Passports?

[JimmyB]

I have read some posts about having to have a passport by Jan 1 07, but I have seen other posts that suggest they have changed their minds and are going to impliment a different system to allow drivers to return to the US from Canada.....

Here's my question... Have any of you gone and got your passport and do you think I'm going to have to get it. I've filled out my application, but have not taken it in..... I really don't want to pay the 97 Bucks or whatever it is if I don't have to....


Any suggestions?


Thanks,
JimmyB

 

[cheri1122]

Jimmy: I would advise you save the money, for now at least. The federal government originally proposed the requirement that a passport be required for all border crossings , beginning in Jan, 07, but I don't believe it's been made law, and may not be. If & when the law is passed, then we have no choice, but so far, we don't need a passport to go to Canada.

 

[JimmyB]

Thanks for the Advice!!!


Jim

 

[RobA]

> Jimmy: I would advise you save the money, for now at
>least. The federal government originally proposed the
>requirement that a passport be required for all border
>crossings , beginning in Jan, 07, but I don't believe it's
>been made law, and may not be. If & when the law is passed,
>then we have no choice, but so far, we don't need a passport
>to go to Canada.



I don't know if that is good advise.
From what I have been reading up here; the US is going ahead with the passport - or some other acceptable document - regulations.
I don't know if they have decided what the other acceptable document will be yet.

Is the United States always this disorganized with new regulations?
This is going to mean a terrible line up and rush for the new document when decided.
This is another example of the doors slowly closing to your close friends and ally in Canada. It is very very sad that two governments were so blind to each other not to see the damage they are causing.

I wonder how this will make the USA more secure.


I should note that the passport requirment isn't JUST for visits to Canada; it's for everytime you want to leave the USA and then return.If you go on a cruise; they should demand a passport for your return. If you go to a Caribbean Island or to a Mexican resort.
Canada does NOT require a passport for a US citizen to enter; it is required by the United States for anyone, including US citizens, to enter.

 

[greg334]

Cheri - I sort of disagree.

I would get a passport regardless what the regs say. the cost is a deductable (work requirement) and the hassle of license, birth certificate and whatever else needed for a citizen to return to the country can just be too much - just whip out the ol' passport and get hasseled by the customs officer the right way!

 

[LDB]

I've got mine. Being good for 10 years it's 81 cents per month before deducting it off taxes. For the potential convenience and hassle savings I chose to get it. I don't know for certain it will help me but I know it won't hurt me to have it. The other issue already touched on is if it does become mandatory the lines and waiting time are going to become ridiculous for quite a while since all the tourists will be getting them as well as a few hundred thousand drivers. Having it in hand the day it becomes mandatory may generate a fair amount of added revenue since so many won't be able to take the loads for potentially several weeks up to a few months until their passport comes in. My .02, add a dollar and maybe you'll get coffee.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[TeamCaffee]

I think you would be miles ahead to get the passport now. This is not a quick procedure now so I can only see it getting worse and worse. If you have it you just dont have to worry about it. If you have any problems with your documentation now is the time to find out not when the deadline is starring you in the face and you will have to go out of service to get all of this taken care of.

 

[cheri1122]

All of you are correct, I'm sure, and getting a passport is on my list, really - I just haven't made it a high priority yet. Though I should, considering the fragile condition, due to advanced age, of my original birth certificate, lol. Thanks for the nudge, I needed that. :+ :+ :+

 

[TeamCaffee]

You are only as old as you act!! Cheri you have a long ways to go.

 

[cheri1122]

Well, thank you Linder - and thank goodness for "social promotion" in school, or I could still be in the third grade! ROFLMAO!!

 

[are12]

I agree with Cheri, I would save your money. Last month when we were coming out of Canada, we asked the guy in the booth about getting our passport and he said to hold off on it for now - that things are up in the air on what is going to be done. He said for now just make sure we carry our birth certificate along with the driver's license.
Of course, we do have our Fast Card (did not renew the bridge decal though-not worth the money) so that makes it easy coming and going. Most of the time we just breeze through - no questions asked!

 

[ATeam]

Diane and I had passports before we became truckers. We carry them in the truck now. They are helpful when doing Canada/U.S. border crossings. Customs officials seem to respect them more than CDLs and us a bit more when we present them.

When we signed on with FedEx, they were accepted in lieu of our birth certificates. There have been times when we have been asked for two forms of photo ID. With passports and CDLs both government-issued, we are quickly accepted. Our IDs are not questioned.

Passports are made to last through their 10-year life. They are easy to carry and present.

It is also nice to know that if we decide to take an overseas vacation, we will not have to delay because we're waiting for our passports to go through.

Finally, if passports become required for truckers, there will be a big rush that will likely create delays in issuing them. Having one in advance will protect you from any such delays.

 

[terryandrene]

I have found it to be helpful to put a five dollar bill in my passport when handing it to the Customs Agent in the primary booth. No Q and A required; he knows that I'm a citizen and that I'm privvy to border crossing protocol.

I say avoid the rush, be prepared, get a passport

 

[Paul56]

Passports are very good identification to possess.

We have had them for several years and used them a while back on a trip to Maui. No, not by truck!

If you do any cross-border work at all, don't hesitate and go apply for yours today. If nothing else, you won't be caught up in the last minute rush while all the "wait 'n see" crowd shuffles up to the application counter.

 

[greg334]

>We have had them for several years and used them a while
>back on a trip to Maui.

OK? I am wondering did the people of hawaii get thier way and left the Union so this is why you need a passport to get back here? I was in PR and came back without an ID, that was last year.

 

[Paul56]

I figure since we are Canadians it wasn't a bad idea to bring along the passport.

 

[SWTexas1]

Ran across this topic while looking for some other info. After reading the other post I look at the State Dept. Website and found the fallowing


New Requirements for Travelers


The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

January 8, 2007 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
January 1, 2008 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.
This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

 

[greg334]

You know I think that we have some treaties in place that allow entry from some countries without a passport. Our laws don't negate the treaties without renegotiating the treaty and I think that there is some organization that governs some of this.