About Traveling To And From Canada And The United
States
What are the New Passport
Requirements?
Traveling to and from Canada by AIR with San Juan Airlines will
require you to have a valid passport. This includes children too!
Below are the date requirements for passports:
As of January 23, 2007 - All persons, including
U.S. citizens, traveling by AIR between the United States and Canada,
Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be
required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast
Guard Merchant Mariner Document.
January 1, 2008 - All persons, including U.S.
citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and
South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including
ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other
documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While
recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of
State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as
soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the
public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
Where do I get a passport?
There are 14 passport agencies to apply for your passport . Your local
court house or local post office will be the most common acceptance
facilities. Your
nearest passport acceptance facility. For a complete source of
information for applying for a passport and all additional
requirements, visit the
U.S. Department of State at for Travel or call the U.S.
National Passport Information Center at: (877) 487-2778; TDD/TTY:
(888) 874-7793
What documentation do I need to
apply for a passport?
You will need to complete a
blank DS-11 Form - Application for U.S. Passport. You may also
complete the
DS-11 form online and print it out to submit to your
Acceptance Agent.
You will need to provide a certified copy of your
Birth Certificate. A certified birth certificate has a registrar's
raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s
signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's
office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. If you do not have
a certified copy of your birth certificate, you should be able
to obtain a State Certified Copy of your Birth Certificate.
You will also need proof of identity which is state
issue drivers license, city state or federal government I.D., or
Military I.D.. Remember that a Social Security card is not valid proof
of identity.
Where do I get passport photos?
If you apply at your local Post Office, they have a camera for your
passport photos.
Fed Ex Kinkos,
Mail
Boxes Etc., and
The UPS Store provide passport photo services.
How do I get a passport in a
hurry?
Generally, obtaining a passport takes around 14 days after your
application is submitted. If you need to expedite the process of
renewing your passport or obtaining a passport for the first time, you
may use a passport expediting service to process your application in
as little as 24 hours. Using commercial passport expediting services
are not recommended.
The Seattle Passport Agency is the preferred way to
expedite a passport application if you are in Seattle. This office is
open by appointment to those requiring a passport in less than 14
days. They may be able to process an application in less than 24 hour.
If you forgot your passport or discovered your passport is expired,
you will need to provide them your invoice from San Juan Airlines
which includes the travel dates.
For more information on the Seattle Passport Agency,
please call them at 1 877 487-2778. They are located in downtown
Seattle in the Federal Building. There may be a passport agency in
your city.
Locate a passport agency near you.
What documentation is required
to bring children under 18 years into Canada?
Border services officers are on alert for children who need
protection. Children under the age of 18 are classified as minors and
are subject to the same entry requirements as any other visitor to
Canada.
We will conduct a more detailed examination of minors
entering Canada without proper identification or those traveling in
the company of adults other than their parents or legal guardian(s).
This additional scrutiny helps ensure the safety of the children.
Minors traveling alone must have proof of citizenship
and a letter from both parents detailing the length of stay, providing
the parents’ telephone number and authorizing the person waiting for
them to take care of them while they are in Canada.
If you are traveling with minors, you must carry
proper identification for each child such as a birth certificate,
passport, citizenship card, permanent resident card or Certificate of
Indian Status.
If you are divorced or separated, you should carry
with you copies of the legal custody agreements for your children. If
you are traveling with minors and you are not their parent/guardian,
you should have written permission from the parent/guardian
authorizing the trip. The letter should include addresses and
telephone numbers of where the parents or guardian can be reached and
identify a person who can confirm that the children are not being
abducted or taken against their will.
If you are traveling with a group of aircraft, make
sure you arrive at the border in the same vehicle as your children, to
avoid any confusion.
How much alcohol can I bring
into Canada?
If you meet the minimum age requirement is 19 years of age for
Alcohol. Don’t forget that our baggage restriction is 25 lbs. per
person. Alcohol is included in that weight!
You are allowed to import only one of the following
amounts of alcohol free of duty and taxes:
*1.5 liters (53 imperial ounces) of wine;
*1.14 liters (40 ounces) of liquor;
*a total of 1.14 liters (40 ounces) of wine and liquor; or
*24 x 355 milliliter (12 ounces) cans or bottles (maximum of 8.5
liters) of beer or ale.
How much tobacco can I bring into Canada?
You are allowed to bring in all of the following amounts of tobacco
into Canada without paying duty:
*200 cigarettes;
*50 cigars or cigarillos;
*200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco; and
*200 tobacco sticks
Can I travel to Canada having a
criminal history (including a DUI)?
If you have committed or been convicted of a criminal offense, you may
be prohibited from entering Canada.
Criminal offenses include both minor and serious
offences such as theft, assault, dangerous driving, driving while
intoxicated, and manslaughter, among others. For a complete list of
criminal offenses in Canada, please consult the
Canadian Criminal Code.
If you have a criminal past as defined by Canadian Law
and you are denied entry into Canada, then you will be responsible for
your transportation costs back to the United States. If you have any
question of whether you may be denied, please consult the
Canada Customs.
If you have not committed these offenses recently, you
may be able to overcome these past convictions. To find out how you
may be able to
overcome a past conviction.
Can I bring my pets with me to
Canada?
You may bring your pet (dog or cat) into Canada as long as you have
pre-arranged space with San Juan Airlines. San Juan Airlines reserves
the right to refuse transport to any animals.
Dogs over 25 but less than 50 lbs will be charged 25%
of the one way passenger fare. Dogs over 50 lbs but less than 75 lbs
will be charged 50% of the one way passenger fare. Dogs over 75 lbs
will be charged a full one way fare. Cats may be denied in the event
another passenger on board is allergic to felines.
If you own cats older than three months, dogs older
than eight months and pet dogs between three and eight months, you may
import them from the United States as long as they accompany you when
you enter Canada. You will also have to submit a certificate signed
and dated by a veterinarian for each pet. The certificate must show
that the animal is currently vaccinated against rabies and include the
name of the vaccine used and its expiry date. In addition, it has to
identify the animal by breed, age, sex, coloring and any
distinguishing marks. We cannot accept an animal tag in place of a
certificate. If you import pet dogs between three and eight months
that do not accompany you, you may require additional permits and
certifications. |
