Passport or no?

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I thought I was going to have to spent $300 to get passports for my
wife and kids when coming back from Mexico next year but now I'm not
sure. Reading AOPA's site
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...port_info.html
They claim that after Dec 31st "will be required to have a passport or
other acceptable document". However, at the top they say "submit a
passport or other acceptable documentation as proof of citizenship".
So, this makes it sound as if kids can continue to travel with just a
birth certificate. Am I missing something? I certainly don't want to
pay $300 for no reason. I'm also pretty sure that customs will never
actually ask for it since they've never asked any of us for citizen
information in all the years we've been traveling to/from Mexico and
Canada. The worst I've ever been asked for was my driver's license and
pilots certificate. My wife was asked for her driver's license once
(and illegals can even get those!).
The actual rules and what the individual custom's person do are usually
different.

-Robrt

Personally, I always carry on, even to Mexico.

In article ,
Emily wrote:

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I thought I was going to have to spent $300 to get passports for my
wife and kids when coming back from Mexico next year but now I'm not
sure. Reading AOPA's site
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...port_info.html
They claim that after Dec 31st "will be required to have a passport or
other acceptable document". However, at the top they say "submit a
passport or other acceptable documentation as proof of citizenship".
So, this makes it sound as if kids can continue to travel with just a
birth certificate. Am I missing something? I certainly don't want to
pay $300 for no reason. I'm also pretty sure that customs will never
actually ask for it since they've never asked any of us for citizen
information in all the years we've been traveling to/from Mexico and
Canada. The worst I've ever been asked for was my driver's license and
pilots certificate. My wife was asked for her driver's license once
(and illegals can even get those!).
The actual rules and what the individual custom's person do are usually
different.

Personally, I always carry on, even to Mexico.

I recommend getting now, before the last minute rush by the masses backs
the wait up to six-months or more.

Emily wrote:
Personally, I always carry on, even to Mexico.

Unless its required, can't see why you would want to. You might lose
it. I always leave mine at home.

-robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
Emily wrote:
Personally, I always carry on, even to Mexico.

Unless its required, can't see why you would want to. You might lose
it. I always leave mine at home.

-robert

Two years ago, a friend and I took a quick trip to TJ. INS or whoever
they're called now, would not let my friend back into the USA with just
his driver's license. I had to call his parents from this side to drive
his passport down from San Diego. I was NOT happy about hanging around
the San Ysidro crossing by myself, believe me.

Emily wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:

Two years ago, a friend and I took a quick trip to TJ. INS or whoever
they're called now, would not let my friend back into the USA with just
his driver's license. I had to call his parents from this side to drive
his passport down from San Diego. I was NOT happy about hanging around
the San Ysidro crossing by myself, believe me.

No passport is required. Perhaps he was a minor.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
Emily wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:

Two years ago, a friend and I took a quick trip to TJ. INS or whoever
they're called now, would not let my friend back into the USA with just
his driver's license. I had to call his parents from this side to drive
his passport down from San Diego. I was NOT happy about hanging around
the San Ysidro crossing by myself, believe me.

No passport is required. Perhaps he was a minor.

-Robert

Don't condescend.

The fact is, INS doesn't always do what's "required". Are you going to
argue that they should let you in? Sorry, I can tell you who'd win that
one. It's a better idea to carry your passport and not get hassled.

Besides, a passport is much easier to replace than a driver's license.

Emily wrote:
Don't condescend.

I'm not following. How was I condescending? You didn't post your age so
I wouldn't know how old you are. As a California native I know that
high school kids often sneak down to Mexico to buy beer. Nothing in
your post indicated that that wasn't possible.

The fact is, INS doesn't always do what's "required". Are you going to
argue that they should let you in? Sorry, I can tell you who'd win that
one. It's a better idea to carry your passport and not get hassled.

A birth certificate should have worked as well. The INS doesn't really
have a lot of choice. They can't deny an American entry back into the
country, they can only delay or arrest you. But to arrest you they
would have to tell you what crime you commited. Not having a passport
is not only not a crime, but by far the norm for those of us in
California who frequent Mexico.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
Emily wrote:
Don't condescend.

I'm not following. How was I condescending? You didn't post your age so
I wouldn't know how old you are.

I'm posting in a pilot newsgroup. I thought that made it obvious that I
was at least 17.

snip

A birth certificate should have worked as well. The INS doesn't really
have a lot of choice. They can't deny an American entry back into the
country, they can only delay or arrest you.

Delay being the key word. I don't want to be delayed.

Robert M. Gary wrote on 07/10/06 20:36:

Emily wrote:
Don't condescend.

I'm not following. How was I condescending? You didn't post your age so
I wouldn't know how old you are. As a California native I know that
high school kids often sneak down to Mexico to buy beer. Nothing in
your post indicated that that wasn't possible.

The fact is, INS doesn't always do what's "required". Are you going to
argue that they should let you in? Sorry, I can tell you who'd win that
one. It's a better idea to carry your passport and not get hassled.

A birth certificate should have worked as well. The INS doesn't really
have a lot of choice. They can't deny an American entry back into the
country, they can only delay or arrest you. But to arrest you they
would have to tell you what crime you commited. Not having a passport
is not only not a crime, but by far the norm for those of us in
California who frequent Mexico.


No, but as US citizen, trying to enter the US without a US passport is. Entry
from Canada and Mexico just was an exception that is closed come Jan. 1.

-Joe



-Robert