Canada and US comparison

[Sam]

you never told me if I could use that in my siggy.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

hehehe.
Go right ahead. (Just watch the space rules)

 

[Rich Parsons]

I travel with my passport now through Canada.

They already input your license plate number and get your address on their computer, and they ask you "Where you live?". If it does not match you get a lot more questions and investigations.

As to Passport fraud, US Passports are the number one target for fakes, as I was explained, by "customs" of different countries, that the way I look, and traveling on US passport it is suspect.

It is another form of identity check. I trave with Passport, ID and Birth Cert. and other various ID's.

Will it stop everything? No. Will it inconvience some of the people who have nto felt it before? Yes? Will it help? Some.

 

[Sarah]

It is another form of identity check. I trave with Passport, ID and Birth Cert. and other various ID's.
.

What about for people who are not American....I will obviously have my passport when I come over, but will I need birth cert etc as well to get into Canada?? Jeez, better start looking for it.

 

[Bammx2]

Counterfiet passports?

There are european countires(which most people just look right over)where you you can get almost any country(US included) for 3-5 grand!
All the security in the world isn't gonna stop a good "fingersmith".

How long til the "bio-barcodes"?!

 

[Lisa]

What about for people who are not American....I will obviously have my passport when I come over, but will I need birth cert etc as well to get into Canada?? Jeez, better start looking for it.

Sarah, in these times, and now with this announcement, come over with as much ID as you possibly can, cause us Canadians are certainly suspect of any kiwis coming over, we here their coming to take over the world (muahahahahahah!)

Seriously though, I took my daughter over the American border a couple of months ago and they wanted a signed noterized letter from my husband to allow me to take her myself to ensure I wasn't "stealing" her from him. The times they certainly are a changin'.

But seriously, it certainly wouldn't hurt to have your birth certificate. Didn't you need it to get your passport?

 

[KenpoTess]

Seig and I are going to Sydney in June and I was totally flabbergasted that the passport mandates will not accept a drivers license as ID if it's within 6 months since renewal.. now that's stupid~!!
I renewed mine in December 04 and now I gotta get all sorts of other ID together .....

I lived on the border of Canada in the 1000 Islands, We would take the Ferry across to Wolf Island into Kingston on a daily basis.. I'm wondering how they will do border patrols *never had to show any ID to use that route.

 

[ginshun]

Seig and I are going to Sydney in June and I was totally flabbergasted that the passport mandates will not accept a drivers license as ID if it's within 6 months since renewal.. now that's stupid~!!
I renewed mine in December 04 and now I gotta get all sorts of other ID together .....

I lived on the border of Canada in the 1000 Islands, We would take the Ferry across to Wolf Island into Kingston on a daily basis.. I'm wondering how they will do border patrols *never had to show any ID to use that route.

Well, seeing as how half the states will issue drivers licence to illegal aliens, I am kind of surprised that they let you use it as ID for getting your passport at all.

Honestly, I don't understand why people are bellyaching about this. All it can do is good. If the inconvienience of paying $100 every ten years is too much for you, then maybe you just shouldn't leave the country. Sheesh!

 

[OUMoose]

Well, seeing as how half the states will issue drivers licence to illegal aliens, I am kind of surprised that they let you use it as ID for getting your passport at all.

Honestly, I don't understand why people are bellyaching about this. All it can do is good. If the inconvienience of paying $100 every ten years is too much for you, then maybe you just shouldn't leave the country. Sheesh!

In a strange sort of happenstance, I'm leaning toward agreeing with Ginshun for once. I don't necessarily think it'll do good, but it'll certainly standarize access regulation across the board, which will make it easier on the toll booth guards.

Now, that said, if those border guards have a problem with my new shiny Passport when I come back from Canada, they're going to have a very irate Moose on their hands...

 

[KenpoTess]

The driver's license issue is just easier to show that ID than having to procur 7 other forms. You still need a Birth Certificate and illegal Aliens don't have that (unless forged)... so I have to come up with a HS yearbook (Passport preferred choice), and I sure as hell don't look anything like I did in HS.......
I'm not bellyaching about the price, nor the fact they are moving in that direction. For years crossing the border into Ontario, all you had to do was 'Tell the guards where you were born and they waved you through'...
I think it's a good thing.. I'm just kvetching bout the ID bit.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

We;ve enjoyed the ability to come and go without too much hassle for decades. Now, at a time when other nations like the EU are opening borders, we are closing our.

This will not increase security. Hell building a "Great Wall" and properly manning it would do more. It just gives the illusion of safety, much like the increased, but proven no more effectual airport security.

But, if only the Canadian Government had stopped those Iraqi terrorists from crossing into Buffalo, we wouldn't have had to invade Iraq and stop Sadamn from attacking us with his WMD. If only we'd thought to check their passports (which are non-forgable of course), life would still be normal.

Oh wait....
- The Terrorists were Saudis (US Allies)
- They entered in in US ports, not Canadian
- They had the proper papers (Student VISAs I believe)
- What WMD?
Oh yeah...
- RFID is a joke, forgable and an invasion of privacy.

