crossing border at niagara

websites suggest birth certs. along with ID, can I bring copys, would prefer
not to travel with originals

Petebert,

Generally, one is able to obtain multiple originals of your birth
certificate. In Indiana, you so much for each copy of the original, but
all copies are originals. So, if you are worried about losing your
birth certificate, I would say that it is possible to take one or two
with you and leave a couple at home. That is, depending upon where you
were born. I believe that what I am suggesting is allowed in all states
within the United States, but not sure how it works in other countries.

The biggest problem for Americans will probably be figuring out what
governmental entity is responsible for safeguarding and distributing
birth certificates. In Indiana, it is the Health Department in each
county. Not sure about other states, but making a few phone calls
should tell you where to go and how to get a copy of the birth
certificate. Generally, you can also send a close relative to pick up
and pay for the birth certificates. That is something that you should
ask the clerk on the phone when inquiring about requirements for
obtaining birth certificates.

To be sure, I would ALSO make a copy of a birth certificate to take with
you on your travels, just in case you lose the original. A copy is not
allowed, but may be used to argue your way in or out, if you lost the
original.

As an aside, US Customs did not like the paper, credit card sized birth
certificate (in French) for my wife. The Quebec birth certificate looks
nothing the those in the US and is in French, a language that has not
made it into the US Customs Service on a wife-spread basis. To make
matters worse, my wife also holds dual citizenship between Canada and
the United States, a fact that gets her into trouble with customs every
time we try to cross the border by car. We are always allowed to
proceed, but only after some delay.

My strongest suggest would be to bight the bullet and pay the money,
fill on the paperwork, get a passport photo at Walgreens, and get a
passport. Can solve a lot of problems now and will solve most border
crossing problems in the future.

Hope this helps and is not too much info!

Tony

H Lem wrote:
> On Mon, 15 Aug 2005 01:14:21 +0000, Petebert wrote:
>
>
>>websites suggest birth certs. along with ID, can I bring copys, would
>>prefer not to travel with originals
>
>
> No copies. Only the real thing. Canadians going to the US and Americans
> coming to Canada currently need their birth certificate/citizen card,
> along with a government issued photo ID. check the official government
> web sites for the straight goods.
>
> By the end of this year or end of next year, passports will be the only
> thing that will be accepted. (Part of USA's security tightening.)
>
> howard
> (Drop the UC char for the real address)

> > websites suggest birth certs. along with ID, can I bring copys, would
> > prefer not to travel with originals
>
> No copies. Only the real thing. Canadians going to the US and Americans
> coming to Canada currently need their birth certificate/citizen card,
> along with a government issued photo ID. check the official government
> web sites for the straight goods.
>
> By the end of this year or end of next year, passports will be the only
> thing that will be accepted. (Part of USA's security tightening.)

Earlier this year, the US State Department did say that:

Starting Dec 31, 2005, passports would be required for travel to/from
Bermuda, the Caribbean islands, and Central/South America.

Starting Dec 31, 2006, passports would be required for air & sea travel
to/from Canada and Mexico

Starting Dec 31, 2007, passport would be required at the land border
crossings.

But those dates seem to have disappeared from the State Department
website. It now just says that the new travel initiative will be
implemented by Jan 1, 2008.

Have they changed the dates of the phase-in? As a note, there hasn't
been any big advertising blitz telling Americans to go get a passport
if they plan on travelling to the Caribbean this winter.

Joe Feise wrote:
> sgallagher@rogers.com wrote on 08/15/05 04:56:
>
> >
> > But those dates seem to have disappeared from the State Department
> > website. It now just says that the new travel initiative will be
> > implemented by Jan 1, 2008.
> >
> > Have they changed the dates of the phase-in? As a note, there hasn't
> > been any big advertising blitz telling Americans to go get a passport
> > if they plan on travelling to the Caribbean this winter.
> >
>
>
> Well, the president has voiced opposition to these plans, so I think
> they may be back to discussing this internally.
>

Interesting. Opposition to the idea of requiring a passport, or to the
unusually fast timeline?