How will the new passport rules for Canadians visiting the U.S. affect you?

Question

Starting this week, Canadians flyding to the United States are required to show a valid passport. Soon, this new rule will affect all Canadians crossing the border. Suprisingly, hundreds of people applying for passports discovered their citizenship had expire.

Read more here.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/23012007/3/canada-passport-applicants-find-re-canadian.html

Answer 1

Just to let you know this new rule also applies to Americans coming into Canada. They also must have a valid passport to re-enter the US.

Answer 2

Machine readiable passports will allow the Canadian government to monitor the length of your travels outside of Canada! Beyond 180-days you'll loose 'provincial residency status' affecting, your income tax classification, property assessments, Old Age Security adjustment, Health Care Benefits. After the 180-day limit you'll need to re-apply for some of these benefits. Your Canadian Citizenship will never expire; it's your residency status you need to be concerned about! It's all a matter of determining or establishing verification for increasing your personal taxes or, deleting you from government benefits.... And, you thought it meant only easy access back and forth across the US/Cdn border... Be advised, your 'privacy rights' will be violated between the federal/provincial/municipal governments! Don't believe me then, start phoning the toll free numbers of the federal government...remember, the 'notwithstanding clause' in our Constitution.

In reference to National Security Policy between the US/Cdn... The USA is within it's legal right to limit open access, without a valid passport, from any Country. Unless, you have a special status, as a previous US Citizen or were in the US Armed Forces. Keep in mind that the USA does not permit Americans dual citizenship. CCIS is monitoring Canadian 'terriorism' connectings and, it has nothing to do with Canadian Passports.
Not so long ago, 5000 CdnPassports were stolen... Passports are used for entry into the USA... Does a Canadian need a passport to return, into Canada, when driving a Canadian vehicle, and you carry a provincial drivers license, birth certificate or any photo identification? It's not American Law you need be concerned with; more so, how has Canadian Law been amended to control the movement of Canadians? What mobility Constitutional Rights...that's within Canada...and there are limitations!!!

Answer 3

We are a family of 6, we all have passports.
Most of our travel is by van to the US and we have found it to be much more convient to travel with passports as opposed to drivers licenses and birth certificates. Childrens' passports cost less and have to be renewed more frequently. It is terribly frustrating to try and get a 1 year old to do a picture properly, but that's the way it goes.
But this "new" standard has been coming for over a year, I sent for my youngest child's passport last summer when it was in the news then, it arrived via the mail in 3 weeks, I have had files returned b/c they were not happy with the pictures etc. but once I sent in new photos it seemed things were expidited very quickly (new passport in less than a week).
On a differenct tack... I am also a qualified guarenteur in Canada and I am very frustrated with people coming with incomplete applications etc for me to fill out and then they get angry when I say it has to be complete before I will sign their form and pix. I also need to see thier ID. Anyone hear of fraud?
I think in Canada we are a little spoiled by our excellant relationship with the US and quite a few Canadians have not travelled to other countries other than the US. You need a passport to go just about everywhere else, it is YOUR identification and if you are in another country it verifies YOUR citizenship, be happy and grateful you can have it to carry, the Canadian passport is very valuable.

Answer 4

The new passport rules do not affect me at all. I carry a valid passport on me since the last 10 years or so and this one, now, only expires August this year. Used it as much for leisure or business trips. Hope the waiting lines cool down, hehe.

Crossed over to the States last Sunday in Philipsburg to go I-89 in Vermont. Got held up at the border by vehicule in front of me, with Massachussett plates (sorry for mistake). The driver and passengers got out of their car, opened the trunk to get their passports in the suitcases. It felt nice to see that everybody is treated the same.

Anyways, between the States and Canada, we're all mix-matched... A lot of the same family names... The passport to differ is a good idea.

Answer 5

As a Canadian born and raised here (my family has been here for centuries), I should be able to cross the border on my birth certificate. If that is the way that America wants to handle it, let them also carry passports to come to Canada. In short, if you were born in Canada, you should be able to cross with no problems but if you were born elsewhere, yes, I believe a passport is a valid option. By the way, this will also prevent many Canadians from crossing the border on vacation because it is only another expense that we don't need when we travel within our own beautiful country. Canada is the best country in the entire world.

