[pct-l] Flying from Vancouver to So. Cal

[CWillett at pierce.ctc.edu (Chris Willett)]

You need to prove citizenship to enter the US.  A drivers license does not prove citizenship.  At the Peace Arch crossing, I've been repeatedly told that a drivers license and a birth certificate do not qualify as proving citizenship.  It does not matter if I think this is foolish or if it seems contrary to what the law requires.  The border agents have a lot of discretion, such as putting people through an hour question-and-answer session because the person happened to visit Syria and Lebanon during their winter vacation.

Entering Canada, I rarely have to show much, although I usually have my passport on me.

Suge

---------------------------
Christopher Willett
cwillett@pierce.ctc.edu
www.pierce.ctc.edu/faculty/cwillett
Pierce College
9401 Farwest Drive SW.
Lakewood, WA. 98498-1999

> ----------
> From: 	Slyatpct@aol.com
> Sent: 	Saturday, February 12, 2005 8:46 PM
> To: 	Chris Willett; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net; eyakel@earthlink.net
> Subject: 	Re: [pct-l] Flying from Vancouver to So. Cal
> 
> In a message dated 2/12/2005 9:08:57 PM Eastern Standard Time, CWillett@pierce.ctc.edu writes:
> 
> 
> 
> 	You will need a passport no matter how you want to cross the border, although the drivers license and birth certificate should get you through with just a lecture.  Or, it might not.  Or, it might go smoothly.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Well, what is it?
> 
> You don't NEED a passport to pass back and forth from Canada to the USA.  
> 
> I've come back from Canada, both before and after 9/11, with only a drivers license AND a birth certificate and had no problems whatsoever.  
> 
> Sly
>