Road Trips: US - Canada passport question

12thRound · Sep 15, 2006

<TABLE class=tborder id=post3186935 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 id=td_post_3186935>I haven't tried to drive from the US to Onatario, Canada since 9/11.

This question is especially for those who are familiar with the Detroit area.

Can a US citizen drive from downtown Detroit and get to Windsor, Ontario (the tunnel) without a passport?

Or will they stop you for a passport check if you're trying to get to Windsor?

If not by the tunnel, is there an alternate route from Detroit to Windsor where you don't need a passport?

thx
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=alt2>

</TD><TD class=alt1 align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

dmmd98 · Sep 15, 2006

Photo ID is fine....drives Lic and something like your Social Insurance number as a backup will do

xpanda · Sep 15, 2006

Having a birth certificate is a good idea, especially for the return trip. US Customs is more hardass than Canadian.

And when you return, have receipts of whatever you bought ready. I failed to do this once, and they tore my trunk open looking for stuff.

PornoPaul · Sep 15, 2006

i think as of about 4 or 5 months ago you need a passport?

P

12thRound · Sep 15, 2006

xpanda-this is about the bmo from your earlier post.

Can you get hassled for opening a Canadian checking acct. if you are a US resident going to Windsor for the express purposes of opening a foreign bank account?

I'm not doing any shopping there so I'm not sure If I need some kind of alibi. Maybe I should pick up a trinket in Windsor and say I went there to buy that...or say the Big Macs in Windsor are tastier than the ones in Detroit.

xpanda · Sep 15, 2006

Paul: passport thing comes into play next year I think. Or maybe it's 2008.

Whatever.

I'm sure by the time we have to show a passport they'll have built a wall anyway. Good thing I still have my pole vault.

ThumperDragon · Sep 15, 2006

I'm pretty sure Americans need a passport, Canadians are still allowed with their BirthCertificates and DriversLicence.

When going to Bahamas earlier this year, a young american girl was told she needed her passport, I was right behind her and had no problems (without a passport).

xpanda · Sep 15, 2006

12thRound said:
xpanda-this is about the bmo from your earlier post.

Can you get hassled for opening a Canadian checking acct. if you are a US resident going to Windsor for the express purposes of opening a foreign bank account?

I'm not doing any shopping there so I'm not sure If I need some kind of alibi. Maybe I should pick up a trinket in Windsor and say I went there to buy that...or say the Big Macs in Windsor are tastier than the ones in Detroit.

Just tell them you're going to the casino in Windsor for the night, and checking out some strippers. That's the reason 99% of American men cross the border for a brief period. If your border guard is a really ugly woman, leave out the stripper part.

xpanda · Sep 15, 2006

ThumperDragon said:
I'm pretty sure Americans need a passport, Canadians are still allowed with their BirthCertificates and DriversLicence.

When going to Bahamas earlier this year, a young american girl was told she needed her passport, I was right behind her and had no problems (without a passport).

That's because of a specific agreement we have with the Bahamas.

Between Americans and Canadians no passport is needed. I just flew out of Toronto to Vegas with only a DL and birth certificate and was fine. These agreements are always reciprocal.

(the new passport requirement, when it comes into effect, is the brainchild of the Yanks and the war on terror and blah blah blah. I can't imagine us ever getting to the point where we'd think it was a good idea to initiate such a move, given the trade we rely on and all.)

ThumperDragon · Sep 15, 2006

Ahhh, I see...aren't we lucky:thumbsup2:

12thRound · Sep 15, 2006

xpanda · Sep 15, 2006

12thRound: let me know how it went at the BMO when you get back.

12thRound · Sep 15, 2006

xpanda- I'll let you know when I'm going. Still hoping I don't have to.

thx

wolfie_cr · Sep 15, 2006

12thRound said:
Can you get hassled for opening a Canadian checking acct. if you are a US resident going to Windsor for the express purposes of opening a foreign bank account?

quote]

obviously Canada has Tax agreements with the US, doesnt all the info get exchanged between the two goverments anyway?

Woody0 · Sep 15, 2006

ThumperDragon said:
I'm pretty sure Americans need a passport, Canadians are still allowed with their BirthCertificates and DriversLicence.

No, it has to be reciprocal or the country whose citizens were getting dumped on would object.

When I arrived at DFW from England last year Americans and Canadians were the only ones not surrendering a right finger print and a right eye retina scan.

Woody0 · Sep 15, 2006

wolfie_cr said:
12thRound said:

Can you get hassled for opening a Canadian checking acct. if you are a US resident going to Windsor for the express purposes of opening a foreign bank account?

quote]

obviously Canada has Tax agreements with the US, doesnt all the info get exchanged between the two goverments anyway?

Click to expand...

Yes there are tax agreements but I don't think the info on piddling retail bank accounts is exchanged.

The Bank of America informs me that interest income on my non-resident account may be reported to the IRS. I am responsible for reporting this income to the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency).

Wynn · Sep 15, 2006

A few years ago, I flew to Montreal and easily entered Canada. However, when returning, the US Customs officer in Montreal tore me a new one for not having my passport.

He let me through, but this was two months before 9/11.

sean1 · Sep 15, 2006

You can go into Canada with a note from your mom. Literally you tell them you are heading to the casino to spend money and you could bring 2 tons of tobacco with you as they waive you through - PEOPLE DONT WANT TO BLOW UP CANADA CAUSE CANADA IS NOT HATED BY EVERY OTHER COUNTRY.

I would not leave the US without a passport or at least a certified birth certificate. The law says certificate and license is enough, but the one time I did it post 9/11 I was hassled for about 2 hours. Have always taken my passport since.

You can go to Canada just to open a bank account. I would not advertise it - why get the hassle. Just say you went to gamble.

Sean

12thRound · Sep 15, 2006

thanks to all

I'll update later if it turns out I have to go.

fathead · Sep 16, 2006

For now you just need Certified Birth Certificate and Drivers License (Picture ID?). I think in 2008 you will need a passport.

The last time we went to Niagra Falls they did not even ask to actually see anything coming or going, just asked some questions and that was it. I imagine they ran our auto tag, but not sure.