New driver's licence will be accepted instead of passport at land crossings -
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/...-0316.html
Quebec Premier Jean Charest showed off his "smart" driver's licence near the Canada-U.S. border on Monday as his province became the first in the country to issue the new border-friendly licences.
Quebecers who sign up for the enhanced licences will be able to use them instead of their passports at land and water crossings when the U.S. government brings in more strict security measures in June.
(See the rest of the article on the above link).
Thing I never can figure out is why people just dont get a passport.
Agreed
The cost for a passport is close to that of the smart license I believe (once you factor in the fees) and a US passport is good for 10 years, whereas typically a DL is good for 4-5 years
AWA1979 Wrote:Thing I never can figure out is why people just dont get a passport.
People might be under the impression that getting a passport is a complicated process - which just isn't true, at least in the States (though I find the hoop-jumping involved with getting a Canadian passport somewhat amusing - my husband will have a slightly more difficult time than I will). Plus, I think people might be under the impression that they will never need to travel outside the country, therefore it's a waste of money. To be honest, the only reason I got mine was due to immigration and because the land crossing law was about to change (and then they delayed it). I am glad I shelled out the cash to get it, because I learned it's not only good for foreign travel, it's a nifty identity document!
thelovelymrst Wrote:People might be under the impression that getting a passport is a complicated process - which just isn't true, at least in the States (though I find the hoop-jumping involved with getting a Canadian passport somewhat amusing - my husband will have a slightly more difficult time than I will). Plus, I think people might be under the impression that they will never need to travel outside the country, therefore it's a waste of money. To be honest, the only reason I got mine was due to immigration and because the land crossing law was about to change (and then they delayed it). I am glad I shelled out the cash to get it, because I learned it's not only good for foreign travel, it's a nifty identity document!
I got my passport in 2000 and had never been outside the US, and only got it cause I was working for an airline and it made sense since co-workers would often plan last minute international trips together.
But getting the passport made me want to travel to other countries, if not for that I may have never gone to Australia or Jamaica and used the excuse I have heard from others, I'd love to go but I'd have to get a passport.
I left the airline before I could go anywhere else. But probably would have gone to many others. Having to pay for airfare makes travel not so accessible to low income folks.:)
DerbyGirl Wrote:Agreed
The cost for a passport is close to that of the smart license I believe (once you factor in the fees) and a US passport is good for 10 years, whereas typically a DL is good for 4-5 years
Canadian passports are only good for 5 years, so they're no better than a driver's license in that respect -- plus, most people need a driver's license anyway. I can see a lot of people taking advantage of this. It's supposed to be available in Ontario this summer. I understand the RFID chips are optional, but if you don't get them, you can't use them as a passport replacement. I likely won't be getting one, just because I know how easy it can be to read things like that if they aren't encrypted properly.
You would still need a passport even with the SMART License if you ever intend to fly. It would just make more sense to get a passport. In the US, you can now get a credit card size passport with all of the same features as a full size passport with the exception that you can't use it to fly. But, they are half the price of a full US Passport. My sister and brother-in-law and a girlfriend of mine will all be getting one of those to use to travel here.