A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

If you travel to and from Canada, check this article for legitimate concerns about the next wave of regulations rolling out the new passport law in the U.S.

The new passport card has information encoded electronically in the card to speed processing of citizens coming back into the U.S. The card has been criticized by some for the fact that the data in the card could be hacked into because the data can be picked up from more than a few inches away. The critics say the data could compromise the holder’s personal information.

We have never agreed with this criticism because the only data on the card is a unique number of the holder that has nothing to do with their identity. Instead the number is only good for use on the database of the U.S. Customs officials. When put into Customs computer database, the number will identify the holder, so he or she can be correctly and immediately identified and allowed to enter the U.S.

So even if someone did successfully hack into the card and get the passport card number of the holder, it would only be helpful if they also had hacked into the Customs database, and that is as close to impossible as the government can guarantee. We respect the integrity of the databases of the U.S. government, so we do not think the passport card is a personal security risk.

Read an interesting editorial on this subject by the Buffalo News whose readers are heavily impacted by this card because they are only a few miles from the Canadian border.

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a Passport.

Passport Update on new Passport Rules From A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

January 4, 2008

FIRST: New regulations go into effect on January 31st that require all persons entering or re-entering the U.S. to show proof of citizenship. Prior to that date, persons can continue to prove citizenship verbally.

Proof of citizenship can be accomplished by presenting a valid passport, an original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, or an original copy of your certificate of citizenship or naturalization. We recommend a passport because it is the only document that proves both your citizenship and your identity.

SECOND: The Department of State, the agency of the Federal Government that issues passports, issued new rules regarding the new passport card on December 31, 2007. Here is a summary of everything covered in the new regulations. As you will see, there are more rules to be issued in the future telling citizens when and how the State Department will begin issuing passport cards. When and how the State Department will begin issuing the passport cards is not yet known.

1. The State Department will issue passport cards. The official name of the document will be “passport cards.” State will continue to issue “passport books” which up until now we have known as a “passport.”
2. The passport card is valid only for passage through land and sea ports between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The passport card cannot be used for flights into or out of the U.S.
3. The passport card will be issued to citizens in all 50 states but it is exclusively for use for land and sea entrance to the U.S. Passport cards cannot be used for international air travel.
4. Passport cards can be used for identification for domestic flights. Remember: the passport card can be used as government-issued proof of identity and proof of citizenship. So, if you do not have a driver’s license and need identification for passing through security for domestic travel, you can use your passport card for proof of identity instead of presenting your driver’s license.
5. Passport cards have the same validity as passport books – 10 years for adults 16 and over and 5 years for children under 16.
6. Citizens will be able to apply for a passport card at any acceptance agent on the same basis as a regular passport.
7. Passport books must be signed on the signature page by the passport holder to be valid. Passport cards do not have to be signed to be valid.
8. The passport cards will be able to be scanned at U.S. borders when a person is in the vicinity of an electronic reader that will be operated by U.S. border control officials. The chip in the card contains only one item of information – a unique identifying number that has meaning only inside the secure database of the State Department and Homeland Security Department. There is no personal information such as name, date of birth, social security number, etc. stored electronically on the chip. So, if someone did pick up the signal, they would not be able to use the data to learn anything about the holder.
9. The execution fee for applying for a passport card is $25. The execution fee for applying for a passport book is $30.
10. The fees for obtaining a passport card for persons without a passport are as follows:
    • Adults: Total $45 — $20 application fee, plus $25 execution fee
    • Children under 16: Total $35 — $10 application fee, plus $25 execution fee
11. Persons who have a valid passport book (Remember: a “passport book” means a person who has a “passport”) and who are applying for a passport card (in addition to holding a valid passport) are not required to pay the execution fee. Thus, persons with a valid passport who also want a passport card can apply for $20.
12. The government may permit alternative documentation for land crossings such as driver’s licenses issued by states that have established methods for determining citizenship acceptable to the Federal government. Several states have already submitted proposals to the Federal government. This matter will be addressed in subsequent regulations issued by the Federal government.

We’ll keep you posted.

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a Passport.

The State Department will soon begin issuing passport cards equipped with electronic data chips to U.S. citizens who travel frequently between the United States and Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.

The $45 card will be optional and cannot be used for air travel. The chip will contain a unique identifying number linked to information in a secure government database but not to names, Social Security numbers or other personal information. It will also come with a protective sleeve to guard against hackers trying to skim data wirelessly.

