What's the situation with getting across the U.S.-Canadian border?

@floydgirrl Said

stay home

@Reviso Said

Considering we are travelling by car, and we'll crossing in groves in two weeks, is a driver's license alas enough. In Europe it is. Or for the special non-austere reasons of America will require our passports?

@sAeGeSpAeNe Said

To be crossing in groves would suggest that you don't intend to use the regular border crossing-points. If this is true, then you won't require any documentation. But, you'd better bring a change of clothes, and a toothbrush. Sometimes, the arraignment process can take days, before the authorities can decide what to do with you.

Will you be peddling your vehicle, or is it motorized?

@Reviso Said

Considering we are travelling by car, and we'll crossing in groves in two weeks, is a driver's license alas enough. In Europe it is. Or for the special non-austere reasons of America will require our passports?

@jonnythan Said

No, you can no longer cross the border into Canada with just a driver's license. You need a passport.

@someone_else_again Said

That's not entirely true. There are other documents besides passports that are acceptable if you are driving. The only one I'm familiar with is the Enhanced Driver's License; the process to get one is similar to a passport but it becomes two-in-one and looks like a driver's license.

List of acceptable documents to pass from Canada to US

@DorkySupergirl Said

I spent many years living on the border and used to cross over quite frequently. If you did not have a passport, the Nexus swipe, or a fast card, you would be denied entry. I am not sure if they are allowed to do that or not but I do know people who had other forms of what that link says is acceptable and they were denied and told you need one of three things, passport, Nexus or Fast card.

@DorkySupergirl Said

Now, if your passport is expired and you are applying for a new one if you go to Service Canada they give you a slip to let it be advised you are renuing your passport and you can get through the borer with the slip. I am not sure if they are allowed to let you go through with that or not but they do let you at the border I cross at. My friends did it not that long ago and I plan on doing it pretty soon. The slip does not work if you are applying for your first passport, only if you are renuing a passport.

@DorkySupergirl Said

To get a Nexus card, its quite the process, they look into everyone ad everything about you quite more indepth than a passport because you just swipe it. Its meant for people who live on border and go over for groceries. Its a separate line than people who have passports.

@someone_else_again Said

Is that the kind of "denied entry" where those other things should work but they won't take them? I wonder if it's possible that those other things only work the provinces they listed - BC, Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba.




That makes sense.




I just skimmed over the application/enrollment process. Sounds like a pretty solid screening tactic. Even if someone manages to "slip through," they still have a lot of proof of identification. Wow.

@DorkySupergirl Said

Oh, I thought the link meant for all provinces, any of this listed for ID will work, so thus my comment as to, does not work at the border I cross at. Yeah, then it only works for the provinces listed. I need a fast past, Nexus or passport.

Though I did come back into Canada once and they did not ask to see any of my ID. I did you not. I sat there and waited for them to ask but no one asked me to prove anything, they just let me cross.

I wanted to get a Nexus. I think its only 50$ and right now a passport, with the cost of photos etc is like 200$. We now have a choice of 5 year or 10 year passport.

I remember one time, when it was NOT mandatory to have passport yet, I flew into America and at the airport in Toronto when you have to go through Homeland security, the agent thought I was suspicious not to have a passport and he really was not wanting me to enter your country. He gave me such a hard time. I thought I was not going to go through but with great hesitation, he let me though. They detained my friend once in a little room with Homeland security agents and one time, they had a woman come over and hand pat me down. This was way before TSA scan or pat down. I guess me and my friends looks suspicios.

@someone_else_again Said

Obviously you must look Canadian.

@DorkySupergirl Said

Or I was too tanned and heading to Arizona and they thought I was an illegal. I had my papers, damnit!!!!