New Documentation Rules for North American Travel
June 1st, 2009 by Gregg Tilston
canadian passport photo by striatic
At the Flight Centre Travel Blog we like to take a light-hearted look at travel and holidays. Our goal is to pass along information that will help you plan the perfect vacation and hopefully entertain you along the way. Every so often a news story intersects with government policy which collides with travel information on a topic that is serious and border crossing is serious business (whether it’s for business or personal travel).
We think it’s important to bring to everyone’s attention the new rules that came into effect today for traveling across the borders of North America. We put together a quick list of links to ensure you have the proper documentation and are prepared for a fantastic and worry free trip.
Canadian Government Press Release
Canada Border Services Agency Web site (fact sheet)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Web site
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
For frequent travelers there are ways to simplify the process of border crossings with programs such as Nexus, Sentri, and Global Entry.
I know each time I go through customs, which I do frequently, I remind myself that I need to apply for Nexus. So, I answer all the officer’s questions, collect my bags, hand in my customs card, grab a car home, subsequently forget to mail in my application, and end up reminding myself the next time I cross the border… that I need to apply for Nexus (should just do it now while I am writing this blog).
Categories: Tips and Tricks
