Upcoming Passport laws in Canada & U.S.?

Question

Do you have a passport or will you get one before it is necessary to have one?

Discrimination, loss of rights, or attaining freedom?

I wasn't asking when they come into effect, but rather, will you be ready and do you think it is discrimination, loss of rights, or how we manage our view of "freedom" ?

Answer 1

Having lived and worked in a bunch of countries on 4 continents, I've never understood why North Americans don't like having a passport.

Filling out the forms may be a pain, but having a passport means being able to travel all over the world, not just over the border between Canada and the US.

Answer 2

Both my kids have used passports since they were babies, I do not find it unusual or strange or bothersome, I do not feel discriminated against, or that I have lost rights in any way. Every American who travels abroad knows that a passport is required by many countries, it is a form of identification. In other countries if you wish to apply for an American Visa you must own a passport. The same goes for other countries. What is the fuss all about? If you don't want a passport now because you don't need it, don't apply for it, until it becomes necessary for travel purposes. I've met people who've never owned a passport in their lives, but of course they've never left their country at all.

Answer 3

There is no discrimination or loss of rights or any of the such if you are a law abiding citizen. What is the big deal with having a passport. You should only be able to get back into the United States with one. That is your proof that you belong here.

There is no loss of rights with showing proof that you belong in a country. If you are legal there shouldn't be a problem

Answer 4

I will be getting a passport as soon as the law goes into effect. You never know when you might want to make a trip up to canada or down to mexico. I think this law is a very good one. Every legal resident of the usa is able to get a passport. I think it will reduce the amount of illegal immegrants.

Answer 5

I have had a passport since I was 14 years old; I am now 52
I am glad I have the opportunity to travel between countries and have no problem utilizing a passport to do it.
When I went to Toronto last year, I gladly pulled out my passport (ahead of the deadline)

Answer 6

Been thinking about getting a passport.

Doing it is not anything but making sure who is coming and going from Canada a little better now

Answer 7

Everybody is over reacting. Yes, they may have set a date for POSSIBLE enforcement of passports being needed in order to travel to and from Canada. They've done it before and it's never passed. Don't react until something happens. Man people get scared and fired up real fast.

Answer 8

You will have to get a passport for travel after December 31, 2006. Until then, I think it is still OK to just have state ID and birth certificate.

Answer 9

I got one last year so that my family could travel to Florida without any hassles and before the rush to get one starts.

I don't see it as a loss of rights, it didn't bother me at all. I am actually happy to see that the borders are tightening up, both on the Canadian and US sides.

Answer 10

I definatly want to get a passport in case I do wish to move to canada and get out of the US. The US has the tendency to involve itself in other peoples war and get in trouble. Canada might be safer. Also if they ever bring the draft back, canada would be nice.