Passports to go to Canada????

[s1m0n]

Geeze, hand a clerk a form with a couple pictures, proof of I.D, and a check. It's good for 10 years.

Suck it up, for Pete's sake :wink:

If you last did this in the pre 911 era, you'll find the entire process is MUCH more onerous these days, and takes months.

[jsluder]

"Other documents" probably include the falsified drivers licenses and Matricular Consular cards that can be had on many street corners.

And there are what - 10 states that want to provide drivers' licenses to illegal aliens? Gee, what a great idea that is. :roll:

Have a look at the State Department's accepted documents list. Sorry, but those won't be included.

Au contraire. There are many cities that don't adhere to federal (or state) regulations - these cities are known as 'sanctuaries' and allow the Matricular Consular card as ID (in spite of the fact that no US government agency has control of the issuance of them, as they are provided by the Mexican government). Add to that the drivers' licenses being considered for issue to illegals, and you have the problem boiling over.

So? They'll only be able to use the Matricular Consular cards as ID in those cities. Neither the MC cards or the driver's licences will get them across the border, though, which is what Teri was talking about.

[Teri-K]

"Other documents" probably include the falsified drivers licenses and Matricular Consular cards that can be had on many street corners.

And there are what - 10 states that want to provide drivers' licenses to illegal aliens? Gee, what a great idea that is. :roll:

Have a look at the State Department's accepted documents list. Sorry, but those won't be included.

Au contraire. There are many cities that don't adhere to federal regulations - these cities are known as 'sanctuaries' and allow the Matricular Consular card as ID (in spite of the fact that no US government agency has control of the issuance of them, as they are provided by the Mexican government). Add to that the drivers' licenses being considered for issue to illegals, and you have the problem boiling over.

We're talking about border crossing/ports of entry here, not local government. I'm very familiar with the issues you are describing (paralegal in immigration law). The documents you're talking about won't be accepted for entrance into the U.S. by I.C.E., D.H.S., or the State Department.

[IRTradRU?]

We're talking about border crossing/ports of entry here, not local government. I'm very familiar with the issues you are describing (paralegal in immigration law). The documents you're talking about won't be accepted for entrance into the U.S. by I.C.E., D.H.S., or the State Department.

Then I defer to your experience in the matter.

My postings have been more to point out why this legislation is necessary.

[Teri-K]

Geeze, hand a clerk a form with a couple pictures, proof of I.D, and a check. It's good for 10 years.

Suck it up, for Pete's sake

If you last did this in the pre 911 era, you'll find the entire process is MUCH more onerous these days, and takes months.

Nope, post 9/11 for me and hubby. It was a breeze. All they wanted was certified copy of birth certificate, certified copy of marriage certificate, 2 passport photos, the form and a check. We got ours in 2 weeks.

I didn't mean to sound dismissive. It really isn't that big of a deal and is a piece of I.D. everyone should have, especially post-9/11.

[Azalin]

Teri, you seem very interested in Canada/US/Passeport discussions, is it that you finally decided to come visit us in Montreal? I won't be at the Casino if you ever come

[Teri-K]

Teri, you seem very interested in Canada/US/Passeport discussions, is it that you finally decided to come visit us in Montreal? I won't be at the Casino if you ever come

Ouch! I'll never live that one down, eh? It wasn't my fault. Hubby was playing in a poker tourney. I'd love to see Montreal again after too many years. And all of you, of course.

[Cynth]

Teri-K, I have no idea where my marriage license is--do you know how much digging it's going to take to find that? I do happen to know where my birth certificate is, thank goodness. And a certified copy? Who makes those and how much do they get for signing something for someone they don't even know? The form? I'll probably have to go to Des Moines to get it and then go back to Des Moines to turn it in. And the photos, where am I going to get those? I assume they have to be just exactly some certain size down to the millimeter or they won't work. This could take me months.

[missy]

Cynth wrote:
"I have no idea where my marriage license is--do you know how much digging it's going to take to find that? I do happen to know where my birth certificate is, thank goodness."

