Hi Everyone,

I know there are many posts here regarding crossing into the States while you have your application pending and making sure you can prove ties to Canada etc. My question is this - has anyone tried to cross using their birth certificate as ID while the U.S. Consulate has your passport for Visa processing???

I had my interview in October and needed a police clearance from New Zealand (which Montreal finally received last week - yay!) but I had to send in my passport so they could issue the visa. Montreal now has my passport and are apparently "reviewing" my file. Of course they provide no timeline and I'm worried that I won't get my Visa before Christmas. I'm wondering if I should risk visiting over the holidays if the visa doesn't come through but I certainly don't want anything to jeopardize my visa application at this late stage.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

The Peace Bridge Authority says..... Have proof of citizenship readily available including 2 forms of identification with at least one photo ID. Link

I tried crossing without my passport, once, because it had expired. Luckily, I had it with me because they asked for it anyway. The officer told me that an expired passport was better than no passport at all.

yeah my husband crossed a few months ago while Mtl had his passport. it wasn't really a problem. Just as a reminder-you can't fly without a passport, but driving across the border with just a bc is still ok.

Just to note, oral declarations of citizenship will no longer be permitted by CBP after Dec 31. (although most posts have implemented some sort of no oral declaration policy on their own) However, at the land border, BC and DL is fine until the WHTI goes into effect by 2009. WHTI is already in effect for flying, so a valid passport is required.

I doubt they will allow you entry.
As of Jan 1 2008 a passport is required to cross the boarder by land so I imagine you will need it to re-enter Canada.
But- I do hope that you get your visa before then and none of this will matter . Good luck

no, the date was pushed back because of the backlog in issuing passports in both countries. I think by sometime in the summer a bc will no longer be allowed as proof of citizenship, but it's still ok for the next few months.

This is not true. The deadline for the implementation of WHTI for land borders (the thing that requires passports to enter the US) was extended to April 30, 2009. On Jan 1, proof of citizenship (such as a BC) and photo ID will be required of all travelers at land borders.

really? I thought that bc as proof of citizenship had been required for years. I didn't realize that you could (theoretically) cross the border without any proof of citizenship right now.

its been required for the last couple of years now. BC and picture ID... Going through the British Columbia borders anyway...

I have been wondering about you. I am so happy you finally got your clearance and you're all ready! This is great news!

Thanks Sprailenes! I'm not completely confident yet - there's been too much getting excited and then everything taking longer than I thought. Heard from Montreal yesterday and of course they can't give me an estimate of when it will be processed. Aarrggghhh! I'm so frustrated and so ready for this to be over!

JANUARY 31, 2008 (land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative )
U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

I'm pretty sure that is out of date now. they keep pushing the date back. the OP should just call the border that she's planning to cross at to be sure

Nope.. CBP officers have been permitted by law to accept an oral declaration of citizenship within the WHTI area since... well.. forever... but could always require proof if they wished. As of Jan 31, officers will no longer have that discretion by law... believe me.. my old colleagues in the CBP are dreading this day... as it quite honestly hasn't been well publicized...

However, some posts have implemented a policy in the last few years (really since 9/11) requiring the documents at primary inspection and if they didn't have them to send them to secondary and let them deal with it... which honestly isn't a pleasant experience... but it least it would make you remember to bring the stuff from then on...

However, after Jan 31, no documents.. no entry... period...

trailmix.. read what it says... a WHTI compliant document (passport, NEXUS card, etc.) OR (note the or) DL and BC... just like I stated... in I guess a roundabout way...

By April 2009, a WHTI compliant document is all that will be permitted...

Yeah no worries, I was just pointing out it was the 31st not the 1st as mentioned earlier.

Hi Thermophile,

Just wondering how long MTL had your husband's passport for? I can't seem to find anything (other than my constant worrying brain) that tells me that I can't cross into the U.S. while MTL is completing the process. As long as I'm not dishonest at the border, can prove my ties to Canada and have acceptable ID I think I should be ok to visit over Christmas for a week and get back to the North.

Crap this sucks!!!! I'm going crazy with options and scenarios and it's not a far trip right now!

Any reassurances or personal experiences would be very much appreciated!

Montreal still has your passport? Wow. Guess there's a story in there somewhere. You'll be okay at the border. Just have two pieces of ID (one with pic) with something that proves your citizenship. (And the ties.)

how long have they had your passport? I wasn't there so can't really remember (he crossed while Mtl had his passport because he was driving me down to MT to the friends house where I left my piece of shite car-it's licensed in the US so I couldn't drive it into Canada). I don't think they had it much more than a week. You really should be ok crossing with your bc and dl, but you might want to call MTL anyway just to see why you haven't gotten your passport back yet.

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how long have they had your passport? I wasn't there so can't really remember (he crossed while Mtl had his passport because he was driving me down to MT to the friends house where I left my piece of shite car-it's licensed in the US so I couldn't drive it into Canada). I don't think they had it much more than a week. You really should be ok crossing with your bc and dl, but you might want to call MTL anyway just to see why you haven't gotten your passport back yet.
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Thanks!

They've had the passport since November 28th. Apparently, it takes between 7 - 10 business days to review the file and we're on day 8 right now. I'm trying to be patient but it's so hard with all of this waiting and not knowing. I did get a response from my friend, Operator 6, in MTL today that "It shouldn't be too long now" and that crossing with my BC will in no way jeopordize my application. So, that's something...

Hey Zyggy? So what if you go to Canada and get robbed of all your stuff, ID and all.... how would you get back home?

I'm not zyggy but... A friend (Canadian) was robbed when he was in Mexico a few years ago. he reported the theft to the Canadian embassy and had his dad fax a copy of his passport to the embassy. I'm not sure if they generated him another passport right then or if he got something else from the embassy that allowed him to get back to Canada. When we travel, I have a copy of the hubby's passport and he has a copy of mine. Also, both my grandma and mom have copies of our passports. That way if we do get robbed and both of us loose our passports and the copies we have 2 people that could possibly fax copies of them.

but the real question is, What are you planning on doing in Canada that is going to result in you getting robbed? wild woman

That's a great idea. You just copied the front pages of your passport? The thought never even crossed my mind!

I go to Canada pretty much every weekend (and will continue to do so after hubby moves here). I spend almost half my time there. You never really PLAN on getting robbed but since people get robbed and I'm there a lot, gotta cover my bases!

Thanks for the idea!

Oh, back on topic. Jenmac, I wouldn't worry about crossing with your bc and driver's license over the holidays. Just bring all the usual ties and stuff, you'll probably be fine! If you get an extra cranky border guard, tell him to shove it Just kiddin, of course.

We also had to give stuff to MTL after the interview. They took their full 10 days, then a few more, then after an email and mailing time, we got our stuff. It took about 3 weeks total. You should have it back before the holidays

You'd follow the procedure like anyone would when in, say, the UK: go to the embassy and make it their problem.

C. flew down here last holiday season with no problems; I got the impression that they're really not picky over Christmas.

This is a rather delayed response to your post but just wanted to tell you.....I am Cdn, husband is American - I cross the border every 10 days or so using only my Cdn drivers license - have never used my passport - date that they will be required has been pushed back til next summer and who knows it will no doubt be pushed back again then. Best of luck on your journey!