undefined | Better HN

0 pointsakvadrako2y ago0 comments

It was only recently that Americans could visit Canada without a passport. It's amazing how every country has clamped down.

0 comments

cmrdporcupine2y ago

That was a post-9/11 thing, and came from the US side as I recall. Used to be able to enter with just a driver's license. Then you could only do that at the land border. Then it was passport only.

And at each point the volume of hostile tone from US homeland security guards has increased. It can be quite stressful crossing at times and I generally avoid it, even though I'm only 45 minutes from the border.

mrguyorama2y ago

Our family in northern maine used to go shopping in Canada every few weekends to abuse the weak Canadian Dollar, but then those damn terrorists came in through the exact border crossing we would use and wouldn't you know it, crossings got a little less liberal after that.

Scoundreller2y ago

Americans can still visit Canada without a passport by land as long as they can satisfy proof of citizenship.

It’s technically the US that requires Americans to have a US passport to re-enter USA. Not sure what they do, can’t refuse a US citizen entry into USA but I guess they could give you a hard time.

cmrdporcupine2y ago

On a work trip to the US recently I lost my passport for a bit and spent some time frantically searching what would happen if I showed up at a land crossing back into Canada without it. TLDR they would have given me a hard time, put me through the ringer, but ultimately would have to let me back in assuming all my other ID, references, etc. check out. I'm sure it would be highly unpleasant.

Airlines of course would imply have returned to board me without it.

Luckily I recovered it (bless you, friendly helpful people at the Sioux Falls airport) before my return flight.

(Replacing it would have had me stuck there for many days and requiring me to travel to Minneapolis or Chicago and beg for mercy at the consulate.)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

cmrdporcupine2y ago

That was a post-9/11 thing, and came from the US side as I recall. Used to be able to enter with just a driver's license. Then you could only do that at the land border. Then it was passport only.

mrguyorama2y ago

Scoundreller2y ago

Americans can still visit Canada without a passport by land as long as they can satisfy proof of citizenship.

It’s technically the US that requires Americans to have a US passport to re-enter USA. Not sure what they do, can’t refuse a US citizen entry into USA but I guess they could give you a hard time.

cmrdporcupine2y ago

Airlines of course would imply have returned to board me without it.

Luckily I recovered it (bless you, friendly helpful people at the Sioux Falls airport) before my return flight.

(Replacing it would have had me stuck there for many days and requiring me to travel to Minneapolis or Chicago and beg for mercy at the consulate.)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse