US citizen visiting Canada without a passport

[EmilyS 11]

It was just a last min thing, decided to come for a visit but remembered she doesn't have a US passport, her GC was taken away when she became a naturalized citizen, and never thought about getting a passport after that, she tends to leave things to the last min lol. Anyways thanks everyone

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yes, i'm sure 1 would eventually get back into the USA...BUT at my Naturalization ceremony the head honcho that ran the ceremony stated numerous times the certificate did not act as a passport in any manner and would not allow you entry into the USA on it, and stressed to get a passport!! I think my passport arrived in less than 3 weeks back in 2009

[Rob & Monika 87]

I guess they don't enforce these laws very strictly. I just talked with someone last night who drove from Michigan to NY and cut through Ontario with just her birth certificate and drives license. They gave her no hassle at all.

[NikLR 13,227]

Driving might be different than flying. After all they implemented the passport when driving stage much later than flying. May be easier? Dunno. Its been a long time since I've driven to the USA and the next time I do it won't be until POE. Lol

[hikergirl 277]

I guess they don't enforce these laws very strictly. I just talked with someone last night who drove from Michigan to NY and cut through Ontario with just her birth certificate and drives license. They gave her no hassle at all.

Michigan has Enhanced Drivers Licences so that’s allowable under the WHTI.

[Rob & Monika 87]

Michigan has Enhanced Drivers Licences so that’s allowable under the WHTI.

Only if you pay for it. She said she had renewed her passport but hadn't gotten it back yet. There was a family emergency so she just grabbed what she had and tried it.

[hikergirl 277]

Strange that they’d allow it if it wasn’t an EDL.

But I guess as with everything else, it varies on the human behind the desk.

[Krikit 1,164]

Driving is definitely different than flying. If you fly you need the passport. But newacct has the correct link in that you do not require a passport at the land borders.

[Krikit 1,164]

Post violating the TOS has been removed.

[neiks 19]

Have yet to see a Canadian refused entry or a US citizen not allowed back into the US at a land border for not having a passport.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I have heard of one individual - a US citizen returning from a visit to Canada for a weekend without a passport - who was allowed back into the US but only after a very long wait, a thorough grilling and a stern lecture about trying to re-enter the US without a passport. It was about 6 hours before they finally allowed him to enter. This was at a land border POE - either one of the Windsor area ones or one of the Niagara area ones, but I don't remember now which it was. For some reason, Lewiston, NY comes to mind so that may have been it. (He was an historic re-enactor).

[neiks 19]

I have heard of one individual - a US citizen returning from a visit to Canada for a weekend without a passport - who was allowed back into the US but only after a very long wait, a thorough grilling and a stern lecture about trying to re-enter the US without a passport. It was about 6 hours before they finally allowed him to enter. This was at a land border POE - either one of the Windsor area ones or one of the Niagara area ones, but I don't remember now which it was. For some reason, Lewiston, NY comes to mind so that may have been it. (He was an historic re-enactor).

lol...I would bet that the 6 hours was probably more related to the examination of his goods he may have been travelling with if he was a "historic re-enactor". I can just imagine how that played out. CBP officer "you have what with you?"

[Kathryn41 3,205]

lol...I would bet that the 6 hours was probably more related to the examination of his goods he may have been travelling with if he was a "historic re-enactor". I can just imagine how that played out. CBP officer "you have what with you?"

I'm actually surprised how seldom when I was re-enacting we were ever stopped or questioned when we crossed the borders. We usually carried a copy of the invitation with us, but we were often carrying reproduction muskets and black powder along with our clothing and camping gear. I remember several times the border guard asking if he could see the flintlock muskets - not because of a security concern - but because they had never seen one before and they were curious about them. It often became more of a 'teaching session' about what they could (and could not ) do than anything else. Mainly we would be asked about food we were bringing in or bringing back. Surprisingly, re-enactors hauling cannons virtually never had problems at the border, and re-enactors with horses almost always did.