# Flying into US without a passport tomorrow **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 24, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316 "2011-12-24T23:32:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/81 "2011-12-27T03:42:45Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > And while you’re about it, do your airline tickets too! Your best, and possibly _only_ hope, in the event anything untoward happens to your ticket. The photocopy of the passport is indeed excellent advice. The ticket one is obsolete. I haven’t had a paper ticket in many years. I show my ID at the counter and they print a boarding pass. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/82 "2011-12-27T10:16:34Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > You are from the EU. The EU is an internal travel area, you don’t need passports to travel within it if you are an EU citizen. That is not an EU thing, it’s about the Schengen agreement, which is something related but completely different. > [@JoseB](#): > > I am Spanish, living in the Netherlands. I was in the UK once, and I lost my passport there. And the UK is not a member of Schengen, which makes it much harder. Travelling within Schengen you just need some sort of ID indicating citizenship or residency there but for travelling to the UK you need a passport. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/83 "2011-12-27T13:45:17Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Whatever happens, make sure your daughter does not get snarky with the airline staff, airport staff, Embassy officials, etc. If she does it’s one of the fastest ways to get her name on the no fly list. Where on Earth did you get this zany idea? You think people just get slapped on there, willy-nilly? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/84 "2011-12-27T13:53:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I show my ID at the counter and they print a boarding pass. Not always that way in the Third World. Besides, it’s just a precaution, takes only a second, and costs like a nickel. And, I think, worth it. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/85 "2011-12-27T14:08:30Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > State Department > Present photocopy > [del]Arrange for a new or temporary passport[/del] > [del]Not allowed on a plane without a passport[/del] > 50% is a failing grade. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/86 "2011-12-27T14:55:25Z")
A few years back, we flew to Taiwan and then had plans to fly to Vietnam. We were headed for Taiwan for our wedding photos and then to Vietnam for the honeymoon. All set. Valid Passport, check! The airline lets us on. Get on the plane. Hit Taiwan customs and discover that the passport has to be valid for more than 6 months beyond the date of entry into Taiwan in order to qualify for the visa waiver program. They will issue a visa on the spot for a fee. We check Vietnam regulations (before I go) and they will not allow me into the country without the passport being valid for more than 6 months, so I go to the equivalent of the US embassy there, and there is a way to get a temporary emergency passport within 24 hours. Got it, we were set and enjoyed our trip to Vietnam. I got the regular one when I got back to Tokyo. We have scanned copies of all of our passports (along with other important documents) on a hard disk at the inlaws just in case something happens. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/87 "2011-12-27T18:51:33Z")
actually, it would be a good idea to scan your passport and any other relevant docs like birth certificate, university diplomas (often needed for a work visa in a foreign country) and have all of these on line. One simple way is to just attach them in an email and send it to yourself using a freemail service . Or store it on line at any of the free storage places. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/88 "2011-12-27T19:36:34Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > And the UK is not a member of Schengen, which makes it much harder. Travelling within Schengen you just need some sort of ID indicating citizenship or residency there but for travelling to the UK you need a passport. Nope. > [@](#): > > What documents are accepted to enter the UK? > National passports **and identity cards** are acceptable documents for EU and EEA citizens and national passports and visas are acceptable documents for non-European nationals. (bolding mine) [http://www.myukinfo.com/en/immigration/entering-uk/-entering-uk](http://www.myukinfo.com/en/immigration/entering-uk/-entering-uk) ---
**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:** [December 28, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/89 "2011-12-28T02:53:11Z")
> [@TokyoPlayer](#): > > Hit Taiwan customs and discover that the passport has to be valid for more than 6 months beyond the date of entry into Taiwan in order to qualify for the visa waiver program. They will issue a visa on the spot for a fee. > > We check Vietnam regulations (before I go) and they will not allow me into the country without the passport being valid for more than 6 months, so I go to the equivalent of the US embassy there, and there is a way to get a temporary emergency passport within 24 hours. Got it, we were set and enjoyed our trip to Vietnam. The six-month rule is actually pretty common, at least on this side of the world. I’ve encountered it a lot. It’s a good idea to keep up on that too. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/90 "2011-12-28T04:38:39Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Where on Earth did you get this zany idea? You think people just get slapped on there, willy-nilly? Oh, I don’t know. Just passing along the paranoia of TSA and other government-types. Just don’t attempt to carry a cupcake through security and you should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/91 "2011-12-30T04:00:57Z")
I just read this thread from start to finish. Hilarious. Was the zeal and confidence with which the initial responders sermonised (don’t even bother going to the airport! save the train fare and humiliation! they’ll pee on her in the street!) matched when it came time for them to apologise and admit that they were absolutely, 100%, no denying it _wrong_? Was it bollocks. pdts ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/92 "2011-12-30T09:07:09Z")
