[downinflames68]

So I want to go to the olympics, but i just found out a f*cking passport to go to CANADA is $100 freakin' dollars, and they take 6 weeks.

WTF.

Anybody have any experience with fake ones? Or other solutions? Can I just go around the canadian/american border area?

[Cold Warrior]

Passports have barcodes that are read at entry. If the US swipes at the Canadian border, you're SOL.

If you're driving, you could get a passcard, which takes 3 weeks to get.

Serious solicitation for passport fraud may just get a visit from the Secret Service. I'd avoid it unless you'd like to meet them -- again.

[Dork.]

You can get expedited shipping. The olympics aren't for another month, you should be good with that. You can also get the silly passport card which is cheaper, but only lets you into Canada and a few other places.

[SpaceMonkey]

It's probably a good idea to have a passport anyway.

[downinflames68]

I just checked, they said it take 4 to SIX weeks. Which would be too late.

[imitchellg5]

If you pay more, then you should be able to get it down to 3.

It seems silly that you need a passport to get into Canada or Mexico, but that's a whole 'nother thread.

[dedalus]

You have over 6,000 kilometres worth of non‑militarised border and you can’t work out how to sneak across somewhere? Come on.

[starman]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior 

Passports have barcodes that are read at entry. If the US swipes at the Canadian border, you're SOL.

If you're driving, you could get a passcard, which takes 3 weeks to get.

Serious solicitation for passport fraud may just get a visit from the Secret Service. I'd avoid it unless you'd like to meet them -- again.

Oh, SNAP. I forgot about that.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

If you pay more, then you should be able to get it down to 3

I paid for the expedite processing. Had mine in one(!!!) week. YMMV.

-t

[turtle777]

Btw, do you really think you can get a fake passport for less than $100

-t

[ThinkInsane]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Anybody have any experience with fake ones?

Let us know how that works out.

Can I just go around the canadian/american border area?

You can. You're going to need a boat to do it though.

[residentEvil]

and the passport thing isn't new; meaning it has been talked about in all major media outlets and border cities for over 5 years (WHTI draft was in 2004). as each deadline passed, in the news again and the next date given. the first part of the WHTI law that went into effect was for SEA or AIR (january 2007), for like cruises and spring break destinations, etc. then the LAND portion was put into law (june 2009); finally making all WHT require a passport or a passcard thingy (what the gov came up when all the border cities bitched about the passports).

so, it isn't like the vancouver olympics just sprang up nor did the fees/time it takes to get the passport. did you not know about the law and JUST found out or do you mean you JUST found out the cost/turn around time?

[Paco500]

I got a passport in a few hours- it can be done. I called my congressman and explained that I needed one urgently and his office arranged things so that I had it that day. It only cost me the standard fee.

This was in 2006, but I doubt things have changed that much since.

[mduell]

I never really believed the stupidity I saw on Cops, etc. Now I do.

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

I just checked, they said it take 4 to SIX weeks. Which would be too late.

What happened to your old passport?

[Oneota]

When I got my passport, I didn't do anything for expedited shipping, and it arrived in, like, 10-14 days. I was pleasantly surprised.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by Andy8 

What happened to your old passport?

Americans don't need a passport.

A (why not stolen? - there's no photo on it) credit card passes for ID, there. In lieu of a drivers' license.

[residentEvil]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

Americans don't need a passport.

A (why not stolen? - there's no photo on it) credit card passes for ID, there. In lieu of a drivers' license.

yes, americans do need one; if they wish to travel outside the 48 contiguous states. read above. always needed one for abroad.

[Phileas]

Rob: "The rules are stupid. They don't apply to me. I am a special case, mhuhahahahahahaaaaa."

Border Guard: "Please bend over now, Sir."

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

Btw, do you really think you can get a fake passport for less than $100

-t

Seriously. Like, when you're asking somebody to help you break international law, do you really want to lowball it?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

A (why not stolen? - there's no photo on it) credit card passes for ID, there. In lieu of a drivers' license.

For what purpose can you use only a credit card as an acceptable ID today ?

