question about crossing the border..

[bebu*funfun]

ive been told multiple times that it is mandatory to have a passport/citizenship card to cross the border now...is that true? i just want to go to portland for a few days... but unfortuntely my citizenship card and passport expired like 6 months ago or so... uh..

so does anyone know? i have a BC License, sin card, carecard etc.. just expired passport/citizenship card..

--bev

[sidekick]

the passport thing won't be a requirement i don't think until 2008...or maybe it's 2007...either way, i don't think it's been implemented yet.

google canadian border crossing and look on their website.

[dj_soo]

it's 2008 - but having a birth certificate helps

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cg...entary_req.xml

[PwInCeSs]

You need to have a birth certificate and photo id atleast. If not a citizenship card or passport if you do not have a birth certificate. You need to proove you are a canadian citizen/born here or whatever.
I go often enough and just have my DL and Birth certificate

[bebu*funfun]

being born in hong kong my birth certificate is a piece of old old legal size paper that is almost ready to fall apart... and my picture isnt on there either.

u think it is just safe for me to bring my expired citizenship card/passport just in case, to prove my citizenship?

[bebu*funfun]

hmm the site avana linked to says "Canadians must provide a valid, unexpired passport." ahhh

[PwInCeSs]

^ yes i think that would be ok, i was there 2 weeks ago with my DL and Birth certificate, but i mean if you werent born here then youd need to have passport/citizen

[bebu*funfun]

^^fuck...

Originally Posted by bebu*funfun

hmm the site avana linked to says "Canadians must provide a valid, unexpired passport." ahhh

I am currently going through the process of getting my passport....

I have moved like 18 billion times in the last 2 years and they want you to provide every address.....

I feel your pain.

[PwInCeSs]

i could be wrong im just assuming, but im not sure if an expired one is ok, I think it may be though. Id try and find a number to phone iyoud get a better answer then the web page

[Kraig]

Bev... here is the Canadian equiv. of the site that Avana posted:

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/can/north_america_e.aspx#us

They state (basically the same shit):

Do I need a passport to travel to the United States?
Though passports are the document of choice for travel, Canadian citizens do not currently need a passport to travel to the United States from Canada. However, Canadians who are travelling outside Canada are encouraged to obtain a passport, as it is the most widely accepted proof of Canadian identity and citizenship.

In April 2005, the United States Government announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requiring all travellers to and from the Americas, including Canadian citizens, to present a passport to enter or re-enter the United States by December 31, 2007.

The WHTI will be implemented in two phases, as follows:

December 31, 2006 - A passport will be required for all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

December 31, 2007 - The passport requirement will be extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

Given that you were born in Hong Kong but have been living here for like 15 years or whatever, you should obtain a citizenship card -- that is ALWAYS a good idea.

For the time being if you're just wanting to take a shopping trip, bring your birth certificate along with all your other ID - better safe than sorry, and you can cross the border with no problems. Include your DL, Care Card, Student ID card and all that other shit too.

[bebu*funfun]

i had a passport and a citizenship card.. it just expired on me 6 months ago, and i havnet had the time to go through all the process to get it done again. my doc wont sign my garenter (sp) section either cuz she doesnt want the hassle of answering phone calls from the passport places.. its just a pain in the ass to get all the info/pics togheter and line up at 8:30 at the office... yes.. excuses excuses.

I JUST WANT TO GO TO ASHES 2 ASHES NEXT WEEKEND..ahhh... i think i might just try it out, just sucks if they reject me and im in a car full of ppl.. ah

[Carrie]

you need your citizenship card/birth cert(if born here) to get your drivers license.

your BCid or BCdrivers licence should be good to go over the border. I didn't know citizenship cards expire?

I always bring my passport and my driver's licence.

[PwInCeSs]

Originally Posted by Carrie

you need your citizenship card/birth cert(if born here) to get your drivers license.

your BCid or BCdrivers licence should be good to go over the border. I didn't know citizenship cards expire?

I always bring my passport and my driver's licence.

When i Gave them my DL they asked if i had something like a birth certificate to proove i was a citizen, luckily i bring both

[Carrie]

they should be able to swipe your DL and it should say ..

thats why there is a magnetic stripe full of information on that thing!

I travel overseas often so I just keep my passport valid

[European]

i dont think citizenship cards expire!!!! so im pretty sure yours is still valid.

[dj_soo]

Originally Posted by Carrie

they should be able to swipe your DL and it should say ..

thats why there is a magnetic stripe full of information on that thing!

I travel overseas often so I just keep my passport valid

they can - all the info is in a database - they just don't have to let you in if all you have is a DL. It just depends how much of an asshole the border guard feels like being. Sometimes they like to make you sweat a bit, sometimes they'll flat out deny you, and sometimes they'll be nice and do a quick check and let you through.

I've experienced all three incidents.

[stephen_c]

i think funfun should make a run for it.

[bebu*funfun]

hmmm...i SWEAR my citizenship card expired.. have to get my mom to check.

i just dont want to be in a car with a van full of eager dancers and be ditched at the border cuz some asshole rejects me.

...maybe ill make a run for it.

[European]

if you make a run for it we're all gonna cheer for you!!!!!!!

[mugsy]

bev - bring your birthcertificate. before my mom went through the bullshit of getting her american passport again, she had to have hers. aaron and i are goin to hawaii this weekend and he just searched through everything - you have a 50\50 chance of getting across with an expired passport - he got across in october with one and also flew to hawaii last year with one. but it all depends on what kind of mood the person is in. my mom has to provide a whole bunch of shit when she crosses the border and sometimes they request it, sometimes they dont.
the rules are not black and white yet, but you do have to have a form of proof of citizenship.

[MC Hammered]

If you don't have a passport you need a birth certificate and a valid piece of photo ID.

You basically have to prove your citizenship and have a picture to back it up. Going there with just a DL will get you turned around.

[galaxie]

All you need is a birth certificate and a driver's license or BCID.

[mojo]

i cross once a week usually and they dont even ask most times. mind you, it is point roberts, and im only going for gas and a payday bar.

a birth certificate and picture ID is all that you need, but to be safe bring whatever else you have. the more items with identical info on them the better.