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Will I need a birth certificate to get into Canada?

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Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 06:00 PM
Original message
Will I need a birth certificate to get into Canada?
I am going to Detroit over the weekend. I am planning on crossing the border to get some good Canadian beer. Will I need a birth certificate or will my drivers license be good enough? Do they even bother checking? Last time I went I just answered some questions. Have things changed?
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Mutley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 06:00 PM
Response to Original message
1. You have to have a passport now.
Edited on Thu Jun-22-06 06:02 PM by mutley_r_us
Wait. That doesn't start 'til the end of the year: http://www.whistler.com/gethere/info/passport-requirements.html
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sbj405 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 06:05 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. For land crossings - end of 2007
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/regional/regional_1170.html

The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases. The proposed implementation timeline is as follows:

*
December 31, 2006 – Passport required for all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
* December 31, 2007 – Passport required for all land border crossings, as well as air and sea travel.
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Mutley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 06:07 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Good to know.
I still have time to get a passport. I better get crackin' though. :D
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Blue-Jay Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 11:36 PM
Response to Reply #4
12. No hurry. Passports only take 4-6 weeks.
You can get a pic at Walgreen's (or similar) for a few bucks, and get the rest from your post office. They cost about 80-90 bucks.
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WoodyTobiasJr Donating Member (528 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 06:03 PM
Response to Original message
2. They are checking a lot more now..
You should bring your DL and a birth certificate just to be on the safe side. If you do have a passport, even better
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Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 06:22 PM
Response to Original message
5. Geez, I can't find my birth certificate!
I am leaving tommorow morning and I have no clue where I put it. I know I didn't throw it away but I am not a real organized person. Should I try to cross anyways?
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Dangerously Amused Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 06:29 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Last time I crossed two years ago



...they just wanted a driver's license or state ID card. Two years before that, they just asked some questions. I think you'll be good to go with a DL or ID.
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Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 06:50 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. I crossed two years ago- I got searched!
My parents live up near Buffalo and I was visiting for Thanksgiving. I arrived early so I decided to look at the falls. The Canadian side is so much better. The border dude asked me all kinds of questions, asked me if I owned any guns. I wanted to be honest and said yes I did but they were at home in Tennessee. I have a real hard time lying, it shows on me so bad I don't even try anymore. They had me pull over and my vehicle was searched from top to bottom.
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HarukaTheTrophyWife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-23-06 03:49 AM
Response to Reply #5
16. You should be fine.
I just had my license and it was only a few months ago. They'll let you in without a birth certificate.
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kiraboo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 07:40 PM
Response to Original message
8. Regular border-crosser here.
They really like to see a passport, in my experience over the last year. But I think right now all that's legally required is your DL and maybe one other form of ID, just to be safe.

A few weeks ago my kids went up with their father. He was told that, in the future, a letter signed by me would be required for him to bring the kids across the border. It's a different issue, but they're getting very strict.
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pitohui Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 09:46 PM
Response to Original message
9. a passport
Edited on Thu Jun-22-06 10:24 PM by pitohui
you really need a passport, i can't imagine going into canada w. a birth certificate, you could have printed that up on your home computer and in any case there's no photo

seriously i used to travel to canada w.out giving identification either but those days are over

(and i mean literally with no ID, i wouldn't dream of wasting anyone's time w. a birth certificate which is proof of nothing)

i've had friends meet SERIOUS hassle in recent years returning from windsor, i mean as in having their car broken down by the DEA looking for drugs type serious (there were no drugs but who wants to spend the next two days rebuilding their car?)
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saigon68 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-23-06 04:22 AM
Response to Reply #9
17. A bunch of below normal knuckle draggers bored with their jobs
But needing to show their superiors a little esprit de corps.( A strong sense of enthusiasm and dedication to a common goal that unites a group)
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HarukaTheTrophyWife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 09:49 PM
Response to Original message
10. I just bought my Driver's License.
A couple people in the car brought passports. None of us were hassled. Next year you need to have a passport though.

I went on a road trip to Montreal with some friends over New Years. No questions asked going into Canada, barely even checked our IDs. Coming back, they checked our IDs and asked if we were students. We told him we went up there to study drinking. He asked what we what we bought. We told him beer, liquor and a few cartons of cigarettes. Customs just told us to have fun and waved us on.
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yvr girl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 11:22 PM
Response to Original message
11. Your DL and Birth Certificate would be good
Passport is better. You shouldn't have a problem getting into Canada...it's getting back into the States that is trickier.
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pitohui Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-22-06 11:37 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. aint that the truth
Edited on Thu Jun-22-06 11:37 PM by pitohui
you said -- it's getting back into the States that is trickier.
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auntAgonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-23-06 12:44 AM
Response to Original message
14. Going to Canada is usually no problem
My husband and I cross frequently. I'm Cdn and he is a USA citizen. They never ask for ID going into Canada. Coming back, they want everything. Photo ID, Birth Certificate and DL if you have one (for him) Me, I have to produce my permanent resident ID, it has my photo on it.

U.S. is a lot more demanding than they used to be.

aA
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Idylle Moon Dancer Donating Member (421 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-23-06 03:31 AM
Response to Original message
15. I crossed a year ago
going in, they asked for drivers' license.
coming back they asked for drivers' license and birth certificate.
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pokerfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-23-06 05:44 AM
Response to Original message
18. Windsor: Ontario's Sin City
Cuban cigars: legal
Strip clubs: legal
Gambling: legal
Prostitution: legal
Grass: decriminalized

and they also have a killer art museum....
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noonwitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-23-06 07:59 AM
Response to Original message
19. I've heard that it will take longer if you don't have a bc or passport
they want something that identifies your birthplace/citizenship.

And I also heard that it is not required to go to Canada, but by US Customs upon re-entry.

I haven't been to Canada in a while, even though I live in Detroit. I don't have a copy of my BC, I need to get one.
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