The Federal Government is requiring a passport for travel outside the US or US Territory by land or sea. This takes affect Jan 1, 2008. I could only assume that we will need to carry a passport on us when we fish St Clair or Detroit River Tournaments just in case we get stopped in Canadian waters for the 2008 season?
Also, I would like to thank all of you on this site. Last year was my first year as a co-angler and the articles I read and the advise I received from this site were priceless. I am looking forward to the 2007 season. Thanks to SethV and his father for helping me out on all the tournaments. I hope to draw you again.
This law is a US law, not Canadian. As is it is written, you must first step foot onto Canadian soil (or anchor), then return to the states. The passport is for re-entry to the US.
I don't beleive dowd is correct onthis excactly. That used to be true, prior to 911, but since the homeland security act, egress depends on the security threat level - yellow, orange,...etc. It is fairly complex, and each level has different requirements as to free gress across the water borders or not. I belieive at Cond. Orange even, you technically have no free egress and need to check in w/US customs to come back across the border from Canada - hopefully we can get someone from the coast guard patrol to clear this up before the upcoming season, nonetheless 2008 when it goes into effect.
Jack
Does anyone know what the price on a passport is
I believe it's around $90 for adults plus the cost of the photos you need. You can get the price from any post office probably.
I will try to nail down the specifics of this requirement a little later this winter by talking to a few different sources. I'm not 100% sure on it yet. My understanding was that this requirement differs from the I-68.
you can get the forms on line, not sure of the site, just search passports. There are several sites that will do the paperwork for you, but that costs. It isn't difficult to fill out the forms, you can do it yourself. A long with sending in the forms you will need to send in your birth certificate (NOT A COPY(you will get it back with your passport) and 2 photos (you can get the photos taken at WAL-MART super centers) and of coarse the fee.
It takes about 6 weeks unless you pay extra to get your passport.
Even though the new law doesn't take effect until next year I'll have mine with me this year. You never know, if you get stopped without the paper work how long it will keep you from fish'n.
See you on the water
REEL_MAN
That's been one of my concerns all along. Particularly within the time limits of a tournament - you don't want anything to waste your time needlessly if there is a solution to help avoid that (along with a lot of 'yes sirs' and 'no ma'ams' to smooth things out).