Ah - we had to have birth certificates, marriage license (officially stamped ones) and work affidavites for any dependant over 16 (even if it was a part time job and they weren't offered insurance) for our health insurance to be "verified". Oh - and copies of divorce decrees if they concerned who was to carry health on the kids. Talk about a nightmare - people are still trying to get the "correct" documents accepted.

[fiddleronvermouth]

I have this very vague recollection that post 9-11 the Americans were putting a lot of pressure on Canada to establish one big North American security zone, ostensibly so that the US would have the authority to monitor our borders as well as their own, in which case border security between Canada and the US would have been able to remain fairly relaxed. Canadians were opposed to passing over our border security to US control. So the US, predictably, wants to tighten the security on the Canada US border. It actually makes a lot of sense, if you understand that from the point of view of your current administration, Canada imports terrorists, drug dealers, commies and other suspicious foreigners by the boatload.

I see it as a side-effect of the neo-conservative, isolationist agenda moving forward in leaps and bounds. One of the many that actually makes life unpleasant for Americans themselves instead of the citizens of countries who are struggling to remain somewhat independent.

As such, it can't be an entirely bad thing - the more the Bush administration annoys Americans, the less likely they are to elect him again.

In the grand scheme of things, having a passport is pretty useful. it's the perfect standby ID in case of unexpected wallet loss, and flipping through the pretty colored stamped pages is a great way to remenisce about your travels.

[Teri-K]

Teri-K, I have no idea where my marriage license is--do you know how much digging it's going to take to find that? I do happen to know where my birth certificate is, thank goodness. And a certified copy? Who makes those and how much do they get for signing something for someone they don't even know? The form? I'll probably have to go to Des Moines to get it and then go back to Des Moines to turn it in. And the photos, where am I going to get those? I assume they have to be just exactly some certain size down to the millimeter or they won't work. This could take me months.

Cynth: Not your marriage license, but the certificate. The license isn't proof you went ahead and got married If you can't find it, you can get a copy from the County Clerk where you were married. Don't live there anymore? They should have a web page telling you what you need to do to get a certified copy. Certified copies can come only from the agency that originally issued them. The passport form can be found at the State Department web site. You can fill it out and send it in with the documentation, pics and fee. Most photo/camera shops do passport photos. The Walgreen's pharmacy around here will do them for $9.00. Depending on where you live, your local post office or county clerk's office may be a passport office as well. You can search by zip or state for the nearest one at: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/DefaultForm.aspx

I mentioned certified copies because it's a good idea to send those as opposed to the originals. Just a bit of insurance to keep them safe.

It isn't as overwhelming as it seems, honest

[missy]

fiddleron wrote:
"As such, it can't be an entirely bad thing - the more the Bush administration annoys Americans, the less likely they are to elect him again"

ah - this is his second term, he can't be elected again. 22nd Amendment.

[Tyler]

fiddleron wrote:
"As such, it can't be an entirely bad thing - the more the Bush administration annoys Americans, the less likely they are to elect him again"

ah - this is his second term, he can't be elected again. 22nd Amendment.

Ive heared of people not paying attention, but sheesh!!!

[TomB]

Geeze, hand a clerk a form with a couple pictures, proof of I.D, and a check. It's good for 10 years.

Suck it up, for Pete's sake

If you last did this in the pre 911 era, you'll find the entire process is MUCH more onerous these days, and takes months.

Not necessarily. In 1993 my mother-in-law got one- her first, not a renewal, and it was not difficult at all, and certainly it did not take months for her to obtain it.

All the Best, Tom

[fiddleronvermouth]

fiddleron wrote:
"As such, it can't be an entirely bad thing - the more the Bush administration annoys Americans, the less likely they are to elect him again"

ah - this is his second term, he can't be elected again. 22nd Amendment.

Ive heared of people not paying attention, but sheesh!!!

OK, then, here's an amendment: the less likely you are to elect another republican. There's not much difference between them, I reckon.

I've heared of people who don't know how to spell. Do you think there could be some kind of connection?