March 1, 2007 - Today, Kanetix (www.kanetix.ca), Canada's insurance marketplace, released some important tips for Canadians who've planned a spring break south of the border.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a U.S. law that took effect January 23, 2007, requires that all travellers, including Canadians, carry a valid passport when travelling by air to the U.S. from within the western hemisphere.
As a result of this new law, Passport Canada has been flooded with passport applications. Though they hired 200 new officers in November 2006 and are running their print centres around the clock, they are reportedly still having trouble meeting the demand and wait times have now stretched to 60 days. That's bad news for those who waited until the new year to apply for a passport for their spring holiday.
But travellers without valid passports can take solace in the fact that Canadians travelling to the U.S. by land can still enter with standard identification like a birth certificate and driver's licence. Furthermore, once in the U.S., they may be able to catch a domestic flight within the U.S. without a passport, depending on their airline's regulations, so long as they plan to return to Canada by land.
Update: Effective June 1, 2009, travellers entering into the U.S. by land from Canada must show: a passport, NEXUS card, FAST card, an enhanced driver's licence (EDL) or enhanced identification card (EIC), or a Secure Certificate of Indian Status. A birth certificate and driver's licence alone is no longer sufficient.
To ensure a hassle free spring break:
- Bring your Canadian passport if you are travelling outside of Canada. Your passport is the only reliable and universally accepted identification document.
- Make two photocopies of the identification page of your passport. Carry one with you while travelling-separate from your actual passport-and leave the other copy at home.
- Purchase emergency medical travel insurance to protect your family and financial security. Many travellers don't realize that their provincial health plan doesn't cover all the costs of medical treatments received outside Canada. At best, Canadian health plans may cover a small portion of out of country medical costs, which can be exorbitant.
Get online quotes from some of the top travel insurance providers for both basic and comprehensive coverage and for single trip and annual policies at Kanetix. Since your quotes are displayed side by side you'll easily be able to save both time and money.
About Kanetix
Launched in October 1999, Kanetix is Canada's leading national, online insurance marketplace. The Kanetix insurance information and shopping service brings consumers and insurance companies together in a one-stop shopping environment. Each day, thousands of consumers visit the Kanetix website at www.kanetix.ca to compare insurance quotes from a variety of Canadian insurance companies. Users can select the insurance quote of their choice and choose to complete the application for coverage online or purchase their policy over the phone.
In addition to the insurance marketplace, Kanetix is a leading provider of online insurance quotation technology and develops online quotation systems and websites for some of Canada's leading insurance providers.
For more information, please contact:
Gregory Ellis
Co-founder
1-888-854-2503
www.kanetix.ca
