Anonymous wrote:U.S. citizen children under age 16 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate. However, the state department and Canadian equivalent both recommend using a passport.

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_sa.html

Canada is another country. I'm not sure why you would be so presumptuous as to not have a passport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A passport is needed by land or air.
Who does have a passport?

I didn't get a passport until I was 32, and had to go to a destination wedding in Mexico. I haven't left the country since. Not everyone can afford to take time off from work AND spend money traveling out of the country.

How utterly sad. But I call BS.
Don't you get any paid vac time?
You couldn't afford a vacation in that many years? Get a new job, start budgeting? Take control.

If you are non-white, I would recommend passports. Although it doesn't happen all the time, there is a much higher incident of non-white US citizens having troubles returning to the US without passports. Save yourself the grief and hassle and just get the passport.

Anonymous wrote:Government website seems to suggest passport not needed for minors if traveling by land. Only birth certificate. Is that true?

That is my understanding-- crossing by land under the age of 16 you only need a birth certificate (plus you may need a consent letter if both custodial parents are not present)

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/whti_bg/whti_state_factsheet.ctt/whti_state_factsheet.pdf

Anonymous wrote:Is there a different requirement if you are flying vs. driving into Canada for kids needing passports vs. birth certificate? I've heard flying requires passport but driving does not. Can anyone please confirm? Thanks! Kids are under age 5.

Passports are useful to have for other things too. You never know when an international opportunity could suddenly arise. You can use them for school registration and sports registration (they require birth certificate or passports.) Last week we used DC's for his application for a learner's permit. That way we keep his birth certificate in an offsite locked box and have the passport handy for everything else.

U.S. citizen children under age 16 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate. However, the state department and Canadian equivalent both recommend using a passport.

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_sa.html

Anonymous wrote:A passport is needed by land or air.
Who does have a passport?

I didn't get a passport until I was 32, and had to go to a destination wedding in Mexico. I haven't left the country since. Not everyone can afford to take time off from work AND spend money traveling out of the country.

Most people should have passports even for kids. It isn't hard. Don't people travel with kids?

Anonymous wrote:I meant who DOESN'T.

Really? I hope you are not this dumb.

I meant who DOESN'T.

Anonymous wrote:Government website seems to suggest passport not needed for minors if traveling by land. Only birth certificate. Is that true?

I'd get a passport. We needed them when we crossed in on the train last year.

A passport is needed by land or air.
Who does have a passport?

Government website seems to suggest passport not needed for minors if traveling by land. Only birth certificate. Is that true?

YEs. You need a passport now.

Is there a different requirement if you are flying vs. driving into Canada for kids needing passports vs. birth certificate? I've heard flying requires passport but driving does not. Can anyone please confirm? Thanks! Kids are under age 5.