Passport info - specifically AIR travel - Montana Owners Club

Mrs. CountryGuy · 11-21-2006, 12:56 PM

Know this has come up several times, with a bit of confusion.

Just saw this pop up on Yahoo news, and I will put the URL here, but probably won't be a good URL for long, knowning yahoo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061121/...rts_air_travel

Don't want to paste the entire article here, so went for the basic boiled down data:

"U.S. to require passports for nearly all" (is the headline)

"WASHINGTON - Nearly all air travelers entering the U.S. will be required to show passports beginning Jan. 23, including returning Americans and people from Canada and other nations in the Western Hemisphere." (believe they mean Jan 23, 2007, cause they jabber on about the holiday season, and other stuff)

"The requirement marks a change for Americans, Canadians, Bermudans and some Mexicans."

"Currently, U.S. citizens returning from other countries in the hemisphere are not required to present passports but must show other proof of citizenship such as driver's licenses or birth certificates."

"Visitors from most countries in the hemisphere are required to show passports. However, people from Canada, Bermuda — and those from Mexico who enter the U.S. frequently and have special border-crossing cards — have been allowed to use other forms of identification, including driver's licenses."

"In a few cases, other documents still may be used for air entry into the U.S. by some frequent travelers between the U.S. and Canada, members of the American military on official business and some U.S. merchant mariners."

"Under a separate program, Homeland Security plans to require all travelers, including Americans, entering the U.S. by land or sea to show a passport or an alternative security identification card starting as early as January 2008."

Remember, I did not copy the entire article. And, as a disclaimer, I would check with Immigration if you have any questions about this, this is just a news article after all.

richfaa · 11-22-2006, 03:27 AM

You are correct..It is all over the news today..Keep your passport with you and it might be a good idea to get one particularly if you live or camp near the Canadian (as we do) or the Mexican border.

Bill and Ann · 11-22-2006, 03:58 AM

Canadians will require a passport for air travel into the USA in Jan./07

noneck · 11-22-2006, 05:04 AM

A short story on Travel between US and Canada.. We made a trip to Niagara Falls area last year Sept time-frame for a Wine Festival. Brother-in-law and his wife went with us (they have TV and 5er too). They also have 2 birds...well, needless to say going into Canada, they declared them..no problems and had a great time. On return to the states, they were detained at the Niagara crossing.... 2 hours later told to go back to Canada, come across at the Lewis crossing where they are able to handle livestock! Off we went, they redeclared the birds, we said, "We're following them...trying to go home the long way".
Arrived at the Lewis entry point, we got yelled at for being in the Trucking lanes, didn't realize we were a "car". Waited another 1hr for game warden to show up and say, "Yup, those are birds"! $125.00 and she say's, "You have to go down to the US Department of Agriculture's livestock inspection facility" for re-entry into the US. Off we go...arrived there at about 11:30am, guess what?...Out to lunch, waited till 1:30pm and here they come in the Jaguar. Inspector checks the two Trucks (who had come in after us) full of pigs first, completes paperwork and then does my brother-in-law's birds (inspection was to look at them and say, "Yup, those are birds"). Another $250.00 and we are allset for our 6.5hr trek back home...its now 4:00pm...we shoulda been pulling into driveway by now, pulled in at 10:00 pm. Brother-in-law had a bunch more paperwork and fees to pay even after those already paid. BTW, Dogs and Cats are no problem at all...either direction.
Moral of this story...birds may be considered endangered species and require a passport to enter the US. Canada considers them birds...
Chuck

vickster · 11-22-2006, 08:53 AM

Mrs. Country Guy -- Weather down here in the RGV is calling you.......do you hear the breezes yet? Anyways, when we crossed the river yesterday we asked the Progresso customs "official" about passport stuff. We were told that passports will not be required until January, 2008 to walk across the river. So will continue to use our state ID's for the season. Take care and have a safe trip to the valley.

richfaa · 11-22-2006, 08:56 AM

noneck you are correct on the birds..They are lucky they did not confiscate them. We were for- warned about the bird issue and left the bird to the left home when we traveled to Canada in July. At that time we had absolutely no problem crossing either way with the 3400 in tow.We also took nothing over with us, No bird, No veggies, No meat, no dairy products. It was the US that had all the restrictions. All we were asked by the Canadians was..what is your citizenship, where are you going, how long will you say and have a nice trip.... We will now carry our passports with us at all times...it is a changing world..

NOTE: The rule that goes into efffect Jan 23 says US citizens will need a passport to ENTER the US.. so you may be able to walk across the river but you may not be able to get back...

Mrs. CountryGuy · 11-22-2006, 11:30 AM

Rich,

I believe the rule states for those FLYING the passports will be necessary. It says AIR passengers.

Now, I know that some of us partake of a few too many Marguerita type drinks when we WALK over to Progreso, but, I don't think they are talking that kind of FLYING!

That said, CountryGuy and Mrs. CountryGuy have their passports, and will have them with us, cause ya never know what might happen. Determination of necessity of carrying when we WALK over to the Mexican side of Progreso will be made on site.

Yes, Vicki, I hear the breezes. I am looking at one month and 5 days, God willing and the snow don't fly!

richfaa · 11-22-2006, 12:47 PM

Yes I note that it says flying but somehow I suspect there will be confusion and miss understanding about the regulations. I just think it would be a good idea to have or get a passport or....keep yourself in the good old USA and don't worry about it.. We live , as you do, fairly close to the Canadian border and can zip up there at any time... Actually the Canadian Border is only about 12 miles due North of us,,Unfortunately it is in the middle of Lake Erie....

Mrs. CountryGuy · 11-22-2006, 12:54 PM

HAHA, ya, that border crossing is a bit tricky on a windy stormy day or do ya wait for it to freeze?? (It never does fully freeze, right??? Shipping channels and all that stuff.)

And, there probably will be some confusion, usually is.

We actually renewed our passports last year, just in case, so we lost a year or two, but, we have em, and if we need em, we got em. We had the time to get them so, went and did the deed. Our daughter-in-law is German, and even tho they live here, ya never know.

Be prepared, good thing to practice, life and Murphy throw enough surprises at us that we cannot be prepared for, so this was an easy one!

richfaa · 11-22-2006, 01:42 PM

We also renewed our passports this year and yes Lake Erie does freeze all the way across in a lot of places and there are folks who try to snow mobile across when it does and there are many snow mobiles at the bottom of the Lake. We have a Daughter-in -law that is Scotch and two grand kids that hold dual Citizenship as well as her.

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