-t

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

So I want to go to the olympics

Watch it on TV, the same way you gain your worldly travel experiences.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

For what purpose can you use only a credit card as an acceptable ID today ?

-t

Most Web sites.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

For what purpose can you use only a credit card as an acceptable ID today ?

Today? I dunno.

A few years ago, an American friend of mine who lives abroad had to ID herself - I forget why. They wouldn't accept her passport, as it wasn't on the list of accepted IDs. She didn't have a drivers' license (much less a US one), but they accepted her credit card as valid ID.

Go figure.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Most Web sites.

So what ?

And other countries use passports as acceptable IDs on websites ?

-t

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

Today? I dunno.

A few years ago, an American friend of mine who lives abroad had to ID herself - I forget why. They wouldn't accept her passport, as it wasn't on the list of accepted IDs. She didn't have a drivers' license (much less a US one), but they accepted her credit card as valid ID.

Go figure.

That was the good old days that are long gone.

-t

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Seriously. Like, when you're asking somebody to help you break international law, do you really want to lowball it?

That's how the government does it.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Anybody have any experience with fake ones?

Yeah, I was called in to interpret for the airport police once, when they caught a Chinese girl with a fake passport. She was deported back to the family whose savings she’d stolen to get the fake papers and plane tickets.

And yes, fake passports are a lot more expensive than $100. Even in China, she’d paid over $1,000 for hers. I imagine it wouldn’t be any cheaper in the States.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

And yes, fake passports are a lot more expensive than $100. Even in China, she’d paid over $1,000 for hers. I imagine it wouldn’t be any cheaper in the States.

Yes, you pay a couple of grand for a good fake US passport.

-t

[SpaceMonkey]

The lesson is: the next Winter Olympics should be held in the United States.

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

I paid for the expedite processing. Had mine in one(!!!) week. YMMV.

-t

Cost?

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by residentEvil 

and the passport thing isn't new; meaning it has been talked about in all major media outlets and border cities for over 5 years (WHTI draft was in 2004). as each deadline passed, in the news again and the next date given. the first part of the WHTI law that went into effect was for SEA or AIR (january 2007), for like cruises and spring break destinations, etc. then the LAND portion was put into law (june 2009); finally making all WHT require a passport or a passcard thingy (what the gov came up when all the border cities bitched about the passports).

so, it isn't like the vancouver olympics just sprang up nor did the fees/time it takes to get the passport. did you not know about the law and JUST found out or do you mean you JUST found out the cost/turn around time?

News to me. I don't travel outside the country, so I had no idea. The opportunity for the olympics just sprang up last week. If I buy airfare I have a free place to stay.

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by mduell 

I never really believed the stupidity I saw on Cops, etc. Now I do.

I never believed in the stupidity of the American government. A ****ing passport? For CANADA?! Give me a break.

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by Phileas 

Rob: "The rules are stupid. They don't apply to me. I am a special case, mhuhahahahahahaaaaa."

Border Guard: "Please bend over now, Sir."

Why should we have passports required in Canada. Furthermore, if it's some FEDERAL ID thing (passport), why the **** do I have to pay for it? I am already a tax paying citizen, why can't they just look me up using my social security number, and check my driver's license? How is a passport HARDER to fake than a state issued driver's license? Wi licenses have barcodes, as well as a magnetic strip with information on it. So why? Please answer why I am REQUIRED to pay for a ****ing stupid useless piece of paper in order to travel outside my own country, and more importantly, why the **** US GOVERNMENT border guards do not accept forms of identification that are GIVEN TO ME BY THE US GOVERNMENT

It does not make any sense, so I want to break the rules just to ****ing spite them.

[downinflames68]

Alright, another question. If I can get into Canada without a passport, then show up at the border without one, what happens? Do I get deported back to WI?

