border crossings

[cellio]

I don't know how to look up the answer to this question (i.e. who I should be calling to ask): what paperwork is a citizen legally required to be able to produce to get into the country? Dani and I have driven across the Canadian border dozens of times and I've never been asked for ID. (He shows his green card.) I've never had anything more significant than my driver's license and voter registration card with me. (The latter is hardly a good proof of citizenship, but *anyone* can get a driver's license so I figure it might help.) I don't have a passport, nor do I have a copy of my birth certificate. Normally none of this would concern me, but with the heightened state of worry in the country, I wonder if I'm going to have trouble getting back from Toronto this weekend.

What could they, theoretically, legally demand? What kind of proof of citizenship might I have lying around the house already that I should take?

Comments

birth certificates, passports, marriage licenses and other sundry items

[estherchaya.livejournal.com]

Okay, well, here's where my unique knowledge set comes in handy. Having spent a year in law school and seeing as how I work for the INS... (well, as a contractor...)
Yes, a copy of a passport with a notarized copy of a marriage license would suffice as legal proof of who you are with your legal name. Your maiden name, by the way, will always work as a legal name, even if you take your husband's name, as far as I know, in most states. This is certainly true in Maryland and I think in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
As far as crossing back from Canada: yes, a driver's license normally suffices. A second form of ID is recommended, preferably a birth certificate. Ever seen an I9 form? You know that form you have to fill out as proof that you're allowed to work in the United States every time you start a job? It's got three columns of types of ID you have to produce (one from column A or one from Column B PLUS one from Column C?)... that's a pretty good rule of thumb to use if you are crossing back over... that is to say, if you've JUST got a passport, that'll work by itself. If you've got a driver's license, plus a birth certificate or a voter registration card or something else, that'll work.

Does that help?

Re: birth certificates, passports, marriage licenses and other sundry items

[cellio]

Thanks! I'll make sure I have both the driver's license and voter card. (And they probably won't ask for either.)

Re: birth certificates, passports, marriage licenses and other sundry items

[estherchaya.livejournal.com]

just talked to my boss, you're right you probably won't need either. He said to at least have a photo ID (such as a driver's license, which if you're driving you should have anyway).
But basically, he said, we don't enforce the Canadian border often anyway. You probably won't be scrutinized.