My wife and I are doing Timberman and are traveling up to Canada with our 20 month old. What are the documents we need to get in to Canada by car. I have a valid passport, my wife’s has not been changed since we got married. If anyone has some info I would greatly appreciate it. I looked at the travel.state.gov site and called there number but can’t get any hard answers.
I know this is not really the place to ask it, but many of you travel to Canada so I thought it would be my best bet for a correct answer. Thanks, I can’t wait for Timberman and then relaxing in Montreal.
There are regulations coming in that require passports for going back and forth between Canada and the US, but they have been delayed a couple of times. I think there is a huge lineup for passports on both sides of the border right now. If you and your wife have passports that is more than enough. A birth certificate for your child would be a good idea. You will probably receive more scrutiny returning to the US.
You don’t need a passport to go across the border by car - only by plane. Next year they will require you to have the passport when traveling by car too. For now, the passports that you have and a birth certificate for your toddler will be fine. Next year, your toddler will need one too.
Make sure you have your passports and either passport or birth certificate for your child and everything will go smooth.
Usually Canada custom is a bit of a pain if you are Canadian (to make sure you did not buy the whole mall and stuffed it into your trunk). Never had a problem with US Custom but I was visiting, not going back…
We’re going up to IMC in August and opted to just get passports. Whatever the regulations are right now, no one seems to know for sure, and there’s no guarantee that they won’t change before you leave.
Here’s what we’ve been told: If travelling by car, you do not need a passport to get back into the US. You do however need a certified copy of your birth certificate. I’ve been told by a few folks that a copy of your BC is not enough. It needs to have a specific seal on it to verify its authenticity. Anyone else heard this?
My GF just got her passport yesterday. She had it expedited for an additional cost, and she got it in 10 days. I think it cost her an extra $60 or something. For us, it was worth it. In the context of the entire trip, $60 is nothing.
David
edit:
We’ve been to Canada many times and never had problems with drivers license, ss card etc. in the past. Since we can’t get a straight answer anymore, we thought it best to be on the safe side. Your kid should be fine with a BC.
Thanks, that is basically where we stood; no real answers. We have our passports, my wife’s just does not have her married name. If me and 20 month old can get into Canada that will be fine; we will let my wife know how much fun it was
Oh and good luck with IMC. Want to do that one in 09, volunteer for 08.
I’d be aware that with children different scrutiny applies getting into Canada. They assume that you are aducting a child & have to prove other wise.
My 1st IMC pre 911 I traveled with my 4 + 10 yrd old. My husband was on a businees trip & flying into Penticton separately a few days later. I too checked on the passports, even with the Canadains etc. Given the same sort of answers, not needed, no probelm. At the Ossyos border almost to Penticon with all of us tired & cranky after the long drive I was stopped & told to report inside. They (3 of them 2 men with holsters & a woman) them were agressive & threatening & separated me from my children (- not a good idea, kinda like the mother bear) & proceeded to suspisciously question me & my children. I told them had checked ahead with his government.They didn’t believe me or that I was going to do the ironman inspite of my bike, my kids bikes, an inflatible raft etc.Told me they wern’t going to allow me into the country, of course I need passports.
I laid into them big time. I told them to give me my children back immediately & thinking I’d just spent 9 months training for this & some boarder guard is trying to do a power trip on me. I asked to see his supervisor & said I would do what I needed to get entry into the country. Pretty soon he had sweating pouring off his face. My kids have never forgotten & were pretty scared. It was a awful & upsetting experience. My husband was stunned as he travel to Canada on business regularly without incident.
I’ve never it happen again & hope it never happens to anyone else. I’ve done IMC 6x but since then I’ve always presented passports as well as a notorized letter from husband stating I have permission to have my children with me & go into Canada.
I’d be prepared given your different names that you have a birth certificate/passport to prove your child is yours.
42C=107.6 F. The old trick of “doubling and adding 30” breaks down when you get to temps this high. You have to resort to using the real conversion formula of (degrees F) = (9/5)*(degrees C)+32 **** -Colin
I second the notarized letter stating permission to bring kids across if your spouse is not with you for some reason. I travel across the border at least once a week and have been asked for this several times when I have the kids in the car.
Just so you know, the same is true for Canadians entering the US with children - if one parent is not present and there is no documetation, the assumption is you are trying to abduct. Had this happen with a couple of good friends of mine. A sad state of affairs these days. When I was growing up in Windsor, I trained and taught martial arts in Detroit - I was 11 at the time. My mother and I crossed the border without hassle back then. Unfrotunately, times have changed.
Thanks all! I have heard about the notarized letter for minors, I will go ahead and get that squared away.
I was kidding about going in without my wife. She would whip my ever-loving ass if I thought about going to Montreal with out her. I pretend to wear the pants on the internet
