Passport or no?

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

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.

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message

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

Personally, I would never, as in *never*, leave the US of A without a
passport. ymmv

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.

"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...


Personally, I would never, as in *never*, leave the US of A without a
passport. ymmv

I agree. Shortly after 911, the wife and I saw the handwriting on the wall
and applied for our passports. Assuming that you apply "pre need" so there is
no rush, it is just not a big deal.

Vaughn

I can't imagine not owning one.
Even as a teen ( a loonng time ago) I had my own passport and I have
held a current passport ever since then.

Now all I gotta do is take the time to apply for my Canadian one - I'm
still travelling on my Brit one.

Tony
--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

In article .com,
"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