<p>but alwaysamom, if I cross the border every week and I am required to submit my EXISTING passport in order to renew it, what am I supposed to do during the 10 weeks it takes them to send me the new one?? I guess flyers are vacation travelers, but think about border living people in WA/Mich/NY/etc who may have all sorts of reasons to cross all the time. Maybe they should not require the old one in order to renew it?? </p>
<p>I am not trying to be difficult, just wondering if some one some where has addressed this.</p>
<p>somemom, I didn’t think you were trying to be difficult. I honestly don’t know how they’ll address that issue. Certainly, many people who live near border crossings work on the other side of the border or cross for other reasons. I know that it happens at the Buffalo/Fort Erie crossing near us. If you cross the border often, there is your perfect opportunity to find out! Ask the border patrol guard what the plan is for people in your position. If he doesn’t know, stop and go into the office at your crossing and inquire. If they don’t know, I’m sure they can refer you to someone who may.</p>
<p>I apid the additional $60 rush fee for a passport renewal. I file early march and just got the passport yesterday (a little more than 3 weeks). However, when I took my documents to the post office, they warned me that right now is peak passport season where they are getting a lot of applications so it could take longer to process.</p>
<p>weenie, the date is firm but there are discussions occurring as to whether or not to implement some other form of official identification, rather than simply requiring a passport. The fact that it is now April and true discussion of a definite alternative has even been agreed upon, let alone announced and put into production, leads me to believe that it’s unlikely the date will be changed. As it is now, a driver’s license alone isn’t sufficient I.D. to cross the border. Proof of citizenship is needed as well, such as a birth certificate. They may not ask to see it at every crossing, but officially that is what is required.</p>
<p>Googling “Canada border identification” certainly brings up a lot of very recent stuff on the issue. Looks like the deadline may have already been moved to June 1, 2009. Also, interestingly, Washington state appears to be working on a drivers license/passport kind of combination that will meet the requirements of WHTI. I think people who cross the border should just be ready, that’s all.</p>
<p>I would not try to go back and forth with jus a drivers license. We’ve brought our passports for years. The delays at the border are bad enough - why risk any hassle?</p>
<p>Yes, the WA people are working on a special driver’s license which would include extra info which would allow people to cross with just that- of course, there will be an extra fee :)</p>
<p>“While recent legislative changes may permit a later deadline, both the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to put all requirements in place to implement the land and sea phase by the original deadline of January 1, 2008. Advance notice will be provided to enable the public meet the land/sea border requirement.”</p>
<p>Sounds to me like people would be well-advised to proceed as if that date will remain the deadline, and get their passports. Although I do think that it’s a good idea for everyone to have a passport, I still think that it’s unnecessary to require them for travel to and from Canada.</p>
<p>My name better be what I think it is, since what they put on the certificate is NOT what I wrote down on the form I mailed them or on the photocopy of my driver’s license they requested.</p>
I honestly don’t know how they’ll address that issue. Certainly, many people who live near border crossings work on the other side of the border or cross for other reasons. I know that it happens at the Buffalo/Fort Erie crossing near us. If you cross the border often, there is your perfect opportunity to find out! Ask the border patrol guard what the plan is for people in your position. If he doesn’t know, stop and go into the office at your crossing and inquire. If they don’t know, I’m sure they can refer you to someone who may.</p>