I don’t know if this is still true, but it used to be that many countries in Europe had a driver’s license that was pretty much useless on its own. For instance, the German driver’s license was essentially a piece of cardboard that said “person with this name is authorized to drive”. In Germany, you would present it along with your actual identification that has your picture, description, name, address, etc. It would be reasonable to expect police in the U.S. to require something that identifies you (i.e. a passport) in addition to the thing that says someone with your name can drive.
Nitpick: border officials often no longer hand out physical I-94 cards, but they do still exist and are required for some purposes. You have to print your own, though. And the website is buggy as hell and often doesn’t show legit entries to the U.S.
Eva Luna, U.S. Immigration Paralegal
Right, and the CBP link I gave says you can go online to obtain proof of your status for various purposes; but it makes no mention of any need to carry an I-94 at all times. It seems to me that the statutes have not caught up with current CBP practice. We have:
With the definition of “registration form” (slightly different wording) apparently given here 8 CFR. § 264.1(b) to include the I-94.
If CBP do not provide you with a hard copy of the I-94 at entry, then there’s a pretty strong argument that they have not “issued” it to you (per the wording in the statute), relieving you of the obligation to carry it with you at all times. And otherwise, of course, every single visitor who enters the country is technically in violation as soon as they walk away from Immigration at the airport!
That being so, would you agree that a non-driving visitor has no apparent statutory obligation to carry anything at all; and that a driver must only carry their home country drivers license and (in some states) an IDP? Or are there separate state statutes requiring non-driving visitors to carry ID?
I’ve never been given any document by US Customs when I’m visiting in the States. Maybe a stamp in the passport, but that’s post-9/11. Certainly never been told I have to carry a particular document with me at all times?
I don’t know when they stopped, but years ago they would staple the I-94 (a white card) into your passport. The airline check-in agent would take it out upon departure.
Yes, but I’ve only needed a passport since 9/11. Prior to that, Canadians could enter the US without documents, and we weren’t given any docs by US Customs.
As far as I know, Canadians never got this for routine trips.
According to this, Canadians do fall under the same I-94 system.
But maybe this changed after I-94s switched from paper to electronic?
It’s a bit confusing, though, since the CBP link says that paper I-94s are still issued at land borders. That would seem to imply that Canadians driving into the U.S. would be getting paper I-94s even today. But you say that’s not the case?
Hell, before I got my Hawaii license, I rented a car and drove using my Thai driver’s license.
Was everything in Thai script? I’m sure that would go down well in Georgia.
For those states which require an IDP and drivers whose countries’ licenses are considered IDP-equivalent, do those drivers still need to get an IDP?
And if the license generally wouldn’t, but there is a federal treaty?
No. Almost no Thai script, at least very little. The modern ones are designed for use internationally due to more Thais driving in nearby Southeast Asian countries. The old ones like 20 years ago, now those could have been my library card for all anyone in the US would know, but not the ones nowadays.
We’d drive across to Minot.
US Customs: “Purpose of trip?”
Dad: “Shopping”.
US Customs: “You’re all Canadians?”
Dad: “Yes.”
US Customs: “Have a nice trip!”
And that would be it.
Same for driving across to go skiing in North Dakota. No documents needed, no paper issued.
Have you driven across the land border since passports were required for Canadian visitors?
Georgia has some of the most Draconian traffic laws in the country. In fact a speeding ticket or running a stop sign is a criminal misdemeanor in Georgia. So in theory you could be given a fine and a one year prison sentence for speeding if the judge was a big enough asshole.
Never been to Canada, let alone driven across any land borders.
"Visiting the U.S. & Arriving via a Land Border?
An I-94 form is needed by all persons except U.S. Citizens, returning resident aliens, aliens with immigrant visas, and most Canadian citizens visiting or in transit."
I have. At the land crossing at Coutts AB/Sweetgrass MT, I pulled up to the booth, handed over my passport, answered the usual questions, and received no additional paperwork when I got my passport back.
When I fly to the US, I go through US Customs and Immigration preclearance in Calgary. The usual questions are asked, and my passport is stamped, but again, there is no additional paperwork.
Thanks. There must be something we’re missing then. Sources we’ve found and linked to on this thread say that:
(a) Canadians are part of the I-94 system, just like all other foreign visitors.
(b) The CBP still issues paper I-94s at land borders.
One of those things must be wrong.
I think I would rely on the US Customs website quoted by Lord Feldon rather than a private law firm. Presumably the Customs folk know the requirements.