Do I have enough identification to drive into the US from Canada?

Do I have enough identification to drive into the US from Canada?
I have a trip planned to Canada in 2 weeks, however I do not have my passport.

I do have my birth certificate, drivers license, and a pretty good laminated copy of my passport (it shows my signature, all of my information, all of the barcodes / numbers on the bottom).

I’m not worried about getting into Canada just into the US.

Will the photocopy of my passport work?
Online it says to enter the US I need a passport, my main question is will the Photocopy along with my identification work?

Best answer:

uh… i think you need a passport, or you’ll end up in a tiny cell doing sexual favors for food and protection.

Tags: Canada, drive, enough, from, identification, into

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13 Comments for Do I have enough identification to drive into the US from Canada?

1. Sun S. | August 9th, 2008 at 6:08 pm

You need a U.S. passport as you have stated. You should be fine.
2. nick_mann91 | August 9th, 2008 at 7:02 pm

Yes, my kind person…
3. Chris | August 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

Must copy
4. RomanceNdreams | August 9th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

it use to be all you needed was your drivers license or birth certificate. why don’t you look it up on line. Canada immigration rules
5. Alex | August 9th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

No I don’t believe so I think you need your real passport. Just think of it as your flying to another country bring what you would for that. I travel to Germany all the time and you have to have the real thing no copy.
6. thenemo-man | August 9th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

Better call the immigration or passport office i got a passport from the us p.o. quite fast as things are slow get off your butt And just go get one pay the Small premium if you are worried.
7. 123got | August 9th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

for me to cross the border with my auntie i have my birth certificate and a note from my parents. my auntie drives out of canada to bring me to the meeting spot in washington, she jus tells them how long she is leaving for, and stuff. but bring your birth certificate and stuff. you sound over prepared but your well organized .=)
8. frosty84 | August 9th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

no you have to take a passport now and it isn’t getting into the U.S. you should worry about if you are a resident they don’t really care the strict regulations are from the canadians they will look for any reason to detain you if you go through at the wrong time of day I have driven through canada 10 times and never had a problem with the U.S. customs but canada is really getting hard on americans
9. William | August 9th, 2008 at 10:15 pm

I live in a town called Sault Ste. Marie, MI. It is a border town and I can tell you that you do not have enough to get back into the USA without a hassle.

You need one of the following: a passport. a passport card, a nexus card or a enhanced driver license. A copy will not be accepted.
10. tuppenybitz | August 9th, 2008 at 10:44 pm

you must have a passport, a photo copy is not a legal document and can not be used
11. thinkingtime | August 9th, 2008 at 11:30 pm

You need a real, valid passport.
12. Shar | August 10th, 2008 at 12:18 am

You need a passport (the actual thing- I highly doubt a photocopy will work) or your enhanced drivers license. you will need one of these to get into Canada and to return to the US (these are new guidelines that went into effect June 1, 2009).
13. Jeff H | August 10th, 2008 at 1:13 am

According to the Department of Homeland Security website, under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a citizen of the US, 16 or older, requires one of the following forms of ID to enter, or re-enter, the US by land:

A valid Passport

A valid Passport Card

An enhanced drivers license

A NEXUS or other “FAST” Card

Although there have been cases of people being allowed to cross the border under a grace period with a warning there is no set time frame for this. In addition it is up to the individual border crossings to determine whether they will allow a person to cross the border without one of the approved identification forms. You did not say why you do not have your passport, just a copy. If it has expired then your copy would not be valid even if it was acceptable. A copy would not be considered valid normally due to the possibility of alterations having occurred.

I would say that you may be allowed to cross the border into Canada and return across the border into the US. However you are taking a chance going both ways since Canada Border Services are also enforcing the same rules for non-Canadian citizens. You could contact the border crossing where you plan on entering both Canada and returning to the US and confirm with them.

Do I have enough identification to drive into the US from Canada?

13 Comments for Do I have enough identification to drive into the US from Canada?

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