those up on the border of canada, that cross often. a question

[seabeyond]

my brother has his passport and is currently working in wisconsin, and he has a driver license but it is expired and cant get a new one because of a mix up in nj, a state he has never been in, about two decades ago. it just caught up with him and keep showing something outstanding. yet a mess to take care of. anyway.... my question

he wants to take daughter in a ferry across lakes to canada. travel thru canada and then come back in the states thru new york. is a passport enough to hand to the border guards? will they want to see a license too?

thanks in advance

[uppityperson]

1. They prefer passport over drivers license.

Should be enough. GOod luck. I've never had them ask for drivers license, just give them passport. If daughter is minor, take her birth certificate to show relationship between them since border patrol is on lookout for people taking kids across the border.

[seabeyond]

5. that is the bitch being a single father. treated like criminal

he keeps all legal papers with him just in case. she has passport too. will recommend birth certificate. passport isnt enough you dont think, for daughter? she is 13.

thanks for your help. that is what i said. they like passport better.

[Babette]

8. Had that experience myself...

Parents divorced when I was 12. At 14, visiting Dad for the summer and traveling to Vancouver, I distinctly remember the Canadian border police looking in the car and asking "where's mom?" They held us for hours at the border crossing while they called my mother (who lived overseas) and spoke to her for permission for Dad to take us across the border. I thought it was irritating then, but I'm glad now. I hear stories of parents (mom or dad) who take their kid and disappear over the border, never to be heard from again. It was good to know that they were looking out for me. I know Dad (uptight military officer) didn't like it one bit.

[seabeyond]

12. they wouldnt do it to me, if i didnt have my husband with me

it is bullshit. this mother is out there. a decade battle and 150k later...... he was given daughter. if she got a call she would make it as hard as she could on them, with no interest for the child whatsoever. that would be the worst thing to happen. this woman isnt allowed to see her daughter.

oh, your story is the worse. not all situations is it the father doing soemthing wrong, or the bad guy.

[uppityperson]

10. Or a single mother.

1 time I was going to take UPJr into Canada for a vacation so asked ex-mr.uppity for a permission letter. We ended up not going because the letter said that I had permission but they should not let me in because I was an evil vicious lying bitch who just might be preparing to take the kid and run so watch me, make sure that I told them where I was going how long I was staying where I was staying and still beware. sigh.

I never had trouble with teen UPJr, though friends had their teen taken into a corner by herself for further questioning. Good to prepare the teen for this possiblity, tell her that they want to make sure all kids are safe, so just answer their questions and don't joke around. Birth cert should be enough for daughter. Hope they have fun!

[seabeyond]

13. geez. yawl are making it sound damn scary. gotta tell ya

a trip to canada isnt sounding worth it.

i do not agree with this. adnd your x is a putz

[uppityperson]

19. A trip IS worth it, just be prepared.

They are trying to protect kids. Another friend took his daughter in and out of Canada, didn't have any ID for her, but came up with a back issue of a magazine from 1 yr prior, with an article and picture he wrote of their vacation that yr. They let them threw with that. Just be prepared and it is a good place to go vacation. Have fun. We went to Drumheller, dinosaur fossil beds and museum which was very fun.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. IIRC, a passport is more than enough- Does the daughter have ID also?

[seabeyond]

6. he got her a passport too a while ago. cool thanks n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

3. He can get a WI state ID that is issued for people without

drivers' licenses--would just have to prove a WI address.

but I think the passport would be enough. You didn't used to even need that iirc.

[whistle]

4. He may not be allowed back into the U.S. without the proper documents

...being in order. "Your papers pleazzze!" ....:banghead:

He is opening himself to big legal risks that may end up costing him a small fortune and his rights as an otherwise legal citizen.

[seabeyond]

7. that is what he is concerned about

especially seeing how he will have daughter with him and what, they will take her away.

he has tried and spent money to fix this license thing for a couple years now. it is a MESS. and they get you by the balls. all about money

[whistle]

14. Well, suggest he not do this, these are no longer the days of

...free travel that we once took for granted. Stay closer to home and see the beautiful wilderness of the U.S. with his daughter this year. Then get his legal documents in order and keep them that way. This is not just Big Brother, it is Luca Brasi running things at the federal level! He may want to consult the U.S. State Department site and get verification of exactly what documents he will need to exit the U.S. and to return:

