Passports

It is not too early to be getting your passports in order in preparation for Reunion 2011. Since the Reunion will be held in northern Maine - probably Van Buren - you will have the opportunity to travel between Canada and the U. S. Citizens of either country are required to have certain documents to reenter their home country. The information provided in this story is not official information, but represents our understanding of the requirements as of the time of writing. Be sure to consult official channels in your resident country for complete and reliable information!

US Passport Fees

The US has started issuing passport cards in addition to the traditional passport books. The cards are less expensive and can be used to enter the US from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. Cards cannot be used for international air travel. Both adults and children under 16 require passport books or passport cards.

The table below shows our understanding of the fee schedule as of August 2010: do not rely on this table but verify the actual fee with the State Department. This information came from their web site at travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html

US citizens are required to present one of the following valid WHTI-compliant documents when entering the United States by land or water:

• US Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea.
• US Passport Card: The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
• WHTI-Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen travel via land and sea, as of January 31, 2008:
  • Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
  • State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available)
  • Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
  • U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
  • Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
  • Form I-872 American Indian Card

Canadian Passport Fees

For Canadians living in Canada the following table shows our understanding of the fee schedule: do not rely on this table but verify the actual fees with Passport Canada. This information came from their web site at www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/form.aspx?lang=eng®ion=Canada.

Canadian citizens are required to present one of the following valid WHTI-compliant documents when entering the United States by land or water:

• a passport;
• a NEXUS card;
• a Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card;
• an enhanced driver's licence (EDL) or enhanced identification card (EIC) from a province where a U.S.-approved EDL/EIC program has been implemented; or
• a Secure Certificate of Indian Status.

Canadian citizens travelling by air to, through or from the United States must present one of the following valid documents:

• a passport; or
• a NEXUS card when used at a kiosk at designated Canadian airports and at all U.S. airports when returning to Canada.

For Canadian citizens returning to Canada from the US the Government of Canada recommends that Canadian citizens travel with a valid Canadian passport because it is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel.

Traveling With Children

Parents who share custody of their children and cross an international border should carry copies of the legal custody documents. It is also recommended that they have a letter of authorization from the other custodial parent to take the child on a trip out of the country.

If a party is traveling in more than one vehicle, children should cross a border in the same vehicle as their parents.

For More Information

For the most up-to-date information on traveling between Canada and the U. S. refer to the web sites linked above. You can also get more information about NEXUS cards, FAST cards, and the other forms of idenftification mentioned above at either of those web sites.