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a Passport.

Remember that effective January 31, 2008, when returning to the U.S. from any destination, you must present proof of citizenship. A passport is the best proof because it also identifies you and it can be scanned and you can quickly move through the border.

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a Passport.

By Gentle Island

Making the decision to visit any one of Canada’s beautiful provinces or territories is easy, especially if you decide to spend your time on the East Coast. Canada’s East Coast is made up of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and precious Prince Edward Island which exudes island hospitality and charm.

Your trip will be packed full of exciting activities when visiting any number of the East Coast festivals, cultural events, heritage sites as well as a ton of indoor and outdoor attractions. There is definitely no shortage of things to do on the East Coast. When visiting here is a list of the top 5 things you must see and do.

When in Newfoundland, Gros Morne National Park is a must see. Either for a day trip or for a week long camping trip, Gros Morne National Park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. You can hike through mountains, camp by the sea, visit freshwater fjords, waterfalls and sandy beaches. As an area with vast natural beauty and a variety of scenery, wildlife and recreational activities, there are a million and one things to do.

The next stop on your east coast vacation has to be beautiful New Brunswick. If you are searching for some indoor activities your next stop is the traditional farmers market in St. John. This market offers patrons the best New Brunswick has to offer in terms of fresh food, produce, meats and seafood. The St. John City Market also hosts the maritime craft show and offers hundreds of hand crafted items for you to enjoy. It’s a wonderful place to visit and stop in for a bite.

If outdoor adventure is more your speed visiting the Fundy Trail in St. Martin’s New Brunswick will be most enjoyable! The Fundy Trail is an area of true importance as it is a sensitive ecological area, previously inaccessible to people. Untouched coastal areas with unmatched beauty and eco-diversity offer its visitors the opportunity to hike, bike or drive through portions of the park to take in the view.

When in Nova Scotia shellfish is the dish dejour, particularly if you enjoy Lobster! Nova Scotia offers lobster tours for sea lovers of all ages. Tours are a great way to become familiar with the fishing methods used to catch these delicious creatures as well as to learn about the marine habitat of the many sea creatures that frequent the waters off Nova Scotia. A day on the water will reveal whales, seals, dolphins, seabirds, porpoises and other exciting species.

The final stop on your east coast adventure must be Prince Edward Island, the gentle Island. Offering annual cultural and artistic events, numerous sights and attractions, PEI is fun for the whole family. You can learn to deep sea fish, do some afternoon birding, or golf on one of over 30 island golf courses . Be sure to visit Prince Edward Islands’ beautiful lighthouses, the home of Anne of Green Gables and historic Province House, the Birthplace of Canada.

Or if the idea of putting your feet up on one of PEI’s beautiful red sand beaches is more your speed, the gentle island has many places for you. Surrounded by the sound of waves coming ashore, birds flying overhead and nothing but peace and quite, this are definitely the place for you. Rejuvenate your spirit, Love Prince Edward Island!

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Planning a trip to Canada? If you are flying, you will need a passport. Click here to order or renew your passport.

About The Author:

Prince Edward Island is widely known as the historic birthplace of Canada. The Charlottetown conference held in 1864 was the first meeting of a series which ultimately led to the confederation of Canada in 1867. Visit the gentle island.

The Canadian Travel Bureau of the Canadian Government is acknowledging that it is having problems issuing passports in a timely manner mostly because of the U.S. requirement to have a passport for air travel into and out of the U.S. It effects Canadians the same way it does U.S. citizens.

A Briggs is not able to obtain expedited passports from Canada.

Here is the article from the Canadian Government:

OTTAWA — Passport Canada is reporting continued long delays in processing mailed-in passport applications, despite a streamlined renewal process and hundreds of new employees.
And there is concern those delays will only get longer as the busy winter travel season approaches.
Officials blame a glut of new applicants for the delays, as demand for the documents continues to grow dramatically.
It now takes a minimum of six weeks to get a passport through the mail; two weeks longer than the agency’s benchmark of four weeks.

And that doesn’t include the time it takes to get applications and documents through Canada Post.

Passport Canada spokesman Fabien Lengelle says many more people have applied for passports in the past six months than applied within the same period last year.

“The reason we have delays is that we have a very, very high demand,” Lengelle said.
In October 2006, Passport Canada was issuing about 13,000 passports a day.

By late last spring that number had reached 21,000.

