(U.S. CBP — Pembina)
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) documentary requirements for land and sea travel will go into effect on June 1, 2009. U.S., Canadian, and Bermudan citizens that
were previously exempt document requirements will be required to present a WHTI-compliant document for entry into the United States at land and sea ports of entry beginning June 1.
WHTI codes will be applied to ACE E-Manifests starting April 2009, with a transition period, until compliance is enforced on June 1, 2009. Effective June 1, 2009, all E-Manifests filed that are non-WHTI compliant will be rejected by ACE until WHTI compliance is obtained. As a reminder, WHTI-compliant documents include the following:
• U.S., Canadian or Bermudan passports;
• U.S. Passport Card;
• Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (when and where available);
• Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST);
• Form I-872 American Indian Card, or (when available) Enhanced Tribal Cards;
• Military identification cards (for members of the U.S. armed forces on official orders);
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Document (for U.S. citizens on official maritime business);
As specified in the WHTI land and sea final rule, U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16, and those under age 19 traveling in a designated group, may present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.
Showing posts with label Driver's Licences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Driver's Licences. Show all posts
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Canada Backpedals on Sharing Personal Database With U.S.
(The Canadian Press)
Ottawa has quietly dropped plans to let the United States house a database of personal information about Canadians who hold special driver’s licences aimed at better securing the border.
The move follows vocal criticism from federal and provincial privacy commissioners, who warned earlier this year the scheme could open the door to abuse of the sensitive data.
However, the office of federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart is still wary of the plan to share information on so-called enhanced driver’s licences with the United States, and stresses the passport is still the ideal travel document for Canadians.
“All in all, we are pleased to see that they listened to some of our recommendations, but we remain hopeful that they’ll heed to many of our other concerns,” said Anne-Marie Hayden, a spokeswoman for Stoddart.
As of next June under Washington’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all people entering the U.S. must have a passport or other secure documentation confirming citizenship and identity. Read more here.
Ottawa has quietly dropped plans to let the United States house a database of personal information about Canadians who hold special driver’s licences aimed at better securing the border.
The move follows vocal criticism from federal and provincial privacy commissioners, who warned earlier this year the scheme could open the door to abuse of the sensitive data.
However, the office of federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart is still wary of the plan to share information on so-called enhanced driver’s licences with the United States, and stresses the passport is still the ideal travel document for Canadians.
“All in all, we are pleased to see that they listened to some of our recommendations, but we remain hopeful that they’ll heed to many of our other concerns,” said Anne-Marie Hayden, a spokeswoman for Stoddart.
As of next June under Washington’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all people entering the U.S. must have a passport or other secure documentation confirming citizenship and identity. Read more here.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Enhanced Driver’s Licence or National Identity Card?
(Andrew Clement & Colin Bennett — Toronto Star)
In the name of thrift and convenience, Canadian governments are opening the door to a privacy-threatening ID scheme imposed by the United States in the misguided pursuit of “secure” borders. Currently, the Ontario government is pushing through legislation – Bill 85, the Photo Card Act – that would “enhance” the provincial driver’s licence to meet U.S. demands.
As part of the Bush administration’s war on terror, Canadians entering the U.S. will soon need to show a passport or equivalent document in compliance with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The U.S. has already put this requirement into effect for air travel and in June 2009 it will cover all land and water crossings.
In anticipation of this and to facilitate “the efficient and secure flow of cross-border travel and commerce,” several Canadian provinces are instituting enhanced driver’s licences (EDL). Enhancing a licence in accordance with standards set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security involves including a citizenship indicator, an optical character recognition zone and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip.
With these features, an EDL can serve as an alternative to a Canadian passport at an American border. Promoted as cheaper and more convenient than a passport, such a licence initially appear to be a good deal. A closer examination reveals several flaws with this approach.
One of the most serious problems with EDLs is the requirement to adopt a particularly insecure form of chip – the EPC Gen 2. Over stiff opposition from the “smart card” industry as well as civil liberties organizations, Homeland Security has insisted on a type of chip that is notoriously privacy-invasive in its potential. The chip on the card will hold a unique personal identification number that anyone in the vicinity (at least 10 metres) can read with commercially available equipment and link to any other information the person may have about the card holder.
It is ironic that while some jurisdictions require the disabling of similar RFIDs in consumer items at point of purchase, there appears to be no effective way for individuals to do likewise with a card many will carry all the time. There has been no visible progress in developing less invasive features, such as a switch that would allow cardholders to turn the chip off until they want it read, or the option to request an EDL without a chip and only the optical character zone for machine reading. Read the rest here.
In the name of thrift and convenience, Canadian governments are opening the door to a privacy-threatening ID scheme imposed by the United States in the misguided pursuit of “secure” borders. Currently, the Ontario government is pushing through legislation – Bill 85, the Photo Card Act – that would “enhance” the provincial driver’s licence to meet U.S. demands.
As part of the Bush administration’s war on terror, Canadians entering the U.S. will soon need to show a passport or equivalent document in compliance with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The U.S. has already put this requirement into effect for air travel and in June 2009 it will cover all land and water crossings.
In anticipation of this and to facilitate “the efficient and secure flow of cross-border travel and commerce,” several Canadian provinces are instituting enhanced driver’s licences (EDL). Enhancing a licence in accordance with standards set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security involves including a citizenship indicator, an optical character recognition zone and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip.
With these features, an EDL can serve as an alternative to a Canadian passport at an American border. Promoted as cheaper and more convenient than a passport, such a licence initially appear to be a good deal. A closer examination reveals several flaws with this approach.
