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any tips for border crossing?

Started by QuestioningEverything, August 23, 2015, 12:29:51 PM

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QuestioningEverything

Thinking about driving up to Canada but I'm am starting to look less and less like my passport photo. Any tips for getting through the border as a mtf? Should I just try to present like a man and hope they dont stop me? border crossing is always a little scary, they ask you a bunch of questions and I would like to avoid any harassment.
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Tysilio

However you decide to present, it wouldn't hurt to have a letter from your doctor stating that you're transitioning. There's an official format required by the State Dept. for a gender change on a passport -- you could have your doc use that. You might not need it at all and just be waved through, but it would be good insurance in the event you're questioned.

Are you driving, flying, or...? I'd be more concerned about flying than I would about crossing the border in a car.
Never bring an umbrella to a coyote fight.
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QuestioningEverything

I'll be driving there, I'll talking to my doctor or therapist about a letter. It would probably be best to go as a guy just to make it smoother at least till I change my name. And whatever I can pretend to be a guy and wear a loose shirt to hid any boobage for the 10 minutes it takes to get through.
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mfox

Quote from: Tysilio on August 23, 2015, 01:45:23 PM
However you decide to present, it wouldn't hurt to have a letter from your doctor stating that you're transitioning. There's an official format required by the State Dept. for a gender change on a passport -- you could have your doc use that. You might not need it at all and just be waved through, but it would be good insurance in the event you're questioned.

That's exactly right.  I don't look anything like my old passport, and am full time, so I was stopped entering the USA and taken to "secondary inspection" when I tried to use it.  But basically he just looked up my information and said "you know you can get a new passport right?".

So, I applied for a new passport when I got back home, using the in-transition letter from my doctor. I just received it (with my new photo, name and gender).  It's easier than you would think.  Do it ASAP.  :)
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iKate

I traveled on my old passport to Korea. A few hiccups and one incident with security but I managed to get out alive.

Just explain yourself. A travel letter from your therapist is not a bad idea.
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