Are You Ready for the New Passport Requirements?
Sunday May 24, 2009
Well, the world's longest undefended border is getting a little tighter. Starting June 1, 2009, people travelling to Canada from the U.S. will need to show a passport or valid passport equivalent no matter if they drive, fly, take a train, boat or ride over on a unicycle. Some exceptions apply to children's passport requirements.
The new, stricter passport requirements have been a long time coming.
Passport requirements have been a complicated and everchanging issue for U.S. travellers to Canada for the past few years due to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which was introduced in 2004 by the U.S. government to strengthen U.S. border security and standardize travel documentation. Since its introduction, the WHTI has had some amendments and postponements, but it looks like the June 1, 2009 date will go ahead as planned.
Have you gotten your passport? Do you think the implementation of these new requirements will go smoothly?
Comments
I can honestly say that I’m not all that worried about the tighter policies behind our border. It might slow things down, but I think it’s a necessary step in the evolution of Canada. We’re not just some colony anymore that people can walk in and out. As technology progresses so will the speed of waiting times at the border. Whenever I know I have to travel through the states I just plan a good couple hours for things like this, if it takes only 20 minutes thats time you didn’t know you had.
This only applies to US & canadian citizens if you are from Mexico “Bienvenido a los Estados Unidos” no documentation needed the US Chamber of Commerce will provide you with someone else’s social and ID.