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Why should we have passports required in Canada. Furthermore, if it's some FEDERAL ID thing (passport), why the **** do I have to pay for it? I am already a tax paying citizen, why can't they just look me up using my social security number, and check my driver's license? How is a passport HARDER to fake than a state issued driver's license? Wi licenses have barcodes, as well as a magnetic strip with information on it. So why? Please answer why I am REQUIRED to pay for a ****ing stupid useless piece of paper in order to travel outside my own country, and more importantly, why the **** US GOVERNMENT border guards do not accept forms of identification that are GIVEN TO ME BY THE US GOVERNMENT

It does not make any sense, so I want to break the rules just to ****ing spite them.

If you are entering Canada, it's actually the Canadian government that cares, not the U.S. Government.

[Phileas]

Since the US government made it mandatory for Canadian citizens to have valid passports when entering the US we, in a tit-for-tat move of rare genius, are now also requiring US citizens to have proper ID when entering the Big White North.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

So what ?

You asked for what purpose we can use only a credit card as a valid ID. I answered that most Web sites accept a credit card as valid ID. So that.

[ghporter]

A passport is a safety net, a document that says, when you come home, they have to take you. It also helps ensure that you're who you say you are much better than any driver's license or other ID. And the longest any passport has ever taken for me has been 8 weeks when the Air Force handled submitting and paying for it. Most of mine have take 3-4 weeks. Full blown passport here, not just a border card.

Oh, and we need passports for Canada and Mexico because of who might come back pretending to be a US citizen... Plus as others have mentioned, this requirement has been "big news" for several years. So it's no surprise for anyone who's been paying attention. I had to have my passport on me last summer when I was on a tour out of Skagway, Alaska. The tour bus went over the border into Canada by a couple of miles to the top of the Chilicoot Trail, though we never got close to the Canadian border checkpoint. No big deal, really.

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

I never believed in the stupidity of the American government. A ****ing passport? For CANADA?! Give me a break.

Let's see, you want to fly to another country and expect to be welcomed with open arms with no passport?

[Doofy]

:chortle:

[MacinTommy]

I don't see how there could be a cost issue for a passport if you are going to be throwing your money away on the winter Olympics.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Cost?

$100 + $75 rush-fee (incl. overnight delivery)

Passport Fees

-t

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Andy8 

Let's see, you want to fly to another country and expect to be welcomed with open arms with no passport?

I assumed he was planning on driving.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

You asked for what purpose we can use only a credit card as a valid ID. I answered that most Web sites accept a credit card as valid ID. So that.

I asked in the context of Spheric's comment. He found it unbelievable that a picture-less ID could be used. I asked where, because clearly, he must have had something in mind that was DIFFERENT than his experience. Credit Cards as a way of IDying on the web are NOT different here than anywhere else.

-t

[MacinTommy]

I do know they require proper photo ID in Mianus. But nobody is ever allowed there so its a moot point.

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

News to me. I don't travel outside the country, so I had no idea. The opportunity for the olympics just sprang up last week. If I buy airfare I have a free place to stay.

Originally Posted by nonhuman 

I assumed he was planning on driving.

airfare.

[MacinTommy]

[ThinkInsane]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Why should we have passports required in Canada. Furthermore, if it's some FEDERAL ID thing (passport), why the **** do I have to pay for it? I am already a tax paying citizen, why can't they just look me up using my social security number, and check my driver's license? How is a passport HARDER to fake than a state issued driver's license? Wi licenses have barcodes, as well as a magnetic strip with information on it. So why? Please answer why I am REQUIRED to pay for a ****ing stupid useless piece of paper in order to travel outside my own country, and more importantly, why the **** US GOVERNMENT border guards do not accept forms of identification that are GIVEN TO ME BY THE US GOVERNMENT

It does not make any sense, so I want to break the rules just to ****ing spite them.

Do they issue your driver's license for free or is there a fee involved? If you don't want to pay for a passport, then stay in the states. No one is forcing you to get one.

And a passpost confirms your citizenship. Citizenship is not required to get a driver's license, so your driver's license isn't proof of citizenship. That is, unless you get the enhanced DL, which has limited usefulness in getting you in and out of Canada and Mexico as it is effectively the "passport card".

[imitchellg5]

You pay for driver's licenses. Big time, in some states.