Passport or no?

Emily wrote:
Don't condescend.

I'm not following. How was I condescending? You didn't post your age so
I wouldn't know how old you are. As a California native I know that
high school kids often sneak down to Mexico to buy beer. Nothing in
your post indicated that that wasn't possible.

The fact is, INS doesn't always do what's "required". Are you going to
argue that they should let you in? Sorry, I can tell you who'd win that
one. It's a better idea to carry your passport and not get hassled.

A birth certificate should have worked as well. The INS doesn't really
have a lot of choice. They can't deny an American entry back into the
country, they can only delay or arrest you. But to arrest you they
would have to tell you what crime you commited. Not having a passport
is not only not a crime, but by far the norm for those of us in
California who frequent Mexico.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
Emily wrote:
Don't condescend.

I'm not following. How was I condescending? You didn't post your age so
I wouldn't know how old you are.

I'm posting in a pilot newsgroup. I thought that made it obvious that I
was at least 17.

snip

A birth certificate should have worked as well. The INS doesn't really
have a lot of choice. They can't deny an American entry back into the
country, they can only delay or arrest you.

Delay being the key word. I don't want to be delayed.

Emily wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:
Emily wrote:
Don't condescend.

I'm not following. How was I condescending? You didn't post your age so
I wouldn't know how old you are.

I'm posting in a pilot newsgroup. I thought that made it obvious that I
was at least 17.

In your post you said "Two years ago, a friend and I took a quick trip
to TJ". If you were 17 today (still below the legal US drinking age and
above the age to "find" alcohol in Mexico) that would have made you 15.
So I would say it reasonable that parents be called when a 15 year old
attempts to return from Mexico without documentation.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
Emily wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:
Emily wrote:
Don't condescend.
I'm not following. How was I condescending? You didn't post your age so
I wouldn't know how old you are.
I'm posting in a pilot newsgroup. I thought that made it obvious that I
was at least 17.

In your post you said "Two years ago, a friend and I took a quick trip
to TJ". If you were 17 today (still below the legal US drinking age and
above the age to "find" alcohol in Mexico) that would have made you 15.
So I would say it reasonable that parents be called when a 15 year old
attempts to return from Mexico without documentation.

Oh, fine. I suppose you had no way of knowing that I never had a sip of
alcohol before turning 21.

*I*, not immigration, had to call his parents because we were staying at
his parents house that weekend. Neither of us lived in San Diego at the
time. Since we'd stopped by from out of the country, his passport was
at his parents house in his luggage, so his dad drove it down for for me
to walk it back across the border for him.

Robert M. Gary wrote on 07/10/06 20:36:

Emily wrote:
Don't condescend.

I'm not following. How was I condescending? You didn't post your age so
I wouldn't know how old you are. As a California native I know that
high school kids often sneak down to Mexico to buy beer. Nothing in
your post indicated that that wasn't possible.

The fact is, INS doesn't always do what's "required". Are you going to
argue that they should let you in? Sorry, I can tell you who'd win that
one. It's a better idea to carry your passport and not get hassled.

A birth certificate should have worked as well. The INS doesn't really
have a lot of choice. They can't deny an American entry back into the
country, they can only delay or arrest you. But to arrest you they
would have to tell you what crime you commited. Not having a passport
is not only not a crime, but by far the norm for those of us in
California who frequent Mexico.


No, but as US citizen, trying to enter the US without a US passport is. Entry
from Canada and Mexico just was an exception that is closed come Jan. 1.

-Joe



-Robert

" Personally, I would never, as in *never*, leave the US of A without a
passport. ymmv

I agree. Shortly after 911, the wife and I saw the handwriting on
the wall
and applied for our passports. Assuming that you apply "pre need" so
there is
no rush, it is just not a big deal.

I have kept my passport current for the last 20 years, or so. You never
know when or where you might want to go somewhere, that not having a
passport would be a show stopper. Not only that, a passport is another form
of ID, for things you need to show 3 ID's for.

