Embassy Closure Notice
Please be advised that the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa will be closed on Monday, May 19 to observe Victoria Day, and Monday, May 26 to observe Memorial Day.

13 May 08
U.S. Announces Additional $13 Million in Humanitarian Assistance to Burma
USAID Administrator Fore traveled to the cyclone-stricken region of Southeast Asia, and announced the U.S. will provide an additional $13 million in food and logistical assistance to the UN Food Program for relief operations in Burma, bringing total U.S. Government monetary assistance made available to date to $16.25 million. [More].

12 May 08
NORAD celebrates 50th anniversary - May 12
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating a milestone this year, 50 years of a rich and colorful history between two countries that formally acknowledged a mutual commitment to defend their citizens from air attacks.

Although NORAD originally stood up at Ent Air Force Base, Colo., on Sept 12, 1957, the official agreement between the Canadian and U.S. governments that created the command was signed on May 12, 1958. [More].

08 May 08
Minister Baird and Secretary Kempthorne Hold Bilateral Meeting
OTTAWA — Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird, held a bilateral meeting earlier today with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. The Minister and Secretary were also joined by the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Mary Simon, as well as a number of officials from both countries.

"Today's bilateral meeting included a number of cross-border issues, including the recent announcement by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) on the status of the polar bear, and other important issues that cross the 49th parallel," said Minister Baird. [More].

06 May 08
President Bush Discusses Food Aid
THE PRESIDENT — Two weeks ago my administration announced that about $200 million in emergency food aid would be made available through a program at the Agriculture Department called the Emerson Trust. But that's just the beginning of our efforts. I think more needs to be done, and so today I am calling on Congress to provide an additional $770 million to support food aid and development programs. Together, this amounts to nearly $1 billion in new funds to bolster global food security. And with other food security assistance programs already in place, we're now projecting to spend nearly -- that we will spend nearly $5 billion in 2008 and 2009 to fight global hunger.[More] [Fact Sheet].

30 April 08
Country Reports on Terrorism for 2007
U.S. law requires the Secretary of State to provide Congress, by April 30 of each year, a full and complete report on terrorism with regard to those countries and groups meeting criteria set forth in the legislation. This annual report is entitled Country Reports on Terrorism. Beginning with the report for 2004, it replaced the previously published Patterns of Global Terrorism.
Full Report
Western Hemisphere Section

25 April 08
USTR Issues 2008 Special 301 Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released its annual “Special 301” Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection by U.S. trading partners.

Canada has taken some significant steps in the past year and, given the importance of the outstanding issues and maturity of its economy, we look forward to additional action in the coming months on the IP reforms identified as key priorities by the Government of Canada. [More] [Full Report]

24 April 08
Proposed DHS Changes To Exit Procedures And Residents Of Canada
Ottawa, April 24, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today a notice of proposed rulemaking that will establish biometric exit procedures at all U.S air and sea ports of departure. The majority of non-U.S. citizens are already required to submit digital fingerprints and a digital photograph for admission into the country. The US-VISIT Exit proposal would require non-U.S. citizens who provide biometric identifiers for admission to also provide digital fingerprints when departing the country from any air or sea ports of departure.
[More]

21-22 April 08
The North American Leaders' Summit on April 21-22 in New Orleans
The North American Leaders' Summit on April 21-22 in New Orleans. This fourth meeting of North American leaders since 2005 will continue our work on Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) initiatives. It will also serve as an opportunity for the three leaders to discuss hemispheric and global issues of importance to North America. [More] [Joint Statement]

22 April 08
April 22 is World Earth Day - Earth Day, April 22, is the annual celebration of the environment and a time to assess the work still needed to protect the natural gifts of our planet. Earth Day has no central organizing force behind it though several nongovernmental organizations work to keep track of the thousands of local events in schools and parks that mark the day. Earth Day is observed around the world, although nowhere is it a national holiday. In the United States, it affirms that environmental awareness is part of the country's consciousness and that the idea of protecting the environment - once the province of a few conservationists - has moved from the extreme to the mainstream of American thought. [More] [earthday.gov] [america.gov]

18 April 08
United States Values Strong Ties with Canada, Mexico - North American leaders meet at Security and Prosperity Partnership.
Washington -- The United States has no closer neighbors than Canada and Mexico, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, making the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America a unique regional forum on trade and security issues.
“The relationship between the United States, Canada and Mexico is one of the most critical from the point of view of American foreign policy,” Rice says. [More] [New Orleans SPP]

16 April 08
President Bush Discusses Climate Change - "Tomorrow represents -- representatives of the world's major economies will gather in Paris to discuss climate change. Here in Washington, the debate about climate change is intensifying. Today, I'll share some views on this important issue to advance discussions both at home and abroad." [read more] [fact sheet]

Delivering the latest U.S. official texts and documents to your desktop. [subscribe]

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), Procedures for Entering the U.S. Have Changed.

Entry requirements at land or sea borders in effect as of January 31, 2008:
- Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted;
- U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate;
- Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate;
- Passports and trusted traveler program cards - NEXUS, FAST, and SENTRI - will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel. All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change. A passport has been required for air travel since January 23, 2007. [read more on WHTI] [pictures of documents that travelers will need]
NEW. Entry requirements at land or sea borders in effect June 1, 2009:
Washington -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced today the final rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a core 9/11 Commission recommendation. The WHTI final rule requires travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. WHTI establishes document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. These document requirements will be effective June 1, 2009 [Press Release] [FAQs]

31 January 08
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa would like to remind travelers as of January 31, 2008, individuals crossing the border will be asked to present documents denoting citizenship and identity when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry. This change primarily affects American and Canadian citizens, who have previously been permitted entry by oral declaration alone, and marks the transition toward standard and consistent documents for all travelers entering the United States. [More] [What documents are needed?] [FAQs] [Press Release]

The Olympic Experience. An eJournal from the Department of State, April 2008.
The Olympic Games remind us of certain universal human values. Every Olympian has a story that echoes the shared human struggle for excellence and our devotion to pursue purpose in life. In this issue of eJournal USA, we celebrate the Olympics through the individual experiences and insights of athletes who share their memories of the Olympic Experience.
Click here for earlier editions of eJournal.

Do you have a comment or complaint about Customs & Border Protection or Preflight Clearance at Canada-U.S. border crossings? Check here for how to resolve it.