Keep you passport with you at all times in the US

As was amply demonstrated by that poor girl in Georgia who was thrown in jail and had her car impounded because she left her passport in her hotel room and only has a photocopy on her phone. The cop refused to accept her drivers licence as valid. Even though it was. Absolutely inexcusable. And the kicker - she was never charged for the reason she was pulled over in the first place.

Be careful Nick! [Edit: the post about the spelling of license and colour seems to be missing. Did I imagine this? Am I going mad? Could be. Could be.]

Controversial.

People have been deported for less.

Now is it misspell or mispell? I think the latter is only correct after going to the Isle of Jura and after sampling many whiskies.

Ah, Canada. A couple years back I saw the Madness of King George at the Shaw Festival. Wonderful. Years before that I saw King Lear in Stratford. Why am I mentioning this? I wonder...

Happy travels.

It should go without saying - when you are in any foreign country, you should carry your passport on your person at all times. If you get stopped or something unfortunate happens to you, your passport is the officially recognized document of your identify.

Don't lock it up in the hotel safe when you are out and about. Keep a separate paper/ photo of it in case you lose it so it will make it easier to get replaced.

I know US-born Americans of hispanic ancestry who are carrying passport cards. Not a bad idea to always have valid ID.

Up until recently (or they're just ignoring the law; it happens) you didn't need to carry ID.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_and_identify_statutes

[snip]

"Stop and identify" statutes are laws in several US states; Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin. U.S. states that authorize police[1] to lawfully order people whom they reasonably suspect of committing a crime to state their name. If there is not reasonable suspicion that a person has committed a crime, is committing a crime, or is about to commit a crime, the person is not required to identify himself or herself, even in these states.[2]

The DL apparently wasn't valid without a passport under Georgia law. https://dds.georgia.gov/information-non-us-citizens That was an issue with a state law and not the US government. And for context, it was 7 years ago. And she was speeding.

But relative to the purpose of the forum: driving is regulated by each state so I understand it's a pain but international visitors need to check the law in the states they want to drive in. For instance, Georgia requires an international drivers license and either a passport or a visa.

Mr E, Canada and the US have had a long standing written reciprocal agreement that recognizes the validity of each other's drivers licenses as valid to drive in both countries. But apparently in your country a state can ignore federal policy? Maybe instead they could try to educate their traffic cops. The girl never denied that she was speeding. And yet, she was never actually charged with the speeding infraction.

It would seem that anyone who isn't a white US citizen needs to carry their passport and I94 (or equivalent) any time they step outside their accommodation, even if they are long stay. While your own State Dept recommends that US citizens carry around copies while abroad: " Safeguard your passport. While overseas, carry copies of your passport ID page and foreign visa with you at all times."

And you wonder why people don't want to visit the US.

Let's stick to the present. Bottom line, the Canadian government advises that Canadians carry their passports AT ALL TIMES while in the US.

Allan,
I am traveling to Quebec City and Montreal in a few weeks time.

I am concerned about the reception that I might receive while I am in Canada due to the current administration, their policies and the actions they have taken.

I have traveled to places where I disagreed with the government leadership but was able to connect with the people. Turkey comes to mind. I learned a lot by being there.

There wasn't a question in your post. Was it meant to be informative? Is it a warning to people? Was it meant to create an argument, guilt? Just curious!

Allan, the issue is present. And sort of concerning for citizens of both countries. CJean and a lot of Canadians want to visit and do it legally. I've read what I can find and it's clear as mud. Yes, the US and the Canadian Enhanced licenses are reciprocal. I'm not sure if Canada is still doing Enhanced licenses? Then there is the State issue. I don't see how the Feds can restrict the states ID laws, like the one in Georgia. People from outside the US can't be expected to know the extent of Federal vs State jurisdiction. So the Canadian government advice is good and probably should have been issued years ago.

There wasn't a question in your post. Was it meant to be informative?
Is it a warning to people? Was it meant to create an argument, guilt?
Just curious!

Good question. It was meant as a PSA to the Canadians on this site. Initially I was going to form a question regarding the ongoing opinion on whether you should carry your passports all the time as per law in some countries or leave it in your hotel room, but decided that debate will never get resolved anyway. For the record, I've always been an advocate of keeping my passport with me for the same reason some people don't want to carry it. I feel it's safer with me then left in my room.

As for coming to Canada, I think the majority will welcome you, after all you're choosing to spend your money outside of the US, just as Canadians are doing. Quite honestly I've never seen a national uprising in Canada like this before. Canadians are typically quietly patriotic. If you're respectful, welcome. If not, we'll sic our pet polar bears after you. Having said that, my experience has been that some Quebecers consider themselves Quebecers first and Canadians second. I'm not sure if they're quite as nationlistic as other parts of Canada. Like France, knowing a bit of french will go a long way.

