On my way back into the US this morning as the Customs man handed me back my drivers license, he told me that by 1-1-08 US people coming back into the US will not be allowed to use their drivers license as valid ID to re-enter the US. Canadian drivers have had to use their passports so I guess its now time for us. I also saw on another website that just this week, they were adding on another $12 as a surcharge for some damn thing on any new passports! Looks like they are going for another money grab!! I will be getting mine ASAP as Im sure as time goes on, it will be a mad rush towards the end to get a passport. Not sure of the time frame/procedure or costs involved.Hopefully someone here can fill us in on whats needed.

here you go Pete dept of homeland security (http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4433)

Originally posted by PETE/NY@Apr 5 2005, 05:37 PM
Canadian drivers have had to use their passports so I guess its now time for us. 416213


We haven't had to show a passport, just birth certificate & license. What a pain in the :cussing: . I bet the border cities will notice a big drop in weekend tourism. If our panty waisted gov't had been a bit more interested in creating a North American security zone, this might not have happened.

To me this is a sad day in US/Canadian relations.

*********The Departments of Homeland Security and State announced today the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to secure and expedite travel. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Mexico to have a passport or other accepted secure document to enter or re-enter United States by January 1, 2008.***********

read where they say "other accepted secure document", what do you guys think this would be? a birth certificate? guess we will have to wait and see for when ther official release come out

They were talking on the radio today that we Canadians are going to need a valid passport, to enter the US, as of January 1, 2006. They never said anything about 2008.

Yes I herd the same. Bush is pushing this for '06 >

Originally posted by rob7374@Apr 5 2005, 06:53 PM
They were talking on the radio today that we Canadians are going to need a valid passport, to enter the US,* as of January 1, 2006. They never said anything about 2008.
416251


Doesn't really suprise me, look at the Canada/US relations with the last few governments and you knew it was coming.

I'm wondering how this will effect me because I am a British Citizen witha "permanent residence" status in the U.S. therefore I have a greencard.. I am however still a British Citizen so I would have to obtain a British passport I guess.... I'm wondering if my greencard would be enough to allow me back into the U.S. sheeesh.. What a pain but I must say I think once I go through the major headache like everyone else, it may be a good thing.

$12 dollar added surcharge?? Geeeeez, that's only going to make my canadian snowmobiling trip even more expense.. but oh well, I don't care, I can't wait to test out some of the trails I hear awesome things about in Canada.... It's probably going to be priceless... :D

Originally posted by cooley@Apr 5 2005, 05:48 PM
here you go Pete dept of homeland security (http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4433)
416218

Cooley-- Thanks for the site- as this will sum it up for us all.

Originally posted by snow4mydooplz@Apr 5 2005, 08:50 PM
I'm wondering how this will effect me because I am a British Citizen witha* "permanent residence" status in the U.S.* therefore I have a greencard..* I am however still a British Citizen so I would have to obtain a British passport I guess.... I'm wondering if my greencard would be enough to allow me back into the U.S.* sheeesh.. What a pain but I must say I think once I go through the major* headache like everyone else, it may be a good thing.*

$12 dollar added surcharge??* Geeeeez, that's only going to make my canadian snowmobiling trip even more expense.. but oh well, I don't care, I can't wait to test out some of the trails I hear awesome things about in Canada....* It's probably going to be priceless... :D
416273

Snow4- You are definitely in for a nice treat when you ride the Canadian trail system.I have been riding since the 70's and do 99% of my riding in Canada.Good people and fantastic trails-not much else to say! Hope you enjoy them as I'm sure you will.

