As I read the description, the enhanced DL is used for travel within the western hemisphere, and is called "enhanced" because the bearer has to prove US citizenship to state MV department, and it is noted on the license.

This was done because a great number of US citizens cross the borders of Canada and Mexico on a daily basis for work, and there is also a lot of vacation travel back and forth.

Use of a passport is not a US idea...a passport is valid proof of citizenship all over the world. It is issued by the government of the country, not individual states or provinces, etc.

As to it becoming the norm?? I doubt it.

PS - my last passport renewal, last year, took all of 2 weeks...not expedited.

"As to it becoming the norm?? I doubt it. "

Well I guess the issue will have to become a "wait and see". My state has been pushing to make citizenship a requirement to obtain a regular drivers license for quite some time. This has also been an issue put before Congress.

Now with the Real ID Act that has been passed, I can't see it NOT happening, but of course I may be wrong. The Real ID law was passed by Congress in 2005. The law requires states to verify each applicant's citizenship and address, sharing information with other state motor vehicle departments and creating licenses that are more difficult to forge. I believe the deadline for compliance is 2011 and states have filed for extensions.

Anyway, all I was trying to do was point out that if one has an enhanced drivers license that it IS accepted at the border. This was something I did not know until I read it today. I thought this tidbit of info may be helpful to someone here who travels occasionally across the US border. Getting an enhanced DL is cheaper than the passport.

A lot of people put things off until the very last minute, just like with the digital television transmission. I thought this might be helpful. If one already has an enhanced drivers license you do not need to get a passport also, just to travel across the border for shopping or vacations. Maybe I should have posted it in the *Money Saving Tips Forum*.

Read here:

"A new federal law (called the Real ID Act) was introduced that made it a requirement to show proof of legal immigration status in the United States to obtain a drivers license from any state. As of May 2008, driver licenses issued by the states that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted as legal identification to gain entry into a federal building or to board an airplane in the United States. All 50 U.S. states are gradually updating their requirements and starting to request proof of [legal] immigration status in the United States. However, in several states this is still not a requirement."

"The Real ID Act directly imposes specific federal driverÂs license standards. After 2011 a Federal agency may not accept for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card issued by a state to any person unless the state is meeting the requirements. Specified in the REAL ID Act. States remain free to also issue non-complying licenses and IDs, so long as these have a unique design and a clear statement that they cannot be accepted for any Federal identification purpose."

http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/drivers_license.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-04-02-realid_N.htm

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/222593_licenses03.html

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/01/30/daily23.html

Here is a link that might be useful: DL Citizenship Proof

A while ago it was taking months to get a passport up here ... and it costs $87.00 ... good for 5 years. I got mine without a long wait at the office to get the application into the system ... and it arrived in about a week ... late last year.

The Enhanced Driver's Licence costs about $45. - 50. above the usual, and I think for most folks is good for either 3 or 5 years ... but for those 80 and above, it's good for only 2 years.

My ex-, who lived as a U.S. citizen for about 40 years in Canada, during almost half of which she was employed, was able to get a Canadian driver's licence without difficulty. Would your state's rulers want to have refused a person similar to her a licence, since she was a non-citizen, throughout all of those years?

You're kidding.

ole joyful

As long as you can prove you are a legal resident, then you should be allowed to get a DL. A legal resident can be a citizen, a green card holder or a person having the correct type of Visa to work/live in the US.

I am living overseas right now. The country I am in required us to show our passports and work Visas to not only get a DL, but also to be able to get a cell phone!! Don't find many illegal people here and their resources don't get abused/used by those that are not entitled to it.

They US is way to lax when it comes to immigration.

Oops, that should be ... way too lax

I've had a passport for several years now. I got it when they started making noises about making a passport mandatory for getting in to the US. For years and years all we needed to get in to the US was a birth certificate as proof of citizenship. The last time we went into the US the fellow at the border sat in his booth, took the passports in through his window and didn't even look up to see if we actually matched the photos in the passports. I kid you not! We could have had Osama Bin Laden in the back seat and he wouldn't have known!!

If a US citizen is entering the US via air you MUST present a passport, the enhanced DL nor the passport card is acceptable. If you are a US citizen and you travel out of our country, get a passport. It is worth every penny.

