Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

We tried to do this last summer with my kids, all three of whom are less than 16. We were told no problem getting into Canada, but getting back to the US will be a problem. We got this advice at the border from border patrol, so we didn't cross.

That's BS. The entry requirements are the same and in any case the govt can't stop you from entering if you have proof of citizenship.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

For a long, long time I didn't get any paid vacation. I worked as a bartender, at the front desk of a health club, and then an independent contractor (while bartending part time). I am 35 and in March just got a job that provides paid vacation. And yes, I did go on vacations prior, but they were of the "take the bus to NY to visit friends for a 3-day weekend" rather than the "fly to Paris for two weeks" variety. Some people work, a lot.

Working a lot doesn't mean you don't get vacation.
My husband works a lot and gets five weeks vac.

Just stop talking, with each subsequent post you get more breathtakingly stupid.

No, she's just one of those entitled DCUM egotists who probably complains about being middle class on the family $300K HHI. Her husband works a lot and she stays at home with the kids and they just *STRUGGLE* to get by so that they can only go on one vacation out of the country a year. Such trials and tribulations.

We travelled by car with our kids to Canada last year. Adults had passports and kids used birth certificates. No issues at all. I think if you fly, you are required to have birth certificates for the kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

For a long, long time I didn't get any paid vacation. I worked as a bartender, at the front desk of a health club, and then an independent contractor (while bartending part time). I am 35 and in March just got a job that provides paid vacation. And yes, I did go on vacations prior, but they were of the "take the bus to NY to visit friends for a 3-day weekend" rather than the "fly to Paris for two weeks" variety. Some people work, a lot.

Working a lot doesn't mean you don't get vacation.
My husband works a lot and gets five weeks vac.

Just stop talking, with each subsequent post you get more breathtakingly stupid.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP here. My family takes vacations all of the time, yet none of them are out of the country. Not everyone travels to different countries on a regular basis. It is utterly sad that you can't fathom that others enjoy different trips than you do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

For a long, long time I didn't get any paid vacation. I worked as a bartender, at the front desk of a health club, and then an independent contractor (while bartending part time). I am 35 and in March just got a job that provides paid vacation. And yes, I did go on vacations prior, but they were of the "take the bus to NY to visit friends for a 3-day weekend" rather than the "fly to Paris for two weeks" variety. Some people work, a lot.

Working a lot doesn't mean you don't get vacation.
My husband works a lot and gets five weeks vac.

Anonymous wrote:

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

We tried to do this last summer with my kids, all three of whom are less than 16. We were told no problem getting into Canada, but getting back to the US will be a problem. We got this advice at the border from border patrol, so we didn't cross.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

For a long, long time I didn't get any paid vacation. I worked as a bartender, at the front desk of a health club, and then an independent contractor (while bartending part time). I am 35 and in March just got a job that provides paid vacation. And yes, I did go on vacations prior, but they were of the "take the bus to NY to visit friends for a 3-day weekend" rather than the "fly to Paris for two weeks" variety. Some people work, a lot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1

How is it presumptuous when the laws of both countries do in fact allow kids under 16 to cross land borders without a passport? Passports for a minor child are only good for 5 years and for some people that expense may not be worth it if they don't expect to do other international travel.

(My kid does have a passport and has since her first trip to Canada at 10 months, but I do get why other people might make different decisions.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for those who provided USEFUL feedback. I'm surprised that a seemingly benign, objective question spawned such debate and negativity and judgment. Why are people so rude?!?!??

Because it was a really stupid question.

No, not at all! As someone with immediate family in Canada thus the need to travel there regularly, we have seen the rules change time and time again. Before 9/11 we were never asked for any documentation for children and I used only my driver's license for both land and air travel. We had different experiences crossing the border by car into New Brunswick, Ontario and British Columbia. Post 9/11 the rules changed many times. First they said children would need a passport by a certain date only to have that rule rescinded before it started. Then there were rules for travel groups vs. individuals and separate rules for land and air travel. Unless you have watched this closely, please do not be so rude as to assume you know everything. I have been watching closely and even we've been confused by the regulations!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for those who provided USEFUL feedback. I'm surprised that a seemingly benign, objective question spawned such debate and negativity and judgment. Why are people so rude?!?!??

Because it was a really stupid question.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don't think it's presumptuous at all. Yes it's another country, but one with which we share a (large) land border, where for a long time the requirements *were* in fact different / easier. I'm not sure when post 9/11 they changed the rules, but I know for a fact that entry / return from Canada used to only require a driver's license.

They also issue a Passport Card (smaller, cheaper, wallet sized) for use in land or sea crossings to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The turn around time may also be cheaper for passport cards, but personally it seemed worth the added expense to just get an actual Passport book since we use it infrequently. i imagine the passport card is really only worth it for folks who truly make those crossing on such a frequent basis that it's truly easier to just have a wallet sized card.

OP here. Thanks for those who provided USEFUL feedback. I'm surprised that a seemingly benign, objective question spawned such debate and negativity and judgment. Why are people so rude?!?!??

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Really PP? You need to get out of your bubble. There are plenty of people who do not leave the country. In fact there are plenty who don't leave their home state.

Passports for kids are a bit of a hassle since they only last 5 years and have to be renewed in person with both parents present. My kids have them since we travel a lot, but if we weren't going out of the country on a regular basis I would not get them one.