# Can the US bar the entrance of a US citizen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-bar-the-entrance-of-a-us-citizen/950772 "2021-09-16T18:30:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-bar-the-entrance-of-a-us-citizen/950772/21 "2021-09-19T18:55:24Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > They do have a [passport card](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Passport_Card) now, used for travel with certain Western Hemisphere countries. Some friends of mine moved to the Seattle suburbs about 15 years ago. When I went to visit them a few years back, they were talking about their passport cards, and they were very surprised that not only did I not have one (though I have a regular passport), but that I’d never heard of them. As they live within an easy drive of the Vancouver area (less than two hours), I imagine it’s a convenient thing for them to have, and regularly use, for their day trips by car to Canada, but driving into Canada (or Mexico) isn’t something that I’ve ever done. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-bar-the-entrance-of-a-us-citizen/950772/22 "2021-09-19T18:57:14Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > As they live within an easy drive of the Vancouver area (less than two hours), I imagine it’s a convenient thing for them to have, and regularly use, for their day trips by car to Canada, but driving into Canada (or Mexico) isn’t something that I’ve ever done. Yeah, if I lived close to Canada or Mexico and had no intention of any other international travel, I might opt for that. Cheaper than a passport. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-bar-the-entrance-of-a-us-citizen/950772/23 "2021-09-19T19:13:46Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > These days, you can’t even _take_ a minor child across an international border without showing the other parent’s consent, but then you could. I’ve been told this many times, but I have taken our kid to UK and Canada (two and my wife has taken her to China and Korea many times without ever being asked for any evidence of such consent. We’ve always had the necessary letter (signed and notarized) but never had to show it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-bar-the-entrance-of-a-us-citizen/950772/24 "2021-09-21T02:22:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” > > – Robert Frost In the case of the [actual poem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_the_Hired_Man), a man is thinking about his hired hand who needs help but had abandoned him earlier. Yet he could go to a wealthy brother, but for some reason is ashamed to ask for help. The line is always taken out of context, but is actually a bitter statement about humanity. Home folks _don’t_ have to take you in and often don’t or won’t be asked, and this is just one of the zillion reasons why. Out of context it implies the opposite of what it means. Never trust poetry. Or poets. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-bar-the-entrance-of-a-us-citizen/950772/25 "2021-09-21T02:52:20Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Yeah, if I lived close to Canada or Mexico and had no intention of any other international travel, I might opt for that. Cheaper than a passport. It is, but it’s nice to have a full passport in the event that you want/need to leave the country on short notice. When I renewed mine this year, I opted for both the passport and the card. I’d never had the card before, but I figure it might be nice in case we visit Canada or Mexico soon, as it’s a better form factor and fits in your wallet with your other cards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-bar-the-entrance-of-a-us-citizen/950772.md?page=1)