Originally posted by snow4mydooplz@Apr 5 2005, 08:50 PM
I'm wondering how this will effect me because I am a British Citizen witha* "permanent residence" status in the U.S.* therefore I have a greencard..* I am however still a British Citizen so I would have to obtain a British passport I guess.... I'm wondering if my greencard would be enough to allow me back into the U.S.* sheeesh.. What a pain but I must say I think once I go through the major* headache like everyone else, it may be a good thing.*

$12 dollar added surcharge??* Geeeeez, that's only going to make my canadian snowmobiling trip even more expense.. but oh well, I don't care, I can't wait to test out some of the trails I hear awesome things about in Canada....* It's probably going to be priceless... :D
416273

Hey Snow4-here is the fee list for a passport-Passport fee-$55 then there is the Security Surcharge-$12 then the Execution Fee of $30 for a TOTAL of $97.00. Wow I feel safer already!!!!!!! Just wondering how many terrorists will get a passport??? LOL!

Originally posted by revrnd@Apr 5 2005, 05:58 PM
To me this is a sad day in US/Canadian relations.
416223


I agree, it has always been nice to have such good neighbors to the North and such an open Border. To bad both are governments have to mess with it.

For the states people HERE (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html) and it looks like 08 for land travel is correct, and $97.

good thing is that passports don't expire for a long time, not sure exactly how many years...10?

So much for running to the duty free to buy beer. Used to be an advantage to living 10 miles from the border. Damn terrorists.

This was in today's National Post:

Bush orders review of passport requirement for Canadians
Proposed rule will 'disrupt the honest flow of traffic'
*
Sheldon Alberts and James Gordon
CanWest News Service


Friday, April 15, 2005



CREDIT: Associated Press
President George W. Bush wants to maintain the flow of tourist traffic across the U.S.-Canada border.






WASHINGTON AND OTTAWA - George W. Bush said yesterday he has ordered a review of his administration's plans to require all Canadians to present passports when entering the United States.

Citing concerns that the new policy would curtail legitimate tourism and business, the U.S. President has asked Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, to look for ways to ease the proposed requirements.

"If people have to have a passport, it's going to disrupt the honest flow of traffic," Mr. Bush said in remarks to the American Society of Newspaper Editors. "I think there's some flexibility in the law, and that's what we're checking out right now."

Mr. Bush said he had instructed Ms. Rice to look into the possibility of using "finger imaging to serve as the passport for so-called daily traffic."

His comments come just a week after officials from the departments of State and Homeland Security unveiled new travel rules that will affect Canadians by the end of 2006.

The changes would end decades of special status for Canadians, who had been allowed into the U.S. with only a birth certificate or driver's licence as identification. Under the U.S. proposal, they would now need a passport or a new biometrical travel identification card.

The U.S. is making the same requirement of Americans re-entering the country from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. But Mr. Bush signalled he was unaware of the proposal until learning of it through the media.

"When I first read that in the newspaper, about the need to have passports, particularly for the day crossings that take place -- about a million, for example, in the state of Texas -- I said 'What's going on here?' " Mr. Bush said.

"I thought there was a better way to expedite the legal flow of traffic and people. Evidently this has been mandated in law."

In fact, the proposed rule changes were included in an anti-terrorism bill Mr. Bush signed last December. Most of the publicity about the bill centred on the creation of a new national intelligence czar to oversee the CIA, FBI and other U.S. agencies.

The passport requirement had been added, with little fanfare, in response to a recommendation from members of an independent commission that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001 terror investigation.

Mr. Bush's remarks seem to put him at odds with Ms. Rice, who last week called the changes "a necessary set of requirements." Critics of the proposed passport requirement were delighted by Mr. Bush's surprise statement.

"This is a dramatic change ... At least he recognizes the problem," said John Lafalce, a former New York congressman, who fears mandatory passports will discourage tourism and harm border communities.

"It sounds to me that, because he is a former governor of a border state, he understands better than the members of the 9/11 commission understood."

Mr. Lafalce said he was "not surprised in the slightest" that Mr. Bush was unaware of the new rules because Congress typically adds amendments into major legislation without notice. "There were probably only a handful of individuals who were aware of it and who were discussing it," he said.

you know !! Bush is a good man some times :)