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Will I need one? If so, how soon do I need to get my ap in?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Probably - there are new laws and the old drivers license doesn't cut it anymore at the Ambassador bridge, tunnel, or blue water bridge.

For a while now in addition to the drivers license they have been asking for certified birth certificates (raised seal) too.  I would get a passport buddy.

And as Cheech says - travel across an international border with a guitar and expect a cavity search......

Current waiting time as of a few weeks ago was 4-6 weeks.

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Ann Arbor Guitars

As of Jan 1, yes you need one.
I'd go to Kinko's tonight and get the pic taken then go to the PO tomorrow and get it applied for. But that's just me.

Lance,

Looks like it depends on whether you fly or drive to Montreal, flying looks like a yes, passport is required. If you drive you do not need a passport but do need a picture ID and Birth Certificate.

I went to this link and just read through real fast http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatraveloverview/qt/uscitiz enborder.htm

I live in Buffalo and would really like to drive there next summer, really looking foward to meeting some of the OLFers and seeing their beautiful work.

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Kurt Thomas

"There's a first time for everything even if you do it by mistake."

Even if you drive, you may need one by the new year. At any rate, it's wise to have it; things are getting serious a the borders, and the passport makes things so much simpler.

Don't have a criminal record/DUI I hope...

My wife has just returned from a trip to Toronto. She is in store planing with The Major retail-Mart and was in Detroit and decided to take a weekend trip cross the border. She went over with just a picture Id + birth certificate, but had major hassles returning with out a passport. I do believe as of Jan 1 all cross border travel will require a passport. You might better check into the customs required for the guitars as well if you haven't already.

Yeah, getting there might not be the problem, getting back could be. Get your passport. Start today because it can take 2-4 months to get it done. And make sure you can get your guitars through customs like Michael said.

I expidited mine for a trip I took this summer and got it in 3 weeks, but it cost more.

[QUOTE=blindreality]

Yeah, getting there might not be the problem, getting back could be. Get your passport. Start today because it can take 2-4 months to get it done. And make sure you can get your guitars through customs like Michael said.

I expidited mine for a trip I took this summer and got it in 3 weeks, but it cost more.

[/QUOTE]

Expedited passport (2-3 weeks) add $120 to the fee and have documentation available to explain the need for expedited service.

Is anyone anticipating a problem bringing BRW into Canada????

(or getting it back to the US for that matter....) 

Here in Windsor, the Canadian radio adds are saying "as of Jan 31st a new US law will require a photo ID + birth certificate for travel by land or water....by air would require a passport". I've recently been going across the border to visit someone in a Detroit hospital and crossing into the US has always been a longer delay than crossing into Canada.

Paul

I did a gig in Vancouver recently. Get your passport! Everything will go much smoother, especially if your 'working'. 

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Tom Krebs

Lance,

Going into Canada without one is much less of a problem than coming back. We travel to Canada several times a year, and last trip we had a bit of a problem for the first time because we didn't have a valid ID for our son. The agents said the simplest thing would be to get passports, even though it's not yet required.

Here's a link to a State Dept page.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

YES you will NEED one !
It's the first thing I was asked for!
I got held at the border going in to Canada for 60 minutes while they checked my paperwork and searched my vehicle!
As soon as I told the officer I was taking guitars to a show -she told me to pull over to a covered spot marked very well and an officer will come to talk to you!
That's when they looked through my vehicle and asked more questions-about if these guitars are for sale -etc!
I told her they were for display only!
She stamped my paperwork and sent me on my way !

The show site has all the needed documents to transverse the borders!
USE them !
it will make it much easier on you !



Well i got through that only to get a Customs official approach me at the show (whip out a badge)and ask if any of my guitars were for sale!He pushed the issue !
I said NO they are for display only!
He says-they better be because you'll owe me 16% tax if you sell one! Mr.Legault was his name!

Anyways we all need passports to cross the frindliest border in the world!And that's the first thing the U.S. official asked for when we came back!
Never checked to see if we had Braz. or hidden assailants
in the back of the covered truck!
Mike


Fantastic guitar show -very professional -The best!!

just the borders & Endangered spieces make it hard on us now!Along with terrorists!!!!

Mike

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Mike Collins

[QUOTE=burbank] Going into Canada without one is much less of a
problem than coming back. [/QUOTE]

And that's a bad thing? I guess it depends if you really want to come back.


