U.S. officials said Monday they won't turn away Canadian travellers who show up at land border crossings without passports, despite new regulations that make it mandatory to have a "secure document" when crossing into the United States.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative came into effect today after more than a year-long delay, and requires Canadians crossing into the U.S. and Americans returning home to have a valid passport if they are aged 16 or older.

While travellers are being urged to obtain the correct documents as soon as possible, officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday they will accept identification such as a birth certificate and photo I.D. for a few weeks, if not months.

"If you cross anywhere within the United States, whether it's on the northern border or the southern border, we're applying this informed compliance phase," said Kevin Corsaroan, chief customs and border protection officer on the U.S. side of the Peace Bridge.

"We don't think it's going to go away any time soon -- we believe it's going to go on throughout the summer. We're waiting for further guidance from the department on that."

According to Corsaroan, few travellers arrived at the border crossing without passports on Monday, but officials will not turn away those who do not have one.

"We will not refuse a Canadian entry into this country if that's their only violation," he said.

Travellers turning up at the border without a secure document are being told how they can obtain one and are given an information sheet that reads: "Noncompliant. You are not in compliance with the secure document requirements that went into effect June 1, 2009, for entry into the United States."

"U.S. and Canadian citizens must present a secure travel document for entry into the United States at land and sea ports of entry."

Jessica Whitaker of London, Ont., received the warning letter after crossing the Peace Bridge with just a birth certificate and photo I.D.

The 20-year-old vowed to get a passport before her next trip to the U.S.

"I'm just going to be waiting for my passport next time I cross," she said. "I think it's a good thing to have."

The new rules contain some exceptions, including:

  • Canadian citizens aged 15 years or younger only need to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or citizen card.
  • Canadians 18 years and younger who are travelling with a school or other group, such as a sports team, also only need to provide proof of citizenship if they have parental consent.
  • Canadians can also use a valid NEXUS card, a Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card that are used by truckers, or an enhanced driver's license that is offered in Manitoba, British Columbia and Quebec.

CTV's Paula Todd reported from the border crossing at Niagara Falls Monday afternoon that most people arrived at the border with the right documents.

"I don't know if that's because we are incredibly well mannered as Canadians, or that this message has been out nice and loud for more than a year now," Todd said during an interview on CTV News Channel.

She said U.S. officials are keeping track of the numbers of travellers crossing the border and what kinds of identification they are carrying, which will help them determine how long they will be flexible with what documents they will accept.

Meanwhile, business and tourism officials are concerned that the new regulations will slow trade at the border and turn people off from North American travel.

New Brunswick Tourism Minister Stuart Jamieson has complained that the number of American tourists to the province has been on the decline since the new regulations were announced.

The province is now focusing on enticing travellers from Quebec, Ontario and Europe to make up for the shortfall.

Ron Moran, president of the Customs Excise Union of Canada, said the new regulations are important both for improving security at the border and for speeding up travel times.

Moran said Monday that in a post 9-11 world, gone are the days when a customs officer would lean into the car, ask if everyone is a Canadian citizen and wave you across the border.

"The reality is when you administer your points of entry in that manner, you really don't have a clue who you're letting into the country," Moran told Canada AM. "So certainly having everybody have readable documents is something that is very highly supported by the men and women who (are border guards)."

According to Moran, a uniform set of rules that everyone must follow to engage in cross-border travel will move traffic more quickly during peak periods.

"The reality is a readable document is quicker and just as importantly, it's more prudent," he said.

Passport Canada says that about 54 per cent of Canadians have a passport compared to only 30 per cent of Americans.

Travellers flying into the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean have required a passport since 2007.

But the regulation was not applied to land crossings in order to give people more time to obtain passports.

Passport Canada said it has been overwhelmed with applications, and has been processing an average of 20,000 passports per day over the past few months.

With files from The Canadian Press