Passport

magic

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This is incorrect for land crossings. They want to see a passport but it is not mandatory. In recent years I've been in/out of Canada without a passport once and in/out Mexico nearly 100 times using 9 different border stations. Never once even had to show my birth certificate only drivers license.


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Do you have an enhanced driver's license? These can be used instead of a passport for Canada, Mexico and Caribbean.
 

Checkswrecks

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You actually have to have some good luck to see Denali. It's usually shrouded in clouds. I've seen it flying over from the air, but when we did a cruise/tour in 2006, never saw it in the 3 days we were in that area. Summer weather in Alaska can be uncooperative.

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That's the truth!
I used to get to Alaska for work about every three years and probably saw it a few times.
 

lddave

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In 2001 crossing from the US to Canada 3 times on a motorcycle trip my Texas drivers license was all I needed. I did have copy of my birth certificate with me but never needed it. In 2002 crossing into Alaska from Canada the US border person told me that my drivers license was not proof of citizenship since at that time Texas was issuing license to illegal immigrants . Got a passport after that .
 

Checkswrecks

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We dont worry to much about passports over here, as long as your dingy is seaworthy all is good.
That time I had to get a passport in London was because United Airlines had a 767 catch fire and I missed the fact that my two US passports (work and personal) had expired. Got to to the airport check-in counter and was denied a ticket. Ooops.

Called the boss who said to sit tight, he called our State Department liaison, she called UK Home Office, and the boss called back in only 15-20 minutes telling me to check in again. The counter agent thought I was going to be a problem child when I approached her again with a backpack and no bags to check. I asked her to please re-check the computer and we had a bit of a back & forth with her "Sir I told you that you can not board" and me firmly repeating there would be a note about a "must board" till she finally checked. Seems to me a supervisor had wandered over and nodded to her to check. She gave a funny look at her screen and without a word handed me my ticket.

Got off at LHR to see a nice person in the jetway holding a card with my name and he walked me clear around the entire line of Customs booths till we were on the other side. No paperwork, no conversation, nothing but an escort and long walk till he simply wished me a good day then walked off and left me there. Picked up a rental car and headed to the hangars.

Being not long after 9/11 it was an odd feeling to be in another country technically as an undocumented alien on your own and with no paperwork or passport to get back home! The embassy wasn't too thrilled about some guy asking for a replacement passport after 9/11 either.
 

WJBertrand

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This is incorrect for land crossings. They want to see a passport but it is not mandatory. In recent years I've been in/out of Canada without a passport once and in/out Mexico nearly 100 times using 9 different border stations. Never once even had to show my birth certificate only drivers license.


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All I know is every time I’ve been to Canada on my bike, at least 3 times in the last 10 years they ask to see my passport and I get the standard series of questions. If it’s not required, there’s no signage or other indication of that at the crossing stations.

It’s kind of a moot point if they don’t actually require it, since you do need it to get back into the US. Prior to 9/11, my CDL was sufficient and I was never asked for a passport.


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fac191

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That time I had to get a passport in London was because United Airlines had a 767 catch fire and I missed the fact that my two US passports (work and personal) had expired. Got to to the airport check-in counter and was denied a ticket. Ooops.

Called the boss who said to sit tight, he called our State Department liaison, she called UK Home Office, and the boss called back in only 15-20 minutes telling me to check in again. The counter agent thought I was going to be a problem child when I approached her again with a backpack and no bags to check. I asked her to please re-check the computer and we had a bit of a back & forth with her "Sir I told you that you can not board" and me firmly repeating there would be a note about a "must board" till she finally checked. Seems to me a supervisor had wandered over and nodded to her to check. She gave a funny look at her screen and without a word handed me my ticket.

Got off at LHR to see a nice person in the jetway holding a card with my name and he walked me clear around the entire line of Customs booths till we were on the other side. No paperwork, no conversation, nothing but an escort and long walk till he simply wished me a good day then walked off and left me there. Picked up a rental car and headed to the hangars.

