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

[yawho_hiker at yahoo.com (j rhoades)]

Even though I got lucky and no problems using just a
driver's license, I think it could have caused more
problems if I had used a passport.

Long before 9/11, I entered the U.S. from Mexico after
visting all the countries in Central America and some
in South America.  Without thinking, I gave him my
passport, which was not required, instead of my
driver's license.  Once he checked it out he said
"You've been to some questionable places.  Please step
over there and empty your pack."  I asked, "Which
places?".  He replied, "All of them." They checked
everything in my pack very carefully.  It definitely
slowed down the crossing.

So while using a passport to reenter the U.S. may be
the easiest thing to do for most people, if you have
any countries known for drugs or people looked upon
with suspicion by the U.S. government, it might be
wiser to stick with just a license and birth
certificate.

Jeff

--- Chris Willett <CWillett@pierce.ctc.edu> wrote:

> 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
> > 
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