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U.S. to Require Passport To Re-Enter Country

Posted by Zonk on from the friendly-greeting dept.

The Hobo writes "The CBC is reporting that starting in 2007, most Canadians will require a passport to cross into the United States and by 2008 Americans who crossed freely into Canada will be unable to return to the United States without a passport. The tougher new rules still allow Canadians to cross without being fingerprinted, but every person from any other country will be required to submit to fingerprinting." From the article: "Currently, Canadians and Americans are able to enter the United States with little more identification than a driver's licence or a birth certificate, though a passport has sometimes made it simpler to satisfy immigration officers at the border."

6 of 1,223 comments (clear)

  1. I remember when.. by neoform · · Score: 5, Interesting

    i was able to cross the border just by telling the customs agent where i was going and for how long..

    --
    MABASPLOOM!
    1. Re:I remember when.. by panda · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Yes, and so do I.

      I once went to Canada with three Japanese students who were studying in America. When we got to the Canadian border control, I went inside the office with them in case they had linguistic problems. The official there looked at each of their passports, looked at their visas for the U.S., then stamped that they'd entered Canada.

      He looked to me with his hand out as if expecting another passport. I simply answered, "I'm a citizen." He smiled and let us through.

      The Americans did check my driver's license on the way back, though.

      'Course, this was 15 years ago.....

      --
      Just be sure to wear the gold uniform when you beam down -- you know what happens when you wear the red one.
  2. Drivers License? Used to be freer than that by CrazyTalk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I grew up in Buffalo, NY so going back and forth to Canada was as regular an occurence as going to the mall. Only once was I asked for any kind of ID whatsoever, and that was because I was with a British citizen. Usually they would just ask you "Citizen of what country" and if you said "USA" they would wave you in.

  3. The EU by mindstrm · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The EU, and the rest of the world, should call the American's bluff on this one.. just not produce the new funky passports to appease the US.

    Further, I hope Canada reciprocates and requires americans to have valid passports.

  4. Re:Say goodbye by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Canadians aren't the only ones they're alienating. I flew over to the US from an EU state on Sunday for a 2 week business trip and had to get my fingers scanned and a photo taken on entry into the country. I'm really very unhappy about being treated this way, and I'm sure everyone I was queueing with felt the same.

    America has ceased to be a country that others might aspire to. Other countries have experienced terrorism for many decades without becoming so draconian, so it's funny that the US, the supposed land of the free, overreacted so dramatically.

    It's a crying shame really...

  5. Economic losses in consequence by Richard_J_N · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Personally, as a British citizen (and one involved in the fight against ID cards here), I resent the prospect of being fingerprinted, and treated like a common criminal, so much that I will not travel to the USA. I have nothing to hide, but I know that once fingerprints are on record, they will never be deleted, and I value my privacy. As a consequence, our family has not holidayed in the USA since, and this will cost the USA $10,000+ in lost income over a few years. Hopefully, the Democrats will change the policy back when GWB is finally kicked out.

    What happened to the USA? It was a free country with ideals, and now it is becoming a tyranny.