What I.D. will you need to cross to U.S.?

By Ken Johnston
Editor

On Friday the Ontario government unveiled its much anticipated “More secure driver’s licence card” with the hopes that it will serve as an acceptable form of identification to be used at United States border crossings.
However, while their enthusiasm is notable, there are several stumbling blocks that may prevent the new driver’s licence from being usable by next summer; the planned implementation date for more stringent I.D. requirements at the U.S. border.
In two separate news articles over the past 10 days it is clear that while provinces have been working hard to create secure border documents as an alternative to Passports or NEXUS and FAST cards, the federal and provincial governments have yet to find common ground on the sharing of information.
On www.washingtontechnology.com’s Nov. 30, 2007 webpage, it was reported that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “Is waiting for the Canadian government to deliver plans on how Canada will meet the initiative’s data sharing requirements, and how it will certify that applicants for the Canadian enhanced driver’s licenses are legal Canadian citizens.” That same article said the efforts by Canadian provinces such as British Columbia to use hybrid licenses are “temporarily stalled.”
In a Canadian press article on December 7, 2007 the same stumbling block was referred to. “The province (Ont.) will first have to strike a deal with the federal government to access citizenship data, which could then be added to the new driver’s licences.”
In the mean time, U.S. officials announced last week that beginning January 31, 2008, all U.S. and Canadian Citizens 19 years of age and older will have to present a government issued photo I.D. such as a driver’s license and proof of citizenship in the form of a birth certificate or a naturalization certificate. Those 18 and under will be able to enter with proof of citizenship. This is different from current border crossing requirements where the existing (old non-enhanced secure) driver’s license is adequate for crossing the border and just a verbal declaration of citizenship can be given. This change, will serve as a phasing in period from Jan. 31, 2008 until the summer of 2008, when more concrete I.D. requirements will take place. To date, the passport (U.S. or Canadian), has been the most widely touted form of I.D. for citizens of either country to obtain. Specialty crossing documents such as NEXUS and FAST are also acceptable but are more difficult to obtain.
Both Canadian and U.S. border provinces and states have expressed concerns about the requirement for passports being a hindrance that will drastically affect commerce across the border. With that in mind four states, Washington, New York, Vermont and Arizona have signed agreements with DHS to develop enhanced secure driver’s licences with that in mind.
DHS has also been working with the Government of Canada to approve Canadian driver’s licences. But there has been no guarantee from either side that such alternative I.D. documents will be approved before the summer implementation of the stricter requirements at all U.S. border crossings.
So while the new driver’s licence projects are encouraging and comments as recent as Nov. 15, 2007 by DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff seem to indicate it will happen, Canadians are still being encouraged to get their passports or possibly face problems entering the U.S. next summer.
Ontario’s new driver’s licenses are now available but not approved by DHS yet. In other words if your licence has expired your new one will be the secure version which Ontario hopes the U.S. will accept in the near future. As for the fact that driver’s licenses are usually good for five years, there has been no word as to what would transpire with regards to the border if they are deemed an acceptable form of I.D. by DHS before next summer. In other words, will there be a five year phase in period in which the old licenses and a birth certificate could be offered until a person renews their license?
In Rainy River a person can apply for a passport at the Service Ontario office (MNDM) or fill out the forms on line and drop them off at MNDM who will go over them with you and then courier them to Thunder Bay free of charge. They are taking about three weeks to be processed at present, barring there are no errors in your application.
Forms can also be picked up at the post office and mailed to the government.