Question about Canadian/American travel

[yendi]

There is a slim chance that I may end up on a poorly-planned vendor site visit to Toronto next month. One consideration, however, is the state of my passport. Which isn't (and won't be in time for the potential trip). Now, the US Dept of State website claims that this is fine, as long as you have your birth certificate and driver's license. But that doesn't mean that folks traveling to Canada don't necessarily get delayed for hours without the passport, or encounter other issues. So, has anyone actually traveled from the US to Canada without a passport in the last year or so, or know anyone who has?

Comments

[albumlady.livejournal.com]

yep.... did it last year. No big deal when crossing the border as long as we had them.

Hope this helps... crossed from Vermont into the Montreal area.

No worries, mon.

[kires.livejournal.com]

I did. I went up to Montreal for convergence one year. I had no passport. the "customs" folks at the other end were less of a hassle than the seecurity folks on this end. I got searched up one side and down the other, of course, but that was just because of how I look. When the time came for docs, the bored-looking fellow gave a cursory glance at my DL, didn't even ask to see my birth certificate, and only wanted to know the usual info, and whether I was there on business or pleasure. All in all, MUCH less hassle than 'd been expecting. Honestly, getting from the airport to the hotel was much more of a bitch than getting into the country.

[dydan.livejournal.com]

I've spent a lifetime going back and forth across the border. Is no problem.

Canada: its like the States, but cleaner!

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

Absolutely not a problem. And we crossed by bus and train, which are generally more of a pain in the arse than airports or car (because more drugs go by bus or something, I don't know, whatever) and didn't have problem one going through. Have fun! Get some Tim Hortons coffee!

[fornorald.livejournal.com]

Get some Tim Hortons coffee!

I'll second that recommendation!

[woodrunner.livejournal.com]

My husband's gone the reverse route -- Canada to the US -- but he brought his passport and he drove over the border. He wasn't asked for the passport, just his driver's license and birth certificate, both ways. But flying -- he needed the passport.

Everyone else more or less says they've had no problem about a year ago, but things have changed. The US has been threatening to tighten controls against Canadians flying into the US up to the point that they're going to bounce any Canadians without a passport back to Canada. I witnessed this when I flew from San Fransisco to Toronto -- our plane was delayed for about 45 minutes because a passenger was fighting with the flight attendants for not having a passport with his boarding pass.

I would use a great deal of caution, personally. If you don't have a passport, you might be okay if you have a driver's ID and birth certificate but I would look to see if there are alternate types of identification that they'll accept in the interim. Perhaps even you could visit your passport office to see if they will issue an "extension" on your current passport (if you have one now) to cover you for the trip since it's for business purposes?

[losgunna.livejournal.com]

I had my license and an expired passport, Jason had his license and birth certificate. We have no problems crossing the border, which we've done several times. (usually in Detroit or the Blue Water Bridge)

[mightywombat.livejournal.com]

I never had any trouble getting into or out of Canadia in a big moving truck that they never even looked at with nothing but my valid US Georgia state driver's license. I don't know about flying, but I've driven into and out of Canada before without even having to show ID.

[pbcookie.livejournal.com]

I went in March (2004) and I had my birth certificate, my DL, and my marriage certificate (just in case anyone asked about the name change). It was no problem at all. No delays. The questions they asked were:

Why are you coming to Canada? How long are you staying? What hotel are you staying in? And on the way back to US, the guy asked me why my name was different on my birth certificate and my DL. I just told him it was my maiden name, and I did not even have to whip out the certificate.

Hope this helps!

[chrishaas.livejournal.com]

I regularly travel between the US and Canada, and did not have a problem the one time I forgot my passport.

[m0usegrrl.livejournal.com]

i second this. getting into Canada isn't the problem -- getting back into the US might be. they were cracking down big-time a year ago when i took a bus up to Toronto to visit phantom_wolfboy; some poor techie sap from LA with dual citizenship who'd gone into Canada on his Canadian passport got seriously hassled by the goons with guns at the Detroit crossing... i can only imagine that it's much worse now.

[sibylla.livejournal.com]

I had no problems at all, and I had nothing but my birth certificate and ID.

[kizlj.livejournal.com]

As everyone said, you won't have a problem. but also: at least here in nyc, you can do a rush passport if you have plane tickets procured for within the next two weeks. mine was years ago, but I did it same-day.

[dawn-again.livejournal.com]

Same here, nonissue. I went in Feb. with just my non-driver's ID and my somewhat odd looking birth cert.

I've had more fuss over ID with US govt offices than with Canadian customs.

*surfing the FoF page*

[volta]

I drove across the border with no more than my driver's license in December 2002. They complained that I did not have a passport (it was in my jacket pocket, but I was wearing the wrong jacket) or birth certificate, and ran my license number. Whatever records check they ran took about a half-hour, and they let me through with a stern talking to: 'Canada is a foreign country, you know!'

This was crossing at Derby Line, VT, where I have encountered longer delays than that even when I do have my passport with me.

[sirinek.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression you needed nothing more than a photo ID (like a DL or state ID would be fine). The guards just ask everyone in the car to state their citizenship (well, i went once by car). It shouldnt be an issue for an American.

birth certificate...

[happypete.livejournal.com]

and DL will do just fine...

how we got to TorCon...

[ebon-hawk.livejournal.com]

Canada: its like the States, but cleaner!


its a lot more than that -_-**** definitely more than that -_-***

[ebon-hawk.livejournal.com]

ive gone the other way Canada-US and they asked me for passports, but thats prolly b/c im brown =P
"Sir are you going to blow up anything???"

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ive gone the other way Canada-US and they asked me for passports, but thats prolly b/c im brown =P
"Sir are you going to blow up anything???" <_< >_> "nooo ... "

yeah it should be fine if ur coming into canada, canada customs are pretty lenient, unlike the american ones, no offense but theyve always given me and my family a hard time.

oh and about the Tim Horton's thing get a double double if ur not a heavy coffee drinker or if u want smth cold id definitely recommend the Iced Cappucino!!! ive had one for the past six months at uni and i havent grown tired of it =P try the Maple baked goods, soooo goooood!!!

[stratfordbabe.livejournal.com]

I travel into/out of Canada three to four times a year, and don't have a passport. I have never had a problem.

Now, to be honest, I've flown into Canada only once since 9/11. The other times, I either flew to Buffalo and rented a car (which is hugely cheaper from where I am than flying directly to Toronto) or drove the entire way. Crossing the border by car is by far the easiest way to go. The Niagara crossing requires nothing more than a driver's license, in my experience.

Going into the Toronto airport was not a problem at all with just the birth certificate/drivers license. Neither was leaving. But I'm a woman and I think I'm less likely to get stopped anyway.

Te only people I've heard being hassled are Canadians trying to get here.

Good luck. I envy you. Toronto's such a wonderful city.

[phantom_wolfboy]

If you do, if, you will bloody well call me. Or I will never speak to you again.

Assuming I ever speak to you at all.

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

Driver's license and birth certificate got me through with no delays any number of times, most recently less than 2 months ago.