Passports

[john e. holliday]

Seeing that Howard R. forgot to renew his passport got me thinking.  Yes I know we are in trouble again when DOC  starts thinking.  Every year when we go to Tuscon for the VSC the wife says one day will be in Mexico(Nogales).  It dawned on me that when we cross over we don't show our passport, but, have to show it coming back into the states as well as declaring all the drugs  and what not.  Is it that way in Canada? 

Of course after the first Tri-Cities NATS Melvin, Brenda and I drove to Mt St Helens and then up to Canada.  After an hour and half delay because some drunk wiped out a family of four on the highway as we found out finally made it to the border crossing.  Melvin was driving with Brenda between us in my old half ton pickup.  Finally I asked the gentleman where he wanted us to park so we could unload the truck to prove to him there were no weapons.  He finally let us go.  Anyway we finally decided we couldn't make Calvary and still get me back home for school.  Got to the border on the north end of Idaho and had to wait for it to open.  OF course that is another story in itself.
Yes I am long winded at times.  DOC Holliday

PS:Would the Canadians really keep this old red neck?  jeh

[Paul Smith]

Yes, you now need a passport to re-enter the United States of America from Canada.

That law was announced at least five years ago, delayed many times, and finally put into effect June 2009.  Long over due. 

[James C. Johnson]

Here is WA.. we can get an enhanced driver's license.. $40, you have to make an appointment, get you birth certificate and you are good to go... a lot cheaper than a Pass Port which is over $100 ...

I like Nogales... and Vancouver is the cleanest and most beautiful city on the west coast... 

Jim

[dirty dan]

Here is WA.. we can get an enhanced driver's license.. $40, you have to make an appointment, get you birth certificate and you are good to go... a lot cheaper than a Pass Port which is over $100 ...

I like Nogales... and Vancouver is the cleanest and most beautiful city on the west coast... 

Jim

Uh-huh. Been to East Vancouver lately? The needle exchange program for the druggies has pretty much ruined parts of what admittedly is a terrific city.

I continue to get by with a passport which was current in 1999, this backed up with a current drivers license.

Dan

[Pinecone]

A US Passport is $75 if applying by mail.  http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html

And it is good for 10 years.

You only use the enhanced driver's license when returning/traveling to Canada, Mexico , Bermuda, and 17 Caribbean countries.

A passport allows travel to/from any country in the world.

[Steve Helmick]

I got across the border with Canada twice this past weekend. They asked for my 'papers' both directions. I gave just my passport, and it worked. It's current. I wasn't worried about being searched, and wasn't. Of course, I wasn't worried about it two years ago, and was. On that occasion, I had just renewed my CWP the previous Monday. The Canadian border guard was very specific about weapons, mace, pepper spray...I had the same stuff this time...two lockback knives and a nasty looking bottle opener...

Applying for the passport wasn't all that big a deal. I downloaded/printed the forms off the State Dept. website. Then, I got mug shots at the local drug store. And looked online for places where I could turn them in, pay, etc.
The critical part of the last process was finding one that was open at the right time of day. Some were open 5 days a week, but only until 2pm or open until 3pm, but too far from where I work. I found one that worked for me, went and did it. The passport came in the mail a month later. I'm glad I did it, and it really wasn't a huge hassle.  Steve

[George]

I applied for my Passport at a local Post Office. After a couple of weeks, I got a notice that my birth information was not acceptable. Apparently, a few states, (KY being one) for a few years issued a birth Registration instead of certificate. I had to send for a "real" birth certificate, which was accepted.

That unacceptable "Birth Registration" was good enough for a Social Security card, drivers license, US Navy, Social Security, etc. ...but not a Passport.

George

[Alan Hahn]

I applied for my Passport at a local Post Office. After a couple of weeks, I got a notice that my birth information was not acceptable. Apparently, a few states, (KY being one) for a few years issued a birth Registration instead of certificate. I had to send for a "real" birth certificate, which was accepted.

That unacceptable "Birth Registration" was good enough for a Social Security card, drivers license, US Navy, Social Security, etc. ...but not a Passport.

George

I'm guessing that if we had Homeland Security back in those good old days, it would have been way different!

[Glen Wearden]

Been all over the world, and have never had a passport.  My wife and I don't have any real plans to go out of country, but I guess we out to get one while there is no rush.

Glen

[john e. holliday]

Same here George B.  I had to drive all the way to Topeka KS to get a real birth certificate.  I mean 60 plus years showing what I thought was a birth cerificate.  First time I left the mainlland was to go to Freeport Bahama and we had to have birth certificate for the wife plus drivers license.  Drivers license only for me at the time.  Love how a few individuals can really screw things up.  DOC Holliday