US to demand passports of Canadian travelers

[Gesslar]

Just as we see the EU becoming an open region to all of its member countries, the US has closed one door between its most immediate neighbour.

This just makes me sad.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_2796244.htm

[Aristotle]

What would you suggest as an alternative?

I don't see how checking passports is a bad idea or even an onerous idea.

I am generally an open borders kind of person, politically. I don't see any reason for us to prevent anyone from working here who wants to work. If they "take jobs" from other people, that usually means the complainers either didn't want the job or didn't want to work hard enough at it.

But as far as presenting identification when crossing a national border, that is something I do not see the harm in.

Perhaps I am missing something though, and would appreciate elucidation.

[Blog]

I thought they were only considering it. You have to show ID + Birth certificate anyway, which are the two documents required to get a passport, so I don't think its a big deal. Its just the passport office is supposedly slow and it costs more. You should be able to get a passport at the DMV.

People actually go to Canada? Are they crazy?

Edit:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/news/040605_nw_passport.html

that link says:

The Homeland Security Department wants Americans traveling to Canada and Mexico to show a passport when they return to the US.

Nothing about Canadians having one. Its only smart for Canada to require US passports to enter if the US does this, or else Americans would get stuck in Canada and be forced to live there, I don't think anyone wants that.

[Gesslar]

I guess I just see it as a change in trust level. The most who will be affected will be border habitants. Those who live right on the border who jaunt across maybe to fill up on gas, or go to dinner, or whatever. My mother, for example, often dips across the border to visit my sister who for reasons such as waiting for her citizenship cannot come to Canada, does not have a passport. In the 60 years she's been going back and forth for largely trivial if convenient reasons the most she's had to shown was her driver's license and/or birth certificate to prove her citizenship. She's not what one might consider to be an international traveler, to her it's just crossing a bridge to go to the next city over.

And by alternative do you mean aside from what's already in place? Identity is already shown when going back and forth, just the level of idenfication, I guess is at issue. A driver's license shows exactly what a passport shows except what other places they've been to.

I think that the most effected will be these daily travelers, or weekenders.

I wasn't really even going to go into working in the US.

[Gesslar]

Originally posted by Blog
or else Americans would get stuck in Canada and be forced to live there, I don't think anyone wants that.

No argument here.

[Jozep]

Clearly, the main issue behind this is the perception that terrorists can get into Canada easier than into the US, and will then try to take advantage of the easier crossing most Canadians have become accustomed to.

I don't think it's a big issue, to me, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about (<--- am I naive here? Maybe)

Getting a passport is a drag, for sure, as is anything that requires penetrating civil service bureaucracy. But, it's not that big a deal, really.

I guess I just better get my passport before my next trip to Vegas, baby!

[Gesslar]

And do you think it'll be a quicker or slower process to get a passport if all these people who want to continue as they have start applying?

Also, will people even bother or simply not get a passport and make do without crossing the border?

[Luminus]

Living at the juncture of one of the highest traffic border crossings between the US and Canada, (Windsor Ontario/Detroit Michigan), I think that the difference between handing a passport to a customs guard, and handing over your birth certificate and photo ID is fairly trivial. The only hassle will be making sure that you keep your passport on you if you're hopping across.

Like Karahd mentioned, most of the border crossings among the people I know tend to be for short social visits, or shopping trips. It's an inconvenience, since most of these people don't have passports, and passports are a lot bulkier to carry than 2 cards that fit in a wallet, but I'm not sure it's such a major inconvenience for most real travellers. The people it will affect will be the people like me, Falix, or Karahd's mom who aren't "travelling"

In my case, I'd probably just skip the passport and stay home.

[Isaviel]

"Requirements announced Tuesday by the State Department prompted mixed reactions from Americans who will need passports by 2008 to re-enter the USA from Canada, Mexico, Panama, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The government says the move is part of an effort to tighten border security since the 9/11 terrorist attacks"


It's ABOUT TIME! If you ask me. It's like DUH! How long does it take to realize this needed to be done after 911? But do note it's also for Panama, Bermuda and the Caribbean


Article from USA TODAY Canada, Mexico soon will seem farther away

[kestra]

The government says the move is part of an effort to tighten border security since the 9/11 terrorist attacks"

Ahh, the buzz phrase of the 21st century!!

As America slips deeper and deeper into paranoia, this check system is to be expected. However, I don't see how this announcement is anything new, as I've been bringing and showing my passport at the boarder for many years now.