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Streator ,Illinois

What does a person need if any thing to get back into the states, birth certificate, drivers lic., a note from my mother, passport, marriage lic. ect. and the same goes to get into Canada, I personally am not worried but the wife cares, so I have to ask
Thanks for any help or comments
Gene

2/21/2006 11:38:17 AM

Newcastle England

dont know about getting into the usa.but a turbin and 20 kids will get you into the uk no bother.its open house at the moment.

2/21/2006 12:20:35 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Gene:
Been over the border many times at Sarnia & various small ferry crossings. I've never needed anything more than a picture ID, but since 911 I also bring a birth certificate just in case. If you are bringing minors, definitely bring birth certificates for them...
Frank

2/21/2006 12:33:27 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

You will need either a passport, or drivers license and birth certificate to enter Canada (if travelling with children, they need birth cert. too).

Returning is the same thing, just cause you say you are American citizens, they (US border cops) will not trust nor believe you unless you have identification.

2/21/2006 12:36:18 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

By the way, the customs agent questioning is more detailed coming back into the US than getting into Canada, even for US citizens...

2/21/2006 12:39:30 PM

Massillon, Ohio

if you are 16 dont have a passport from when you were 10. LOL. sorry had to for tom ie "hey you".

2/21/2006 12:58:10 PM

Ray, North Dakota

Leave the explosives and sharp objects at home....

We cross the border in ND all the time. No need for passport, just a picture I.D.

2/21/2006 2:44:14 PM

Greencastle, PA

it wasn't expired. I do need to get a new one now though, but my social security card hasn't come in the mail yet.
Tom

2/21/2006 3:12:13 PM

Massillon, Ohio

i know it wasnt expired but it still was funny. makes for good memories lol.

2/21/2006 3:14:02 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I have a question. Believe it or not, I'm going to Niagra in
the next month, but NOT for the grower's convention. (Sad, I
know...) Anyway, traveling with a wife and 5 kids (!), what is
the best way to cross? That is, I see various bridges from
the Buffalo area to the Canada side. Which is the best to take?

2/21/2006 3:33:49 PM

[email protected]

A driver's lisence & some New York style attitude problem humor has always worked for me. While I've never needed it, I bring a current passport just in case.

2/21/2006 4:28:27 PM

Coolville, OH

We took a bus load of 55 kids and 10 adults from Ohio into Canada last summer for a 4-H dairy trip. This was totally unexpected. Our bus driver wanted to show us some extra sites and wouldn't charge any extra. How could we refuse? Only three of the adults had any ID on them and none of the kids did.

Going into Canada, a border guard came on the bus and asked if any of us were not U.S. citizens. Nobody raised their hand and we were told to "Enjoy or visit to Canada". The entire stop lasted no more than ten minutes.

Coming back home was a quite different story. Everyone had to get off the bus, the drug/bomb sniffing dogs were brought out, bags were searched, everyone was frisked, phone calls had to be made verifying that each child was a U.S. born citizen, the bus was searched for drugs and explosives. Five hours later, we were finally allowed to re-enter the states.

Next time we'll know to have credentials for everyone.

2/21/2006 4:56:58 PM

Coolville, OH

"Nobody raised their hand" -- I take that back. My son was asleep in the back seat and someone woke him up to answer the question. He raised his hand. We all laughed hilariously and asked "what's so funny". The guard asked him where he was born and he said, "at grandma's house". We laughed more. I shouted back "and just where is that?" He finally said "Ohio" and everything was fine.

2/21/2006 5:09:14 PM

San Luis Obispo, Ca.

All you need to be let into canada is an anti George W. Bush bumper sticker. Canadians have a bad taste in their mouth about old George.

2/21/2006 7:30:35 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I don't know where you get that from Skid? We love George...

2/21/2006 10:23:54 PM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

In either direction, it's best is to be honest, polite, have a clean record, and make sure your vehicle is insured.(if you disagree with the officials, keep your comments to yourself.) No DWI's, drugs, probation, criminal convictions, to name a few. I have never had any problems, all though traveling with a big dog will be a good reason for the boarder guards to search your vehicle.
Have a good trip,
James

2/22/2006 2:42:37 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Doesn't it seem strange that American citizens coming back home from the north legally are hassled by our border guards, but illegals coming in from the south seem to come in in droves??

2/22/2006 4:45:07 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Try being a Canadian who regularly goes to the US, you just get used to being hassled at the border.

My wife and I were recently told abruptly by a US border guard that "it is a priviledge to travel in the United States, not your right even if you are Canadian"

Since we were just going to go across the line for a little shopping, we decided to turn the vehicle around and spend our American cash inside Canada.....ruined our day to say the least.

When we complained to his superior, we were told that "he was just doing his job" and that we were being too "sensitive"

Some border guards (on both sides of our lines) are just wanna be cops that were not good enough to get into the police force. With that they carry a huge chip on their shoulders and really....what a crappy job!!

2/22/2006 11:55:36 AM

[email protected]

LOL

Border Guard sensitivity training...funny.

2/22/2006 2:18:47 PM

Newcastle England

hi all you think your border guards over ther are tough.try crossing from england into scotland,theyve even built a bloody big wall and all the guards wear tartan kilts with no under garments.it makes for a scary crossing if you upset them.

2/22/2006 2:37:20 PM

ENGLAND

LMAO @ Pete

2/22/2006 5:40:14 PM

[email protected]

fulla,

I've noticed that Wallace issue will never be forgotten.

2/22/2006 7:02:07 PM

Newcastle England

tremor,funny enough i live close to hadrians wall and we all get on well considering past history,just like to wind each other up hahaha.

2/23/2006 7:33:12 AM

Ray, North Dakota

North Shore you just gotta bite your lip and bear our new security measures. Plus the fact that the border guy was... simply put....an asshole. There's is at least one on every U.S. or Canada side of the border. I can be a smartass at times, and when we went to Winnepeg last summer to take our kids to the zoo, the Canadian guard made my hair stand on end. Trying to make small talk and all I got was a stare down. THEY NEED TO TURN CANADA INTO THE 51ST STATE ANYWAY. Can't we all just get along? lol

2/23/2006 8:53:53 AM

San Luis Obispo, Ca.

Canadians love GWB? WOW!

2/23/2006 6:55:34 PM

Baildon, Saskatchewan, Canada , EH

Speak for yourself on Lovin George!!! Fat Chance!!

2/24/2006 2:08:45 PM