Enhanced Drivers Licence

[LemonNeko]

My husband has an enhanced drivers licence but no passport. It appears that while he can't fly from Toronto to Orlando. He could drive across the border and fly Buffalo to Orlando since both flights are inside the US. Has anyone flow between two US cities without a passport?

I really wish he would just get a passport but he doesn't want to do the paperwork *sigh*

 

[Gigi22]

My husband has an enhanced drivers licence but no passport. It appears that while he can't fly from Toronto to Orlando. He could drive across the border and fly Buffalo to Orlando since both flights are inside the US. Has anyone flow between two US cities without a passport?

I really wish he would just get a passport but he doesn't want to do the paperwork *sigh*

Can't answer your question, I always travel with a passport. I do feel for you. Would planning a solo trip to Bermuda for yourself stir him into action?

The passport application form for a new Canadian passport is 3 pages long and is online. You could probably fill out the form for him and print it, just get him to sign. The tricky part is getting two guarantors and two passport photographs. You can mail the entire thing in to the Passport Office with the fee. I believe I am right to say that an adult passport is now good for 10 years. Once you have a passport, it is very easy to renew.

 

[LemonNeko]

Can't answer your question, I always travel with a passport. I do feel for you. Would planning a solo trip to Bermuda for yourself stir him into action?

The passport application form for a new Canadian passport is 3 pages long and is online. You could probably fill out the form for him and print it, just get him to sign. The tricky part is getting two guarantors and two passport photographs. You can mail the entire thing in to the Passport Office with the fee. I believe I am right to say that an adult passport is now good for 10 years. Once you have a passport, it is very easy to renew.

We've already been on a couple of vacations and left him at home due to his silliness. Oddly enough my son and I are going to Bermuda in August with Grandma since he doesn't want to get a passport. I had previously filled everything out except the guarantors and he wouldn't even do that part. I should tell him we'll take a plane to Florida out of Toronto and he can drive by himself and meet us there.

 

[starvenger]

My husband has an enhanced drivers licence but no passport. It appears that while he can't fly from Toronto to Orlando. He could drive across the border and fly Buffalo to Orlando since both flights are inside the US. Has anyone flow between two US cities without a passport?

I really wish he would just get a passport but he doesn't want to do the paperwork *sigh*

Only way you can do that is if you have NEXUS. But I don't think you can get one without a passport. So you'd be back to square one.

 

[Matty_Disfan]

I researched that before and it looks like you can cross the border by land via an enhanced DL. I would check with GC though to make sure he is doing it right.

Also: consider berating him for being lazy and obstinate.

 

[starvenger]

Also: consider berating him for being lazy and obstinate.

I think that was already done. I can understand the laziness, but realistically:
- photos can be taken at Wal-Mart or a Loblaws/Superstore. I actually preferred paying a premium at Black's as I'd had issues with Loblaws photos in the past, but that is no longer an option. My wife did get hers done recently at Loblaws (she became a Canadian citizen last fall) and there were no issues.
- You only need one guarantor now, and they can be anyone whose known him for over two years, such as, say, a spouse.
- If you live close to a passport office, and can get there right when it opens, you will be in and out in less than 45 minutes. And within two weeks, you should get your passport.

 

[LemonNeko]

The enhanced drivers license works for water crossings too so we could take a cruise. I should keep traveling just me and my son and save us the money.

 

[isabellea]

I would be surprised if he could fly without a passport even if it's from Buffalo and not Canada. Best way to know for sure would be to contact TSA?!?

 

[alc571]

There are some states in the US now that require passports to travel from one state to another. You should definitely check before you go.

 

[bankr63]

There are some states in the US now that require passports to travel from one state to another. You should definitely check before you go.

Really? Is there a link for that? IIRC, the majority of American Citizens do not hold passports. I would think that would have blown up big time when put into effect. Maybe for Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico where you have to cross international airspace to get to the contiguous states, but I couldn't see this in the continental US.

ETA: Found a link to the information on TSA site in looking for my own answer to above question. He should be fine. Both Canadian DL's and Enhanced DL's are listed as acceptable documents by TSA:
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

EATA: Found a link to a couple of stories that 4 or 5 US states do not have stringent enough processes around their DL's to qualify for TSA requirements (HuffPost and CNN). Found no reports of actual enforcement. Again, the Canadian documents are currently listed as acceptable on the TSA site as of today.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I would be surprised if he could fly without a passport even if it's from Buffalo and not Canada. Best way to know for sure would be to contact TSA?!?

You absolutely can fly on a US domestic flight with only a DL.

There are some states in the US now that require passports to travel from one state to another. You should definitely check before you go.

What you are thinking of is that certain states didn't issue digital ID's and the TSA would no longer accept them. It was not that a passport was actually needed but that was the only digital ID available in those states.

 

[Raimiette]

You can definitely fly from the US to the US with just a driver's licence. I did it last year when my ride accidentally took my passport with them after they dropped me off at the Buffalo airport. They advised that because it was a domestic flight a passport was not needed

 

[LemonNeko]

You can definitely fly from the US to the US with just a driver's licence. I did it last year when my ride accidentally took my passport with them after they dropped me off at the Buffalo airport. They advised that because it was a domestic flight a passport was not needed

I would have been completely stressed out. This is good information as even though I had read it could be done it was hard for me to believe.