Ash UK/US

So this week we went over to Niagara Falls for a couple of days, staying on the Canadian side we wanted to check it out from the US side too as neither my hubby or I had ever been before.

So off on our travels walking over Rainbow Bridge to the US, the family ahead of 2 parents and 2 kids are denied entry because they did not have the correct visa. On our way back to Canada, we get to the boarder crossing and the people ahead of us parents with a baby in a stroller had no passport or any identification for the little one (they were eventually allowed entry) and the next person was asked 3 times where he lived, 3 times he said he lived in Toronto after being told 'no you live in Japan' he was allowed entry.

I can only imagine the people that the boarder guards meet each day and seriously amazed, in this day and age, at how many people dont have their s**t together and know what they need to travel from one country to another.

Beaverstate

If I recall right, it wasn't that long ago when you didn't need a Visa to go to Canada or Mexico. Well I guess that was pre 9/11.

Jerseygirl

You don't if you're British or American...sounds like this family were Japanese.

Pulaski

Canada is a different country?


What an extraordinarily insensitive thing to say. Such factual observations are unacceptable in the 21st century!

Jerseygirl

I've noticed you are abusing the use of rolleyes smilies...your smiley privileges will be withdrawn if this continues.

Pulaski

Eye rolling is Pulaski's natural state of being. I am sure that Mrs P would be willing to attest to that fact.

Ash UK/US

interesting the difference between land crossing and airport entry.... could you imagine landing at an airport and have no ID for a child?

I can only imagine the stories they hear!

Beaverstate

Heck I was in Mexico as a 15 year old with no ID crossing back from TJ to San Diego.
Wouldn't try that now.

WEBlue

I'm sure oversight has tightened up since 9/11, but when I looked into this for a trip to Canada last year, I was surprised to see that the big rules change for crossing the US/Canadian border overland was 2009, when the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative came into full effect. Not that long ago, really, so it's not surprising that some older Americans don't realize they need "official" ID.

The same Initiative changed the ID regs for air travellers in 2007, but took a bit longer to fully implement at the land & sea crossings.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western...vel_Initiative )

Captain Cheesestick

Lived around there (Lewiston and Grand Island) for awhile where my ex-wife grew up. You really didn't need a passport to cross over at all if you were local until after 9/11. Just astounding seeing as the number of people going back and forth. Now if you're local you can get a pass that supposedly shows you're a local and therefore don't need your passport as it's already been verified. Can't be that hard to fabricate.

robin1234

I suspect that on the US side, they run your car license plate before they even speak to you ... we live just a few miles from the Canadian border and cross back and forth all the time. Whether we've just been across for a quick supermarket and Canadian Tire run or whether we are returning after three weeks in England (our international airport is in Canada) they just scan our passports and wave us through without any major questioning.

Jerseygirl

NEXUS...any USC or Canadian can apply for it...you don't have to be local to get one. After a decade of crossing the border we are applying for a NEXUS card.

Ash UK/US

They had really short line for Nexus holders in both directions!

robin1234

No incentive for us to get a NEXUS card; in either direction, we are usually the only car crossing. And, no separate line, as there is only one line..

rpjs

Also if you're a USC resident in NYS it's one of the states that offers the "Enhanced" driver's license / state ID which is accepted under the WHTI as evidence of US nationality.