Michigan Muskie Alliance

Good or bad this may be coming for those wishing to fish Canadian waters o f LSC.

'E-passports' promise speed, security - 09/26/05
New IDs will contain computer chip with holder's vital data, should quicken processing.

The new e-passport, as they are called, will have a computer chip embedded in the back cover containing the holder's personal information and digital photo. Customs and immigration officials will be able to immediately view the information by swiping the passport across an electronic reader.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0509/ ... 327033.htm

Travelers to Canada will need a new PASS in '08
Mich. officials object, urge feds to allow the use of enhanced driver's licenses at borders.

WASHINGTON -- Commuters between Detroit and Canada will have the option of using a new passport card the size of a driver's license and costing about $50 under a plan unveiled Tuesday by the Bush administration.

The PASS card, which could be made available late this year, would allow U.S. citizens to travel to Canada and Mexico without a far more expensive traditional passport. Currently, U.S. citizens can use a birth certificate or driver's license to return to the United States, but that will no longer be allowed beginning in 2008 under new laws requiring more secure documentation for travelers.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl ... 80358/1016

I keep hearing 2008 but that's not 100% correct, changes started 12/31/2005.

Important dates are:

December 31, 2005 – After this date anyone traveling to or from the Caribbean, Central or South America will be required to have a passport.

December 31, 2006 – After this date anyone traveling to or from Mexico or Canada by air or sea will be required to have a passport.

December 31, 2007 – After this date passports will be required at all air, sea and land border crossings with Mexico and Canada. This final phase of the new requirement will have the greatest impact on anglers traveling to Canada.

For complete passport info go to www.travel.state.gov

Be fun to find out by 2007. Right now I'll hang on to my $400.00 until the dust settles.

How long can we really wait out? If there is for example a trip scheduled for a day charter on LSC summer 2006, how much time do we need for average pass port process?

They say 90 days but I've seen a number of people at the post office recently with passport applications. My guess is that the wait will get longer before it gets shorter. Even if you don't have something planned I would plan on getting a passport by 2007. I can only imagine how busy they will be in 2007!

You got a point there.

But if you charter on the US side and never touch Canadian soil. Your captain can get your Canadian license ahead of time. You shouldn't need a passport for that? I directing this to Hamilton Reef's question. Are you chartering with Tom Loy again this year?

The rule that lets us cross into Canadian water and come back without checking in with customs would still apply.

The new rules are only for when you go through customs on your way back into the US. Then again, when customs comes up to your boat in the middle of LSC after you have been in Canadian water and wants to see your papers I'm guessing after 1/1/07 they might want to see a passport.

However...
Just to be safe I would have enough documentation to get yourself back into the US if you had boat trouble. Imagine having to get to the nearest port in a distress situation and then you can't get back into the US because you don't have a passport.

I know what your saying, and I would fall into that catagory. However if I was Hamilton Reef and I booked a one day charter on a large vessel, I wouldn't bother with it. But it would only apply to a US Charter. And yes , technically if that charter drops anchor, you're on land.

Yes, I wouldn't even worry about it this year and would only have minor concern even after 2008. In a situation with a charter boat I wouldn't worry about it at all... That is unless they change the boating rules about crossing in and out of US water.

Make sure that micro chip does not end up in your hand. Some day it will even have GPS and you will even be able to buy your goods!

I recently purchased my Canadian passport and it has made things easier for crossing the border.
I've never had a problem crossing but with security an issue and a concern for both the US and Canada I decided to pick one up.
I cross up to 3x per week.

Security gets even tighter on border with Canada
Travelers find more checks on land, water

As of Jan. 31, Americans will be required to carry a passport or similar document to return from Canada, a requirement formerly reserved for overseas travelers. Customs officials plan to phase in the requirement until the public becomes more aware, but it's expected to increase the time it takes to cross the borders.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... /709110343

Border protection policy is fishing for more work

You may have heard that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will require fishermen to carry passports or other approved identification and check in with immigration upon returning from Canadian waters on the Detroit and St. Clair rivers, Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, even if they don't touch land in Canada.

Chief Ron Smith of the agency's Detroit office has told his Washington headquarters that the plan is unenforceable and would create a bureaucratic nightmare.

"If we're going to require fishermen to check in every time they run a boat across that invisible border (on the water), we're going to have a problem," said Smith, adding that he hopes to have "clarification" of the requirement next week.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 00664/1058