**Fish Cheer** , I read an article in a newspaper yesterday about the new Swedish passports that will be introduced next week. There was also a list of countries where you can go with just a national ID card, and they very emphatically pointed out, quoting the police authority, that for Ireland, UK and Cyprus this was not sufficient, you must have a valid passport. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/93 "2011-12-30T09:30:39Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > There was also a list of countries where you can go with just a national ID card, and they very emphatically pointed out, quoting the police authority, that for Ireland, UK and Cyprus this was not sufficient, you must have a valid passport. Then they were very empathically wrong. I have traveled to the UK several times with only my German ID card (_Personalausweis_), and the UK Home Office says: > [@](#): > > What travel documents are accepted at the border? > You must be the legal holder of a genuine document. Your documents must be valid and issued by a government or authority. The most common examples of travel documents are: > > national passports; or > 1951 Convention travel documents for refugees. > > We also accept national identity cards for EEA citizens. [(link)](http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/customs-travel/Enteringtheuk/arrivingatukborder) ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/94 "2012-01-05T07:22:58Z")
An interesting addition to the story: [Man use iPad, instead of passport, to enter US](http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_751632.html). ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/95 "2012-01-05T16:55:48Z")
> [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](#): > > An interesting addition to the story: > > [Man use iPad, instead of passport, to enter US](http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_751632.html). This has been refuted by [U.S. Customs.](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/us-customs-says-canadian-man-didnt-gain-entry-on-ipad/article2291235/?from=sec434) > [@](#): > > “The assertion that a traveller was admitted into the U.S. using solely a scanned image of his passport on an iPad is categorically false,” Jenny Burke, a spokeswoman for U.S. Customs, said in a statement. The newspaper story goes on to say individuals entering the U.S. by land and sea may present documents other than a passport to be admitted entry, as was the case for this person. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/96 "2012-01-05T18:16:37Z")
> [@Fish\_Cheer](#): > > Nope. > > (bolding mine) > > [http://www.myukinfo.com/en/immigration/entering-uk/-entering-uk](http://www.myukinfo.com/en/immigration/entering-uk/-entering-uk) True, although it is worth remembering that not every country has a National ID card and as such a passport is their only option. However, in my experience crossing borders in Schengen countries has required nothing. No one stopped you or even asked. I drove from Sweden through Denmark, Germany and ended up in Austria to go skiing the very first time I drove through the Schengen area. I expected to be stopped on all borders, but no one asked to see anything either on the way there or the way back. My guess the ID check for planes within Schengen is more to check you are who you say you are, so you can be checked against no-fly lists etc for security purposes rather than immigration regulations. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/97 "2012-01-06T02:51:46Z")
I still remember being on the train in Europe and having Immigration inspectors come though and check passports while crossing every border. Or do I remember that? Maybe I’m just chanelling it from some old memory, but I think I do remember it personally. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/98 "2012-01-06T04:25:22Z")
> [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](#): > > I just read this thread from start to finish. Hilarious. > > Was the zeal and confidence with which the initial responders sermonised (don’t even bother going to the airport! save the train fare and humiliation! they’ll pee on her in the street!) matched when it came time for them to apologise and admit that they were absolutely, 100%, no denying it _wrong_? > > Was it bollocks. > > pdts Yep. Only way this thread could have been better would be if the OP’s daughter was a cop and wanted to bring in a gun. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/99 "2012-01-06T10:57:48Z")
[QUOTE=Septimus?] I still remember being on the train in Europe and having Immigration inspectors come though and check passports while crossing every border. Or do I remember that? Maybe I’m just chanelling it from some old memory, but I think I do remember it personally. [/QUOTE] I am getting old myself and sometimes conflate my stories with those of friends, or even from movies. Thinking more on it, the passport checking must be from a David Niven or Bob Hope movie; the only border I’ve passed with train was IIRC the Thai/Malay border, where the _opposite_ question may be more interesting :dubious: : _ **What if you have a passport, but prefer not to present it?** _ A 1990’ish claim I know only 3rd-hand is that it was then still easy to simply remain on the train, without attending to passport duties. Best, I think, is to linger with the exit stamp crowd – then make a show of walking to the entry stamp crowd while manipulating your passport a bit, and lingering there for awhile. Question for GQ: Which countries now have technologies (e.g. face recognition) which would prevent your re-rentry with a new passport, given the irregularity (non-exit) on the old passport? When did they acquire those capabilities? ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316/100 "2012-01-06T12:54:05Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I still remember being on the train in Europe and having Immigration inspectors come though and check passports while crossing every border. Or do I remember that? Maybe I’m just chanelling it from some old memory, but I think I do remember it personally. I traveled by train from what was then West Germany, to what was then Czechoslovakia in 1987. The train was held up in Eger (also known as Cheb) for at least half an hour, while the dour Czechoslovakian authorities checked every passport. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-into-us-without-a-passport-tomorrow/607316.md?page=6)