I'm planning a road trip from OR to AK. What should I be prepared for at the border? Do I need a passport?

Question

We're planning to camp at many different campgrounds on the way up and back so we will have coolers, food, camping equipment and so on with us. We don't plan to stay anywhere in Canada, just passing through to AK.

Answer 1

No, by land you do not need a passport until 2008. You need photo ID (drivers license) and proof of citizenship (birth certificate), esp. to get back into the U.S.

You can check the customs website for items not allowed over the border, here are customs websites for both Canada and the U.S.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/newsroom/factsheets/2004/0816duty-e.html
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/

To take petfood, pet treats into the U.S. (like into AK0 you have to prove it was purchased in the U.S. For pets, you just need proof of rabies vaccination, unless you have birds with you ... check with customs for those regulations.

It's a long haul all the way through Canada to Alaska without stopping ... you might want to have a list of campgrounds just in case you need/want to stop.

Answer 2

No, I don't think you need a passport yet. I just crossed the border between Ontario and Michigan like 2 days ago, and all I needed was my birth certificate and photo id. But you might want to call ahead to the customs agency in your area, and ask them specifically.
As for what you bring, then will ask where you're going, and then ask how long you're going to be. Then when you leave Canada, they will ask if you bought anything.

Answer 3

I think I read somewhere that starting Jan 22nd, you'll need a passport to go between canada and us. They take awhile to get so plan ahead. We had to get passports to go to Costa Rica and waited too long, ended up paying almost $400 for 2 passports using the expedited service.

Answer 4

you can't drive from the canada/us border to the alaskan border in one day! Get a map, there are lots of beautiful places in BC. Stay a little while. You can camp in provincial parks for a reasonable price.

Answer 5

Check with Canada's website. You may be prohibited from bringing certain foods into the country. You may also be barred from bring firearms through. Best bet would be to call the consulate if you need any clarification. Also, if you are bringing any pets, their food may not be allows and you will more than likely have to produce paperwork outlining their vaccinations.

Answer 6

New Requirements for Travelers

* Media Notes
* Flyers & Fact Sheet
* Frequently Asked Questions
* Federal Regulations

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

* Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
* As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI

Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable to fulfill document requirements:

* U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including ferry crossings).
* The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a wallet.
* DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.

Background

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other document, or a combination of documents, that denote identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Congress amended portions of the Act in 2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the Administration’s proposed plan to implement this mandate.

The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.

Media Notes

* 11/22/2006 Passports Required for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007
* 10/17/2006 Department of State to Introduce Passport Card

Flyers & Fact Sheet

* Fact Sheet - Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (pdfPDF)
* Flyer on Passport Requirement for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007 (pdfPDF)
* Hoja de Informacion (pdfPDF)
* WHTI Information Sheet - French (pdfPDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

* Frequently Asked Questions about the New Travel Initiative Requirements (FAQs)

Federal Regulations

*
Final Rule - Air Phase (pdf PDF)
*
Proposed Rule - Passport Card (pdf PDF)
*
Comments Submitted in Passport Card Rule Making Proceeding (DOS-2006-0329-0001)

Other Relevant Links

* Department of Homeland Security
* U.S. Customs and Border Protection