# How To Get A Passport? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 20, 2000, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039 "2000-02-20T15:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/21 "2000-02-20T19:16:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by CanadianSue: > **I know that when I went to the U.S. I was required to show my passport.** You shouldn’t have had to. US immigration law states that Canadian citizens are not required to show passports when entering the US from within the Western Hemisphere: > [@](#): > > A visa is not required of a Canadian national in any case. A passport is not required of such national except after a visit outside of the Western Hemisphere. ---- 8 CFR §212.1(a) However, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time a Customs agent got the law wrong. ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/22 "2000-02-20T19:42:00Z")
I will definitely get a passport. If I’m gonna be strip searched I at least want to be the one who picks when and where. I tend to be a little picky. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/23 "2000-02-20T20:17:00Z")
I’ve entered the states four times in the past year and each time I had to show my passport. Maybe it has something to do with the point of entry, who knows. * * * We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@Carl\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Berry)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/24 "2000-02-20T20:41:00Z")
In Pennsylvania, one wanting a passport visits their county Prothonotary with the above mentioned items. Mine cost $55 (a renweal, not sure if it’s the same cost for 1st timers) Harry S Truman, when campaining in PA was heard to ask:“What the hell is a Prothonotary?” Should one misspell it, no passport! Carl ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/25 "2000-02-20T21:08:00Z")
Sue, I would guess that they ask for a passport because that’s the easiest and most obvious proof of citizenship, and they assume that you’ll have one. But if you don’t, they’re supposed to let you in anyway with other proof of citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/26 "2000-02-20T23:44:00Z")
Sheesh, when did you all get your passports? The Dark Ages? It costs $75 to get one, or at least it did when I got mine in 1998. I think it costs less if you’re a minor, because they’re valid for a shorter amount of time. You don’t need one if you’re only going to Canada or Mexico, but bring along your birth certificate and some valid ID. * * * ~Harborina “Don’t Do It.” ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/27 "2000-02-21T16:49:00Z")
Sue, is there anything we can’t bring into Canada from the USA? PCW, sorry you got searched. Is there a video of it? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/28 "2000-02-21T16:58:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Kyla: > Sheesh, when did you all get your passports? The Dark Ages? It costs $75 to get one, or at least it did when I got mine in 1998. No, but when you’re an old-timer, you get to know people at the passport office and you learn all the tricks to get passports at a cheaper price. Tricks you don’t know when you’re a young whipper-snapper. Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill any day. * * * Official winner of [Bricker Challenge #5](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/004959.html). ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039/29 "2000-02-21T17:34:00Z")
Arnold Winkelried said: “I would check with the INS.” Don’t mean to be nitpicky, but don’t call the INS about a passport if you’re an American. They deal with immigration into the U.S. Call the U.S. Department of State with questions, or visit their website. (I just didn’t want anyone to be on hold with the INS for several hours and then be told that they’ve called the wrong number. They are notorious for being difficult to get in touch with.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-a-passport/14039.md?page=1)