"You're kidding. "

No I am not kidding. I was trying to be helpful and informative.

Several states and Canadian provinces are already issuing the enhanced driverÂs license that denotes identity and citizenship.

WHTI went into effect June 1, 2009 for land and sea travel into the U.S. (WHTI went into effect for air travelers back in January 23, 2007.) Previously border crossing did not have this requirement. This is new and just now has gone into effect.

Right on the .gov website it indicates that the wait for a new document (passport or passport card)will take several weeks. That has been the experience of those whom I know have recently updated. If it takes less time than that great!

"As of (Monday June 1, 2009 ), we are processing routine applications in approximately 4-6 weeks from the time of application. During busier times, such as the summer travel season, we encourage customers to expedite their applications if traveling in less than 10 weeks."

Source:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/processing/processing_1740.html

From website:
-June 1 Requirement-
Allow several weeks for new document application and processing.

A US passport costs $100. It only cost fifteen dollars more for a EDL in Washington. Michigan charges a total of $45 for a EDL and since one would be getting a DL anyway the extra charge is minimal. Border states are of course going to be getting EDL in their system before other states because many citizen cross the border daily or many times a year.

------------

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/eng_map.html

http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/index.shtm

Here is a link that might be useful: Read about ID

Hubby and I have been talking about when we renew our DL, to get the enhanced..but then what about our children? We haven't answered that question yet.

We'd only be traveling to Cananda..it's only a 2 hour drive to cross.

Terri, it is all outlined in the .gov site link I posted. It is the official travel site the government puts out to help citizens navigate the paperwork required for travel. Things change fast so you may want to sign up for their email newsletter for updates.

In your particular case you would only need your children's birth certificates along with you own proper identification if the children are 15y/o or younger. If you have older children 16y/o and up they require their own passport or EDL.

Things get more complicated when children are only traveling with one custodial parent, or with a stepparent, or with a school or youth group that only has chaperones. Documents giving permission for travel are needed.

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_sa.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Children Traveling

I've had my passport for a couple of years, I think it cost about $65 and took about 3 weeks. Good to have. My mom lives near Buffalo, when I visit I often go to Niagara Falls or Toronto, and the last time I crossed over the border I asked the cistoms agent about this. He said Canada doesn't have restrictions on who enters, the problem would be getting back into the US. But I heard your birth cert plus regular drivers license would be acceptable proof.

Posted by jannie: "He said Canada doesn't have restrictions on who enters, the problem would be getting back into the US. But I heard your birth cert plus regular drivers license would be acceptable proof."

Don't go by what you "heard". Get the facts. A regular DL and BC are no longer acceptable at border crossing.

The whole reason for my initial post was to be helpful, and make people aware that as of June 1, 2009 the new border rules have gone into effect. I would not like to see anyone's vacation ruined, or have to be laid off of their job because they did not have proper travel documents and relied on what "they heard". The linked sites I posted are official government sites. They are the definitive, ie: the "last word". They are also the most up to date. For instance certain countries are banned for travel by US citizens. The list can change in a heartbeat. If you are traveling, you may want to check on restrictions for Americans traveling to certain countries. Sometimes extra documentation is required.

-----------------------

BTW, the new RFID enabled travel documents which include all enhanced drivers licenses and passport cards, and the newer (within the last 2-3 years) passports can expediate passage if they are used properly. Passengers must only hold the RFID card up to the window of the auto and it is read automatically and immediately. If everyone knows how to do this simple step there will be no long lines at the border while guards shuffle through your "paperwork". Learn how to use RFID at the border in the video linked below.

If one has a valid passport that is from before October 2006 it will not be embedded with RFID. While one may still use this passport, it must be read by a human which takes more time. For faster passage one can get; a newer passport, a passport card, or an enhanced drivers license, to be able to practically whisk right through border crossing. This is an advantage to daily commuters. So it may be advantageous to get an EDL even if one has a valid passport, if the passport is one of the older non-RFID types.