One of the most serious problems with EDLs is the requirement to adopt a particularly insecure form of chip – the EPC Gen 2. Over stiff opposition from the “smart card” industry as well as civil liberties organizations, Homeland Security has insisted on a type of chip that is notoriously privacy-invasive in its potential. The chip on the card will hold a unique personal identification number that anyone in the vicinity (at least 10 metres) can read with commercially available equipment and link to any other information the person may have about the card holder.
It is ironic that while some jurisdictions require the disabling of similar RFIDs in consumer items at point of purchase, there appears to be no effective way for individuals to do likewise with a card many will carry all the time. There has been no visible progress in developing less invasive features, such as a switch that would allow cardholders to turn the chip off until they want it read, or the option to request an EDL without a chip and only the optical character zone for machine reading. Read the rest here.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
More Border States Plan to Ease Travel with Enhanced Licenses
(USA Today)
A growing number of states on the borders with Canada and Mexico are establishing or considering enhanced driver's licenses designed to give residents a more convenient identification option for border crossings.
In February, Washington became the first state to establish the new licenses. To receive a license labeled “enhanced,” applicants are required to show proof of US citizenship in addition to the other identification documents required for obtaining traditional licenses.
Since then, 21,000 Washington residents have received the licenses, which allow them to get back into the USA through any border crossing or seaport without a passport, according to Department of Licensing spokeswoman Gigi Zenk.
New York and Vermont will follow in coming months. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has proposed the idea for residents there, and Michigan is working toward a plan. Click here for the complete article.
A growing number of states on the borders with Canada and Mexico are establishing or considering enhanced driver's licenses designed to give residents a more convenient identification option for border crossings.
In February, Washington became the first state to establish the new licenses. To receive a license labeled “enhanced,” applicants are required to show proof of US citizenship in addition to the other identification documents required for obtaining traditional licenses.
Since then, 21,000 Washington residents have received the licenses, which allow them to get back into the USA through any border crossing or seaport without a passport, according to Department of Licensing spokeswoman Gigi Zenk.
New York and Vermont will follow in coming months. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has proposed the idea for residents there, and Michigan is working toward a plan. Click here for the complete article.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Manitoba Joins Border States in Looking at ‘Enhanced’ Drivers Licences
(The Canadian Press)
Legislators from the Dakotas, Minnesota and Manitoba are looking at so-called “enhanced driver’s licences.” The idea is to provide secure border crossings without forcing travellers to have passports.
The licences, using an embedded information chip, would be voluntary. Officials say they would also be more expensive than regular driver’s licences, but cheaper than passports. The officials spoke at the close of a legislative forum held in Bismarck, N.D., this week for legislators and other officials from North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba.
A few states have been given the go-ahead for the enhanced licences and officials in Manitoba have expressed interest.
Deputy Manitoba Premier Rosann Wowchuk says everyone wants to ensure that border crossings remain as unrestricted as possible to avoid economic damage on both sides. “When you live right next to one of your major trading partners, and you have thousands of people going back and forth, neither of us want to see that movement restricted because it will affect both of our economies,” Wowchuk said.
State Senator Tom Fischer (R-Fargo) said he expects legislators to take up the issue next year. “I would think that North Dakota would have a great interest in enhanced driver’s licences because of the proximity to the border and the amount of people that cross the border on a daily basis,” he said.
Minnesota state Representative Lanning said people will have to be educated about the enhanced driver’s licences. Some are confused about the difference between that concept and the Real ID system that U.S. Homeland Security officials want states to adopt, he said.
Under Real ID, driver’s licences would have to meet a national standard and be linked to record-keeping systems. Critics say the plan is too costly and fear invasion of privacy.U.S. federal official says that by 2014 anyone seeking to board an airplane or enter a federal building will have to present a REAL ID-compliant card, except for people older than 50.
North Dakota state Representative. David Monson said he has reservations about enhanced driver’s licences. “If it’s going to be a precursor to Real ID and that data is in some agency out of North Dakota, then I think we want to steer clear,” he said.
Lanning said the discussion about enhanced driver’s licences is a good example of why such multi-state legislative and border meetings are important.
Legislators from the Dakotas, Minnesota and Manitoba are looking at so-called “enhanced driver’s licences.” The idea is to provide secure border crossings without forcing travellers to have passports.
The licences, using an embedded information chip, would be voluntary. Officials say they would also be more expensive than regular driver’s licences, but cheaper than passports. The officials spoke at the close of a legislative forum held in Bismarck, N.D., this week for legislators and other officials from North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba.
A few states have been given the go-ahead for the enhanced licences and officials in Manitoba have expressed interest.
Deputy Manitoba Premier Rosann Wowchuk says everyone wants to ensure that border crossings remain as unrestricted as possible to avoid economic damage on both sides. “When you live right next to one of your major trading partners, and you have thousands of people going back and forth, neither of us want to see that movement restricted because it will affect both of our economies,” Wowchuk said.
State Senator Tom Fischer (R-Fargo) said he expects legislators to take up the issue next year. “I would think that North Dakota would have a great interest in enhanced driver’s licences because of the proximity to the border and the amount of people that cross the border on a daily basis,” he said.
Minnesota state Representative Lanning said people will have to be educated about the enhanced driver’s licences. Some are confused about the difference between that concept and the Real ID system that U.S. Homeland Security officials want states to adopt, he said.
Under Real ID, driver’s licences would have to meet a national standard and be linked to record-keeping systems. Critics say the plan is too costly and fear invasion of privacy.U.S. federal official says that by 2014 anyone seeking to board an airplane or enter a federal building will have to present a REAL ID-compliant card, except for people older than 50.
North Dakota state Representative. David Monson said he has reservations about enhanced driver’s licences. “If it’s going to be a precursor to Real ID and that data is in some agency out of North Dakota, then I think we want to steer clear,” he said.
Lanning said the discussion about enhanced driver’s licences is a good example of why such multi-state legislative and border meetings are important.
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