[bossdog]

I travel back and forth about a dozen times a year. I had a problem driving to the US because my passport was in for renewal which means they also had my birth certificate. They let me go through becuase I had the receipt from passport Canada that said they had all my documents. From what I understand, if you travel by air, a passport is required. By road, it's a nice to have but a birth certificate should do. You're going to ned one eventually, I would use the expediated service and get it within 24 hours.

[Zoraja]

Yo udont need a passport, Drivers liscence and birth certificate, most of the time they dont ask me for any id.

[MissT]

If you're going by air, I'd get a passport.

[Bodah]

just get the passport to alleviate your worries, 87 bucks good for 5 years.

[BartSimpson]

IceOwl IceOwl:

I'm planning on going to San Francisco by air for Memorial Day weekend, and I'm getting really frustrated with the answers I'm getting regarding whether or not you actually need to have a passport to cross the Canada-US border and back. Both Canadian and American customs websites say "No, you don't need a passport if you're Canadian/American and have a birth certificate.", but I've been told by one person that they were dragged down to a security office and told they better have a passport next time when they were doing some cross-border travelling.

What's the deal? Do I need a passport or not for air travel? I'd like to hear from anyone that's gone south any time over the past six months, but any advice will help.

Passports aren't needed yet -but they're a good idea as our Border Patrol has turned into Nazis everywhere except where we want them to on the Mexican border.

Go figure.

Canadians get screwed with endlessly while the illegal Mexicans prance about in the public streets here.

Were it not for that I'm in Victoria for May 26 - June 5th I'd be happy to meet up with you, IceOwl, and show you the town in SF.

[Zoraja]

Just grow some boobs they wont care lol

[usababe]

a passport is preferred but you don't have to have one if you are a US or Canadian citizen. If you don't have one, you can use a certified copy of your birth certificate and your drivers license.....oh unless you are coming from another country between your visit (like you are going from canada to greenland then to the us, then you need a passport).

[Regina]

Here's how serious the passport situation is now. For the last year I've been using my expired passport to travel into the US. In the last month I've travel to Augusta and Tampa Bay by air and used it without even a comment. They swipe it as if it were swiping any other. I have my birth certificate and licence as well just in case, because that's all they require now, but they haven't asked for them.
My wife's passport, she's British, is good for ten years. So why not ours?

[Tman1]

I'm curious, does the European Union have requirements that have travellers have passports between their borders?

[Regina]

Not sure. When I entered France no. Going back to Britain yes and when entering Italy yes.......although they did only take it to stamp and return it promptly.

[danikyvor]

It's interesting because as a Canadian living in Scotland, when I went to Ireland, I didn't have to show my passport, which was strange, they just let me straight on through. It varies from country to country I think, but it's a great idea to have the passport on you at all times when travelling, even to the States.

When I went to Washington State from Victoria BC, I had to show my passport when we arrived at Port Angeles. The same with Florida, I had to show my passport in Texas, and again in Fort Lauderdale. So I think it just depends on a) the person you're dealing with at the time and b) the time of year.

[Tman1]

Well, I don't have a passport and I'm not going to spend 50 or so bucks on one just to spend a day across the border. Not to racial profile but who are the Americans really looking for?

[danikyvor]

People like you Tman