With heightened national security, what id is now required to travel from Detroit to Canada and back?

Question

My husband is traveling to Detroit with my son and has a couple of days without much planned. He thought they might drive up into Canada, basically just so my son can say he's been to another country. They would be traveling there and back in the same day. My son in 7, so he doesn't have i.d. - will he need some? Will my husband need a passport, or will his driver's license be enough?

Answer 1

The correct answer, with a source linked here is this:
Photo I.D. and proof of citizenship is required to cross the border, esp. back into the U.S. Your son might be able to get over with just a birth certificate ... AND a permission from you, since you aren't going with them.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Answer 2

Your son will need an official birth certificate (NOT a baptism certificate...it needs to be issued by the province) and one other piece of photo ID (such as a health card) to travel across the border.

In addition, you will need to provide your husband with a signed letter stating that you give permission for him to cross the border with your son.

You should also prepare your son for the fact that the border guard will ask him some questions ("Is this really your daddy? Where's your mommy? Why isn't she coming with you? Where are you going?"). I've known families that have had serious problems because the kid clammed up or got confused!

Your husband can still cross the border with government-issued photo ID and a birth certificate, but be warned that starting January 1, 2008 everyone needs a passport.

Answer 3

You only need a passport if you are flying into or out of the us or canada. If you are driving you will need government issued ID. As for your son a birth certificate should be fine. You can call and ask the border if you will feel better about it. You will also want to send a letter with your hubby so he doesnt have any problems. If you call the border crossing I suggest that you call the US side as well as the Canada side. they may have different rules and regulations. One of my coworkers when to the states with another family when he was under age, and all he needed was a letter from his parents and his ID. Good Luck, and have fun.

Answer 4

It is now required by the Federal Government that if you as a Citizen or otherwise leave the United States of America and come back to our borders you must have a US Passport or a visa from another country that will allow you to reenter the United States. No other ID is acceptable. I mean NO othe ID.

Answer 5

If you drive, at this time, you only need drivers lic (or photo id) & birth cert for exit and re-entry.
Your DH might as well bring his passport anyway though, as it is a federally issued doc.
I also bring a letter from my spouce authorizing my son to leave the country w/o me. Just in case!

See below:
Passports Required for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007



The Departments of State and Homeland Security announced today that the requirement for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere will begin on January 23, 2007.

This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. These new travel document requirements make up the Departments' Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). In order to obtain national security benefits as quickly as possible, and to expedite the processing of arriving passengers, the plan will be implemented in two phases.

The first phase involves travel by air and requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. The final rule for the air phase of the WHTI rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 24, where it can be viewed at www.regulations.gov . That rule is also available on the Department's consular web site, travel.state.gov and on the Department of Homeland Security's web site, www.dhs.gov.

A separate proposed rule addressing land and sea travel will be published at a later date proposing specific requirements for travelers entering the United States through land and sea border crossings. As early as January 1, 2008, U.S. citizens traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea could be required to present a valid U.S. 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.

The Department has dedicated additional resources and personnel to meet the increased demand for passports generated by these requirements. In Fiscal Year 2006, the Department issued a record 12.1 million passports to American citizens, and anticipates issuing 16 million passports in Fiscal Year 2007. U.S. citizens can find information about how to apply for a passport at travel.state.gov or by cal

Answer 6

No. The borders of our united states of america are so vast they are actual penetrated via land. If somebody is going to get into our united states of america to convey harm they are going to enter taking walks if neccessary and that they gained't want a passport. whilst i became in Italy, I had to furnish my passport to each inn I the place I stayed. interior the U. S. it extremely is tense to tell who's an American because of the fact of our multi subculture. you won't be able to furnish up all people and ask them for his or her passport. i think of it extremely is merely yet another stupid regulation to make us experience secure. much like most of the airport policies. Passengers flow via greater BS and we actually are no greater secure. issues nonetheless get directly to planes and un documented workers paintings on the flight strains. i don't experience secure.