Going into Canada

[gdsterrett]

Later this summer we are planning on going into Canada for about a week. Does anybody know for sure if you positively have to have a passport to get across and back in?

[Jim_Shoe]

Gadget,
What I will do is continue to answer honestly, and 'yes' or 'no' would not have been honest. I didn't remember, and I still don't. I joined the Navy in 1964 and crossed the border in 2004. If I was fingerprinted when I joined the Navy, it didn't leave an indelible mark on my memory 40 years later. Getting discharged in 1971 did. 🙂

[Gadget_Guy1]

Jim Shoe wrote:
I drove to Alaska thru Canada in 2004, crossing at Sweetgrass, MT. both directions. Entering Alaska, leaving Alaska and entering the US at Sweetgrass, I just showed my passport and was waved on thru. Entering Canada at Sweetgrass, I was grilled. My purpose, my destination, and the usual about guns and meat. Then he asked if I'd ever been fingerprinted. Never for something criminal, but I told him "Maybe when I joined the Navy and got my ID card, but I can't remember". He let me pass, but I still don't know the answer to that question. Just seemed like a strange question. Maybe I looked like a criminal. 🙂

No, you don't have to look like a criminal. If you have ever been fingerprinted for what ever reason other than criminal, it shows up on their computer. I was fingerprinted only once for a job back in 1970, before the border services used computers, but it shows up on their screen now. How do I know, well I had totally forgot about it and one time a US border agent (about 8 years ago) asked me if I had ever been fingerprinted and I answered no, and this was after we had crossed into and back into Canada many, many times, well about 3 hours later they finally were satisfied and let us cross. Has not been a problem since but if ever asked I will answer YES. It goes to show they spent a lot of time and money to enter all the old data into their computer systems.

[wilber1]

I doubt either country could legally deny entry to one of its own citizens. On the other hand, they could make it very inconvenient and somehow you would need proof you are a citizen.

[DERSEQUIM]

Here's the other side of my story! Due to my Air Force Service in Intelligence, I had Travel Restrictions relative to my Security Clearance for 10 years after I left in 63". I could not travel over 50 Miles into Either Canada or Mexico! Now it would of made more sense to not be allowed to leave the Country Period!
In 1972 the Family made a trip to Canada and we planned a Loop trip from Vancouver and back via Hope, Chillwack, Kamloops Etc. Well over 50 miles into CA. I really hadn't thought about the restriction in years.

We get to the Border and the CA Agent inquires as to our destinations and I replied with a brief Itinary. He looks at me after punching his Computer for a brief time and replies, "That's a bit farther than 50 miles from the Border!" I was stunnded! He then asked where we were headed that Night I replied, "North Vancouver!" He responded," Enjoy your Vacation, SIR!"

[JoeChiOhki]

garyhaupt wrote:
Just an additional FYI....if ANY of your party have ever been found guilty of a criminal offense, they will be denied. That means a DUI, or possessiion of a joint, even 20+ years ago. Understand...not asking you, just sayin that this is the case. Goes both ways too...people entering the US have the same standards applied.


Gary Haupt

Between having a mistake on my record from the past and ready reminder that my family has a curse when it comes to luck when Dawn got detained on the return from the Canadian side of Soo St. Marie last fall (She almost didn't get back because I stayed state side and she bought Mars bars and a Doctor Who blanket while she visited, she didn't even drive, just rode the bus from the university over and back again), I've given up traveling outside the continental US, it just isn't worth the expense and legal risk.

[Jim_Shoe]

Myself and three college buddies did an "around the US tour" one summer in a car. One of us knew a couple of guys in San Diego. We, of course, asked about Tijuana. They told us a horror story about returning to the US thru customs. Four guys in a car were on the way back and the border guards ask if you're a US citizen and they want to hear everybody answer. No passport required back then. One of the guys answered "Si, Senor". He was obviously a WASP, but they pulled the car over to an inspection area, and proceeded to take everything apart that wasn't welded. Then said, "OK. You guys can go." But the car was left in pieces. It took the four of them plus some other buddies with tools two days to put it back together.
The moral: Don't make jokes with the border patrol. They take their job seriously.

[Little_Kopit]

Ye know, there is a section called RVing in Canada and Alaska. You can get there via the Jump To Forum frame at the top right of any page.

