Not sure if everyone is aware of this so I thought I would share. My wife and I occasionally cross into Canada, usually for car related events or I used to cross from Sarnia to Buffalo several times a year transporting cars. I have a couple regular customers in the upstate NY area and the shortest route is through Canada. Since our US Homeland Security & Customs started requiring a passport to get back into the US, I have traveled to the south, around Lake Huron and I skipped Autofest this year just because we weren't too interested in spending the couple hundred dollars and the time required to obtain a passport. Neither of us plans to travel outside of North America so why bother. I recently became aware of a new program established jointly by the Canadian and US gov. to make it easier for people crossing the borders with no need of a passport for other travel abroad. The gov.'s have jointly developed an enhanced driver's license. You simply need to go to the licensing bureau and show proof of identity to obtain this new drivers license. Apparently the card has a chip in it that can be read from a distance. The fee for this card here in Michigan is $45 which I believe is about half that of a passport. Once the card is obtained we should be able to past through the border crossings much quicker and cheaper. My wife and I plan to get our cards this week and hope to have an opportunity to use them in the near future. Presently only 3 states in the U.S. are issuing the cards but plans are for all border states and Canadian provinces to issue them in the future. I keep you posted if anyone is interested. Norm
yup we have it here now too, you also go for a brief interview.... funny, its easer to get a passport! its valid for 3 years... i go overseas as much i go to the states it seems, but a passport is pain to carry around, its about time we had card sized electronic passports too!
I was told they are more expensive then a passport but I agree that it would be a lot easyer. My wallet is always with me so no chance of forgeting the passport at home or leaving it in another car or having it stolen from your car or motel room.
-- Edited by 70 SS ACADIAN on Sunday 27th of September 2009 01:36:56 PM
My daughter just got married and is living in Spokane, Wa, so now I need a passport to go visit. When I lived in Oliver a few years ago, we used to go across the line to fill the tank and buy milk. No big deal.
I suppose each state and province will be different but for us here in Michigan the cost is $45 versus a minimum of $97 for a passport. The passport price is what I received in the mail, never really applied for one myself. I do believe it will just be a matter of convenience for us, always carrying the driver license versus trying to remember the passport just like I used to try to remember my birth certificate. The Michigan web site said only 3 states were up and running so far with this technology.
What is involved in getting a Nexus card? Don't you have to show that you need it for business or something or that you cross a minimum number of times per year so as to warrant it?
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
You may qualify to participate in NEXUS if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States and have lived in Canada and/or the United States continuously for the last three years.
You may not qualify if one of the following applies:
you are inadmissible to Canada or the United States under applicable immigration laws;
you intentionally provide false or incomplete information on your application;
you have been convicted of a serious criminal offence in any country for which you have not received a pardon (for U.S. background checks you may be questioned about your full criminal history, including arrests and pardons, which may exclude you from NEXUS);
you have a recorded violation of customs, immigration or agriculture law; or
you fail to meet other requirements of NEXUS.
Both Canada and the United States must approve your application for you to become a member of NEXUS. If you do not meet all of the requirements, your application will be denied.
Took about four months for us to get the Nexus card. They fingerprinted us, rentinal scan etc, etc.
Interesting thing is that the border officers seem to treat us with respect in the Nexus line as opposed to suspision in the ordinary line. They tend to say Thank you, and Sir and are generally pleasant. Well worth it, in my opinion.
With the border line ups at 4-5 hours this summer, it was a great alternative.
