6.5.1 U.S. citizens
The U.S. passport as well as the Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization are
considered prima facie evidence and are acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship.
The birth certificate and the U.S. voter’s registration card, when accompanied by
another document bearing a picture of the holder, are considered indicators and may
be an acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship.
The U.S. military identification card, although a good supporting document, is not prima
facie evidence of U.S. citizenship; you do not have to be an american citizen to be in
the military.
Sometimes a verbal declaration will be sufficient to satisfy you that a person is an
American citizen. In the end, it is up to you to decide whether a verbal declaration or,
when deemed necessary, which documents will satisfy you as to a person’s claim to
citizenship. For example the following documents, driver’s license- health card-school
records-credit card, although not prima facie evidence, have been used along with a
verbal declaration to satisfy an officer that a person was an American citizen.
To assist the travel industry, airlines and travel agents have been supplied with the
following information:
a) a U.S. passport is the ideal identification for U.S. citizens travelling to Canada,
b) U.S. citizens may travel to Canada without passports if they have other means of
establishing their citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate or naturalization papers,
c) U.S. citizens travelling directly to Canada from the U.S. may be able to satisfy
claims to U.S. citizenship by presenting identification documents such as a U.S.
voter’s registration card, medical card, credit card or educational records, and one
other identification card containing the holder’s photograph, such as a driver’s licence.
Diplomatic, consular, official and service passports meet the passport requirements for
visitors.