Being not long after 9/11 it was an odd feeling to be in another country technically as an undocumented alien on your own and with no paperwork or passport to get back home! The embassy wasn't too thrilled about some guy asking for a replacement passport after 9/11 either.
I took a flight from LA to Vegas. As we boarded and were walking down the aisle the plane started going down the runway !
 

Cycledude

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Believe 2008 was the year passports became a requirement, before that I crossed the boarder a bunch of times just answering a few simple questions, they did once tell me to pull into the parking area and wait, I thought gee wiz are they going to tear my bike apart ? well I waited about 5 minutes and someone came out to tell me I could go.
The very first time I crossed the person in the booth seemed very irritated that I hadn’t removed my helmet, after I removed my helmet he asked a few stupid questions attempting to irritate me but I just answered them and he let me go.
A few years ago one guy that was with us had the Wisconsin drivers license with the star on it, some folks say you can cross the border without a passport if you have the star, well we crossed north of Glacier National Park and they wouldn’t let him cross and they told him we require a passport here and now that you have been refused here you won’t be able to cross anywhere with just a drivers license.
 

SilverBullet

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...
It’s kind of a moot point if they don’t actually require it, since you do need it to get back into the US. Prior to 9/11, my CDL was sufficient and I was never asked for a passport...
No my main point is you don't need it to enter the US. Of course they ask for it as they prefer it. What Canada and Mexico require to enter their countries can change as the US has no say in that. Look at my previous cbp url link. And here is another agency's link. Just read the first paragraph.
.


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Sierra1

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. . . . . A few years ago one guy that was with us had the Wisconsin drivers license with the star on it, some folks say you can cross the border without a passport if you have the star, well we crossed north of Glacier National Park and they wouldn’t let him cross and they told him we require a passport here and now that you have been refused here you won’t be able to cross anywhere with just a drivers license.
I forgot about that. Yeah, Texas is doing the thing with the star also. It's supposed to be a "true" ID card. So, yeah, I think that he should have been able to us it. It is a relatively recent thing, so maybe that post didn't know about it yet at that time.
 

Checkswrecks

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There are other forms of State Department ID to come back into the US which include the Trusted Traveler IDs:

Before COVID the speed benefit of Pre Check was getting watered down because so many people had them. Hard to believe I haven't been on an airplane in a year.
The Global is fantastic for returning quickly getting through the Customs kiosks and skipping the bigger lines if an airport has kiosks but not usable outbound.
The North American NEXUS & SENTRI cards are handy but the additional expense only makes sense if you cross enough.
If driving you usually just whip out the passport book.

fwiw - At the bottom of SilverBullet's linked page:
  • The Mexican government may not let U.S. citizens who are driving or walking to Mexico enter the country at land border crossings if they do not have a U.S. passport book or U.S. passport card.
 

Checkswrecks

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Here's what Canada says they now permit for ID to cross (I added the bold underline):
Source: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/td-dv-eng.html

All international travellers must carry acceptable identification and a valid visa (if necessary) when entering Canada. A passport is recommended because it is the only reliable and universally-accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. International transport companies, such as airlines, must make sure that travellers have proper, valid travel documents. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or unable to board the plane. What you need will depend on where you are from, how you are travelling, and what documents you are travelling with. Consult entry requirements by country.

When you enter Canada, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if you are arriving from a country for which one is required. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website to learn more about what travel documents are required.

Citizens of the U.S. who are members of the NEXUS program may present their membership card as proof of identification and as a document that denotes citizenship, when arriving by air (when coming from the U.S.), land, or marine modes.

Citizens of the U.S. who are members of the FAST program may use their cards as proof of identity when arriving by land and marine modes only.

Permanent residents of the U.S. who are members of the NEXUS or FAST programs must travel with a passport and proof of permanent residence, and may be asked to present these documents to the officer upon arrival at the border.

