Snow_Dog wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:33pm:


Exactly

BillConner wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:19pm:


I've yet to meet a customs agent as agreeable as this.  I'm certainly not a gov't official or an expert so I can only speak upon 20 years of experience of going through Fort Frances nearly 10x per year, Rainy Lake (Baudette) 4-5 times per year, Pigeon River 2x per year, Pembina 1-2x per year, Lancaster 1x per year and misc. times through Windsor.  (My sales route and bagpiping takes me up there quite often).  However, I will concede as I cannot speak to southern Quetico entry since I have never done this since the law went into effect.

I will only say "good luck" getting back into the US w/o one though.

Spartan1 and I just got our first passports this winter and they didn't take months, they took about 6 weeks.  We didn't get the cards, we got books, but I don't know of any reason why getting a card should take longer.

We didn't get any expedited service, just applied at the Post Office, and it was a bit shy of 6 weeks when they arrived.

Oh, Ely customs.  Seems I never remember until it's too late.  Never had a problem recrossing the next year after a failure to report the previous year...I keep waiting to hear something like this:

"Sir, you can't go into Canada because our records indicate you are still in Canada from your last trip."    

Holy cow, thanks for all the responses.  I will tell him to get a move on and apply for the passport card.

db wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:43pm:


That's what I've been doing for the past couple of years...just a passport card shown to Ely customs.

BillConner wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:27pm:

Nice to know there is an expedited service because "same-day" service can be a bit pricey (if you can get it). 

Maybe a dozen years ago, my daughter was headed to Europe with a group.  Two days before departure, she began looking for her passport.  Panic set in after it didn't turn up in either the safe deposit box or any of the "hiding" places at home.  The additional bad new ... the passport was with her birth certificate.

The next day, after numerous unsuccessful calls to see if there was any remedy for this short term problem, I finally gave my local congressman a call.  They soon called back and said that if we could get my daughter to Houston (the closest passport office) before the end of the day, they would issue her an passport on an emergency basis.  I said, OK and we'd try to get her to the passport office that day.

Next step was to find a flight to Houston that could get them to the passport office in a timely manner.  Intercontinental... to far out... takes more time.  We finally settled on an early afternoon flight to Hobby (closer to downtown). I quickly loaded my wife and daughter in the car and shot down the road to the airport in Dallas (Love, not DFW ... its a longer drive).  Luckily the traffic was not too bad and we made the airport in about 45 minutes (at least that was sufficient time to eat lunch while we drove).  Arrived at the airport, and dropped them off.  I "stood by" in the parking lot to make sure they made the flight ... they did. 

Upon arrival at Houston, they quickly flagged a cab ... "any of you guys ever drive a cab in Boston?"  Your it!  Haul ass to the passport office!!  After arriving at the federal building, it took a little time to find the office, but by 4:00 they were in the passport office.  "Oh NO!  Long lines!!!  Will we get to the desk before the office closes?"  They finally did ... at 4:55.  They explained who they were, to which the agent responded "Oh, Yes!"  She temporarily left her station and returned to her station.  As she handed the new passport across the desk, it was still VERY warm to the touch from the laminating machine.

They relaxed a bit afterwards before taking in a quick dinner before heading back ... after all, my daughter now had to finish packing for the next morning's flight.  They arrived back in Dallas before 8:00, looking a fit frazzled ... but the next day, she was on the plane!

So, I guess it helps to use a little "grease."  I guess it didn't hurt, that the congressman I called was then "Majority Leader of the House."

dd

Snow_Dog wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:34pm:

Just to be clear, there's a card (not the Nexus Card) that's a bit cheaper. I believe it is for land crossings only. It's what I use. So, my question is, is that acceptable for crossing by boat and reporting in Ely or whatever with an RABC that people use for the southern Quetico entry points?

And I'd trust PJ to know, seeing as he crosses the border quite frequently.

Technically true that you don't need a passport or passport card to enter Canada. 

If you plan to return to the US, though, you have to have one.