can you use just a drivers license

[ctnurse]

I check our passport on a regular basis.

I think I am the only person that triple checks her passport on the way to the airport, then again on the way to the ship, and then.......

I have even asked DH if he has the passport after going through passport control or customs.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

That was so sweet of your relative to do! But, you do know. They could've scanned & emailed the certificates to you and you could've printed at your hotel, right? If you look at @bumbershoot 's post, it says copy. My friend discovered the night before we were sailing that she forgot her passport at home. Panic! She had her husband scan & email her official birth certificate, printed it at the hotel, and crossed her fingers when we checked in at the terminal the next day. No problem. We cruised!

But man, that was so very sweet of your relative to do. Sincerely!

It was about 10 years ago now, and I remember making many frantic late night phone calls to DCL and govt agencies to determine what my options were. I honestly don't recall the details, but at the time I believed that I had to have certified copies, not photocopies, but I may have been wrong! If that's the case, I don't think I'll ever tell him now - THAT would be embarrassing! LOL

I agree that it was the most amazing thing to do for someone. I haven't let him pick up a single check since then!

 

[SirDuff]

I think I am the only person that triple checks her passport on the way to the airport, then again on the way to the ship, and then.......

Not the only one… I mean, I could have misplaced the passport the last time I looked it at, so clearly I have to check again...

 

[chartle]

I was watching a show on the behind the scenes of a cruise ship from boarding to departure.

During boarding there was a family that at check in when asked for the proper papers looked like the family at the end of a single rider line that doesn't understand how the single rider line works.

They were all taken back to the office and everyone was clustered around a fax machine waiting while a family member went to their house to find their certificates and find a fax machine to send it to the port. Just made it.

 

[Newsies]

Bumping. Eager to know how this ended.

 

[Minniemiss]

Here is the response to an email I sent.

From: customs@customs-mail.custhelp.com
To: xxx_xxx@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 11:28:29 -0400
Subject: We are going on a closed loop cruise. I am a little confused by the wording on y... [Incident: 130829-000xxx]




Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 7 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.


SubjectWe are going on a closed loop cruise. I am a little confused by the wording on y... Discussion Thread Response Via Email (Mark)09/20/2013 11:28 AM

Dear xxxxx,
It is required to have an official certificate or a certified copy with a raised seal on it. I am sorry we were not able to respond to your question sooner, but I hope this helps.

Mark

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) INFO Center.

If you have any other questions or would like clarification on this response, please feel free to contact us either by calling our toll free number 877 CBP-5511 (227-5511) or if calling from outside the United States our toll number 202-325-8000 and speak with a Public Information Officer. Our hours of operation are Monday thru Friday from 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Please note that in our online tracking software, a Solved status simply means that we have provided you with the best information we have to your question. There may still be steps you need to complete before your situation is resolved to your satisfaction. Those steps are explained in our response. If you need further clarification on those steps, please feel free to contact us back.

This email is intended for Informational Purposes Only, final determination of admission is solely at the discretion of the CBP Officer based upon the inspection at the time of entry.

Customer By Web Form 08/29/2013 02:06 PM
We are going on a closed loop cruise. I am a little confused by the wording on your website.

"U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID."

Does "copy" mean I can make a photocopy of my birth certificate and use the copy I have made to reenter the United States?

Thank you,
xxxxx xxxxxx
Question Reference #130829-000xxxTopic Level 1: International Travel, Docs & ImmigrationTopic Level 2: DocumentationTopic Level 3: OtherDate Created: 08/29/2013 02:06 PMLast Updated: 09/20/2013 11:28 AMStatus: SolvedFirst Name: Last Name: DOB: //Cargo Location: Carrier-Vessel Name: Flight Number: Name/Badge: Incident Date: AgentsKnowledge: ReachingAgent: IssueResolved: AgentsCourtesy: Form Type: Email UsNEXUS Number: SEVIS Number: SENTRI Number: CET Problem Type: AQI Problem Type: MET/Trade Problem: Entry Problem Type: Entry Number: Bill of Lading Nbr: Bill of Lading Type: Container Number: Booking Number: FAST Number: Problem Type: Entity Type: Other Problem: Esta Group ID: Date Traveler Return: [---001:002474:50689---]

If you look at the wording...


https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

"U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID."

If they meant "certified copy" they would SAY certified copy. They don't.

And people have gotten onto the ships with faxed BCs when they forgot them at home.

Would I travel with a photocopy of mine? Nope. I'm a passport person all the way. But official wording is official wording.



http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/whti-program-background/docs-land-sea

"U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization)."


Even Disney. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/.../caribbean-passport-and-travel-documentation/

"All Guests claiming U.S. citizenship must present one of the following as proof of U.S. citizenship:

• A valid U.S. Passport
• A valid U.S. Passport Card
• A valid Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• Government-issued photo ID along with one of the following:
  • Original or copy of their state issued birth certificate"

Now I WILL state that the State Department used to have the same wording, and has now added "certified" before copy. So things might be changing, or they are wrong (given that people have gotten on with copies). But it's been about a year since they changed their wording, and the other official site (and Disney) doesn't match.

Like I said, I'm a passport person. But I'm also a "what does the official stuff say?" person.

Maybe something has changed since this email in 2013.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Maybe something has changed since this email in 2013.

Maybe so. I can tell you I watched my friend sail on a copy last September so it could be a change in the past couple years.

 

[tvguy]

If you look at the wording...


https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

"U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID."