Don't tie up the line. Watch this video put out by the Customs and Border Patrol so that you know what to do when you encounter a RFID reader at a border:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/05292009_5.xml

Here is a link that might be useful: Video

Jannie, you were told correctly, they are making allowances but please be aware that they do not have to do so, and frankly I wish they would not.

This is not a regulation from Canada, Mexico or any other foreging entity. I just had a huge argument with a client about this. She called the Mexican consulate and was told that she did not need a passport to enter Mexico. That may be true but if you are flying and planning on returning to the US you must have a passport. A country will not permit you entry if you cannot return home (Think Tom Hanks!) and the airline will not carry out of the country because they will be fined, quite stiffly.

I really wish the US Government would just enact legislation requiring a passport, PERIOD. This is confusing for all involved.

Thanks, DD, I'll check the link.

It does say you need a passport or enhanced DL. Sorry for what I "heard". I read it in my local paper. By the way, both ex presiodents Clinton and Bush43 were up in Toronto at a conference and neither of them knew about the changes effective June 1.

Funny you should bring that up jannie. The new passport rules were passed and partly put into effect during the Bush years starting with air travel ID. He out of all people, should have known what was going on under his reign. Maybe someone should slip him a note telling him we have troops in Iraq.

The new passport rule went into effect after Clinton retired from politics, so he may have an excuse not being fully informed on every change that has happened since his retirement and he is now living as a regular citizen, but it is truly embarrassing that he came across as so uninformed on stage like that. It's not like he retired and became a hermit. His wife just recently ran for presidential office, so one would assume he still had some interest in the state of affairs of this country since he had the potential to be back living in the White House as 'First Gentleman' or whatever his title would have been had Hillary ran and won.

Article:

"But when moderator Frank McKenna, the former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., launched into a passionate speech about how Canadians feel about the new passport rules, Bush and Clinton both seemed perplexed.

"Hell of a speech," Bush joked, before saying. "I'll be frank with you Frank, I don't know about the passport issue."

"I thought we were making good progress on using a driver's license to cross the border. What happened to the easy-pass card?"

"I think we should be facilitating driving."

Clinton also demurred, saying he only heard of the subject a day before. He said most Americans probably didn't know about the issue."

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090529/bush_clinton_090529/20090529/?hub=TorontoNewHome

Here is a link that might be useful: Funny Ex-Pres

Posted by lynn_d: "Jannie, you were told correctly, they are making allowances but please be aware that they do not have to do so, and frankly I wish they would not."

Can you point to a news article that says they are "making allowances" for those who have not complied with the final phase of the WHTI yet? People have known for years that this was coming into effect and have had plenty of time to go about getting their passport, passport card or EDL, or whatever other document that can also be used (Military ID, Tribal Enhanced ID, Sentri, ect.).

June 1, 2009 was the final deadline.

I would be curious to know for a fact, that the border guards were going against the law.

---------------

The following summarizes information that appeared in the recent past on the Department of Homeland SecurityÂs website proclaiming the new rules for land and sea travel and has been copied from their website verbatim:

* CURRENTLY:
All U.S. citizens must show proof of identity and proof of U.S. citizenship when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the countries of the Caribbean by land or sea.

Acceptable documents include: U.S. Passport Book, U.S. Passport Card, or other document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. citizens who do not have a single document verifying identity and citizenship must present both an identification and citizenship document; for example, a driverÂs license and a copy of a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.

* LATER:
On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Right here on the PDF printout brochure linked here below from Customs and Border Patrol is shows photos of the accepted ID for all travelers coming into the US. It clearly notes that the two document option is only valid until June 1, 2009.

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/sea_travel/faqs/doc_reqs_poster.ctt/doc_reqs_poster.pdf

These are GOVERNMENT WEBSITES that I am linking to, not some kid's blog. This is the official word on the matter.

Here is a link that might be useful: June 1, 2009 Deadline

I'm kind of curious why people in the US would take a day trip or holiday in Canada. Much more expensive.

It has been all over the news, D-D, much to my surprise, I heard it on the Today Show. I am well aware of the deadline and the regulations, this is my profession and has been for 32 years.

Jasdip, they do it for the experience. Visiting the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is very popular, the casino. I can only speak for the Northeast and what our clientele do.