Why do I need a passport

I decided about a week ago to head to Niagara Falls for my 22nd wedding anniversary.
Well you can get a hotel overlooking the falls but there is one catch, you have to be in Canada.
Going to Canada requires a passport or at least coming back to the USA requires one.

Why the hell do I need a passport to enter the country my car is register in and my drivers license is issued from?
Mexican citizens can enter from the southern border without a bother but not me.

It's all a big steaming load of bull$$$$!

I believe an "enhanced" driver's license also works. most states are issuing them now. I guess the real question is, why don't you have a passport? You never know when you might decide "visiting" another country might become vitally important to you all of a sudden. It's just part pf being prepared.

a reply to: Bluntone22

It's a hassle, for sure, if you don't already have one.
When I was younger my parents and I crossed over and back every year. No problem.

Had a passport been required in those days, my parents likely wouldn't have bothered. They were quite aged and set in their ways.

Anyway, for your anniversary?
It'll be worth it.

Happy Anniversary.

a reply to: Bluntone22

Same reason that you need a drivers license. You are told you need it, or you go to jail.

I've always wondered why we don't just use our passports at national IDs and cut out the individual states BS. Would make much more sense over a lifetime.

But yeah, I gotta echo why don't you have a passport, dude? Who doesn't have a passport these days? Better to have a valid one than to scramble at the last minute if a surprise vacation abroad blessing falls into your lap or family goes and has issues and needs you there, etc.

originally posted by: seasonal
a reply to: Bluntone22

Same reason that you need a drivers license. You are told you need it, or you go to jail.

The only time you need a drivers license to avoid going to jail is if you're operating a motor vehicle. No one is required to have a drivers license, or even an ID to simply walk around in public...at least in the US. That might be different in other countries, but here that is simply not true.

a reply to: Bluntone22

It's been that way with Canada for a while now. I've got a passport but it's from decades ago...I need to see if I can just renew it because I actually want to go to Canada with one of my friends who has dual citizenship. Everyone says it's a big hassle, though.

originally posted by: Nyiah
I've always wondered why we don't just use our passports at national IDs and cut out the individual states BS. Would make much more sense over a lifetime.

But yeah, I gotta echo why don't you have a passport, dude? Who doesn't have a passport these days? Better to have a valid one than to scramble at the last minute if a surprise vacation abroad blessing falls into your lap or family goes and has issues and needs you there, etc.

Ok then I'll ask a question.
Why should I pay $150 for a passport that is provided by government employees that my tax dollars are already paying?
Why do I need to pay more for them to do the job I'm already paying them to do?

No issue personally with having to have a passport but the thing that royally f#cks me off is the "not accepted for travel" if said passport does not have at least 6 months remaining??, sorry but that is like getting a 12 month gym membership and only being allowed access for 9 months of the year...

Total BS...


RA

a reply to: Bluntone22

Only $150?? At the post office, they told me it costs $300 to get a new passport. Maybe it went down since last year?

a reply to: slider1982

Wow, really?? That's crazy! How long are they valid for in the first place?

originally posted by: tigertatzen
a reply to: slider1982

Wow, really?? That's crazy! How long are they valid for in the first place?

10 years, I think but to the OP if you are going to get one...

depending on when your anniversary is I would get on it. Can't you just get a 'card' for Canada?

Just saying.

Good luck!

a reply to: Bluntone22

Because not everyone is allowed to just enter any country willy-nilly. Natiobal borders, citizenship, etc.

originally posted by: dogstar23
a reply to: Bluntone22

Because not everyone is allowed to just enter any country willy-nilly. Natiobal borders, citizenship, etc.

That's my whole issue.
Northern border, passports
Southern border, don't worry bout it...
It's bull.

a reply to: Bluntone22

I live in the Metro Detroit area and go to Windsor all the time. We just get an Enhanced Drivers Lisc when we renew. You can also get another like fast pass/w it to get you thru say if you go back and forth everyday.

Nothing new here. Been quite a couple years now. No biggie. Started after 911 and when the Windsor and Detroit Casinos went up to handle extra entrants going to gamble.

a reply to: schuyler

Yep. Prepping 101 in my book.

a reply to: slider1982

It's to stop people from being stranded in another country if your passport expires. Imagine being overseas then getting arrested. If the case drags on, you wouldn't have enough time to get it renewed & and would become an illegal immigrant. It's also a measure to reduce the people who'll get a passport then try to stay permanently in the other country they're visiting.

originally posted by: Bluntone22

originally posted by: dogstar23
a reply to: Bluntone22

Because not everyone is allowed to just enter any country willy-nilly. Natiobal borders, citizenship, etc.

That's my whole issue.
Northern border, passports
Southern border, don't worry bout it...
It's bull.

Not true. You need a passport at the southern border. Coming into El Paso from Juarez even requires going through huge checkpoints where everyone's ID is checked, with "random" people getting more intensive security measures.

originally posted by: enlightenedservant
a reply to: schuyler

Yep. Prepping 101 in my book.

a reply to: slider1982

It's to stop people from being stranded in another country if your passport expires. Imagine being overseas then getting arrested. If the case drags on, you wouldn't have enough time to get it renewed & and would become an illegal immigrant. It's also a measure to reduce the people who'll get a passport then try to stay permanently in the other country they're visiting.

Not buying the argument for a minute, if people wanted to stay they will do it regardless, if you are stopped for drugs offences then it will take far longer than 6 months to deal with if a trial is needed at this point the issueing countries Embassey will issues a temp passport on release.

I was with someone who was refused entry into Malaysia from Thailand, that person had a return coach ticket and was only going to be in the country for under 48hours, they had nearly 5 months remaining on their passport..

The case you put forward is assuming someone is going to be partaking into illegal activities, a time frame on a passport is not a indicator of ones intentions..

Also to point out another point that was questioned above not all passports are 10 years, some Asian countries issues every 5 and to have 6 months cropped off that is absurd..

It is a money making venture that screws many travellers each year abd I dread to think of how many people get caught out unjustly with this racket..

RA

a reply to: slider1982

It's called the "Six Months Validity Rule" and it's imposed by other countries on their visitors (HERE). As in, those countries won't allow visitors if they don't have at least 6 months left on their passport. Each country has different reasons for why they want this, with some including the reasons I listed above.

If you "aren't buying the argument", then simply don't travel out of the country.

a reply to: enlightenedservant

So we are right back at square one, you pay for a x amount of years on a passport only for a good chunk to be unusable... Seems logical.

RA