I'm more curious to see what it take's to get political asylum status once
you're over the bridge. I don't have any guitars to show, but maybe my
family and I should go just to check some instruments out.......

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

[QUOTE=David Collins]
I'm more curious to see what it takes to get political asylum status once
you're over the bridge. [/QUOTE]

Y'all are welcome up here...and you will have plenty of company, since migration from the US has increased a lot since 2000.


BTW, the whole 'passport to cross the border' thing is a US-initiated change. The way these diplomatic things work (tit for tat), passports will be pretty well mandatory travelling in both directions after Jan 1. It's a disaster for the tourism industry up here.

Cheers

John

Dave;
It could be Cocobolo or Mad R.Wood!
I do not think they will know if you do tell them!
IF they ask!

But -what if our guitar got consficated because it had endangered woods in it!?
Remember Mahogany's on the list now also!



Mike

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Mike Collins

Here is a link from the Us Customs & Boarder Protection website (that's the US side of things).

You do not need to have a passport, but I bet it will save you some hassles.

Essentially, you need registered photo ID (driver's license) and a birth certificate.

That's going into the US from Canada by land or sea as of Jan 31,2008. By air you need a passport.

Coming into Canada, again, you do not NEED to have a passport but again it might save you some hassles. From the Canada Border Service Agency

There is no law set yet that requires a passport when driving across the border, but it is expected to come sometime in the Summer of 2008.

To be on the safe side, I'd suggest getting your passport.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Another thing to remember if any of you are traveling with family is to have documents for your kids too. This is one area where Canada is more strict than the US. Around the Pacific Northwest anyway, the US seems to be more concerned with stopping BC bud than kidnappers.

As of now, birth certificates are fine for minors (don't know if that's changing with the new laws too) because they primarily want to make sure the kids are yours.

If traveling with kids that are not yours, you need some kind of documentation from their parents. I would check their web sites carefully for that info.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

[QUOTE=Kent Chasson]

If traveling with kids that are not yours, you need some kind of documentation from their parents. I would check their web sites carefully for that info.[/QUOTE]

That's interesting. If you're coming up from Mexico, they're more worried about kidnapped kids than Michoacan Bud, even if they're your own kids.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I have to chime in with everyone and say apply for your passport now if you want it. I went on a trip this summer that required me to get a passport and it took me about 3 months to get it, and that was with some hastling.

If you really need one quick, you can always go to the Passport Agency in Chicago, but thats kind of a hike.

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-Rob Eckert
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Remember when we were sold a bill of goods called "NAFTA"...North American FREE TRADE Agreement?   Well, I for one do not agree that it made things any better, easier, or safer for anyone I know to do cross-border business in North America. It certainly didn't make anything free.

Just a reminder for the next time you go vote...Do vote, and don't get sold up the creek, down the river, or for a fool.

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..."

Hey guys,

Jacques-Andre from the Montreal Guitar Show here...

Please do get a passport. It will make your life easy (I can see it from here... you at the border and your wife getting crazy with the kids...).

And a passport will open you the world too!

Do not hesitate to communicate with my gang if you have more specific questions... We will find answers for you.

As for the woods... Be very careful. So far no one has had a problem with it...

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Jacques-André Dupont
http://www.guitarjunky.ca
http://www.montrealguitarshow.com

Do not cross into Canada with Brazilian, elephant ivory, or tortoise shell.   Do not come back with harp seal guitar straps...

NAFTA, now there's a joke (for us Canadians especially).

I live in a border town, we use to go over to get gas, dairy products and eggs because it was so much cheaper (even in the 90's) and it was no problem to come back with a $100 of other products with no real hassle.

Now when I go down to visit my Aunt who lives less than 5 minuets from the border, it's like a stereotypical interrogation under the lights. Since 9/11 it's like everyone is a suspect.

Your right about the kids too, the border guys are almost demanding a DNA test to ensure they are yours. And don't try crossing the border with your kids by yourself, you'll need a letter from your spouse (like that can't be fake) stating the nature of the trip etc....

I really hate to say it, but the US is not as friendly to visitors as it use to be. Not the regular folks mind you, just the establishment. Sad indeed. With such a strong Canadian dollar (or week US dollar) you'd think they'd be happy to have us come spend our money down there. Mind you the Canadian side really isn't that much better either.

Oh, and there is no such thing as Brazilian Rosewood IS there!

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Todd, thanks for the suggestion, I agree.

Lets try to keep this topic on passports and not trade agreements and political differences.

Thanks ya'll

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com