What is the purpose of a canadian status card and what does it allow you to do?

a few friends from canada mentioned canadian status cards let you travel to the us without a passport...


is this true? and if not what is the purpose of the status cards?|||the only status cards I am aware of are first nations status card and these are ONLY given to Canadians of NATIVE INDIAN ancestry.





http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/br/is/index-e鈥?/a>


main page


http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/br/is/elig-en鈥?/a>


eligibility


http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/br/is/scs/ind鈥?/a>


crossing the Canadian-US border





The United States has indicated that the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will be applied with a practical and common sense approach, which includes a period of flexibility.





During this period of flexibility the current Certificate of Indian Status (laminated paper version and pilot cards) will be an acceptable document to present when visiting the United States by land and water.





The Government of Canada cautions individuals that the period and extent of this flexibility is entirely at the discretion of U.S. officials and reminds travelers that when entering the U.S. via air that valid passport or NEXUS card is required|||Is the status card you mentioned citizenship cards? If so, they do not allow you entry to the US without a passport. On June 1, 2009, the WHTI changed that privilege. The purpose of the card is to be allowed entry back into Canada should you lose your passport in the US. It is also one means of acceptable identification in Canada.