Get the Kid's passports. How many kids can brag that they have one! g
--
Jim in NC

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I thought I was going to have to spent $300 to get passports for my
wife and kids when coming back from Mexico next year but now I'm not
sure. Reading AOPA's site
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...port_info.html
They claim that after Dec 31st "will be required to have a passport or
other acceptable document". However, at the top they say "submit a
passport or other acceptable documentation as proof of citizenship".
So, this makes it sound as if kids can continue to travel with just a
birth certificate. Am I missing something? I certainly don't want to
pay $300 for no reason. I'm also pretty sure that customs will never
actually ask for it since they've never asked any of us for citizen
information in all the years we've been traveling to/from Mexico and
Canada. The worst I've ever been asked for was my driver's license and
pilots certificate. My wife was asked for her driver's license once
(and illegals can even get those!).
The actual rules and what the individual custom's person do are usually
different.

-Robrt

Read this:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

In the past inspectors were allowed to accept any document and use some
judgement to determine whether you are a U.S. citizen. But starting
2007, they won't have that option. Save the trouble and get the
passports. If you are denied entry, it may cost you a lot more than
$300.

"Joe Feise" wrote in message
...
No, but as US citizen, trying to enter the US without a US passport is.
Entry
from Canada and Mexico just was an exception that is closed come Jan. 1.

Maybe. Here in the Pacific Northwest, they are already talking about
delaying the passport requirement from Canada. There's a lot of resistance
to having the requirement at all, and it may just keep getting pushed back
indefinitely.

Rather than rely on AOPA, I would query the government agencies you will
have to deal with. We always carry our passports when visiting Canada and
have never had a problem. Passports are good for ten years...amortize the
cost over that period and it's not too bad.

Bob Gardner

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...
I thought I was going to have to spent $300 to get passports for my
wife and kids when coming back from Mexico next year but now I'm not
sure. Reading AOPA's site
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...port_info.html
They claim that after Dec 31st "will be required to have a passport or
other acceptable document". However, at the top they say "submit a
passport or other acceptable documentation as proof of citizenship".
So, this makes it sound as if kids can continue to travel with just a
birth certificate. Am I missing something? I certainly don't want to
pay $300 for no reason. I'm also pretty sure that customs will never
actually ask for it since they've never asked any of us for citizen
information in all the years we've been traveling to/from Mexico and
Canada. The worst I've ever been asked for was my driver's license and
pilots certificate. My wife was asked for her driver's license once
(and illegals can even get those!).
The actual rules and what the individual custom's person do are usually
different.

-Robrt

BTW, for your photographs...

If you are good with digital photography and have the equipment
(printer, etc) you can do them your self. Just be sure they are the
correct size. Go Google PASSPORT and find the government page that has
the download applications. I went to renew mine and went to the local
post office that was going to charge me. When she pulled out her camera
and I asked what she was going to print them on (an hp printer) I said
never mind, I can do all of that. I think it has to be 2"x2" and against
a white background.

I got my renewed using my own photography.

Robert M. Gary wrote:

I thought I was going to have to spent $300 to get passports for my
wife and kids when coming back from Mexico next year but now I'm not
sure. Reading AOPA's site
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...port_info.html
They claim that after Dec 31st "will be required to have a passport or
other acceptable document". However, at the top they say "submit a
passport or other acceptable documentation as proof of citizenship".
So, this makes it sound as if kids can continue to travel with just a
birth certificate. Am I missing something? I certainly don't want to
pay $300 for no reason. I'm also pretty sure that customs will never
actually ask for it since they've never asked any of us for citizen
information in all the years we've been traveling to/from Mexico and
Canada. The worst I've ever been asked for was my driver's license and
pilots certificate. My wife was asked for her driver's license once
(and illegals can even get those!).
The actual rules and what the individual custom's person do are usually
different.

-Robrt