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So the new law regarding passports for all Canadians entering the USA comes into effect pretty soon. Personally, I don't mind the law. I've been carrying a valid passport into USA (even for stop-overs) for ages so this doesn't bother me.

  I do think if they require us to have a passport to get in the country, we should require all US citizens to do the same too. But I doubt that would happen soon.....................

     [H3][FONT size=6]U.S. passport rules kick in one week from today[/FONT][/H3] [P class=timeStamp]Updated Tue. Jan. 16 2007 11:38 PM ET

 [P class=storyAttributes]CTV.ca News Staff

 Time is running out for Canadian travellers flying into the United States to ensure they have the right documents. Beginning a week today, Canadians will need to present a passport when arriving by air from any part of the Western hemisphere.

 It appears that most Canadians have gotten the message. As of this week, about 96 per cent of Canadian air travellers are complying with the new rules requiring them to present a passport at the airport, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Bob Jacksta told a news conference Tuesday.

 Travellers from Mexico boast a compliance rate of 99 per cent.

 But Americans have been slower to get on board; only 90 per cent of U.S. travelers who are travelling overseas are currently carrying passports.

[FONT size=1]Read more: [/FONT][A href="vny!://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070116/passports_070116/20070116?hub=Canada"][FONT size=1]vny!://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070116/passports_070116/20070116?hub=Canada[/FONT][/A][A href="vny!://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070116/healthy_donuts_070116/20070116?hub=Health"][/A]  

I got an idea I'll go across the border into Canada without a passport and then the US won't let me back in and all my problems will be solved. lol

Yeah, how does that work? Do Americans need passports to get home?

Americans don't really come to Canada anymore anyways do they?

I have a passport too, but only go the the US about once a year. When I was in my early 20s, it was almost once a month. Not for shopping or anything, just to escape Vancouver and enjoy Seattle nitelife. Vancouvers night scene was...er is..rather dull in comparison. but, Vancouver is nice in other ways.

I understand there is quite a back-up in aquiring a passport right now.  Had some friends just cancel a trip, as their passports won't be ready for at least 3 monthe.  I don't think you need one yet if you are driving, only for flying ?

I think it is for flying only? But I have trouble keeping up with the new rules so maybe it is for all visitors?

The trick for us yanks is that we don't need a passport to get into Canada but we need a passport to get back in. Hence my joke about fixing all my problems of not having to go back.

I'm not going anywhere soon, so I'm not too worried.

It's something I should do mind you.  I've never had a passport, but being as I don't fly, I'll probably be fine for a while.  [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/tiere/n038.gif" border=0]  

I'm going places soon so this sort of affects me.  Depends on where I end up.

I think passports are required for anyone going into the US, be it air or land or sea. I bet there are a lot of stranded Canadians living in the states.

It's coming Lise, but not yet I don't think.

   [P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office" xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word" xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel"]The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

 [UL xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office" xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word" xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel"] [LI]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.
 [LI]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. [/LI][/UL]

pretty much Washington wants to kill tourism in North America.

So one year from now, that means EVERYBODY and no exception. Well, at least people have that long to do it. They'd better.

  I can just see the fees for passport going up and up and up..........

Bush probably doesn't, heck he probably wouldn't even know where to get a passport.

Does anyone watch Boston Legal ?  There was a good one on last night. It wasn't so much about passports, but about being on the governments 'No Fly' list.  It was excellent how James Spader laid it out how ridiculous their system is, and how the staggering amount of technology we have should make this problem easy as pie.  

Hm. Nope. I haven't watched a single episode of BL but I hear it's really good. Isn't that the one with William Shatner in it as well?

yeah the no fly list is a joke it just picks up peoples names randomly that sound similiar to a arabic terrorist name.  Its dumb.  

Ive had a passport for years now.. I keep filling them up before their five year expirey as well.

  The last time one of my friends went a few weeks ago it was a five hour lineup to wait to apply for a passport. If you are going to get one, download the passport application online, fill it out, and mail it in with your supporting documentation.. make sure you send it registered mail.

  As far as I understand it its liket eh 23 or 26 of this month you need a passport to enter the US, citizen or not, by plane.

In another year you will need passports for all forms of entry..

  EDIT: Drat jsut saw the link.  

