How do we finally answer that question about what papers you need to cross the Canada/US border?

Question

There are so many questions all asking just about the same thing!

Answer 1

You could go to the State Department's website for the latest info on travel requirements.

Answer 2

I think after July next year, you need a passport.  For now you need a photo ID/drivers license.  That's the requirement for Americans going into Canada, I'm not sure if it's the same for Canadians going in the USA.

It should be the same.  Our immigration terms should be equal.  Does the USA for some reason not trust that Canada is just as concerned about its immigration security as the US?  

They would just because if Canada were lax on immigration, the US would just make it tougher for ordinary Canadians to crossborder shop.

Answer 3

Raised seal State issed Birth Certificate or a Passport. Anything else is asking for real problems....It is not leaving the US, it is for the return into the USA

Answer 4

I know..lol..I live on the border (Windsor/Detroit), cross it all the time, and answer this question constantly...an easy 2 pts. It is amazing the misinformation that is out there.

As I'm sure we all know by now, to cross by LAND, you need two forms of documentation:  your original birth certificate (not a photocopy) and government-issued photo ID, such as your driver's licence.  Not one or the other, but both.

The passport issue for land travel (as you already need one for air travel) is still up in the air (no pun intended!) and will not be implented till at least June, 2009.  They are still looking at possibly using a form of enhanced driver's licence as an alternative, but I suppose a passport is always a good idea anyway.

Answer 5

If you are going by ground you only need i.d. such as birth certificate or drivers license. If you go by air you must have

a passport. That is Canadians going into the U.S. The government changed it because so many people cross the border each way every day. Some people live in one country and work in the other one. They had to change the ground

transport rules because neither country could process the necessary passport requests in the time allotted. Interesting enough over 75 % of Canadians have passports while

only about 35% of U.S. citizens have passports. I guess

Canadians like to travel more.