<snip>
CANADA – Passport or proof of U.S. citizenship such as a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, and photo ID required. Minors (under 16) traveling alone or in someone else’s custody must present written authorization, signed before a notary, from the parent(s) or guardian. Visas are not required. Canadian immigration officials at ports of entry will issue persons planning to stay longer than 180 days a visitor’s record. Anyone with a criminal record (including a DWI charge) should contact the Canadian Embassy or nearest Consulate General before travel. U.S. citizens entering Canada from a third country must have a valid passport. HIV testing required for resident applicants who are over 15. A temporary resident applicant requires immigration medical examination if stay exceeds 6 months or seeking to work in Canada. For student or business travel, check with the Canadian Embassy, 501 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001 (202/682-1740) or the nearest Consulate General: CA (213/346-2701), MI (313/567-2085), NY (212/596-1700 or 716/858-9501), or WA (206/443-1375). Internet: www.canadianembassy.org

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html

[seabeyond]

16. thank you. you are right. it isnt worth it

now..... the really funny. huge ass right wing nut that believes in small govt..... bah hahahhahaha, and staying out of his business, yada yada yada. i will be sure to let him know this liberal here,..... can not only go into another country, but.... make it back into the u.s.

i am not afraid.

who cares if you have nothing to hide. isnt that what the right says

[radwriter0555]

21. An Affidavit of Sole Custody is a great piece of paper to create if you're

a single parent traveling with a child.

I created one several years ago when I started traveling with my daughter, and I still carry it as an attestation that her birth father is not someone who grants us permission to do anything. Of course we both have current passports.

I wrote up a fancy little paragraph stating I was the sole custodian of my daughter and had it notarized. It looks all fancy and authoritative, and gets us across any borders without any fuss.

Remember, border crossing guards are just government employees. They're just like your neighors, your family, your friends; they're not some specially trained robots designed to hassle you and make life more difficult. They're also dealing with new and unexpected situations.

Be nice, be polite, treat them as you would be treated and provide them with as many copies of as many papers as possible, in the nicest possible way and it's a piece of cake.

[Boohooey]

9. A second photo ID

Is a good idea. The customs agents ask for one now and then, at random, in addition to asking everyone they actually find suspicious. I've been asked a (very)few times; my ex-brother-in-law swears he was asked every time until he cut his long hair, then it went down to hardly ever.

That doesn't mean they would hold someone whose second form of ID didn't have a photo, but ...

No need to have a driver's license, though. Not everyone drives.

[seabeyond]

17. he has long grey hair too, lol lol. odds just too against him, lol. n/t

[AndyTiedye]

20. It Helps If You Have Long Hair ON YOUR PASSPORT PHOTO Too

[1932]

11. Don't you need proof of citizenship now? A drivers license isn't

enough anyway. You'd need a picture ID and evidence that you were born in the US.

[seabeyond]

15. and i guess a leter from parent not there and child birth certificate

and and and

i appreciate you all. i think i will just recommend stay in the states. not worth the hassles and possibilities

[Rainscents]

18. You'll be taking a chance.

Last time I went up there (I live in WA State), few months ago, they asked me for my passport and driver License coming back into US side. However, from US side to Canada, they asked for either passport or driver license. I think, it's all depend on who you get at the check point. If I were you, I would NOT take chance.

[glarius]

22. This is all very sad.....I live in Canada, not far from the New York state

border...I remember a time not so long ago, when all you were asked, on either side of the border was, where were you born or are you a Canadian (or American) citizen, and if you had any purchases to declare (for duty) when coming back across the border. I live in southern Ontario and crossed at either Buffalo, N.Y. or Niagara Falls. I NEVER showed any kind of a paper EVER and crossed the border frequently for many years. It is so sad to think of what is happening now.

[seabeyond]

23. i think it is sad too. i dont think we need outrageous and lose

freedoms to be safe and protect. i am surprised though so many people easily accept the changes.

the reason brother cant get a license is a couple years ago went to renew to be told had a dui in new jersey. all they had was his name. description was someone 5'9". brother is 6'2". he cannot get it cleared. he paid fine just to clear up mess. was told doing that he said guilty and now has to go to court in nj. he is afraid he walks into court will be arrested.

leaves him hangin.

gave a couple thousand to a lawyer in nj, to fix it and nothing was done. oh well to like 3k.

that is what we have come to

to say, if you have done nothing wrong, dont have to worry
to
even in their fuck ups, can screw up your life. good luck taking care of it

i think it is all sad