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Stupid question concerning passports

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Date/Time: 05/19/2013 08:09AM

Subject: Stupid question concerning passports

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
24kGold	07/06/2012 08:24AM quote bojibob: "Someone else brought up the scenario that if you were injured in the park and evacuated to some Canadian location outside the park. You would need your passport for reentry into the USA. It's probably not a bad idea to have it with you. " We always go in and come out at Cache bay but this is why I've always kept my passport with me. You never know if you're gonna get injured and transported to a Canadian hospital eh. Terry
Goby	07/05/2012 03:54PM quote butthead: "A comparison between passport and card Interesting discovery about my own card, it came with an aluminum lined sleeve to prevent unintended reading of the chip. The lining rubbed off onto the card and it could not be read at customs (the agent recommended a careful wipe with rubbing alcohol to clean it). butthead" Mine came in the sleeve too. It says to store it in the sleeve, which I do, but only when its not in my wallet. Hilarious though that their protection system ended up fouling your card.
butthead	07/04/2012 03:43PM A comparison between passport and card Interesting discovery about my own card, it came with an aluminum lined sleeve to prevent unintended reading of the chip. The lining rubbed off onto the card and it could not be read at customs (the agent recommended a careful wipe with rubbing alcohol to clean it). butthead
timatkn	07/03/2012 01:55PM quote ZaraSp00k: "all these stories about getting a hard time is just that, stories if the border agent wants someone to rag on, and you happen to be the person available, you are going to get it they will find an excuse no matter how good your documentation, you are at their mercy and they know it" Well if you don't have proper identification/documentation on you when you re-enter the U.S. they can do more than give you a hard time they can actually fine and put you in holding. Giving me a hard time is not really a concern for me more of an inconvenience. T
ZaraSp00k	07/03/2012 11:47AM all these stories about getting a hard time is just that, stories if the border agent wants someone to rag on, and you happen to be the person available, you are going to get it they will find an excuse no matter how good your documentation, you are at their mercy and they know it
Goby	07/02/2012 09:39PM The passport card is worth the money for ease of use and speeding up customs. I went through at International Falls/Ft. Francis and going in, the Canadians gave me a REALLY hard time, even with the card. Coming back into the US with it though was a piece of cake. That said, when I enter the park, I don't carry it with me, no matter what entry point I use. I suppose US customs COULD be sitting on the other side of Prarie Portage waiting to bust people but I highly doubt this. They "conveniently" put their office in town and ask you to stop by after your trip, probably so you don't have to carry your passport into the wilderness where a pine squirrel can make a nest with it.
yellowcanoe	07/02/2012 07:48PM Its my understanding that you must have a passport on your person at all times. Where I got that I do not know. But I have been asked at home for a passport when driving in the Eustis/Coburn Gore area of Maine. So its with me always. Such is the US of Paranoia. For that reason I soaked mine on a canoe trip. It dried and mildewed and the next flight to Canada was a nightmare. The ticket agent almost denied me boarding as the pic was illegible. However scanners could read the info. I was told that if I was visiting a real foreign country I would not have gotten on the flight. Carry it in a dry bag. Your alternatives are what...leaving it in the car for it to be stolen?
Jackfish	07/02/2012 07:38PM quote bojibob: "Someone else brought up the scenario that if you were injured in the park and evacuated to some Canadian location outside the park. You would need your passport for reentry into the USA. It's probably not a bad idea to have it with you. " You make a very good point.
GraniteCliffs	07/02/2012 07:35PM A number of years ago we paddled into the Quetico and, to make a long story short, ended up being flown out of Beaverhouse to Sand Point. We took a boat to Crane Lake and US Customs. We did not have our passports with us since we expected to simply paddle out. The US Customs agent at Crane Lake was extremely difficult to deal with due to the fact that we did not have passports. His point was that we flew into the US so needed a passport. At that time no passport was required to paddle back into the US, nor to drive back in. To this day I do not know if we were suppose to have one to fly back in. And, of course, I tried to point out that we had flown within Canada but took a boat back into the US the same way we had been hauled back from LaCroix on numerous occasions. He delayed us an hour, asked all sorts of seemingly meaningless questions and simply had a terrible attitude. He took great pleasure in controlling us and invoking his authority to do so. When I said I wanted to call his supervisor he finally allowed us to pass. The Outfitter quietly told us to simply not say anything because the agent liked to toy with people. I now always carry my passport just in case that man is still working somewhere waiting for me to return without my passport in hand.......
fishguts	07/02/2012 06:49PM You are suppose to have it crossing back into the US
billconner	07/02/2012 06:39PM quote Jackfish: "quote BillConner01: "Jackfish - no chance US border patrol would ask you for it say crossing from Canada to US at PP? I'd guess you could get by with a promise to report and not raising their suspicions, but might it not make that encounter easier?" Bill, that's not what I said. I said you wouldn't need a passport "in" the park. Your scenario involves "leaving" the park at the US border. If that's the case, it's probably best to keep it with you." You're right - I didn't consider being in the park and never leaving, but I'd like to.
timatkn	07/02/2012 05:23PM When you get your passport it is only $20 extra to get the passport card which looks just like a drivers license and is good for Carribean, Mexico and Canada. I just have that with me. When you go though customs they just slide the card liek a credit card. Seems to speed up the process. WHen I applied for my passport at the post office the guy helping me was a Quetico nut and said for $20 it was worth the peace of mind and ease if you are crossing the border remotely. Technically anytine you enter the U.S. from Canada, like Cache Bay, Basswood you need your Passport or Passport card to legally cross back into the U.S. If you did a Northern entry/exit no you do not need your passport while in the Q. T
bojibob	07/02/2012 04:34PM Someone else brought up the scenario that if you were injured in the park and evacuated to some Canadian location outside the park. You would need your passport for reentry into the USA. It's probably not a bad idea to have it with you.
Jackfish	07/02/2012 01:29PM quote BillConner01: "Jackfish - no chance US border patrol would ask you for it say crossing from Canada to US at PP? I'd guess you could get by with a promise to report and not raising their suspicions, but might it not make that encounter easier?" Bill, that's not what I said. I said you wouldn't need a passport "in" the park. Your scenario involves "leaving" the park at the US border. If that's the case, it's probably best to keep it with you.
HowardSprague	07/02/2012 01:17PM No, you don't have to have it on you while in Q. In fact, last year when we started our trip the outfitter stashed everyone's passports and wallets in their safe while we were out. I opted to keep mine - paranoid about parting with that kind of stuff - and was the oddball out of the group of seven (oddball as far as that goes, and as far as LNT violations go, but that's for another thread!)
billconner	07/02/2012 01:11PM Jackfish - no chance US border patrol would ask you for it say crossing from Canada to US at PP? I'd guess you could get by with a promise to report and not raising their suspicions, but might it not make that encounter easier?
Jackfish	07/02/2012 12:56PM You don't need your passport while in the park. You may feel better keeping it with you vs. storing it in your car, but it's up to you. No one is going to ask you for it while you're in the backcountry.
billconner	07/02/2012 12:50PM I do but I don't think you need it. I have it because I usually cross border on south side of Q and want it if stopped, which has never happened to me. I also take some cash and a credit card and my drivers license - who knows.
walllee	07/02/2012 12:28PM I was wondering if you are suppose to have your passport on your person while you are in Quetico? I always have my permits, fishing license, and drivers license on me at all times, but did not no what the deal was with passports.

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