard]

It is not just the US getting tougher on the border, Canada is too. If you have a DUI in the last 10 years you are not going into Canada if they stop you and check. Went on a fishing triip 2 years ago with some fella's and one of them had to get a plane home because of just that.
Also if you ever had a felony charge in your background ,, you are not going to Canada.
I know some can get through because they do not check,, but be prepared,, if they do,, you aint getting in.

[Dodis]

And spend the extra to get the passport card, much easier to carry on the bike. Stuff it in your wallet and go. But guard your wallet even better...

Mike

[Rowdy]

  Found out why the 19yr old could not get accross the border 
Besides not having a passport and looking like a gang of MTV gangsters - trying to cross at 4:00 am.
They where profiled wonder why 
Checked their pappers and of course a couple of them had records so they could not cross
You'd think the kids would have took that in consideration before    Hey they look like MTV rock stars what more do they need    I'm ragging on the kid - I get to tell him I told you so when he gets home 

[Madmike]

In Canada you can apply for a pardon which helps open up the borders to foreign countries - like the US for us.  They cost a few bucks but lots of guys with Impaired charges etc get them as they help with getting in to the States. 

One of my great uncles was caught sneaking into the States back in the 30's, he rode a train across, he had been down several times after that but once in the 70's they did an extra check on him and wouldn't let him in.

A passport doesn't guarantee that the county you want to visit will let you in, they are just documentation that some countries want to see.

A guy that I worked with a few years back was a University Student.  he and his girlfriend went on a vacation to Cuba at the end of the summer before they went back to school.  She was born there, her Mother was Cuban and her Dad was Russian and they had immigrated to Canada from Russia.  They flew to Cuba and got off the plane and the Cuban Immigration wouldn't let her in as her paperwork was no good.  He was OK and so his Cuban vacation consisted of walking through the Airport where he bought a box of cigars and then they sat on the plane and flew back to Canada that evening.