# Passport Emergency - Facts Needed NOW \[16-Feb-2024\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [February 16, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654 "2024-02-16T12:04:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/121 "2024-02-27T15:21:02Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > It sounds like he really doesn’t want to go. With him it’s pure lazyness. Not worth a trip to Rome if he actually has to do 15 minutes of work. And he gave up a free trip to Greece a few years ago. NO!!! Mrs. Cad and I are not looking to adopt any of you! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/122 "2024-02-27T15:21:55Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > He says his driver’s licence and social security card is enough. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that just shows lawful presence but not US citizenship. Anyone authorized to work in the US can have a SSN. That includes non-citizens, so no, a SSN doesn’t prove citizenship. Likewise with a driver license. My wife had a SSN and a DL for a couple of decades before she ever became a US citizen. Here’s what the state department says: > **[Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/citizenship-evidence.html)** > > How to submit evidence of U.S. citizenship with your U.S. passport application. Examples include birth certificates and naturalization certificates. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/123 "2024-02-27T15:58:17Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > through this appointment, he said, “If I don’t get it, just cancel my part of the cruise.” URGH!! I’m really glad you’re not on the hook for the cost if he doesn’t come through. He’s dead wrong about not needing that birth certificate (as per the link someone else posted). You need proof of citizenship!! Dunno if his driver’s license is RealID-compliant; I thought maybe that would suffice but there’s no mention of it in the website. If you really want him to come along, you could take charge and make sure he has all the documents (since it sounds like you have them to hand) but frankly I wouldn’t do it at this point. I suspect you’ll have a better time without him. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/124 "2024-02-27T15:59:22Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > You need proof of citizenship!! Dunno if his driver’s license is RealID-compliant It is, but if I’m not mistaken that shows just lawful presence. > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > If you really want him to come along, you could take charge and make sure he has all the documents I have tried, but of course he ignores me. And at a certain point, if he wants to go he will do what he needs to do. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/125 "2024-02-27T16:04:45Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > It is, but if I’m not mistaken that shows just lawful presence. According to **[this PDF](https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/REAL-ID-Act-Q-and-A.pdf)**: > DHS has clarified that no conclusions about a person’s citizenship or immigration > status may be drawn based on the type of license a person has. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/126 "2024-02-27T16:09:48Z")
Makes sense. I know that some of the document requirements for getting a RealID-compliant license in my state are similar to those to get a passport, so I thought maybe… but I looked them up and it does NOT have the same requirements. I’ve never done it, anyway - I fly rarely, and since I got my passport card, don’t technically NEED one. Maybe on the next renewal. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/127 "2024-02-27T16:18:43Z")
That’s in response to this question >  If a person has a license marked “not acceptable for official federal > purposes,” does this mean that the license-holder is an unauthorized > immigrant? and the answer goes on to quote the DHS > DHS cautions against assuming that possession of a noncompliant card indicates the holder is an undocumented individual, given that individuals may obtain noncompliant cards for many reasons unrelated to lawful presence. You can’t assume that someone with a “not acceptable for official Federal purposes” ID is not a citizen or not legally in the US but it’s a one-way thing . My enhanced license is proof of citizenship and allows me to cross the Canadian and Mexican borders without a passport. Real ID compliant licenses are only available to people in the US legally but they aren’t proof of citizenship so they won’t substitute for a birth certificate when applying for a passport. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/128 "2024-02-27T16:50:07Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I have tried, but of course he ignores me. And at a certain point, if he wants to go he will do what he needs to do. His behavior would drive me crazy. Textbook passive aggressive? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/129 "2024-02-27T18:18:21Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Textbook passive aggressive? Textbook lazy af. Of course his executive dysfunction doesn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/130 "2024-02-27T18:41:14Z")
Is it safe to leave him alone in your house for 10 days ? I’d be afraid of returning to a pile of ashes or something. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/131 "2024-02-27T18:45:58Z")
Or maybe he doesn’t really want to go on that trip. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/132 "2024-02-27T18:46:59Z")
He left the house at 11 so I’ll see what happened. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/133 "2024-02-27T19:32:01Z")
Yep - could be that he’s lazy in general and also doesn’t want to go on the trip. Because I know some very lazy people and if all they had to do was get a passport to get a free tip to somewhere they wanted to go they’d have done it. They would have also seen that getting a new one was more work than looking though some boxes which makes me think he just doesn’t want to go. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/134 "2024-02-27T20:05:45Z")
According to him he actually did it and will have his passport in 2 months ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/135 "2024-02-27T20:21:44Z")
RealID shows you are either a US citizen or legal resident. If you aren’t, you can be issued a DL that shows you as non-compliant and the card cannot be used for travel purposes. [Enhanced drivers licenses](https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they) are proof of US Citizenship, but are only available in a few states so far. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/136 "2024-02-28T10:59:03Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Four whole days?! Piece of cake! 😆 I might have missed it, but did you ever find the original passport? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/137 "2024-02-28T12:09:55Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > I might have missed it, but did you ever find the original passport? Well, she’s only been back since Saturday evening, but no, not yet at least. She thinks she might have left it at Kinko’s because she went there to make a few colored hard copies, and my printer is just a black laser. That sounds very plausible. We shall see. I think she is going there today to check. No rush since it is no longer valid. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/138 "2024-02-28T12:35:19Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > When you do have your passport, do check with plenty of time before your trip that > > 1. There is more than 6 months before expiry (many/most countries will not let you enter if there is less than 6 months to go, and the airlines won’t let you board the plane as they get big fines if you do), and I learned this the hard way. About a year yfter my wife and I got married, we went from Japan down to Taiwan with plans to go on to Vietnam. Taiwan has a visa waver program for Americans, but not if there is less than six months left on your passport. The airline didn’t check it, and when we arrived, I had to get a visa on the spot. However, to get into Vietnam, I had to obtain a new passport. Fortunately, the US representative office in Taipei was helpful and I got an expedited one soon enough for our trip to Vietnam. All in all the whole thing cost a couple of hundred dollars, but still less than plane tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/139 "2024-02-28T17:37:16Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > According to him he actually did it and will have his passport in 2 months Phew! Maybe they were able to use the ID to look up the info from his existing passport. Is that enough time that you’re comfortable booking the cruise for him? 2 years ago, you couldn’t count on getting it that fast. @Dewey_Finn’s mother’s recent experience suggests that things should go much faster this time around. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654/140 "2024-02-28T17:41:54Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > No rush since it is no longer valid. Is there a market for stolen passports? I seem to recall from reading, decades ago, that there was - the forger would manage to lift the original photo, and substitute a photo of the purchaser - so someone else could be travelling under your name. But with the RFID-equipped passports, and the way the photos are attached (doesn’t look possible to swap out a photo), it seems like there wouldn’t be much of a resale market. Especially since it’s likely that such a passport HAD been reported stolen, and thus you’d likely get arrested the first time you tried to use it. You’d hope that Kinko’s would have made some attempt to contact the friend, but with phone books no longer being a thing, her phone info would have been hard to get. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-emergency-facts-needed-now-16-feb-2024/997654.md?page=8)