Land crossing passport rules revised

[TravelGal]

The plan requiring passports or so called 'border cards' for those entering the US at land border crossings on January 1, 2008 has been delayed by 17 months. House and Senate lawmakers said they wanted to be sure new ID cards now under development will secure borders without slowing legitimate travellers from Canada and Mexico.

This delay applies only to travellers entering the US over land borders. It does NOT affect the requirement that passports MUST be used by all persons entering the US by air or sea as of January 8th, 2007.

Repeat, if you fly or take a cruise and are returning to the US as of January 8, 2007, you must have a passport. Most people feel this requirement will not be relaxed.

The delay in requirement is only for land crossings, as in driving to and from those Canadian races. ;)

[Wabbit]

Or, you can just run across the border and not have to have any paperwork....but wait, that's a different topic.;)

[TKGAngel]

I'm not sure how having a passport is going to make any difference in border crossings if the guards dont check them. Last weekend I went to Canada to go to Ikea and the casino, and the Canadians gave a much more thorough check than the Americans did. The US border guard on the way back didn't even ask for my ID, just gave me the standard 'where ya born and where'd ya go' type questions. On the plus side, at least the bridge wasn't too backed up when we were on it. Sitting on a bridge over the Lower Niagara freaks me out.

I also wonder how this is going to affect all the bars in communities near the border that make a pretty penny off of college and high school kids heading over the border because of the younger drinking age. Sounds like the end of a right of passage.

[devilmaster]

I also wonder how this is going to affect all the bars in communities near the border that make a pretty penny off of college and high school kids heading over the border because of the younger drinking age. Sounds like the end of a right of passage.

Windsor's tourist section has already been decimated by the talk of the new passport rules.

Conversely, Detroit restaurants are also noticing that they are being affected.