Canada without a passport

[milesdriven]

I know this has been discussed in the past few months, but I'd like to see how things are currently. My fiancee and I will be attending a wedding in Port Huron today, and we'd like to go to the casino in Sarnia afterward. I have a passport, but she does not. Are we likely to get held up for 1/2 hour and bitched at, but still let back into the US or will it be more of an ordeal?

Thanks

[R8RBOB]

I know this has been discussed in the past few months, but I'd like to see how things are currently. My fiancee and I will be attending a wedding in Port Huron today, and we'd like to go to the casino in Sarnia afterward. I have a passport, but she does not. Are we likely to get held up for 1/2 hour and bitched at, but still let back into the US or will it be more of an ordeal?

Thanks

All I can say is that I hope you win a lot of money at the casino because if you don't and you have to face US Customs broke and mad, it is not going to fun.

[Retroit]

Your girlfriend is not going to Canada today:

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/index.html

[chico]

She needs a passport, or dude, she's screwed:

http://www.consular.canada.usembassy...equirement.asp

[Lowell]

You get to the border and she fumbles around, can't find her passport and starts crying saying all she has is her license. You start yelling at her and keep it up until they silence you. She gets sympathy, processed more quickly and sent on her way with a warning. You get past the toll booth and break out laughting. Just kidding but I wonder if that would work.

I think it would be an interesting protest for a thousand people to go to Canada passport-less then turn around and come back during peak traffic. This ridiculous post 9/11 paranoia is destroying our tourism economy.

[skyl4rk]

You are going to have to wait an hour and get yelled at even if you have your passport. So without a passport, I would guess it would be the distress level to the third power of a normal crossing.

[Thames]

Canada might not allow you in. I read that Canada will not allow a U.S. citizen into the country who does not have the proper documentation to return home.

[Retroit]

I think it would be an interesting protest for a thousand people to go to Canada passport-less then turn around and come back during peak traffic. This ridiculous post 9/11 paranoia is destroying our tourism economy.

What would be the purpose of this protest?

"Ridiculous post 9/11 paranoia"? Please consider these findings from the 9/11 Report: The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States


"There were opportunities for intelligence and law enforcement to exploit al Qaeda's travel vulnerabilities. Considered collectively, the 9/11 hijackers:

• included known al Qaeda operatives who could have been watchlisted;
• presented passports manipulated in a fraudulent manner;
• presented passports with suspicious indicators of extremism;
• made detectable false statements on visa applications;
• made false statements to border officials to gain entry into the United States;
• violated immigration laws while in the United States."

"We found that as many as 15 of the 19 hijackers were potentially vulnerable to interception by border authorities. Analyzing their characteristic travel documents and travel patterns could have allowed authorities to intercept 4 to 15 hijackers and more effective use of information available in U.S. government databases could have identified up to 3 hijackers."

Lowell, I don't like the hassle any more than you do, nor do I think it is flawless, but some safeguard is needed.

[LodgeDodger]

Get a life, people. We live along an international border. Get a fucking passport and shut up about it.

[eriedearie]

Save yourself the hassle of going to Sarnia. If you want to gamble, drive the extra miles to Detroit and go to one of those casinos. It will be hassle free. Save Sarnia for after your fiance gets her passport. It will be much easier then.

[Buy American]

The border guards can make your life miserable for many many hours if they wanted to. Go without a passport and plan on being searched, both you and your car. Consider yourself lucky if they don't tear out the seats in your car, then tell you to go. Also, hope that the dogs aren't having a bad day as well!

[Knocturnal]

I have a friend that has traveled to Sarnia after June 1st w/o his passport. He said that they have given him some grief, but they still let him through.

[Roq]

I know this has been discussed in the past few months, but I'd like to see how things are currently. My fiancee and I will be attending a wedding in Port Huron today, and we'd like to go to the casino in Sarnia afterward. I have a passport, but she does not. Are we likely to get held up for 1/2 hour and bitched at, but still let back into the US or will it be more of an ordeal?

Thanks

Christ, how long have people know they have to get a passport or enhanced driver's license? She shnould have planned ahead like everyone else and applied for one, good grief.

[lobo]

"We found that as many as 15 of the 19 hijackers were potentially vulnerable to interception by border authorities. Analyzing their characteristic travel documents and travel patterns could have allowed authorities to intercept 4 to 15 hijackers and more effective use of information available in U.S. government databases could have identified up to 3 hijackers."

Lowell, I don't like the hassle any more than you do, nor do I think it is flawless, but some safeguard is needed.

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I like the "potentially vulnerable" and "could have". Does that mean they are potentially invunerlable and could not have?

The border is a laughable sieve and everybody knows it. To a dedicated terrorist or even smuggler the new restraints are merely inconveniences. Besides some 9/11 terrorist got in on visas and even took flight training here and more. The new border restrictions are only killing business, wasting money, wasting the time of law abiding citizens and creating government welfare jobs. The money would be far better spent in targeted intel.

I find it amazing how so many people who are 'anti big governement' are willing to complacently roll over their freedom of movement and freedoms from intrusions into their private lives, not to mention the dollar cost, just for the illusion of security. And it is just that... an illusion.

[daddeeo]

You'll be sorry!!!!!!

[East Detroit]

We'll be really, really safe if we allow audio/video cameras in every room of our houses.

If we don't do that and something happens, then it will be the fault of those clinging to civil liberties.

If you speak out against this, you'll be asked what you have to hide.

[Retroit]

How is the government's monitoring of border crossings an invasion of privacy or a denial of freedom of movement?

Unless, of course, you plan on crossing the border with your pants down, smoking on a joint, while traveling at 120mph.

[tahleel]

I find it amazing how so many people who are 'anti big governement' are willing to complacently roll over their freedom of movement and freedoms from intrusions into their private lives, not to mention the dollar cost, just for the illusion of security. And it is just that... an illusion.

Thumbs up!

-Tahleel

[chitaku]

looks like the sheep are out in full force! Freedom be damned as long as I feel "safe"!

[Retroit]

I'd rather be a victim of my own government than of some other government [[or terrorist organization).

[Vox]

How is the government's monitoring of border crossings an invasion of privacy or a denial of freedom of movement?

Unless, of course, you plan on crossing the border with your pants down, smoking on a joint, while traveling at 120mph.

Last time I tried doing part of that, it got me deported. That made 2 times. Third time's the charm...

[Jimaz]

There's a currently a commercial running advertising Puerto Rico as a good vacation destination. One of their selling points is that U.S. citizens don't need a passport.

I know Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory but it still seems strange that you can't cross a local river more easily.

[Bobl]

r:
"..."We found that as many as 15 of the 19 hijackers were potentially vulnerable to interception by border authorities. Analyzing their characteristic travel documents and travel patterns could have allowed authorities to intercept 4 to 15 hijackers and more effective use of information available in U.S. government databases could have identified up to 3 hijackers..."

They will simply use forged passports or "secure" ID next time, or cross quietly in boats.
The new requirements give some a false illusion of safety, while inconveniencing many and reducing commerce, especially tourist related travel such as weekend or day trips.

[Retroit]

A passport [[or enhanced drivers license) is less easy to forge than a birth certificate. The waterways are also monitored more closely. I don't see what the "false illusion" is. If a person's identification is checked, what is the illusion? It sounds like you are arguing that there should be a more intrusive inspection. I'm willing to be inconvenienced if it will potentially stop a terrorist. It has, you know?:
http://www.investigativeproject.org/...was-la-airport

[MCP-001]

In case you're looking for information regarding an Enhanced Driver's License.