Proof of Citizenship
In order to enter to USA from Canada everybody (including US Citizens) needs to be prepared to prove that they are not a citizen of a country that is on poor political terms with the USA, and if they are, that they have all the necessary documentation that will allow them to enter the country. The only way this can be done is to prove your citizenship. The only way this can be done is with a passport, Naturalization Certificate or birth certificate.
Passports are mandatory as of January 23 2007 if you are coming by air.
You do not need to be a US Citizen to obtain:
- Driver's License
- Social Security Card
- Voter Registration Card
- Military ID
Therefore these pieces of ID only serve to prove who you are, but not the country of citizenship. There is a slim chance a person could get into Canada, however getting back into the USA could be difficult or even impossible without proof of citizenship. For more information, please visit the following link: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html#
Proof of Residency
Regardless of your citizenship, you also need to prove where you live. Children do not have to prove residence as the adults they are traveling with take on that responsibility. Adults need to have something to show where they live, such as a driver's license, or a state issued ID complete with their address on the card. For those who do not drive, a recent utility, or credit card bill in their name showing their address will suffice as long as they have picture ID to prove who they are.
Entering Canada
Canadian Customs Officers operate under similar rules and regulations as the Department of Homeland Security, although are not as strict in enforcement of identification standards as their US counterparts. This is not to say that if they suspect something is amiss that they will not take your vehicle apart (literally), but they tend to be a little more trusting than their friends across "the line". Please verify that all group members have not been found guilty of a DUI before crossing the border. Otherwise, you will not be able to enter in Canada without a pardon. For more information, simply contact the following number: 1.888.242.2100
Entering the USA
For the most part, visitors from the USA to Canada have told me that it was much easier driving from the USA to Canada than trying to get home again. The personnel at the Department of Homeland Security take their jobs very seriously and just because you can prove that you live in the USA doesn't mean that they have to let you cross to go home again unless you have the correct documentation.
For additional information, please visit the following links:
http://www.canadawelcomesyou.net/shouldknow.html