If they meant "certified copy" they would SAY certified copy. They don't.

And people have gotten onto the ships with faxed BCs when they forgot them at home.

Would I travel with a photocopy of mine? Nope. I'm a passport person all the way. But official wording is official wording.

Yeah, I may be reverting to my Little League Birth Certificate rules. Sad, Little League has tougher rules than the U.S. Governement.

NOT ACCEPTABLE AS SOLE PROOF OF BIRTH: Baptismal Certificate; Certificate of Blessing; Certificate of Dedication; Certificate of Circumcision, etc.; Hospital Certificate; photocopied records.

I fully agree, and do not understand why everyone doesn't has a Passport, just for everyday domestic ID uses. Drivers License, proof of citizenship for a new job.

 

[disneylover428]

Well my friend was able to get to town hall first thing before their flight. She had the kids but needed hers and DH. Town hall was nice enough to print the birth certificates right away. ( good thing they were both born in the same town) They made it to the airport on time. Now I'm super jealous I have to wait 37 days for mine

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Well my friend was able to get to town hall first thing before their flight. She had the kids but needed hers and DH. Town hall was nice enough to print the birth certificates right away. ( good thing they were both born in the same town) They made it to the airport on time. Now I'm super jealous I have to wait 37 days for mine

I'm glad this all worked out for them. As you said, it was very lucky that they were both born in the same town and that they still lived in that town.

 

[jahber]

Yeah, I may be reverting to my Little League Birth Certificate rules. Sad, Little League has tougher rules than the U.S. Governement.

NOT ACCEPTABLE AS SOLE PROOF OF BIRTH: Baptismal Certificate; Certificate of Blessing; Certificate of Dedication; Certificate of Circumcision, etc.; Hospital Certificate; photocopied records.

I fully agree, and do not understand why everyone doesn't has a Passport, just for everyday domestic ID uses. Drivers License, proof of citizenship for a new job.

My kids haven't felt the need to get a job yet. But then again, my youngest is only one. Maybe next year

But seriously, passports are expensive! Especially for kids when you need to renew them in person every 5 years. If you're not traveling internationally, why would you incur an unecessary expense?

 

[phinz]

My kids haven't felt the need to get a job yet. But then again, my youngest is only one. Maybe next year

But seriously, passports are expensive! Especially for kids when you need to renew them in person every 5 years. If you're not traveling internationally, why would you incur an unecessary expense?

But you *are* traveling internationally. When cruising, you leave the country, which is the very definition of traveling internationally. That's why a passport is so important. If there is an emergency requiring you to leave the ship and use other means to travel home, a passport will make this infinitely easier and efficient. Missing several days of work because you can't leave St. Maarten could be much more expensive than the cost of a passport amortized over five years. $80 (the cost of a passport for someone under 16) amortized over 60 months is $1.33 a month, and renewal is only $15 until they are 16. Even if you include the $25 execution fee, that's $1.75 a month.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

But you *are* traveling internationally. When cruising, you leave the country, which is the very definition of traveling internationally. That's why a passport is so important. If there is an emergency requiring you to leave the ship and use other means to travel home, a passport will make this infinitely easier and efficient. Missing several days of work because you can't leave St. Maarten could be much more expensive than the cost of a passport amortized over five years. $80 (the cost of a passport for someone under 16) amortized over 60 months is $1.33 a month, and renewal is only $15 until they are 16. Even if you include the $25 execution fee, that's $1.75 a month.

I agree with you that everyone should get passports for travel out of the country, even when not strictly needed. However, the post jahber was replying to asked why everyone didn't get them for "everyday domestic ID uses." In that case, I agree with jahber that the expense of passports is unnecessary. A lot of people don't travel internationally and won't ever need a passport so there's no reason to spend the money to get them.

 

[tvguy]

My kids haven't felt the need to get a job yet. But then again, my youngest is only one. Maybe next year

But seriously, passports are expensive! Especially for kids when you need to renew them in person every 5 years. If you're not traveling internationally, why would you incur an unecessary expense?

Just wait until they start school, or little league or soccer. The Passport is worth the cost.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Just wait until they start school, or little league or soccer. The Passport is worth the cost.

I agree even as an adult I use it often as a piece of ID as I don't drive so I don't have a drivers license I will often use it if I need a piece of photo ID when using my health card isn't acceptable like at a bar.

 

[Ofinn]

My kids haven't felt the need to get a job yet. But then again, my youngest is only one. Maybe next year

But seriously, passports are expensive! Especially for kids when you need to renew them in person every 5 years. If you're not traveling internationally, why would you incur an unecessary expense?

We've done 9 cruises without passports. We just got them because we're going to Canada this year and Europe in the near future. Is their a slight risk not having a passport...possibly? I have never been one to care what other people think.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We would never cruise without a passport. Yes, you rarely may need it.....but when you do.....its a really big problem especially if someone is sick or a emergency at home, etc.

This article provided by Truck 1, makes it crystal clear why you need to have passports!

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news...nt_internallink_relatedcontent_2014_partners4


AKK

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

We would never cruise without a passport. Yes, you rarely may need it.....but when you do.....its a really big problem especially if someone is sick or a emergency at home, etc.

This article provided by Truck 1, makes it crystal clear why you need to have passports!

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news...nt_internallink_relatedcontent_2014_partners4


AKK

Link is broken.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Sorry. I booted up the whole thread that went with it.

AKK

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news...nt_internallink_relatedcontent_2014_partners4