Wait, you will need a passport to leave the United States to go to Canada soon?

[ck4829]

I think everybody knows this, but one of the more sinister functions of a passport is to prevent skilled workers and people who could be conscripted into military service from leaving a country.

[Alexander]

1. Soon? I thought you needed it now.

And last I heard there was a huge backlog for getting passports.

[dsc]

3. only for flying and ships

eventually it will apply to driving as well.

[Ben Masel]

9. Trains too, when the rule was in effect.

Returning from Montreal via Amtrak in early May, the Customs and Immigration entered my coach, headed right to me...

"That's quite the history you've got Mr. Masel. TODAY, we're not interested in the politics. We note, however, you've been arrested for possession of marijuana on 7 occasions..." "Eight, but none led to convictions." "Yes, we noticed that too. In any case, we'll be needing to look through your bags. Please take them to the cafe car. If there's nothing improper, you'll be on your way."

While in the cafe car, I overheard their interactions with other 'interesting' passengers, and learned they're not only using Govt. databases, but also Google.

[rainy]

5. I applied for one in late March and still haven't received it. n/t

[Ben Masel]

7. For a few weeks in April/May

Then the requirement was suspended due to the backlog in issuing passports. The requirement's supposed to be re-instated in a few months once the backlog's cleared up.

The Iraq supplemental included funds to hire temporary passport processors. I imagine they've only just been trained.

[eShirl]

2. I thought you only needed it to get back.

:evilgrin:

[Zywiec]

4. Where are your job skills described on a passport? n/t

[styersc]

6. It's real screwed up that soon after we "won" the Cold War.

We are now being subjected to imprisonment without due process, search and seizure without a warrant, investigations into what we read and who we associate with as well as secret searches of our homes, eave dropping on phone calls and e-mail traffic and now we are held captive within our borders unless we get papers and ask for permission to leave, not to mention the right wing's attempts to fence us in.

What were we afraid the Soviet Union would subject us to???

[murielm99]

8. My son is in Canada storm-chasing.

He drove, with a group that has vans and equipment.

He was told that he had to have his passport. Proof that he had applied was not good enough. He was told outright that he would be subjected to extensive search on the way back in to the U.S. without the passport. The group was not eager to have anyone under those conditions.

He moved heaven and earth to get his passport before the trip. It arrived days before he left.

[MonkeyFunk]

10. a passport prevents skilled workers

from leaving the country? How?