Is Social Security Card sufficient when traveling to Canada by LAND?

This site: http://www.amcits.com/enter_canada.asp says "When entering Canada from the United States, U.S. citizens must show either a U.S. passport or other proof of U.S. citizenship - such as an original or certified birth certificate together with photo identification." The words "such as" indicate to me that other types of proof of citizenship are acceptable, but I'm having a hard time finding a definite answer. My family wants to take a weekend trip to Canada. Neither my husband nor I have a passport, I don't have my birth certificate, but we both have social security cards. Would the SSC be sufficient, or are we SOL and should plan a different Mother's Day weekend?

I think the card would be too small, try a car.

I'm afraid you are out of luck for the weekend with only a SSC. It would have to be a Birth Certificate that is certified or a passport because of heightened security. Along with your photo ID which needs to be state or government issued. I know that if you were to fly in or out of the United States you need a passport now. It is a new regulation. I'd make other plans. Sorry...

I have no idea why my answer was given a thumbs down. There is no legal way, to my knowledge, to cross the Canadian border from the USA and return this weekend without a certified birth certificate, government or State ID and/or passport. Please forgive my error if there are other legal ways.

No. Social security card with not be ok. You need a Birth certificate combined with a photo I.D. As of January 2007 all citizens traveling outside the Us even to Canada and Mexico but have a pass port or Photo ID and Birth certificate (which is what you need to get a Passport.)

If things haven't changed, when I lived in North Dakota, we just needed our license, but you may want to get in touch with a travel agency and see if a passport is necessary, with all the homeland security...

If you're driving, then your driver's license and another ID are sufficient. You need a passport if you are flying or coming by boat. The passport requirement will not be enforced until the end of the year for land travel.

By the way, nothing has changed here, it is the US government that requires passports to re-enter the country. I cross the border nearly every day.

Sorry, A Social Security Card is NOT considered a form of I.D. and is not to be used for that purpose. Nowhere, not a business, a border check, or anywhere else will take an SS Card as I.D. So, no, it is not considered proof of citizenship and will not be accepted as such.

You may or may not be asked for proof of citizenship at the border, but you WILL be asked for it going back into the U.S. You will probably still get back in, just with a bit more hassle, and an admonition to carry proper documentation.

Proof of citizenship includes only the following items:
- passport
- birth certificate
- naturalization papers AND passport

Valid photo ID means only the following items:
- valid driver's license (if you are from US or Canada ONLY)
- passport
- military ID

To cross the border, you need one item of each type. Of course, the passport is the easiest, since it meets both criteria. And if you're traveling by air, you MUST have a passport. Up to the end of December 2007, you can get by with some other combination when traveling by land or sea. After that ... passport only.

A Social Security number is NOT proof of citizenship. A resident alien living and working in the US can have one issued for taxation purposes, without actually being a citizen.

It should be alright if you have a photo ID (drivers license).Call the Border to make sure.