Permanent residents of the U.S. who are members of NEXUS also need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) when flying to or transiting through Canada. Citizens of the U.S. and Canada are exempted.
 

Sierra1

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REAL ID compliant

If you replaced or renewed your card after October 10, 2016, and have a gold star in the right-hand corner, your card is REAL ID compliant and no further action is required on your part. You may continue to use your compliant card for federal identification purposes until it expires.Sep 29, 2020

and,

Beginning October 1, 2021, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver's license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

So, I was wrong again. It doesn't cover international travel, just domestic.
 

OldRider

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The very first time I crossed the person in the booth seemed very irritated that I hadn’t removed my helmet, after I removed my helmet he asked a few stupid questions attempting to irritate me but I just answered them and he let me go.
Those border guards are really some smart, highly trained people. I agree the questions they ask may seem stupid, but they can tell a lot about you by how you react to the question and the way you answer it.
 

AVGeek

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There are other forms of State Department ID to come back into the US which include the Trusted Traveler IDs:

Before COVID the speed benefit of Pre Check was getting watered down because so many people had them. Hard to believe I haven't been on an airplane in a year.
The Global is fantastic for returning quickly getting through the Customs kiosks and skipping the bigger lines if an airport has kiosks but not usable outbound.
The North American NEXUS & SENTRI cards are handy but the additional expense only makes sense if you cross enough.
If driving you usually just whip out the passport book.

fwiw - At the bottom of SilverBullet's linked page:
  • The Mexican government may not let U.S. citizens who are driving or walking to Mexico enter the country at land border crossings if they do not have a U.S. passport book or U.S. passport card.
I just sent in my renewal last week, since my expiration is next month. I don't anticipate much travel fro the rest of teh year, but figured better to do it now, rather than in a rush if needed.

I also have the Global Entry. There were 2 main benefits for me: 1) Known Traveler Number and 2) Easy Re-entry into the US. Compared to the cost of the Known Traveler Program at the time, the couple extra dollars for Global Entry was an easy sell. Plus, I was getting ready to make my first overseas business trip, although the only open appointments in Phoenix (where I lived at the time) were when I was already going to be in Barcelona. I happened to have another work trip to Philadelphia scheduled, and there were plenty of open slots there. So one night after the meeting, I went back to the airport and had my interview. The Customs agent looked at me a bit funny when I pulled out my Arizona license and asked if I had come to Philly just for the interview...
 

Cycledude

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I forgot about that. Yeah, Texas is doing the thing with the star also. It's supposed to be a "true" ID card. So, yeah, I think that he should have been able to us it. It is a relatively recent thing, so maybe that post didn't know about it yet at that time.
Oh they knew all about it but for some reason they didn’t explain they were not allowed to let anyone cross with just the star at that crossing.
I have heard that at the Buffalo New York crossing they will let you cross with just the star, but obviously you can’t believe everything you hear.
 

bimota

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It's great to hear about your passport renewal and the Trusted Traveler IDs. It's always smart to plan ahead and avoid any last-minute rushes. I totally get the convenience of having Global Entry too. The Known Traveler Number and easy re-entry into the US are definitely big perks. It's funny how sometimes we have to go the extra mile to get things done, like traveling to Philadelphia for the interview. Gotta love those interesting experiences!
During my online browsing adventures, I came across a website that provides reviews about different fake id reviews. Now, before you jump to any conclusions, let me clarify that I stumbled upon it purely out of curiosity. It's interesting to see what people have to say about fake IDs and the stories they share.
WOW

what a strange first post
 

sheikyerbooty

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My son is transiting thru houston next week on a flight between auckland and heathrow. needed to apply online for an ESTA visa just to transit thru the US. checks and balances i suppose
 

Sierra1

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. . . . It's interesting to see what people have to say about fake IDs and the stories they share.
Hey man. . . . can you tell us about yourself? Like where you're from, or your riding experience(s). Have a Tenere, want a Tenere, or just want to talk about a Tenere?
 
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