Mexico and Canada crossings: Hey, you can't just waltz in

New rules for Western Hemisphere travel have some fuming. But even now, it's a good idea to have a valid passport.

By Jane Engle, Times Staff Writer
12:00 AM PDT, May 15, 2005

NEWS about U.S. plans to require passports for people returning to or entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean set off a firestorm of protest last month. Critics said the requirement would complicate their lives.

What many forget is that travel among Western Hemisphere countries even now is not without its complications.

If you've been convicted of drunk driving or you're traveling with children, or your spouse is not a U.S. citizen, you may encounter special problems. But anyone can get ensnared in bureaucracy at the border.

Under a plan announced last month by the U.S. government, everyone will need a passport or "other accepted document" (what that is has not yet been fully defined) to enter or reenter the U.S. from the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central and South America starting Dec. 31. (You already need a passport and visa to visit some of these nations.) By Dec. 31, 2006, the same rule will apply for Mexico and Canada, and by the end of 2007 to all nations.

Several of the affected countries have protested the change, saying it would hurt tourism.

But even now, many experts advise carrying a passport any time you leave the U.S. Heightened concern about terrorism, they say, is turning the passport into an all-purpose ID. There's also a chance that your plane or cruise ship may be diverted to a country that requires a passport or that your own plans may change.

Even without extraordinary events, you can encounter border problems. Some examples:

Driving record: It's a little-known law, but Canada may bar visitors who have been convicted of drunk driving, which may be called DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated), depending on the locale.

The rules are complicated. If your offense took place more than 10 years ago, you're deemed "rehabilitated" and should have no problem, said Amélie Morin of the Canadian Border Services Agency in Ottawa. If it was more than five years ago, you may apply for a temporary resident's permit, which costs $250 Canadian (about $200 U.S.) and is issued on "a case-by-case basis," Morin said.

If the conviction is more recent, you may be barred. Visit a Canadian consulate for details.

I asked Morin how Canada learns about a DUI. She responded: "When someone is arriving at a port of entry, our officers will question the person. Our officers also have access to a computer system that checks for criminal records by name and date of birth."

When I said that neither several acquaintances nor I recalled being asked about DUI or other convictions when crossing into Canada, she said, "I can't comment on how you were processed at the border."

If you don't disclose the DUI and you get caught, you may be asked to leave Canada.

Children: If a minor is with both parents, crossing a border is usually routine. But if the child is alone, with one parent or with a third party, a letter of consent from the absent parent or guardian may be required.

The rules vary. Canada, for instance, requires notarized letters for children traveling solo or with third parties but not for those with one parent — although it's best to err on the safe side, officials said. Brazil requires that such letters be translated into Portuguese.

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