Eep! Flying to St Maarten/Martin on Monday and I don't have a passport.

[stpauler]

What should I do? This was a last minute invite and I’d love to go but the question is, do I need a passport? According to this:

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES - Islands include Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. Passport or proof of U.S. citizenship (i.e., certified birth certificate or voter registration card with photo ID) required. Visa not required for tourist/business visit of up to 90 days. Tourists may be asked to show onward/return ticket or proof of sufficient funds for stay. Length of stay is granted for two weeks and may be extended for 90 days by the head office of immigration. Departure tax $20 when leaving Bonaire, $22.50 in Curacao, $25 in Statia, $25 in St. Maarten. For further information, consult the Royal Netherlands Embassy (202/244-5300), or nearest Consulate General: CA (310/2681598), FL (786/866-0480), IL (312/856-0110) or NY (212/246-1429). Internet: www.netherlands-embassy.org

WEST INDIES, French - Islands include Guadeloupe, Isles des Saintes, La Desirade, Marie Galante, Saint Barthelemy, St. Martin, and Martinique. *Passport required. Visa not required for tourist/business stay of up to 90 days months. Stays exceeding 90 days require a visa. Visa requires passport (3 months validity after departure), 4 long stay visa applications, 5 recent passport sized photos, proof of sufficient funds (3 copies), proof of valid medical insurance, police clearance (obtained from police department in US-3 copies), and letter certifying no paid activity will occur. For further information, consult the Embassy of France (202/944-6000). Internet: www.info-france-usa.org

and this:

When will the Travel Initiative be implemented?

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

So it sounds like I can get by with a driver’s license and birth certificate if I’m flying into St Maarten’s but not St Martin’s (and frankly, I’m not clear on the details yet.) I’m too far from a regional passport place to get one in time (Chicago is the closest).

[Shagnasty]

It looks like you are in the hands of fate now depending on which island you are flying. You can go if it is one and will have to cancel if it is the other. I don’t think there is a way around that.

If you had slightly more time, you could use a passport expediting service. They can get you a passport in 1 - 3 business days if you pony up hundreds of dollars. You could probably do it yourself in Chicago. I got mine in 24 hours myself in Boston but weekends would hose those plans.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

If you’re flying into St. Maarten/Martin, I don’t think it’s a big problem as I believe the main airport is on the Dutch side. I think everyone flies in there, save for those with private jets. Once you’re on the island, I don’t think anyone will check you for a passport if you stray across to the French side.

If you’re flying into the french side, you might have trouble.

Just my guess.

[stpauler]

Thanks all, it looks like we’re flying in on the Dutch side so we should be good (except for possible airport delays because of the IDs).

[ratatoskK]

I just want to confirm that they don’t check passports when you cross from one side of the island to the other. (The rest, I don’t know anything about.)