So, someone tell me how requiring passports will somehow improve security?
The terrorists with the money will just forge em (US passports are among the most-forged documents in the world), and those who can't will simply sneak accross at any of the thousands of unwatched parts of our border.

But....we will have the "illusion" of safety, and that the government has done "something".

So what if it will complicate our lives, cost us 10's of billions of dollars, etc.

 

[Deuce]

I caught a bit of this on the news last night, and it sounds as though Canada will be implementing the same procedure. If it allows people to cross the border with less hasle and increases security, then it sounds good to me. Even though I've never had a problem crossing over into the states with only my driver's license. One time it was even expired, and they didn't even mention it (just for the record, I wasn't driving).

I just think that a fake passport would be easier to identify than a fake driver's license. A Canadian passport will be standard accross the provinces, but driver's licenses can be fairly different, with different security features. I think using a passport will also save time for authentication.

 

[Andrew Green]

I'm figuring by 2010 the US will have enclosed themselves in a Giant Dome and cut off outside contact completely

 

[Bob Hubbard]

If it wasn't for the cost, the fact that we've never needed them, and the fact it won't really make things more secure, I'd be ok with it.

 

[Deuce]

If it wasn't for the cost, the fact that we've never needed them, and the fact it won't really make things more secure, I'd be ok with it.

Wait for the day when full cavity searches will be required by everyone crossing!:erg:

 

[Makalakumu]

If it wasn't for the cost, the fact that we've never needed them, and the fact it won't really make things more secure, I'd be ok with it.

I could be in Canada in three hours and absolutely no one would know...except maybe my wife.

Passports are just another bureaucratic procedure, a hoop for good people to jump through. In a way, passports make it easier for the government to breath down the neck of the average citizen.

I can't see it having any effect on the bad guys.

 

[loki09789]

Well, This'll definately effect me. I'm not sure I want to spend an extra $100 a year just in case I feel like going to Toronto for a convention.

Shouldn't it be a write off is you are travelling for business: Martial arts or Computer/System related travel?

 

[loki09789]

I'm sure this will help.
I mean, passports can't be forged.
And the thousands of miles of un watched or patroled borders won't be used to sneak in.
I mean, Ali-Osama and the 40 Weinies would never think of using SCUBA to swim ashore from a passing ship or sub. And the existing system has done so well stopping drugs and illegal aliens from coming in.

So let's just complain about what has gone before, complain about the steps that are being taken....what exactly would be productive then?

These types of screening steps are not a waste of time if it helps deter terrorists from traveling throught borders... or even stops a future attack (in Canada, the USA OR Mexico for that matter).

Just like in Martial arts - no one plan is perfect, if someone really wants to get it or out on you they will no matter what you know or do. Stuff like this may help reduce that statistical chance.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

So let's just complain about what has gone before, complain about the steps that are being taken....what exactly would be productive then?

These types of screening steps are not a waste of time if it helps deter terrorists from traveling throught borders... or even stops a future attack (in Canada, the USA OR Mexico for that matter).

Just like in Martial arts - no one plan is perfect, if someone really wants to get it or out on you they will no matter what you know or do. Stuff like this may help reduce that statistical chance.

The problem is, is that it stops the stupid ones, but not the ones with some planning or backing. As I said, how hard would it be for someone with cash, to get a surplus sub, load it up, and let a few frogmen out off shore?

When they have managed to figure out how to stop the illegals from crossing in, how to stop the importation of drugs, maybe, just maybe, I'll think they have the ability to do proper ID checks.

To me, it's one more expense, 1 more item to keep track of, 1 more item to worry about, in an age when, I simply don't have time.

I need:
* my birth certificate (easily self-printed)
* A Social Security card (which was never meant to be ID, and very few groups are legally entitled to see it. Hint - Your land lord is not 1 of them)
* A drivers Licence (which says I have permission to drive, and is easily forged)

Now, I need yet another paper, which is still forgable.

Where is the security?
Do we think Osama can't afford a couple more reams of paper?


Heres an Idea.
National ID card.
Card has image of you, fingerprints, contact info, and an ID # (Not SSN)
Anyone who needs to verify your ID subscribes to a service (encrypted) and can run your card through (wand it, flash it, swipe it, etc).
You place a finger on a reader, it scans ya.
It checks the central database, displays the intel in the DB, and the pic.
It's a match, youre good.
If not, yer toast.

Works as ID, Drivers Licence, Passport, union card, whatever.

1 card. Not 1 bazillion bits of paper.
Your FACE and prints become your ID.

The card in your possesion, your face and your prints MUST match what is in the encrpyted db. Osama can run off a million of em. Unless he has access to the DB to insert his boys prints.....

 

[Bob Hubbard]

Shouldn't it be a write off is you are travelling for business: Martial arts or Computer/System related travel?

I do.
It's nice that I can write off most martial arts, sci fi or computer related expenses.