It is Lise.  It's funny, because I've never been able to stomach that guy, but he is perfect in this role.  I think his character is actually a bit of a parody OF William Shatner.  He's an obnoxious letcher (sp?), but he does it so well.

James Spader is the draw for me.  I absolutely LOVE the way he words EVERYTHING.  It's the only series 'drama' that I watch.  

I can't send my supporting documents by mail. I still don't trust that.

  I usually head to the office pretty early to avoid the crowd. Go before 9am and on a weekday. Last time I went there, they basically screwed my name and told me to come back in two hours.

  A little bird told me you can go to the Richmond one (don't know where it is) where there's virtually no line-up.  

Sorry if this question has been addressed.

  So, this only applies to flying and not driving to the border, right?  I plan to drive to the States soon.  

Really Russ ?  Can you download the forms and TAKE them.  Would this speed up anything?  I have a couple friends that are heading down to Victoria tomorrow.    

Someone's gotta a crush on James Spader!!! (//vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Happy/11.gif)

    purelife - I would just go ahead and get a passport done pronto. Save yourself the hassle at the border and get it done.

yeah you don't want to get interrogated.

Yes purelife. Only flying for the next year. Until Jan of 2008.

  Heres the instructions miss PC

[A href="vny!://www.ppt.gc.ca/can/index.aspx?lang=e"]vny!://www.ppt.gc.ca/can/index.aspx?lang=e[/A]

And heres the online instructions

[A href="vny!://www.ppt.gc.ca/can/pol_on-line_form.aspx?lang=e"]vny!://www.ppt.gc.ca/can/pol_on-line_form.aspx?lang=e[/A]

Heres the form

[A href="vny!://www.ppt.gc.ca/can/printable_forms.aspx?lang=e"]vny!://www.ppt.gc.ca/can/printable_forms.aspx?lang=e[/A]

    I agree lise.. although a few of my friends have done it.

When I do apply for a new passport, even though Im on time off I charge my company a full two days of pay for taking the time to gather up my stuff for my passport as well as the day of standing around applying. I also charge them for all my expenses.. like a lunch at shenanigans.    

You're right Lise.  I've gotta save myself from the hassle especially because I'm not white with blonde hair and blue eyes.  :P

  The passport office downtown has an extremely long wait.  Oh well, will have to do it soon.

beware of border patrol people they tend to racist and scrutinize non white people.

  BBC did a story of a lebanese canadian who is a journalist for the BBC was born in Canada but has a Lebanese name.  He got interrogated and held over night for a day because the border guards thought he was suspecious looking and had a funny last name.  Couldn't carry food into the US.

      First hand experience:  I went to Niagra Falls long time ago ('99) as a kid way before 9/11 and there was this hispanic family in front of us on the bridge you could walk across between the two countries over looking the falls.  My sister, mom and dad and I weren't even talked to they just waved us on by to the american side but the hispanic family had to empty out all of their belongings, show ID's, proof of things and everything.  

purelife wrote:
 You're right Lise.  I've gotta save myself from the hassle especially because I'm not white with blonde hair and blue eyes.  :P

  Dont worry, your better :)

  The passport office downtown has an extremely long wait.  Oh well, will have to do it soon.[/DIV]
 I would PL. Im going to redo mine again soon. Print out the forms and have everything ready, then either send them in (registered mail) or apply in person. You can get rush order passports for alot more money, but you can get them done in 24 or 48 hours if you need them. I got one done in 48 hours before, cost me (my company) almost three hundred though.  

Tad off subject, but I always thought that was weird that they would confiscate oranges at the border.  For heavens sake, they CAME from there !!!!!    

If applying for a passport on-line, what about the picture you have to have taken?  Where do you go to do that?  If the passport costs $87, how much does the picture cost?  If you go to one of the offices to apply, do they take your picture and it is all included in the $87?  There are four people in my family.  It sure adds up. Thanks.

You'll need to get the passport photos done in any photo studio. They need to be aware of the requirements, as in light background, no smiling and a stamp of their location at the back of the photos. I don't remember how much they cost but something like four might be under $10.00 or so.

  You will also need signatures from guarantees, eg. lawyers, doctors, dentists etc.

  Hubby just saw Sinclair Centre yesterday. The place was packed. There's a line to get into the head office there. Expect passports to take up to several months for processing as everyone is panicking and getting them done now.  

