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   7-23-11

   MrsFF says:

   It’s true — your driver’s license will not get you across the border into Canada or Mexico anymore… nor will it get you back into the USA at the end of your trip. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you need a passport. Here are some of your options.

   Passport Card

   As long as you’re not flying to or from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, you can use a US Passport Card at land border crossings or sea/lake ports-of-entry. It’s important to remember, though, that the passport card can’t be used for international air travel as it’s not “a globally interoperable travel document.” Get the details about the Passport Card here.

   Enhanced Driver’s License

   Residents of Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington state can get an add-on to their regular driver’s license or ID card — called an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID) — that will allow you to cross the border into Canada by land or water. See the state-by-state links above to apply through your local DMV/MVD.

   Trusted travelers

   If you commute to a neighboring country on a regular basis, find out if you qualify for the “Trusted Traveler Program” — called NEXUS for travel to and from Canada, and SENTRI to and from Mexico. SENTRI works only for entry via land or sea, while Nexus can be used for land and sea/lake travel, and also can be used at certain airports using the system.

   Passports

   Then there’s the regular passport book — a little bulkier, a bit more expensive, but will get you anywhere on the planet that American passports are accepted. Get the details on how to apply for a US passport here.

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