Taking a trip to Niagara Falls

[Mark UK 3]

Dear all,

Happy New Year!

The wife and I (I'm the LPR and she's the USC) are hoping to go up to Niagara Falls this Valentine's Day. However, she does not and has never had a US passport. I thought that there was all kinds of publicity about the fact that USCs from 1/1/08 had to present a US passport in order to return to the USA, even across the Canadian border at Niagara.

However, my wife found this web site:

http://www.amcits.com/passport_requirement.asp

This seems to refute that and hints that passports will be required from sometime in the summer.

Does anyone know whether this is confirmed? She's not going to get her passport in time even if she applies tomorrow and expedites it. We're going up to Niagara anyway, but we'd like to see it from both sides rather than just the US side.

TIA,

Mark

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The date was just changed last week to extend the date for which passports are required for US and Canadian citizens at land border crossings until June 2009. This week USCIS issued the directive that birth certificates, however, will be required, along with Driver's Licenses to verify residency address, so your wife should be alright if she brings her birth certificate with her to prove to the US that she is indeed a citizen.

"New Document Requirements Beginning January 31, 2008

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) remind the traveling public that as of January 31, 2008, all adult travelers will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry.

Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may accept oral declarations of citizenship from U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border. However, as of January 31, 2008:

Oral declarations of citizenship and identity alone will no longer be accepted

U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, AND proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate

Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate

Passports and trusted traveler program cards - NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST - will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel

To view the complete requirements, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1196711811270.shtm.

Travel document requirements for Canadian citizens traveling to the United States by land or water are also available on the Canada Border Services Agency website at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/whti-ivho/2007-...eng.html."

Edited January 8, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Mark UK 3]

The date was just changed last week to extend the date for which passports are required for US and Canadian citizens at land border crossings until June 2009. This week USCIS issued the directive that birth certificates, however, will be required, along with Driver's Licenses to verify residency address, so your wife should be alright if she brings her birth certificate with her to prove to the US that she is indeed a citizen.

Thanks, Kathryn. That what it appears. That's good news. Thanks a lot and have a great New Year!

[SilentJester 0]

My wife and I were just there over Christmas, I had a passport, but it is definitely not required yet as the above poster said. Birth Certificate and photo ID should be plenty.

...fair warning, due to the Canadian dollar and American dollar being at par usually now a days, the prices of food on the Canadian side of Niagara are outrageously high because they have not been adjusted to compensate. Try to eat on the American side if at all possible.

We stayed at the Embassy for 2 nights, lovely hotel and they gave us an upgrade to a junior presidential suite for an additional fee of only $40 a night. I recommend that hotel if you have yet to book one

The Applebee's right between the Embassy and the Fallsview casino seemed to have the most reasonable prices...AVOID THE DENNY'S!!

Attached a picture of the view from our room there, was beautiful.

Edited January 8, 2008 by SilentJester

[Mark UK 3]

My wife and I were just there over Christmas, I had a passport, but it is definitely not required yet as the above poster said. Birth Certificate and photo ID should be plenty.

...fair warning, due to the Canadian dollar and American dollar being at par usually now a days, the prices of food on the Canadian side of Niagara are outrageously high because they have not been adjusted to compensate. Try to eat on the American side if at all possible.

We stayed at the Embassy for 2 nights, lovely hotel and they gave us an upgrade to a junior presidential suite for an additional fee of only $40 a night. I recommend that hotel if you have yet to book one

The Applebee's right between the Embassy and the Fallsview casino seemed to have the most reasonable prices...AVOID THE DENNY'S!!

Attached a picture of the view from our room there, was beautiful.

Thanks for the tips, SJ. We were there last summer and, boy, were the prices a shock even before the collaspe of the dollar. Indeed, we went to Denny's with my kid brother and his friend who were holidaying and we ended up paying $120 for a burger meal for four. $120!!! I didn't want to buy the restaurant, just a cheeseburger! AND we had to wait an hour for our food (despite the fact there was one other family in the entire place). Needless to say, we did not leave a particularly generous tip....

To be honest, we prefer the American side because of that night walk you can take through the NF State Park. I really like that. Plus, it's less tacky than the Canadian side.

My wife was eyeing up the Embassy Suites, actually. We'll bear your recommendation in mind (I'll get press-ganged to booking it, more likely )

Happy New Year!