quick question on passports

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Originally Posted by tld221

I imagine the travel.gov site would be most accurate - they say no, because St. Thomas is a US Territory. Makes sense to me. But I just called a passport agency and theyre like "YES YOU NEED A PASSPORT FOR ANYWHERE OUTSIDE THE CONTIGUOUS 48!!!!"

The passport agency people are stupid. I was recently in Hawai'i, and I certianly didn't need a passport.

You don't need one for US territories. Hence, why places like St. Thomas and Puerto Rico are currently pushing that fact on almost every travel website.

[cuteASAbug]

I was told that you need a passport for anywhere outside the 50 states. Your best bet is to just get one and save yourself the stress of worrying about it later.

[ZTAngel]

I was in St. Thomas and Puerto Rico a few years ago and I did not need a passport. This was post-9/11 too (I know a lot of rules changed after 9/11). Then again, I traveled via a cruise ship. It might be different but I doubt it. I just needed my driver's license.

[OtterXO]

I applied for a passport over 2 months ago and still have not received it. Apparently the process is considerably slower right now because of the new regulations. So if you're traveling soon I would definitely do the expedited process and tell them your travel date.

[Buttonz]

I thought that you needed a passport after a certain date this year to even get on a plane? I could be wrong but I know that's what my mother told me...

Mine doesn't expire until 2015 so I know I'm good for a few more years

[summer_gphib]

I would say get it to be safe. It's worth paying the extra fee, if you got to the airport and they wouldn't let you on the plane....

I got mine renewed last year and it only took about 3 weeks. You never know though.

I would suggest wearing a shirt that you LIKE for your picture. LOL. I was wearing a shirt for work that says "Express Tax." I didn't think it would show up in the picture... hahaha it did!

Originally Posted by tld221

I imagine the travel.gov site would be most accurate - they say no, because St. Thomas is a US Territory. Makes sense to me. But I just called a passport agency and theyre like "YES YOU NEED A PASSPORT FOR ANYWHERE OUTSIDE THE CONTIGUOUS 48!!!!"

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

ETA: The passport agency told you that Alaska and Hawaii require passports? That sounds pretty suspicious. If you are flying American, their website clearly says you do not need one.

Originally Posted by DolphinChicaDDD

The passport agency people are stupid. I was recently in Hawai'i, and I certianly didn't need a passport.

When I read tld's post about what the agency person said, I was *cough*bullshit*cough.

But sadly, it's actually a pretty common misconception with people who do live in the Continental U.S. As a lifelong Hawai'i resident I've never had to produce a passport to travel domestically.

Anyway, from the USVI Tourism Website

A person currently may travel to and from the United States to the US Virgin Islands without a passport or other document, but under proposed regulations, would be required to have this documentation in order to re-enter the US Virgin Islands from the British Virgin Islands or another country.

According to the Initiative, US citizens traveling to the United States Virgin Islands, as well as to Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa will continue to be able to use established forms of identification to board flights, and for entry to the region.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Buttonz

I thought that you needed a passport after a certain date this year to even get on a plane? I could be wrong but I know that's what my mother told me...

When I flew home for Christmas, they were flashing this message on the televisions before the movie started: Anywhere outside the US and you need a passport, and that includes Canada and Mexico.

I applied for my passport and they said they weren't very busy, it'd probably take 2 weeks, call them if I hadn't gotten it in 8 weeks. IT WAS A FULL 8 WEEKS BEFORE I GOT IT. So just be on the safe side. There was an option to have it overnighted to you once it was completed, you just paid the $14 for the overnight envelope, not the $60 for expediting the whole process. That's supposed to shave a few days to a week off the process.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

• Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
• As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.


To be safe, I would get an expedited Passport if I were you, especially if this is a new passport and not just a renewal. OH, and don't go to a private passport "agency" to get it...there are all kinds of fraudsters out there right now ripping people off in passport schemes, and even the legit ones don't do anything but slow the process down and charge you even more money for it.

ETA: whenever you want to know the answers to travel questions like this, it's best to go directly to the state department's Web site. There's actually a TON of very useful information on it. I always go there to check on any foreign travel advisories, too.