Answer 6

Actually, I don't think this is a bad idea.......with the way the world is going, it is an excellent way to keep acceptable papers on hand for ID purposes. Not having been born in Canada, and immigrating when I was around 9 on my mothers passport from UK, I have had to have plenty of papers from both governments just to get my Canadian Citizenship in 1965 and my Old Age Pension just 2 years ago. For those who were born here, it should be no problem, but most others will hit barriers for getting: jobs, married, buying property etc. A passport is a good thing to have even if you have to get another one every 5 years. Be glad its Canada you belong to, not any other country!!

Answer 7

This new law will only affect me if I'm crossing the border with someone who may not have a passport. Other than that, I don't mind the new law. The United States is their own country. If they say you need a passport to enter, you need a passport to enter. In the same way, if one were travelling from Benin to Nigeria, they would be required to carry a passport. Canada should adopt the same law. We all must protect our borders.

The United States should especially guard there borders. They are the most likely country in the world to be a target for a massive terror attack. It is true: live by the sword, die by the sword; live by terror, die by terror. The difference between al Qauda and the U.S. is that the U.S. administration uses military power as a means to inflict terror into other nations. Therefore, having a terrorist administration, the United States must protect there borders as much as possible. To do otherwise would be devastating to the millions of innocent people in America.

Answer 8

well it will keep me from cross boarder shopping. And because I am on a small disability pension, I can not afford the $85.00 to pay for a passport, I like to take advantage of a few select item at the stores less than 1/2 hour away, but I will have to pay $85.00 to take advantage of butter at $2.00 a pound rather than the 3.60 in Canada. I also believe that this a cash cow for the Canadian Government, as the passports have to be renewed ever 5 years. and also as a reminder Citizens from the USA will have to have a passport to get back in to the states, and there are no family discounts, or seniors discounts. Just hand over the money.

Answer 9

I think its proper to cross countries with a passport.

What disturbs me is the fact the US sticks their noses into other peoples/countries business and it backfires on them. 911 is a good example. So due to their incompitence, we suffer.

If you have the slightest record (which they used to let go without any problems) Now they will send you back and try to get a photo and finger prints on you (wether you have a record or not)

If you dont have a passport then you are going to be turned back. When they didnt need canadians to do so before.

I think the US customs have too much power and are acting rediculous to the retaliations from 911. They treat canadians like dirt and yet expect canadians to back them up in the war. Such a contridiction.

I find passports useful, but the restrictions with the passports and the fact its the only way into the US is stupid. They want too much information (prints and photo) for US records when they have no right to.

Most wont agree but these two topics Passports & 911 are all completely tied in to each other. The US do as they plz and take on too much for even themselves can handle. Yet think they are doing the right thing.

In the end, all's they are doing is tightening the noose around their neck, trying to control everything.

Answer 10

I have no problem with carrying a passport. I have had one continuously since I was 10 and made my first trip overseas. I, like many Canadians, am interested in seeing more of this globe than just English speaking North America. The plus side is that Americans also need a passport to fly across the border, do they not? Perhaps doing so, they may start to realise that we are a sovereign nation, separate historically, politically, legally and philosophically from them, and are not an appendage to their "United States." Maybe our own government might also come to understand this too. That would be a good thing.

Answer 11

Well I have a few thoughts on this. 1) the cost If your a family of 4 or 6 it is far too costly. If I was going to take vacation and it meant spending another 2 or 3 hundred to go to the usa,,i would travel at home unless of course i could afford it. And many that did travel I am sure will stop. If it is going to cost that much then they should at least last longer. And i know the issue is the picture so why not just design something cheaper that lets you update a picture every 5 years. After all the INFO part should be the same. I feel the price is too high bottom line and the rich will have them but many will not be able to afford it I am sure. so i am sure it will effect alot of people when deciding their vacations,,,,Getting so the hassel to travel anymore is JUST not worth it. Stay home.

2) It is also just another cost for the billions of trucks crossing every day. Suppose we will all pay for that in some increased cost for goods coming across the border.