[vter]

Just a reminder to my fellow Vermonters and those who are thinking of moving here/visiting that like to travel up to Canada. As of June 1 you'll need a passport, passport card, or enhanced drivers license to get back to the US after visiting Canada.
I know this has been in the works for quite a few years, but I wonder what the impact will be on the border towns. I mean look at Derby Line/Stanstead. It's essentially 1 town with an international border running through it! Heck the library/opera house straddles the line!

WHTI | Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative | USA

[GypsySoul22]

I didn't feel like reading it..how much are they charging for the card? I would assume it is the cheapest option. I want to get up to Quebec at some point.

[Sherylcatmom]

It's $25 on top of whatever the license costs. More info here.

Thanks for reminding us about the date this begins! I think we're going to get our Enhanced Drivers Licenses next week.

[GypsySoul22]

Thanks!

[arctichomesteader]

Might want to look at what the enhanced license involves...I wouldn't want to give that to them, but that's just me and my privacy ideas. Though a passport ain't much better. The whole thing is unnecessary and will just be a hassle for people close to the border IMHO.

[square peg]

Our hassle to get enhanced driver's licenses involved a trip to Montpelier as that's the only DMV office that currently issues them. Total cost was $25 each. They expire when your present license expires. In my case that's next year. Then it's time to get another. No price guarantee in the future. But they did say that I would be able to renew it at the Newport office by then.

Helpful hint: Go early in the a.m. to avoid long waiting lines. We were there at 9:15 and only had two ahead of us. The afternoon lines can be a wait of more than two hours.

[vter]

State busy with enhanced licenses | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press

[square peg]

Good article, vter. Heh - I know the guy from Derby referenced within.

Another thing I remember the clerk at DMV telling us is that there is no personal ID information contained on the computer chip. What the chip does is allow customs to access your file contained in DMV's system. This, in my mind, has the potential for creating delays. I have no idea if customs has the capability to capture that info after your first visit or if it must be retrieved from DMV each time.

[vter]

I did not realize one had to go to Montpeculiar to get the EDL. I'll have to let my mom know-she's in the Rutland area and I think she thought she could just get it there. I keep telling her to just get a passport because you never know when you may have an opportunity to travel...but she hates flying so she nixed that idea.

[square peg]

Oh yeah! Evidently, the feds had to train the state clerks and swear them to strict oaths etc. in order to process the applications. After you have applied and been accepted a temporary EDL is issued on a plain white 8x10 sheet of paper with an *official* sticker and your photo. The temp has a short expiration date like 30 days. But it's as good as the permanent one. It just won't fit in a wallet. DMV says you will receive the permanent one in the mail in about 11 days. We got ours in 6.

I'm not too keen on flying either.