http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/11/22/passports.air.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

The article mainly just mentions air entry, but there is a one paragraph blurb later on about passports for land and sea entry as well.

Probably a good idea. My days of meandering down to Mexico are over though! Not that I ever did. In fact, I've probably been in Canada as much as Mexico and I live 17 miles from the Mexican border.

It'll be a pain for me personally, but I think it's a good idea.

I always have a passport so that part is not a problem.

In Canada, only certain professions can endorse passport applications. That's where the pain comes in. I foresee a lot more people asking me to endorse their applications. :ohwell:

I thought they were already required.

In Canada, only certain professions can endorse passport applications. That's where the pain comes in. I foresee a lot more people asking me to endorse their applications.
Bizarre! We just go down to the post office to get ours done.

Bizarre! We just go down to the post office to get ours done.

Wow.

In Canada, the endorsing professions include registered doctors, lawyers and engineers as well as policemen, fire chiefs, mayors, elected provincial or federal members of the government and a few others. The endorsing person has to have known the passport applicant for at least two years. The endorsing person cannot charge for providing the endorsement (which I wholeheartedly agree with).

The Canadian passport process has tightened up considerably. I've received a phone call from Passport Canada for verbal confirmation of my endorsement for about the last dozen I've done.

I thought they were already required.

For most countries, yes. Not for Canadians. Photo ID such as a driver's license has been sufficient.

I went on a cruise during September which left the US and went into areas like Haiti and some of the other smaller islands. Whenever we returned to US territories (like Puerto Rico) we were required to show passport or a copy of a birth certificate (where the embossed seal was visible).

The cruise line also made the customs procedure sound like it was going to be a hassle, but it was pretty sad. All the luggage was gathered into one holding dock area, divided up by floor "color" - whenever your color was called, you left the boat, claimed your luggage and went through customs. I went with several friends and some with kids, so without fail we got separated and I volunteered to stay in the luggage area while the rest went through customs so I could see if I could nab the stragglers on their way out. Once we were finally all together, we went through customs - my luggage had already went before me with the first group. So after all this hubbub about how strict the customs check was going to be, I went through by just holding up my passport and walking by the homeland security guy at the podium without a second glance.

Next time I'm bringing back a whole box or two of Cuban cigars with me, damnit.