Today is the first day of the new U.S. border restrictions, so driving to the USA or taking a cruise into the USA just became harder to do. As of 31 January 2008, citizens of Canada and the USA over the age of 18 years, in order to cross from Canada into the United States by land or sea, will need one of the following pieces of identification:
* Canadian or US Passport
* Trusted Traveler Cards (such as NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
* Enhanced Driver’s License (showing citizenship)
* Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Card
* US Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
* US Merchant Mariner Document
* Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
* Form I-872 American Indian Card.
Failure to provide one of these items will result in either outright denial of entry, or a long wait to establish identity. The item used must show both identity and citizenship.
However, the rules still allow for both Canadian and US citisens to use a combination of ID cards when they cannot produce one of the above items. To prove identity a common driving license or military ID card will be accepted. To prove citizenship, US border guards will accept birth certificates and citizenship cards.
People flying across the border already need a passport.
Dangers of not having a visa
at 2:15 AM
Nearly every country on earth issues visas for entry, but Canadians generally do not notice this as the requirements are often waived for people from rich western countries. But the visa requirements are still there, and violating them can result in paying a heavy price.
In May 2007 Canadian businessman Saul Itzhayek was arrested and charged with "violating India's sovereignty" when he entered from Nepal at the request of the local police to clear up a matter on behalf of his driver. He remains in prison, serving a three year sentence. Mr. Itzhayek claims the police offered him safe passage as he did not have a visa, but then arrested him and demanded a bribe of half a million rupees ($12 000).
The lesson here is to always, and I say again, ALWAYS have your visa in hand when you travel. For many countries the visa must be acquired before travel, and for some you can buy the visa at the international airport. Even if you can buy the visa at the airport, I recommend you secure a visa in Canada before travel. Why stand in line to buy a visa when you could just go straight through border control with a visa already in your passport?
My advice here is to avoid Saul's problem. Never try to enter a visa country without the proper document, even if it seems okay, or someone assures you it will be fine. Can you come up with the necessary bribe out of your pocket? Is it worth spending years in a foreign prison? Get the visa, and travel safely.
In May 2007 Canadian businessman Saul Itzhayek was arrested and charged with "violating India's sovereignty" when he entered from Nepal at the request of the local police to clear up a matter on behalf of his driver. He remains in prison, serving a three year sentence. Mr. Itzhayek claims the police offered him safe passage as he did not have a visa, but then arrested him and demanded a bribe of half a million rupees ($12 000).
The lesson here is to always, and I say again, ALWAYS have your visa in hand when you travel. For many countries the visa must be acquired before travel, and for some you can buy the visa at the international airport. Even if you can buy the visa at the airport, I recommend you secure a visa in Canada before travel. Why stand in line to buy a visa when you could just go straight through border control with a visa already in your passport?
My advice here is to avoid Saul's problem. Never try to enter a visa country without the proper document, even if it seems okay, or someone assures you it will be fine. Can you come up with the necessary bribe out of your pocket? Is it worth spending years in a foreign prison? Get the visa, and travel safely.
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