No Passports required

[Bill and Ann]

Heard on the news today that Passports may not be required as previously reported. Apparently the gov. is working on an ident. card instead. Hope they do the same for us Canadians.

[richfaa]

No passports required for what?? we just sent in our renewal for our USA passports and there was no mention of anything new or different.

[Bill and Ann]

Rich: I heard a very brief mention on the Cdn. news that U.S. citizens will be using an identity card to travel between Canada and Mexico instead of having to get a passport as was previously reported. I didn't get any details. It was mentioned that the Cdn. gov. is working on implementing the same type of card. If I hear or read more I will post.

[richfaa]

That sounds like a good idea.If Lake Erie was not in the way we would be real close To Canada. We do cross the border several times a year for one reason or another. We just renewed our USA passport and we will be spending some time in Blythe ,Canada for the FCRV campvention this July.We were advised that (for sure) no passports will be need for border crossing by Either country. We will see what we get when our passports arrive..(you would still need a passport for travel to other countries)

[Bill and Ann]

Rich: Here is the info I heard. Log onto www.thestar.com and in the block for 7 day search type in "Border crossings". A press release from Wash. should come up.

[richfaa]

The requirement had been that starting Jan 1, 2008 passports would be required to cross the border, both ways.The Id card makes more sense for USA and Canadian citizens. The Id card would be good only for USA/ Canada border crossings for those that do not need a passport for other travel. I drive a tour bus to the Casinos on occasion and the passport requirement would have lost a lot of business as most folks would not spring for a passport just to go to a casino.Those of us who have a passport would not need the ID. Still a good Idea as the passport is sort of pricy. Thanks for the link.

[Montana_4221]

Bill and Ann,
Interesting article and good news. I don't always agree with our President but I do agree in this case. There should be a better way and hopefully your goverment will do the same for Canadians. I process passports as part of my job and this move will definitely lesson our workload. I have been off from work the past week and have heard no official news of your report. I will be returning Monday 1/23/06 and will keep you informed of any news.

In addition the State Departments website www.travel.state.gov is a good resource for info.

[dsprik]

My son and his wife live in Manitoba and I had heard they were planning on going to this system. Sounds like a Win-Win solution for govt and citizens. I sure that it is something that Canada supports. Should a reciprocal situation soon.

[Northstar]

FOX NEWS has story about passports needed by '07 due to 9/11. Hoever, authorities are studying the use of ID cards for Canada use.

[richfaa]

As somewone mentioned before the proper place to get the latest and correct information for USA passport requirement is
www.travel.state.gov

[jpbcny]

If you do get get a new USA issued Passport, be prepared to pay a sizeable sum. I recently applied for my Passport, and the fees were as follows:

New Birth Certificate: $30.00 (I had the ORIGINAL one, but the Goverment requires it to have "Embossed Seal" on it which mine did not)
Passport Fee: $55.00
Surcharge $12.00
Processing Fee: $30.00
Photos - $12.99 (Post Office Did the Photos, and the Passport Processing)
Grand Total: $139.99
Process Time (6) Weeks
If you want it faster than (6) weeks the fee is an additional $60.00, or more if you use an "Outside Passport Agency.

JP

[richfaa]

Yes the first time is pricey however the renewal is 67.00 Period.We sent our renewal in a week ago to the office in Pittsburgh, Pa and we note that the checks cleared our bank Friday. We got our photo's for a little less from Wallgreens 7.99 for two.

[Montana_4221]

quote:Originally posted by jpbcny

If you do get get a new USA issued Passport, be prepared to pay a sizeable sum. I recently applied for my Passport, and the fees were as follows:

New Birth Certificate: $30.00 (I had the ORIGINAL one, but the Goverment requires it to have "Embossed Seal" on it which mine did not)
Passport Fee: $55.00
Surcharge $12.00
Processing Fee: $30.00
Photos - $12.99 (Post Office Did the Photos, and the Passport Processing)
Grand Total: $139.99
Process Time (6) Weeks
If you want it faster than (6) weeks the fee is an additional $60.00, or more if you use an "Outside Passport Agency.

JP

The passport fee has increased to $67.00

At our facility we are required to charge express mail fees(to and from the passport agencies)on expedited service. This way you receive you passport within 14 days.

I am not familiar with a surcharge.

Be sure your birth certificate is state certified. A common mistake that can cost you valuable time is bringing photocopies or hospital copies which the State Dept. will not accept. In Tenn. you can obtain a birth certificate for around $8.00 at the health dept.

[Parrothead]

While this may seem expensive, it is good for 10 years. So it breaks down to about $14 per year. Not bad considering. I lost my drivers license when we were at the rally in Minden and have been very thankful to have my Passport for ID.
Happy trails.......................

[dsprik]

I might have missed this... If you have a valid pasport (10 yr expiration), do you HAVE to still get a $50 Card on top of that after 1/2008? Or can you just use your passport until it expires, then renew with the the new card system?

[Virgil]

My passport is good till 2012. No one questions a passport. I think that, sooner than later, passports will be required for travel between Canada, US and Mexico. The terrorists will get in through the easiest way they can. It seems that an ID card would be easier to fake than a passport. Anyway, we do travel occassionally outside CA, USA and Mexico so I plan to keep my passport current. While passports seem expensive up front, averaged out over the life of them, they aren't bad.
Happy trails all.

[dsprik]

I guess my question is: After 2008, going across to Canada - if you show your passport, will they say, "That's great, however, we are now requiring that you have this new approved card also. So while the Passport is good for other countries, we require that EVERYONE has the Card for travel."

I can't imagine them ONLY accepting this card after 1/2008, but we are dealing with govt agencies, you know. Hopefully, this policy will be for FIRST TIME visitors only, and NOT for those who have a passport, and that passport carriers can totally disregard this new law.

I guess that's the long way of asking if, after the deadline, you can still travel to Canada with a passport ONLY.

[Montana_4221]

Dave,
I copied and pasted the following info from the State Dept. web site. It appears to me that the cards would be an alternative for, rather than in additon to passports.

Keep in mind that is my opinion for what it is worth. This info can be accessed at www.travel.state.gov.

Other than a passport, what types of documents will be acceptable under this initiative?

The passport is the document of choice right now because of security features and general availability. Individuals traveling within the Western Hemisphere are encouraged to obtain a passport.

For land border crossings, other documents that we are considering for acceptance under this Initiative are SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST program cards. These are current international frequent traveler programs (see www.cbp.gov for further information).

We anticipate that the Border Crossing Card, (BCC – also known as “laser visa”) will also be acceptable as a substitute for a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the United States from contiguous territory.

No currently existing documents other than the BCC, SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST cards are under active consideration as substitutes for the passport. The Departments of Homeland Security and State are working to determine acceptable alternative documents other than a passport as soon as possible. We are using new technologies to create other acceptable travel documents. We will make public additional travel document options as they become available.

[dsprik]

Thanks, Serenity. To clarify - Passports will NOT be acceptable for going to Canada, after this program is implemented - ONLY this card, as it is a replacement and not an addition?

[Montana_4221]

Pasports will be accepted. I believe the cards are being considered as an alternative.

Sorry replacement was a poor choice for wording. I also agree with Virgil. It seems that passports would be more secure.

I will edit my post to avoid further confusion.