A friend of mine is visiting. I want to take her to the Canadian side to view The Falls. She didn't bring her passport. If we walk over the bridge can she cross with just a drivers licence? Thanks
Border crossing question.
- Thread starter JEFF247
- Start date
She can get into Canada with just a drivers' licence but needs a passport to get back into the US. So, if the visit is working out, stay in the States. But if she winds up being an annoying guest, take her to Canada and leave her there, lol.
Wrong, Americans require a passport (or equivalent travel document) to enter Canada.
Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada must carry both proof of citizenship and identity.[1] A valid U.S. passport[1] or passport card[1] is preferred, although a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, citizenship certificate, or another document proving US nationality together with a government issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) is acceptable to establish identity and nationality[3].
as said previous, friend will need a passport to get back into US
For what it is worth, Nik Wallensa showed his passport. Otherwise, he would have had to do a return trip on the wire. Hee, hee, hee. Can you imagine doing a roundtrip on the wire?
OK Thanks everyone. For some reason I recall that walking over had the least requirements. It may have been before 9-11 and the passport thing.
From the easily googled Canadian Border Services Agency website:
2.5 Documents required by citizens and permanent residents of the United States, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and Greenland
U.S. citizens
U.S. citizens must produce sufficient documentation to establish their identity and citizenship.
The U.S. passport is proof of U.S. citizenship for the purpose of travel to Canada [see Appendix I, item 8. (a to c)].
The U.S. passport card is proof of U.S. citizenship for the purpose of travel to Canada, however it is limited for travel by land and marine only. The card is not valid for travel by air (see Appendix I, Item 8. (d)).
U.S. citizens must have a valid passport or other appropriate secure document to enter the U.S. Therefore, U.S. citizens should bring these documents with them to Canada in order to satisfy document requirements for their return into the U.S.
The Enhanced Drivers License (EDL) and Enhanced Identification Card (EIC) (non-drivers) are alternative travel documents denoting the holder's identity and citizenship for border-crossing purposes solely at U.S. land and marine ports of entry.
Citizens of the United States presenting other documents may not be able to satisfy a border services officer that they are exempt from the entry document requirements.
One might read the underlined section this way: Canada doesn't insist on a passport, but we might get stuck with you on our side if you don't have one to show your own people, and they won't let you back in. So we put this note here as a Word to The Wise. And if we ask for your passport and you don't have it, we might have additional Words for the Unwise.
2.5 Documents required by citizens and permanent residents of the United States, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and Greenland
U.S. citizens
U.S. citizens must produce sufficient documentation to establish their identity and citizenship.
The U.S. passport is proof of U.S. citizenship for the purpose of travel to Canada [see Appendix I, item 8. (a to c)].
The U.S. passport card is proof of U.S. citizenship for the purpose of travel to Canada, however it is limited for travel by land and marine only. The card is not valid for travel by air (see Appendix I, Item 8. (d)).
U.S. citizens must have a valid passport or other appropriate secure document to enter the U.S. Therefore, U.S. citizens should bring these documents with them to Canada in order to satisfy document requirements for their return into the U.S.
The Enhanced Drivers License (EDL) and Enhanced Identification Card (EIC) (non-drivers) are alternative travel documents denoting the holder's identity and citizenship for border-crossing purposes solely at U.S. land and marine ports of entry.
Citizens of the United States presenting other documents may not be able to satisfy a border services officer that they are exempt from the entry document requirements.
One might read the underlined section this way: Canada doesn't insist on a passport, but we might get stuck with you on our side if you don't have one to show your own people, and they won't let you back in. So we put this note here as a Word to The Wise. And if we ask for your passport and you don't have it, we might have additional Words for the Unwise.
Last edited:
The whole border crossing thing has gotten out of hand over the past few years. Use to be to travel in to the US a drivers licence was fine, sometimes they wouldn't ask for and ID at all! Millions of dollars wasted on both sides of the border trying to inforce an imaninary 3,000 mile line.
Would make a lot more sense to put these resources in to securing who is coming in / out of the continent and local policing, instead of worrying about citizenship of someone who wants to cross the bridge in Niagra Falls for an hour or two.
Would make a lot more sense to put these resources in to securing who is coming in / out of the continent and local policing, instead of worrying about citizenship of someone who wants to cross the bridge in Niagra Falls for an hour or two.
Quite right, but try to get the guys in Washington to allow us to have an opinion about what those continent-wide rules and enforcement procedures should be. US Bill of Rights and Patriot Act or our Charter and … ?
It's the price of being our own country (and it's the same price both sides of the border). Europe only managed to do away with that passport crap after two World Wars convinced the Germans and everyone else that no one country gets to have it all their way. Over here we're still waiting for that message to penetrate.
And what about Mexico? Easier for our governemnts to demand—and us folks to carry—passports. They've been The Usual Thing at borders since the Renaissance; shouldn't surprise anyone.
It sounds like your friend is a U.S. National in which case to reenter the U.S.A. she would need to have one of the following:
U.S. Passport
U.S. Passport Card
An Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) – only New York, Vermont, Michigan and Washington State are currently issuing them
A Trusted Traveler Program Card: NEXUS, FAST, Global Entry, or SENTRI
http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/eng_map.html
U.S. Passport
U.S. Passport Card
An Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) – only New York, Vermont, Michigan and Washington State are currently issuing them
A Trusted Traveler Program Card: NEXUS, FAST, Global Entry, or SENTRI
http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/eng_map.html
You are quite right Oldjones. I just shake my head at the colossal waste of resources squandered on inspecting low-risk passengers, tourists, business travellers etc.
As for Mexico, I really think they would need to get there house in order... It seems like a case of the inmates running the aslyum.
As for Mexico, I really think they would need to get there house in order... It seems like a case of the inmates running the aslyum.
It would indeed make greater sense Coors, the problem is that Canada and the U.S. cannot agree on the security background checks that should be made before someone is allowed to become a Permanent Resident and whether the consequences of “hmm I can’t quite put my finger on it” should be denial of Visa or not.
Years ago I got fed-up enough with the process that I obtained a NEXUS card.