Since the start of April,. the beginning of the fiscal year, the agency has issued 2.2 million passports, a 42-per-cent increase from the same period in 2006-2007 when just 1.5 million were issued.

In June, then-foreign affairs minister Peter MacKay announced measures to speed up the processing of passport applications, including a simplified renewal process.
At the time, there was a backlog of roughly 170,000 applications.

Since then, Passport Canada has hired nearly 700 new employees, raising the number of passport officers and clerks to the equivalent of more than 2,600 full-time personnel.
Agency officials won’t divulge gthe size of the current backlog, arguing that the number fluctuates from day-to-day.

“(Backlog) is not a very accurate measure,” said Lengelle.

“Demand is the true driver here.”

The new renewal process, which came into effect Aug. 15, allows Canadians to renew their passports without getting guarantors, as long as their current passport is less than a year from expiry and has never been lost or stolen.

Traditionally, the busiest time of year for Passport Canada is the period from Nov. 1 through the end of March.

The agency is preparing for a further upswing in demand, but acknowledges delays could lengthen despite its best efforts.

“It all depends on demand,” said Lengelle.

“If demand goes above capacity, then we will have (further) delays,” he added.

“Passport Canada is doing everything it can to raise its capacity to a level where we will be able to meet demand over the coming months.”

The agency has been able to maintain a two-week timetable for processing applications delivered in person at passport offices.

As well, Canadians who can apply in person, are willing to pay more and who can prove they will be travelling sooner, can get a passport within 24 hours on an urgent basis, or through Passport Canada’s ‘express’ service.

But that doesn’t help the thousands of Canadians who have no choice but to use the mail system to obtain travel documents.

Demand for passports has increased dramatically since the United States imposed rules requiring them for air travellers. Similar rules are expected to be in place as early as next summer for land travel across the U.S. border.

In the United States, demand also peaked earlier this year from Americans seeking passports, causing significant disruptions to some people’s summer travel plans.

But the State Department announced last month it had worked through a massive backlog of passport applications and that its processing times were back to normal after months of major delays.

However, the normal waiting period for a standard passport application in the U.S. is six to eight weeks - three weeks for expedited service. U.S. officials deal with 17 million passport applications annually.

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a visa and check the requirements for entry.

By E Cho

Niagara Falls, or les Chutes du Niagara, is probably one of the most well known and visited natural wonders of the world. Located on the border of Canada and the United States, these beautiful waterfalls are on the Niagara River. The Falls actually consist of three separate
waterfalls, the first two, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls accessible from the states, and the last, Horseshoe Falls, divided from the others by Goat Island, on the Canadian side.

Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three, water cascades down 170 feet to the pool below, eventually moving into Lake Ontario. The strength and height of American Falls is roughly half of its counterpart, at 70 feet, the drop from Bridal Veil Falls even less. It is interesting to note, however, that the actual height of the American Falls is 9-10 feet larger than that of Horseshoe Falls, even though the waterfall itself is not. This is due to the existence of large rocks found at the base of the falls.

Niagara Falls draws tourists from all over the country; as many as 20 million annually are enthralled by the sight and sounds of the falling water. Both Canada and the United States benefit from the force of the waterfalls, using it as a source of power. The hydroelectric stations that share the water produce around 4.4 GW of power, making Niagara Falls the most powerful, and valuable, waterfall located in North America.

The beauty and power of the waterfalls can be seen in daylight or dark, as Canada uses spotlights to illuminate both sides of Niagara Falls until midnight each night. There are different colours used for illumination, making the falls a must see during evening hours. Three bridges connecting the Niagara Falls, New York and the Falls in Canada afford the best views of the waterfalls. Two, the Rainbow Bridge, and Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, are open to both pedestrians and vehicles, the third, Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, is open only a limited number of hours, exclusive to Nexus Pass-holders.

After enjoying the wonders that nature has to offer, you will enjoy the modern comfort and convenience found at the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls By The Falls. The inn, located a few steps away from the waterfalls, allows guests to choose from three different restaurants, ensuring each person’s tastes are catered to. They also boast a swimming pool and whirlpool, to enjoy at your leisure. Ideally situated in the Niagara Falls Tourist District, the Skylon Tower adjoins the property, along with the IMAX Theater. This makes the Holiday Inn Niagara Falls By The Falls a perfect base for shopping, touring, and relaxing as you visit Canada.

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order or renew your passport.

