06/01/09: New WHTI Restrictions Impact WNY Border Crossings

Original YNN Buffalo Air Date: 06/01/09
Northern Virginian Sunny Dewakar expected a huge back up crossing the Peace Bridge into Buffalo from Canada.
“We thought there would be line, miles and miles of lines with the new rules,” said Dewakar.
He was surprised to find a smooth transition returning from Canada the same day the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative took affect June 1, 2009.
Across the empire state, US border and custom officials are enforcing new travel restrictions for the Canadian border. This goes for Alexandria Bay, Champlain, Rouses Point Niagara Falls and Buffalo.
“We knew about, we’ve known about it. There’s no reason why people shouldn’t have their passports if they want to come over into the states,” said Burlington, Ontario’s Susan Clark.
Americans looking to cross into Canada and Mexico must produce a passport, passport card, Nexis card or enhanced driver’s license. Children under 16 must have birth certificate.
Williamsville mother Marya Grande frequently shuttles her boys Benjamin and Jackson to Ontario, so she wasted little time getting a Nexis card for her five-month old son.
“When he was about a week old I remember we applied for it online and it was very easy, and there was no problem what so ever getting it,” said Grande.
Albany’s Greg Matties opted for the enhanced driver’s license. He applied for it about three weeks ago and got it last week in the mail.
“I went to the DMV, it took a couple hours to fill out all the paper work and it just seemed pretty easy, I don’t even know how to get a passport so I didn’t even bother with it,” Matties added.
It could take four to six to apply and receive a U.S. passport. And EDL could take up to ten days to process and receive. Erie County officials report 7,700 people applied for the enhanced license since September.
Customs officials say they’ve seen about 95% compliance with travelers at the Peace Bridge. They say they are ready for the few Americans who may arrive at the border without proper documentation.
“We’ll explain that the laws have changed and if we can quickly establish citizenship and identity they’ll be released right on the primary line,” said sot: Chief Customs and Border Protection Officer Kevin Corsaro.
“It’s very smooth now. You know 10 years ago, even though we didn’t have to produce anything it was much more complicated. I think it’s much better and we feel better,” said frequent traveler Dewakar