Thanks for the on-line form links, Russ.  Our friends have skipped the trip to Victoria today, and are now doing it on-line.

No problem.. any way to help!

  fletcher, go anywhere that ADVERTISES passport photos. The cheapest and fastest place Ive found for passport photos is Walmart. They take your picture and you pick them up in half an hour after wandering around the store laughing at all the fools. I think its 8.99 for two. They will come stamped on the back with the place and date. You then take them to your guarantor (sp??) and have him sign them. Use your family doctor or something like that, they also have to sign the form you send in IIRC (if i remember correctly). Then you have your birthcertificate as well as your other supporting document. The guarrantor must have known you for five years and is a 'professional', like a doctor or professional engineer. IF you dont have one, you have to use a notary public, which will cost you 25 bucks at least.

  Just so everyone knows, for an extra 5 dollars more now in canada, you can get a 48 page passport instead of the regular 24. I get that now, otherwise I fill up three passports in 5 years.. I really hope they increase the longevity of the passports as well from 5 to ten years like ALL the other countries.

  EDIT: drat, Lise already posted most of this

Sheesh. Extra $5.00. Great. Soon it'll hit $100, mark my words.

  I had to do Lise Jr.'s passport. They only allowed her two years. I guess kids change all the time hence the two years limit. A pain in the butt.

really? do you know if that is recent? I know it kindve makes sence but still... wonder what age it changes to 5 yr ones as well.    

This seems contradictory to saying that children need passports......at least in some cases?

   [H2]How does this policy affect current valid passports?[/H2] [P class=important]If you are a parent who holds a valid Canadian passport that lists the name of your child,[FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffbfdf"] the passport will remain valid for you and your child until it expires.
[/FONT]
However, there are 2 exceptions. When your child travels without you or when he or she reaches the age of 16, your child is required to have a separate passport.

Nope, PC. The child is required to have passport. I know because I had to go to Australia and Lise Jr. was only 7 months. She couldn't be put under my own passport and had to get a new one. It's probably better (less hassle) if the child gets one of her or his own.

  Kinda funny because I remember I had to hold her up on my lap and they took a picture of her. I had to wear a white blanket so I wouldn't be included in the photo.

whats Austrailia like Lise? You watching the Aussie Open?

[FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"][FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffc0c0"]If you are a parent who holds a valid Canadian passport that lists the name of your child, the passport will remain valid for you and your child[/FONT] until it expires. [/FONT]

[FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffbfdf"][/FONT]

[FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"]Would that be because Lise Jr. was not already listed on your passport before you had to travel?  That paragraph was taken from Passport Canada,  ( [A href="vny!://www.pptc.gc.ca/can/children.aspx?lang=e"]vny!://www.pptc.gc.ca/can/children.aspx?lang=e[/A] ) and is more than a little confusing.  First it says all children need a passport, but then go on to say that if they are listed on the parents passport, they don't.  So is this not the case ?  I've always had a bit of a problem deciphering government babble.[/FONT]  

It is possible, PC. Now that I think about it.... if you already have a passport that has your children under you and is NOT expired, you can take your kids with you into the states. However, once expired, the new law comes into effect, which means each kid will have to have one passport each. At least..... that's what they told me.

  I think.

It's hard to make heads or tails out of some stuff, the way they write.  I guess the bottom line is, it would be safest for each child to have their own.  Babies change so rapidly though.....within months, they don't look the same.

True enough, PC. They should just come straight to the point instead of confusing more people.

  Just watched the news. Apparently it's a nightmare to get your passports these days. If you want to go on holidays, be sure to get your application in months ahead of time.

  Bless point for you, PC! I brought up your karma to 500! Woot!!

Heyyyy THANKS LISE.....I wondered why that brass band showed up at my door with conffetti and flowers and a singing telegram !!  

  My boss was having a tantrum the other day, because he couldn't go to Mexico, and I told him he was a dough-head......that it's been in the news for years, that this was coming, and although the deadlines have changed numerous times, it has never changed to a shorter deadline.    

As with most people PC they'll say they never saw it coming but of course they wait for the last minute or something.

  There's a line in the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy that would fit your boss well.  When Earth is about to get destroyed the Alien thingys say to the people panicking on Earth that the plans have been at a meeting hall (in the nearest star to Earth) for over 30 years. lol love that movie.