& on it's main page is a sticky giving you links to lots of things to check out before you go to get into Canada.

This is the url with link; http://forums.woodalls.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23961340.cfm

You will find that the specific places are almost all, if not all with an address with "gc.ca." & that tells you that the webpages are Canadian Government written pages,

IMHO what the government says is what to follow, not what some alternate soul or other organization has written.

Things can change in a second, think Sept 11, 2001. Rarely, but rarely will the questions asked change in a minute, as they did that day.

🙂

[CT_WANDERER]

The first year we had our MH, we were at Big Bend in TX. I found out just before we departed from home that our Passport had expired. So that left us out from going to Mexico. While at Big Bend I asked one of the BP guys about going to Mexico, explaining my passport issue. He told me, "being a US citizen, we would not keep you out of the US, however, it could take a little longer to get back." Did we go to Mexico on that trip? No way! But we had our passport renewed since then and have been to Mexico. In the long run, get you proper papers that you need to travel. Happy traveling. Gary

[jdog]

You won't be going to Canada this summer because it takes too long to get a passport. Going into Canada and back takes early planning now adays. That's what has to be done because of the bombings by foreigners.

[tinner12002]

Yes you will need one to get back into states. They also have a visitation card you can get that's not as expensive as a passport, check with your local post office.
Make sure you don't take any guns either, Canada frowns on them also. Just went there on bikes over the 4th...they asked my buddy if he owned any guns...not if he had any but if he owned any. Needless to say when he said yes about 300 of them he had the pleasure of getting searched. They weren't very friendly either!

[Jim_Shoe]

I drove to Alaska thru Canada in 2004, crossing at Sweetgrass, MT. both directions. Entering Alaska, leaving Alaska and entering the US at Sweetgrass, I just showed my passport and was waved on thru. Entering Canada at Sweetgrass, I was grilled. My purpose, my destination, and the usual about guns and meat. Then he asked if I'd ever been fingerprinted. Never for something criminal, but I told him "Maybe when I joined the Navy and got my ID card, but I can't remember". He let me pass, but I still don't know the answer to that question. Just seemed like a strange question. Maybe I looked like a criminal. 🙂

[DERSEQUIM]

During the 70-80'S we crossed both ways with a, "Have a nice trip"! Never had my Trailer Searched ETC!
Then in the mid 90's on Canada Day we tried crossing at Sumas Wa, Traffic was backed Clear back on the Main Hwy! It took over 2 Hours to get to the Doghouse! I politely inquired about the Back-up, wasn't aware then about their Holiday!
The Female Agent snapped back, "I'll ask the Questions and told me to pull over for an Inspection!" THEY tore our Trailer Apart and Left it that way, WERE RUDE and every time since, twice, They have done a complete search!
We stopped going there with the RV after 2002, when we were going there on Business to the Vancouver Apparel Market, and the Agent GRILLED us about WHY we brought our Trailer on a BUSINESS TRIP! Then the Search was outrageous!
We have the Enhanced WA Driver's License just in case! We have property in both WA and AZ!
I must admit that while driving the Truck without the Trailer we have been able to go back and forth without any trouble!

[garyhaupt]

Just an additional FYI....if ANY of your party have ever been found guilty of a criminal offense, they will be denied. That means a DUI, or possessiion of a joint, even 20+ years ago. Understand...not asking you, just sayin that this is the case. Goes both ways too...people entering the US have the same standards applied.


Gary Haupt

[dieharder]

Do you HAVE to have a passport to get back? In reality, no. But it'll sure make your life a hell of a lot easier. I know of some that have returned home without passports and I, personally, have never heard of a US citizen and resident being told they can't go home because they do not have one.

Realistically, they're not going to stop you from going home. However, they will need to verify you up and down to make sure you are who you say you are before they'll let you through. They'll do whatever they feel they need to do - can be a quick, easy process or can be a hard, lengthy one... all depending on who you get. The decision is ultimately theirs. It all depends on whether you're comfortable with that.

The smartest thing to do is to make sure you have the required documentation, like a passport or enhanced driver's license (for all parties). To not have it is to open yourself to the risk of having problems.

Keep in mind... if you are here in Canada and have an emergency (medical or otherwise) that requires you to go home RIGHT NOW, airlines will not let you on without one of the required documents.