By Chonticha Marijne

If you’ve never been fishing in Canada, then you don’t know what you’re missing, nor have you experienced the ultimate in fishing adventures. Canada, with hundreds of thousands of lakes, rivers and streams, offers a wealth of fishing possibilities that you wouldn’t believe.

Whether you’re fishing for salmon, trout, pike, halibut or dozens of other freshwater varieties, Canada has a variety of fishing opportunities waiting for you. Weather’s no detriment either, for in Canada you can fly fish, reel fish, and ice fish to your heart’s content. Salmon is the fish catch for Alaskan and Canadian waters in the fall, and spawning season produces millions of varieties of salmon ranging in size from 18-24 inches and 8-12 pounds. King salmon range between 30-80 pounds, so make sure you’re fit before attempting to fish Canadian waters!

Canada fishing trips offer anglers from around the world rustic or luxurious accommodations, and the great thing is, there are so many choices that you may opt to try several different locations for your fishing trip. Rustic cabins or even tent camping is available for those who wish to head into the interior, and if you want a plane to drop you off and then pick you up at a later time, booking with a variety of tourist and fishing businesses anywhere in Canada is no trouble.

If you’re looking for a little more pampering than that, try any number of fishing or hunting lodges and resorts that offer everything from fine dining to spa treatments and massages.

Weather in Canada is typically mild, expect for the winter months, and that also will depend on where you’re staying. For the most part, Canada in summertime offers a very pleasant 50-80 degrees depending, again, on location. Coastal areas maintain temperatures that are usually below 75 degrees, while the interior may reach into the 80s.

Canadian fishing lodges offer a perfect wilderness setting away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and the peace and quiet, accompanied by spectacular scenery and wildlife often makes visitors feel as if they’ve stepped into another world. Whether you come alone, with buddies, or with your family, there are options for entertainment, lodging and dining that will suit just about any need or desire. Many resorts offer day or weekend fishing trips, or rentals for visitors, at very reasonable prices.

When planning a Canada fishing trip, make a list of priorities and then search for lodging or fishing packages that will cater to your desires. Check several options within each category for your vacation plans, such as what kinds of fish you’re wanting to catch, or what types of lodging you’re looking for, down to what you want to eat.

Most travel agencies or online fishing adventure websites will offer to send printed information to you free of charge, so gather adequate resource material before sitting down to plan your trip. Leave your options open, if possible, and prepare to be surprised, delighted and excited about fishing in Canada.

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Planning a trip to Canada? You’ll need a passport? Click here for passport and visa requirements for traveling to Canada.

About The Author:

Ready for the best Canada fishing trips of your own? Chonticha recommends you find out more at Canada Fishing Trips.

We received a call from a client who was at a U.S. airport to fly to Mexico on United Airlines who was not allowed on the flight because he did not have his passport. The United agent at the counter said that their computer system was informing them that all passengers must have a passport.

We discussed this with the Passport Agency and were told they had heard of similar problems, especially with United. Our contact said that the management of all major U.S. airlines have been informed of the new rules. He said that some of the confusion at the airport may be a result of the State Department announcement that the new exception rule (that permits travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda with only a birth certificate and proof the traveler has applied for a passport) applies only to re-entry into the U.S. for specific countries from that region — see list below.

The new rule does not change the entry requirements FROM the U.S. TO these or any other Caribbean countries. You can obtain country-specific entry requirements information from here, or you can check with the airline on which you are traveling.

The list of countries from which you can return to the U.S. with a government-issued photo id and proof that you have applied for a passport includes:

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Jamaica (except for business travel)
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Turks and Caicos

You can obtain proof that you have applied for a passport from here. You must have that specific proof. It is the only acceptable proof.

The Passport Agency admits there have been problems, and we know there have been hundreds of thousands of problems. So, don’t assume anything. Remember that even though you may have applied, your application may not show up in the government’s system for typicallyl up to 20 days — and in some cases it has been as long as 3 months.

If your application is not in the system, call Passport Customer Service at 877.487.2778 and ask them to retrieve the necessary information 6:00 a.m. to midnight EST, Monday to Friday and limited weekend hours.

The volume of calls into the Service are still too heavy for the number of people answering the calls. So you expect to have difficulty getting through. It can take as long as an hour to get someone on the phone.

So check the requirements for the country to which you are traveling to make sure you have the necessary travel documents to enter and leave that country.