I know US-born Americans of hispanic ancestry who are carrying passport cards. Not a bad idea to always have valid ID.

I am not Hispanic but am a US born person of color. I started carrying my US passport card for domestic air travel since REAL ID is about to become effective. But now there's another reason to carry it.

I live on coastal Georgia and know several Canadians that visit locally as well as live part time here.
None of them carry their passports. The stupid cop that arrested the Canadian woman is not a normal occurrence. In fact, that case was dismissed. Hope the cop was fired or reprimanded.

We travel in Europe a lot and do lots of group tours. Our guides usually advise us to lock our passports in the hotel safe due to pickpockets (especially in Spain, France or Italy). Of course, we have our passports with us when we travel from city to city.

J'apprends le francais aussi vite que mon vieux cerveau me le permet.

I carry my passport with me whenever I am travelling by plane, even in the US.

I have no problem carrying my passport with me. Politicians are trying to convince those of us at least in New York to get “real ID” drivers licenses, which are much more expensive than regular drivers licenses. Politicians scream that we can’t go into federal buildings like even our local post office. Really? The federal government is going to have federal employees stationed at every US post office in the US for example to examine ID in case you need to buy stamps? Doubtful especially since ANY ID let alone enhanced driver’s license ID isn’t even mandatory to vote to prevent fraud in the state of New York!! 😂

I just renewed my driver’s license. Just a standard license. If New York State politicians scream (all they do is scream) that I can’t fly domestically without an enhanced driver’s license, I’ll just have my passport with me. Again, why waste hard earned money. 👍🏻

@vandrabrud--Moi aussi! (Traveling to France, Brussels and Switzerland this summer and finding OLLI classes invaluable.)

I never knew that some other states charged more for REAL ID. California has the same rate for "regular" and "real" licenses, plus a free REAL ID card (non-driving) for senior citizens. We are considering that for my mom who no longer has a valid license (and no business driving anymore either).

But I am considering carrying my passport for domestic flights. Saw a lot of them in Charlotte last week in the hands of people getting on flights to other parts of the US.

In New York there is no additional cost for a REAL ID Drivers License. https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/enhanced-or-real-id#:~:text=in%20the%20mail.-,Fees,card%20(ENDID)%20is%20%2430.00.

REAL ID's do not cost more in Michigan - it's part of our normal renewal. We've had ours for a while now.

"Normal driver's license and ID card fees apply. There is no additional cost for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card when a person renews normally. A correction fee may be charged when people apply for a compliant license outside of their normal renewal cycle."

But apparently in your country a state can ignore federal policy?

The Tenth Amendment to our Constitution gives the States considerable power to enact and enforce their own laws unless specifically prohibited: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

People from outside the US can't be expected to know the extent of Federal vs State jurisdiction.

We are expected to understand and abide by the laws that apply to us as we travel from country to country. The differences and similarities of countries in Europe are in many ways comparable to our fifty states. It's not as if the notion of US States Rights is a closely held secret.

If I were a traveler coming to the US, I'd try my best to understand the differences I may encounter just as I do when I go to different countries abroad. Sure, I will never know everything but (as has been discussed here hundreds of times) I know to carry my passport on my person when in a foreign country.

In New York there is no additional cost for a REAL ID Drivers License.

Why let the facts stand in the way of outrage?

We are expected to understand and abide by the laws that apply to us
as we travel from country to country.

Celeste, my statement was sarcasm.

Canadians don’t get an I-94?

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home

It’s not a paper document any more so not really sure what a person is to do, make a screen capture? Or is cellular service required to provide access to the digital I-94 at law enforcement request?

Toby, it's really vague. Somewhere on the Canadian government site it was recommended to print it and carry a copy, but since it's done electronically as you pass through customs in the airport, I have no idea how that's done. I'd have to hope a screen shot or download to my phone would work. Not that I'll need to worry about it for possibly the next 4 years.

Allan, thanks for the post. I've been wondering about what I should do, as I have been promising my youngest grandson that I would take him up to Thunder Bay this spring. I have an Enhanced Driver's License (from Minnesota), which technically has gotten me through the border in the past, but I am hearing things that maybe it won't be accepted in the future. I know Canada got rid of their EDL, so they may want more.

At any rate, I will have the EDL when I head up there, but will also be carrying my passport just to be on the safe side. And of course, will have all the required documents for my 6 year old grandson, including his birth certificate and a letter of authority from his parents with copies of their passport.

RE: those having no desire (above) at all to visit the US now makes no difference to me.

Deadline for the Real I D here is next month, the 7th.

After letting my Dr. Lic lapse for 3 years, finally got the Real ID the end of Feb, cost me nothing as a Senior, ( a pleasant surprise) received it in 2 weeks...very prompt.

Going abroad I'll have both on me , passport and Real ID