Changes to Impact Travel to Canada

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an important advisory regarding upcoming changes in their requirement for documentation at Champlain and other U.S.-Canadian border crossings.

Currently, U.S. and Canadian citizens are often admitted with a "verbal declaration" of their citizenship and presentation of a driver's license or similar ID.

THIS WILL CHANGE
Beginning January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens 19 years and older who enter the U.S. at land crossings will need to present government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license as proof of identity,

ALONG WITH PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, SUCH AS A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR NATURALIZATION CERTIFICATE, OR A PASSPORT. NEXUS cards will also remain valid, of course.

Children age 18 and under will be able to enter with proof of citizenship.

Verbal claims of citizenship and identity alone will not be sufficient to establish identity and citizenship for entry into the United States .



WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ?

If you have the required ID such as a passport or birth certificate, plan to regularly carry it when you cross the border starting January 31.

If you do not, you will need to be sure to obtain and have either a birth certificate to accompany your driver's license or a passport by January 31.

We also continue to strongly encourage U.S. and Canadian citizens who are eligible, to enroll in NEXUS -- not only because it can speed your cross-border travel (especially once the new Champlain border facilities are completed later in 2008), but because it is and will remain the best ID at the border. Please consider applying now -- but realize you will not now obtain a NEXUS card by January 31 so will have to have other required documents in the interim.

WHAT ABOUT DRIVER'S LICENSES?

New York State has reached an agreement with the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security on the creation of an enhanced driver's license that will be fully accepted at the border in place of a passport or other documents. It will verify citizenship on the license and use technology to verify identity. This will be an important step forward as it will eliminate the need to carry any special cards or documents. Obtaining these enhanced driver's licenses will be optional, and at some added cost not yet set. Vermont , Ontario and Michigan have reached similar agreements, and discussions are underway with Quebec .

However, it is not expected that these enhanced New York State licenses will become available anytime sooner than late 2008. Therefore, these will not yet be an option as of January 31.

We will continue to keep you apprised.

Special thanks to the Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce for sharing this alert with us.