Passport Confusion?

Question

What do you think could be done to alleviate the confusion regarding entry requirements to Canada and the USA? Nothing has changed regarding entry to Canada-only the entry/re-entry to the USA. Is it the responsibility of the Canadian government to ensure American tourists understand the rules, to ensure the tourism industry here isn't affected? Or is it the responsibility of the American government who's rules are creating the confusion? Should there be more advertising? (on TV, brochures in areas known to frequently come to Canada etc) What could be done that isn't being done already, since we see so many of the same questions on Yahoo Answers?

Answer 1

I agree that the confusion is being created by the shifting US border policies. They have not done a very good job of informing their own citizens about the new requirements at the border.

Obvioulsy , Canada can only do so much to inform persons who are attempting to enter our country. I have  seen a fair number of ads  in Canada, about cross border ID requirements, but the level of knowledge in the USA is very low. What thery do know is either wrong or out of date.

Part of the pronblem lies with a  American mental attitude that seems to think that " Canada is not really a foreign country" so its just like driving from Ohio to Indiana, isn't it ?

I keep telling Americans to get a passport, now, but they are so resistant to that idea. Why ?  I have no idea..............

Of course If you look at their own State Department website, only about 22 percent of US citizens now have a passport, compared to about 66 percent of us in Canada.

Jim B. Toronto.

Answer 2

Interesting question ...

Personally, I think it is the responsibility of the traveller to inform themselves of any entry requirements when visiting a foreign country.  The problem is that many US citizens do not realize what constitutes a foreign country.  My husband used to work at a Cruise Ship Terminal -- would you like to know how many people booked a cruise and then were chocked and dismayed to find out that Bahamas was NOT part of the US (and they were not allowed to board the ship)?

That being said, wit the weak US dollar I suppose we need to do everything we can to lessen the affect on tourism.  I'd say commercials would reach the broadest market.  And I'm sad to say that a commercial featuring a sterotypical mountie in full garb, saying 'eh', is probably what will get the point across since people will actually listen to and talk about a funny commercial.  Sigh ... the stereotypes continue ...

Answer 3

I think it is the responsibility of the individual to become informed.  It certainly isn't the responsibility of the Canadian government to inform tourists of the rules of another country.  My advice to anyone who plans to leave their own country, whether the US, Canada, or another, is to make it your business to know the rules before you leave.  I don't think the tourism industry here will be affected by lack of knowledge.  It may be affected by the requirement to have a passport, but that is the way of the world - if you want to travel internationally you have to expect to need a passport.  

I think people who ask the questions here about crossing the border are at least trying to make sure they have the information before they leave home, which is a good thing, and of course most people don't seem to check to see if their question was asked previously before they post it.  And usually at least one poster will give them the link to the immigration site and/or to the border services agency, so that also is a good thing.  In many categories on Yahoo Answers the same questions are posted over and over again.

In terms of more advertising, I suspect that there would still be lots of people asking the questions, because it is very difficult to make sure that the people who need the information get it through the media, brochures, etc.  People often don't pay attention to information until they need it, and then they ask the questions.

Interesting question.