A Nice George..

1) I have heard that U.S. citizens can comeback to U.S. from Canada by showing two
forms of IDs (like birth certificate and driver license) instead of a U.S.
passport, and want to know if a U.S. passport is required to enter Canada.

2) If the answer to question 1) is yes, then do the Canadians stamp the U.S. passport
upon entering and leaving Canada? I am asking this question because U.S. citizens
can use other forms of IDs to return to U.S. and want to know how the Canadians
would know when a U.S. citizen stayed more than six months in Canada.

Thanks,

Stuart Brook

"A nice George..." wrote:
    >
    > 1) I have heard that U.S. citizens can comeback to U.S. from Canada by showing two
    > forms of IDs (like birth certificate and driver license) instead of a U.S.
    > passport, and want to know if a U.S. passport is required to enter Canada.
    >
    > 2) If the answer to question 1) is yes, then do the Canadians stamp the U.S.
    > passport upon entering and leaving Canada? I am asking this question because
    > U.S. citizens can use other forms of IDs to return to U.S. and want to know how
    > the Canadians would know when a U.S. citizen stayed more than six months in
    > Canada.
    >
    > Thanks,

There are two requirements when crossing the US - Canada border for Canadian and US
citizens ...

1) Proof that you are who you say you are
2) Proof of your US or Canadian nationality

A passport provides both of these. Otherwise, a birth cert with a gov't issued photo
ID will normally be accepted.

Canada does not always stamp passports, just as the US doesn't either.

The requirement is not that Canada must prove a US Citizen stayed more than 6 months,
but rather if Canada suspects a US Citizen overstayed, then the US citizen must
provide proof that they did not.

Stuart